REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM HELLO I'M LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA F.<br/> TODAY OUR GUESTS ARE CLARE HERTEL AND MARK BRYANT, WHO ARE THE CO-FOUNDERS OF THE SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>CLARE/MARK: THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>>LORENE: YOU HAVE BURST THIS ENTITY THAT WENT FROM BEING A BABY TO BEING A GIANT BECAUSE YOU HAVE MANAGED TO GET THE LEADING LIGHTS IN THE LITERARY WORLD TO COME HERE TO SANTA FE AND SPEND A WEEKEND IN ALL SORTS OF CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS AND DIALOGS AND INTERVIEWS WITH THE MOST FAMOUS WRITERS, IT'S JUST EXTRAORDINARY.

SO FIRST, THE DATES ARE MAY 17TH THROUGH 19TH, THE SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD IN THE SANTA FE CONVENTION CENTER, AND THE THEME IS, IN EFFECT, CELEBRATING THE POWER OF STORY.

WELL, YOU ARE CELEBRATING IT WITH BELLS ON, I TELL YOU.

BUT TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU CAME TO COME UP WITH THIS IDEA THAT HAS GROWN SO MUCH.

>>MARK: THAT WAS CLARE'S IDEA, SO SHE CAN... >>CLARE: WELL, I HAD THE KERNEL OF THE IDEA OF OVER, YOU KNOW, OVER A DECADE AGO, BUT REALLY IT WAS PULLING IT TOGETHER WITH SO MANY PEOPLE.

THE FIRST YEAR WAS ONLY THREE YEARS AGO, SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND VERY LONG.

I SORT OF FELT LIKE IT WAS A MONSTER THE FIRST YEAR, RIGHT.

WE HAD SO MANY GREAT PEOPLE WITH MARGARET ATWOOD, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HELPED AND LAST YEAR WE ADDED THE WORD INTERNATIONAL TO THE FESTIVAL AND CARMELLA PADILLA IS A CO-FOUNDER.

>>MARK: A VERY OLD DEAR FRIEND OF OURS, A GREAT AUTHOR HERSELF.

>>CLARE: A GREAT AUTHOR REALLY KNOWS LITERATURE, ESPECIALLY KNOWS THE NEW MEXICO WRITERS, WHICH IS DEFINITELY A BIG PART OF THE FESTIVAL AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, HAMPTON SIDES WHO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT AND DOUG PRESTON, WERE BOTH PART OF THE FOUNDING ADVISORY BOARD.

SO MANY PEOPLE, THE CITY HELPED SO MUCH TOO, I THINK SANTA FE REALLY WANTED IT.

SO IT WAS A GROUP OF FRIENDS AND MARK AND CARMELLA AND I THAT REALLY WORKED ON THIS, ON THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TO HAVE IT BE WHAT IT IS TODAY.

BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HELPED, AND PEOPLE COME AND LOVE IT.

WE WERE CRAZY ENOUGH TO START IT, BUT THE SANTA FE LITERARY COMMUNITY HAS MADE IT HAPPEN.

>>LORENE: I THINK THERE'S AN ELEMENT, MARK, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU.

EVERYONE CAN SAY, WELL, LET'S PUT ON A SHOW IN THE BARN LIKE MICKEY ROONEY, BUT WHO'S GOING TO COME AND THROUGH YOUR CONTACTS AND YOUR LONG HISTORY WITH PUBLISHING AND LITERATURE, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WRITE THEM, THEY ANSWER BACK.

AND YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAUL THIS NET, SPARKLING SHINY NET IN THE SEA, YOU'VE HAULED IN THE BIGGEST FISH IN LITERATURE, THANK YOU.

>>MARK: WELL, WE HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE.

THE FACT THAT IT'S A NICE LONG WEEKEND IN SANTA FE IS A BIG PART OF IT.

