Hear-Tell

Samantha Bresnahan, ”In the Blood, Flowers Bloom”

Samantha Bresnahan, a 2018 MFA graduate, reads a chapter from her book “In the Blood, Flowers Bloom,” which is currently seeking a publisher.

The story follows American and Japanese veterans of Iwo Jima during World War II and how the keepsakes that soldiers took from enemies kept the battle alive long after the fighting stopped. Bresnahan’s story concerns the trauma of war, but is ultimately about the necessity of reconciliation and forgiveness, no matter how long that takes.

Bresnahan is a senior writer and copy editor at CNN in the international features division, where she has worked for more than a decade.

John T Edge, ”My Mother’s Catfish Stew”

John T. Edge reads his essay “My Mother’s Catfish Stew,” originally published in the Oxford American, about a son’s duty toward family memories and his mother’s legacy.

Edge is the author of “The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South.” He’s the director of the Southern Foodways Alliance and host of ESPN’s True South. Edge is also an original member of the Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction at UGA faculty. 

In the episode, Edge discusses the changing role of the first person in his writing and what he learned about narrative craft by exploring his personal life on the page.

Mark Shavin, ”Unforgettable: Marriage, Memory and Madness in a Small Southern Town”

Mark Shavin reads a selection from his book-length manuscript “Unforgettable: Marriage, Memory and Madness in a Small Southern Town,” which is currently seeking a publisher. 

The story follows Harold Riley, who lost his memory following brain surgery in 1971, and his wife, Elaine, as she tries to help Harold relearn how to live in the world.

A veteran reporter and TV broadcaster, Shavin lives in Atlanta and teaches journalism at Georgia State University. He is a 2018 graduate of the Grady Nonfiction MFA program.

In this episode, Shavin discusses his decades-long research into the Rileys’ story, why this particular story stuck with him over the years, and what the family’s openness taught him about being a good person.

Dorothy Lennon, ”Coming Out”

Dorothy Lennon reads from her essay “Coming Out,” about the author’s relationship with her mother, and how Lennon’s sexuality affected their family.

Lennon, a 2019 MFA graduate, also holds degrees from North Carolina A&T State University, New York University, and currently teaches theatre. She lives in Atlanta, where she is the founder of Dope Sista, an online publication highlighting the achievements of black women.

In the episode, Lennon discusses how a theatre background impacted her writing, as well as her journey to unlocking an authentic voice.

Visit the podcast's home at bit.ly/heartellpodcast. 

Read a transcript of the interview with Dorothy Lennon here. 

Why Narrative? Why Now? A Conversation with Valerie Boyd

Valerie Boyd, director of the Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction program at the University of Georgia, joins host André Gallant to help define narrative nonfiction and discuss why stories, especially true ones, are so important to us. 

Voices heard during the intro belong to MFA alums Katoya Fleming, Marty Padgett, and Tracy Coley.

Learn more about Hear-Tell and the innovative Low-Residency MFA in Narrative Nonfiction program at the University of Georgia, visit bit.ly/heartellpodcast.

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