National Writers Series

Jason Matthews worked as an intelligence officer in the CIA for 33 years. Now retired, he's the author of a novel called "Red Sparrow," a fast paced spy thriller that draws on his life with the agency. Matthews was a guest this May at the National Writers Series in downtown Traverse City. NWS founder and New York Times bestseller Doug Stanton sat down with Matthews to talk about his debut novel and the exciting life of intrigue that led up to it.

Nathaniel Philbrick is a renowned scholar and a champion sailor who has a passion for history and the open water. He's the bestselling author of books such as "In the Heart of the Sea" and "Mayflower." Philbrick was a guest this May at the National Writers Series in downtown Traverse City. He sat down with Rich Fahle to talk about his latest book "Bunker Hill," about the Boston battle that ignited the American revolution.

Nathaniel Philbrick is a renowned scholar and a champion sailor who has a passion for history and the open water. He's the bestselling author of books such as "In the Heart of the Sea" and "Mayflower." Philbrick was a guest this May at the National Writers Series in downtown Traverse City. He sat down with Rich Fahle to talk about his latest book "Bunker Hill," about the Boston battle that ignited the American revolution.

Gillian Flynn started as a film critic at the age of 7 when her father showed her movies like Alien and Psycho. As an adult, and after writing for 10 years as a television critic, she was laid off. She began a new career writing her first novel in 2007 titled Sharp Objects. Flynn was a guest this month at the National Writers Series in downtown Traverse City. She sat down with host Doug Stanton to talk about her new book Gone Girl. 

Shin Dong-Hyuk escaped from a North Korean labor camp. A camp where he expected to die young. Blain Harden tells the story about Shin’s escape in his most recent book, Escape from Camp 14. He was the guest earlier this month at the National Writers Series in downtown Traverse City. He spoke with Jack Segal, a former U.S. Department of State official. 

Today on the National Writers Series, host Doug Stanton sits down with Chip Johannessen. Johannessen is the executive producer and writer of Showtime’s award-winning television show “Homeland”. And this past year, “Homeland” made television history when it did something no other show has done in 25 years: it won four out of five of the major drama awards at the Emmys.

Buzz Bissinger’s bestseller Friday Night Lights became a hit TV series. Now he has a new book. It’s called Father’s Day. It tells the true story of the author’s twin sons – one who earned his Master’s Degree – the other who struggles with unremitting learning disabilities to this day. Buzz Bissinger is visiting Traverse City for the National Writers Series and he’ll be our guest on Points North.

Today on the National Writers Series, columnist and author Jack Segal sits down with Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Ali is an admired activist and political figure whom, in 2005, was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the World.

Today on the National Writers Series, host Bryan Gruley talks with Michael Connelly, a #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author. Connelly has sold over 45 million copies of his novels. He can be seen playing himself on the ABC television show Castle.

Listen in as local Best-Selling Author Doug Stanton interviews the creator of TV's "Breaking Bad."

Novelist Jodi Picoult will appear at the National Writers Series in Traverse City this year. The line-up for the winter and spring was announced today.

Picoult has written nearly 20 books, including the best seller 19 Minutes, a fictional account of a high school shooting in a small town.

Also coming to the book festival in Traverse City this year are journalist and author Anna Quindlen and Michael Sandel, the host of the PBS show "Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do?".

The National Writers Series continues tonight, with an appearance by humorist Roy Blount, Jr.

Blount has written 22 books including his latest, "Alpahabetter Juice : the Joy of Text." It's a sequel to "Alphabet Juice."

He's a regular on "A Prairie Home Companion" and "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me." 

I talked with him in the studio earlier today and laughed heartily. Our entire discussion (about 20 minutes) is posted above.