THAT WE BELIEVE IN PAYING THE WRITERS ALL WELL FOR THEIR FOR THEIR TIME AND GREAT WRITERS LOVE TO BE AROUND OTHER GREAT WRITERS.

YOU KNOW, MEET FOLKS THEY HAVEN'T MET BEFORE, RECONNECT WITH OTHER WRITERS THEY ADMIRE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT HAS A LOT GOING FOR IT.

>>LORENE: IT'S SO NICE TO SEE SOME OF OUR FAMOUS WRITERS SANBORING ABOUT ANOTHER FAMOUS WRITER AND THEY'RE SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW AND JUST LIKE, MY GOODNESS.

BUT IT'S SUCH A NOURISHING COMMUNITY AND IT'S NOT A COMPETITIVE THING, IT'S LIKE, HOW DID YOU WRITE THAT AND THIS IS HOW IT MAKES ME FEEL AND WHAT ARE YOU WRITING?

AND, AND IT'S SUCH A COMMUNITY.

>>MARK: IT REALLY IS AND THE COMMUNITY HERE REALLY RESPONDS, THE FESTIVAL GOERS ARE SUCH A BIG PART OF IT.

I MEAN, THEY REALLY CREATE THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ENERGY.

WE'VE BEEN REALLY, I THINK, STRUCK FROM THE BEGINNING AT JUST THE GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT COMES OUT OF, YOU KNOW, THE EVENT EVERY YEAR.

IT SEEMS TO JUST KIND OF BUILD ON ITSELF.

YOU KNOW, WE THINK ABOUT THESE TIMES WE LIVE IN NOW WHERE YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY SO DIVIDED, THE WORLD'S IN GREAT CONFLICT.

>>LORENE: THE PANDEMIC AND ISOLATION.

>>MARK: YOU KNOW, THE WORLD AND THIS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, NEW MEXICANS HAD A LOT TO CONTEND WITH.

BUT WE THINK THE POWER OF STORY AND REALLY, WE BEGAN WITH THIS THOUGHT THAT THE POWER OF STORY IS REALLY THERE TO CONNECT PEOPLE, TO KIND OF BREAK DOWN DIVIDES, BRIDGE DIVISIONS AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER WHERE WE CAN RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE OUR SHARED HUMANITY.

READING IN BOOKS AND STORYTELLING DOES THAT LIKE ALMOST NOTHING ELSE.

>>LORENE: AND THEY DID IT MORE DURING THE PANDEMIC BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T GO OUT AND, YOU KNOW, CURL UP WITH A GOOD BOOK.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS AT THE LITERARY FESTIVAL, BECAUSE I NEVER MISS THESE, I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, BUT SOMEONE HAD COME UP TO ME AND SAY, I'M FROM THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE AND I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS IF YOU HADN'T TOLD US ABOUT IT.

SO WE WANT OUR AUDIENCE TO KNOW, THAT MAY 17 TO 19 AT THE SANTA FE CONVENTION CENTER THIS YEAR, 2024, YOU CAN HAVE A FEAST ON ALL THESE WONDERFUL BOOKS AND REALLY EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF STORY.

BECAUSE SOME PSYCHOLOGISTS SAY THAT NARRATIVE AND STORY IS ACTUALLY A HUMAN NEED THAT PEOPLE NEED AND A LOT OF THE GREATEST TEACHINGS ARE IN THE FORM OF STORIES, TEACHING STORIES, AND IT'S LIKE WRAPPING THE MEDICINE IN, YOU KNOW, SWEET SYRUP.

AND ONCE YOU'VE, IF YOU GREW UP READING OR EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T AND SOMEBODY JUST HANDS YOU THIS BOOK, IT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

>>MARK: YEAH, A BOOK CAN REALLY CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

JUST AS A GREAT MENTOR CAN, A GREAT TEACHER, BUT BOOKS IN MANY WAYS ARE THE TEACHERS AND MENTORS.

>>LORENE: SO I WANTED TO JUST TALK ABOUT TWO OF THE BOOKS.

THERE'S FICTION AND NONFICTION, BUT ONE OF THEM IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS EVER.

THIS IS A GENRE BUSTING BOOK CALLED 14 DAYS .

IT'S A COLLABORATIVE NOVEL THAT IS PUT TOGETHER BY MARGARET ATWOOD AND DOUGLAS PRESTON, IT IS KIND OF A DECAMERON, IT'S A BOOK, I JUST SAY THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING BOOKS AND COMPLETELY UNUSUAL AND SO PERFECT FOR OUR TIME.

THE OTHER ONE I WANT TO MENTION, DOUG IS A LOCAL NEW MEXICAN WRITER, AND HAMPTON SIDES HAS WRITTEN THIS BOOK CALLED THE WIDE WIDE SEA ABOUT THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CAPTAIN JAMES COOK.

SO HERE IT IS, WORLDS DISPLAYED ALREADY.

BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU GUYS HOW, MARK, HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO GET SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY BUSY WRITERS ON BOOK TOURS AND EVERYTHING, HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO GET SO MANY PEOPLE TO SAY, YES, I'M COMING, THIS IS A GREAT FESTIVAL.

I WOULDN'T MISS IT.

>>MARK: WELL, I THINK IT'S ABOUT... >>CLARE: WE START EARLY.

>>MARK: IN FACT, WE ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE LINED UP FOR NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET EARLIER EVERY YEAR BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT TO KIND OF WORK AROUND PEOPLE'S SCHEDULES.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THIS YEAR WHO WERE OFF, YOU KNOW, ALREADY COMMITTED FOR THAT WEEKEND, WEDDINGS, GRADUATIONS, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW, THE IDEA IS TO CREATE A LINEUP EVERY YEAR, OUR AIM IS TO CREATE A LINEUP OF AUTHORS WHO REFLECT THIS VAST, YOU KNOW, DIVERSITY OF THE LOCAL AND GLOBAL LITERARY COMMUNITY AND WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY TEMPTING TO GIVE IN TO CYNICISM OR APATHY, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEIR EXPLORATION OF A RANGE OF ISSUES, POLITICS, SOCIAL, RACIAL JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENT AND WAR, YOU KNOW, I THINK ARE REALLY, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN GALVANIZE US AND GIVE US HOPE.

YOU KNOW, IN THEIR CONVERSATIONS ON THE CRAFT OF WRITING, THE POWER OF LANGUAGE, THE POSSIBILITIES OF IMAGINATION, I THINK, REALLY REMIND US THAT WORDS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD, I THINK.

SO WE TRY TO ATTRACT AUTHORS WHO REALLY WANT TO, WHO BELIEVE IN THAT, BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THAT, AND WHO ARE ALSO REALLY COMMITTED TO MEETING WITH SCHOOLCHILDREN HERE IN TOWN, LITERACY PROGRAMS, VISITING SCHOOLS OR LIBRARIES.

SO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WE WANT TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY SO THAT OVER TIME WE'RE NOT JUST A, WE CAN EVENTUALLY BECOME MUCH MORE OF A RATHER NOT JUST A, YOU KNOW, THREE DAY ONE AND DONE FESTIVAL EVERY YEAR, BUT BE ABLE TO HAVE AN IMPACT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS COMMUNITY YEAR-ROUND.

>>LORENE: AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ELEMENTS THAT YOU INCORPORATE BECAUSE OF COURSE, YOU HAVE FAMOUS AUTHORS ON STAGE TALKING ABOUT THEIR BOOK AND READING FROM THEIR BOOK, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN AUTHORS ON STAGE AND YOU CAN COME AND LISTEN TO >>CLARE: I LOVE THOSE.

>>LORENE: I KNOW, I KNOW, BECAUSE ONLY A WRITER OF THAT DEGREE CAN ASK OF ANOTHER WRITER OF THAT DEGREE THOSE QUESTIONS LIKE, HOW DO YOU DO IT?

WE'D BE TOO AFRAID TO ASK THAT.

ALSO, YOU DO HAVE A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON YOUNG WRITERS AND READERS, YOU ALSO DO SOME LITERARY DAY TRIPS.

I KNOW THAT CHERYL ALTERS JAMISON DOES SOME TEQUILA TRAIL.

>>CLARE: THOSE ARE DURING THE FESTIVAL FOR PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANT TO GET OUT, NOT JUST SIT IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT ALSO WANT TO SEE SOME OF THE TREASURES OF SANTA FE AND CHERYL IS GOING TO LEAD THE ONE TO THE LOS POBLANOS FARM SHOP, WHERE THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, THESE WONDERFUL BOTANICALS, LAVENDER AND EVERYTHING AND HAVE SOME SNACKS AND SOME WONDERFUL GIN DRINK AND SPEND AN HOUR WITH HER AND SHE IS AMAZING.

>>LORENE: YES, SHE IS.

>>CLARE: AND WE ONE TO SAZON, WHICH IS GOING TO BE FABULOUS.

WE HAVE ONE ON WILLA CATHER THIS YEAR AND HER SANTA FE.

>>LORENE: DEATH COMES FOR THE ARCHBISHOP , RIGHT.

>>CLARE: YES, WHICH SHE WROTE HERE.

AND THEN ONE TO THE GEORGIA O'KEEFFE MUSEUM AND THEY'RE STARTING BY TALKING WITH ONE OF THE ARCHIVIST RESEARCHERS BECAUSE SHE HAD AN AMAZING LIBRARY AND OF COURSE A MILLION WRITER FRIENDS.

THAT WILL BE FUN TOO.

AND A CHOCOLATE IMMERSION ONE, GOING TOCACOWA, WHICH WILL BE GREAT, THE HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE IS SO INTERESTING.

>>MARK: WE TRY TO SORT OF BOOKEND THE FESTIVAL WITH, ON THURSDAY, WE HAVE A THURSDAY EVENING, 5:00, WE HAVE A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT THAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE LIBRARY, IT'S THE BIG READ THIS YEAR.

THE LIBRARY AND EDUCATORS IN TOWN HAVE CHOSEN SEARCY BY MADELINE MILLER, BEST-SELLING BOOK.

THAT WILL BE A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT AT THE CONVENTION CENTER ON THURSDAY EVENING.

AND THEN ON MONDAY, WE HAVE THESE LITERARY DAY TRIPS YOU MENTIONED.

KATIE ARNOLD AND NATALIE GOLDBERG DOING A WRITING WORKSHOP, THERE'S ANOTHER WRITING WORKSHOP ABOUT FOOD.

THERE ARE FOUR, I THINK, TWO OVER THE WEEKEND OR FRIDAY AND THEN TWO ON MONDAY WITH THE SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH WITH AUTHORS AND READINGS, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY TERRIFIC.

A LOT OF OTHER THINGS TOO SO PEOPLE CAN IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE HISTORY AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF NEW MEXICO THEY CAN PARTAKE OF THOSE.

>>LORENE: WELL, WE'RE SPEAKING TODAY WITH CLARE HERTEL AND MARK BRYANT ABOUT THE SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL.

AND ONE THING THAT YOU'RE DOING, YOU WERE JUST MENTIONING IT, BUT THE ACCENT THAT YOU HAVE ON THE YOUTH, SOMETHING CALLED STORY LADDER, AND THEN YOU DO FREE YOUTH POETRY SLAMS IN THE COURTYARD.

>>CLARE: THIS YEAR WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THE COURTYARD.

BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT WEEKEND IS GRADUATION FOR A LOT OF KIDS AND FINALS.

>>MARK: SOME KIDS ARE ALREADY OUT OF SCHOOL AT THAT POINT, IAIA, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE GRADUATION THE WEEK BEFORE.

>>CLARE: SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO INSTEAD IS TO GIVE AWAY 1500 FREE TICKETS TO STUDENTS THAT CAN COME AND TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, IF THEY'RE FROM NEW MEXICO.

>>LORENE: AND THEY WOULDN'T BE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY.

>>CLARE: THEY CAN GET A FREE TICKET.

>>LORENE: SO HOW CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT ABOUT THAT?

>>CLARE: YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE, GO TO TICKETS, AND YOU'LL SEE A SECTION TO GET A FREE TICKET.

>>LORENE: THAT'S WONDERFUL.

>>CLARE: I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC.

WE DO HAVE SOME SCHOOLS THAT ARE COMING AND ARE GOING TO MEET WITH, SEE CERTAIN AUTHORS SPEAK AND THEN MEET WITH THE AUTHOR AFTER.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC.

>>LORENE: OH MY GOODNESS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THAT PEBBLE HITS A POND AND THE RIPPLES KEEP GOING, I MEAN, HOW MANY FAMOUS WRITERS JUST REMEMBER THE ONE TIME THEY MET THEIR HERO.

>>CLARE: THESE CLASSES HAVE ALL BEEN STUDYING THE AUTHORS THAT THEY'RE MEETING WITH AND SEEING THEIR WORK.

SO I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY AWESOME.

>>MARK: PART OF OUR WHAT WE CALL OUR, WE CHANGED THE STORY LETTER NAME TO YOUNG READERS AND WRITERS PROGRAM.

AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD, CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THAT, ALONG WITH A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, NONPROFIT PARTNERS AROUND TOWN IN THE LIBRARY AND SCHOOLS INTO THE FUTURE.

>>CLARE: THIS LIBRARY IS A REALLY BIG THING THIS YEAR.

SO I THINK THAT'S ALL GOING TO BE GREAT THIS YEAR AND BY SHORTENING OUR LUNCH HOUR WE ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE EXTRA SESSIONS, SO WE EVEN GET MORE OF THE WRITERS.

>>LORENE: WOULD YOU DO US THE HONOR OF INTRODUCING SOME OF THE AUTHORS WHOSE BOOKS YOU'VE BROUGHT, I TALKED ABOUT DOUG PRESTON AND MARGARET ATWOOD AND HAMPTON SIDES, BUT YOU HAVE SOME OTHER AUTHORS THAT ARE COMING IN.

IF YOU COULD JUST HOLD UP THE BOOK BRIEFLY AND JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT EACH ONE.

>>MARK: I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE ALL THE COVERS.

>>LORENE: JUST THE ONES THAT WE HAVE.

>>MARK: JUST THE ONES THAT WE HAVE HERE.

WELL, TOMMY ORANGE, WHO IS AN IAIMFA GRADUATE, HE WILL BE IN TOWN WITH HIS NEW NOVEL WANDERING STARS .

HIS FIRST BOOK, HIS FIRST NOVEL WAS THERE, THERE, WHICH WAS A FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER PRIZE A FEW YEARS BACK.

AND THE NEW NOVEL HAS BEEN GETTING JUST ECSTATIC REVIEWS.

NEW YORK TIMES CALLED IT, "A TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT."

IT'S A FOLLOW UP OF SORTS TO THERE, THERE .

IT'S A CENTURY SPANNING EPIC OF A NATIVE FAMILY.

JUST FEELS INCREDIBLY POWERFULLY INTIMATE AND I CAN'T RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY ENOUGH, I URGE FOLKS TO COME AND SEE HIM.

HE'S GOING TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH ANOTHER IAIMFA GRADUATE, RAMONA EMERSON OF ALBUQUERQUE.

RAMONA IS A SERIOUSLY TALENTED DINE FILMMAKER AND AUTHOR.

HER FIRST BOOK, THE NOVEL SHUTTER , WAS LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD.

>>LORENE: WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO JUST DO ONE SENTENCE ABOUT THE OTHER BOOKS NOW.

>>MARK: SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>>LORENE: THAT'S OKAY.

JUST SKITTER THROUGH.

>>CLARE: HOW ABOUT, SOLITO , I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING.

AND JAVIER ZAMORA, IT'S A STORY ABOUT HIM CROSSING THE BORDER ILLEGALLY AS A NINE-YEAR-OLD.

>>LORENE: WELL, TELL ME, THERE'S A NEW BOOK BY ANTHONY DOERR, AND HE'S FAMOUS FOR A LL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE, BUT TELL ME ABOUT HIS NEW BOOK.

>>MARK: THIS IS CLOUD CUCKOO LAND .

YOU KNOW, TONY HAS WON A SLEW OF HIGHBROW LITERARY AWARDS, BUT HE REALLY WRITES FOR EVERYONE.

YOU KNOW, HIS POPULARITY AND SUCCESS IS REALLY DUE TO HIS ACCESSIBILITY, JUST THIS GREAT TOP NOTCH STORYTELLING.

IT'S NOT A BRAND NEW BOOK, BUT IT'S HIS MOST RECENT BOOK AND IT'S REALLY POWERFUL.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

>>LORENE: GOOD, GOOD.

ANNE LAMOTT, WHO IS BELOVED.

>>CLARE: I'M SO EXCITED THAT SHE'S COMING.

SHE'S GOING TO CLOSE OUT THE FESTIVAL.

THIS IS HER NEW BOOK THAT JUST CAME OUT CALLED SOMEHOW THOUGHTS ON LOV.<br/> SO I THINK SHE'S GOING TO SEND US ALL OUT BACK INTO THE WORLD.

>>LORENE: AND I LOVE HER BOOK BIRD BY BIRD .

SO I'M HOPING SHE HAS TIME TO DO AN INTERVIEW WHILE SHE'S HERE.

TELL ME YOU GOT A COUPLE OF OTHERS HERE.

>>MARK: YEAH, WE'VE GOT HUA HSU.

HUA HSU IS A NEW YORKER WRITER, WRITES ABOUT A RANGE OF THINGS FOR THE MAGAZINE, POP CULTURE, MUSIC, THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE.

HE'S GOT THIS STUNNING MEMOIR CALLED STAY TRUE , IT WON THE PULITZER PRIZE, THE NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD.

IT'S EASILY ONE OF THE BEST AND FRESHEST BOOKS I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME.

HE TAKES MEMOIR TO A NEW PLACE, IT'S REALLY STAYED WITH ME, I READ IT QUITE A WHILE AGO.

>>LORENE: YEAH, IT'S THOSE BOOKS THAT STAY WITH YOU.

>>MARK: THEY REALLY DO.

>>CLARE: JESMYN WARD, WHO WE DON'T HAVE HER BOOK HERE, BUT SHE'S OPENING ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

>>LORENE: WHAT'S THE NAME?

>>CLARE: JESMYN WARD.

>>LORENE: JESMYN WARD, OF COURSE.

>>CLARE: AND WE'RE WANTED TO GET HER FROM THE BEGINNING, THIS IS EXCITING.

BUT, TALK ABOUT A BOOK THAT STAYS WITH YOU.

>>LORENE: WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT BOOK THAT YOU LOVE?

>>CLARE: IT'S CALLED, I CAN'T THINK OF IT.

>>LORENE: IT'S ALRIGHT.

>>CLARE: I'M TERRIBLE, IT WILL COME TO ME.

LET US DESCEND >>MARK: SHE WON THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD BACK-TO-BACK FOR TWO PREVIOUS BOOKS.

>>LORENE: I'M SORRY, I WAS SPEAKING OVER YOU, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE BOOK?

>>MARK: IT IS CALLED LET US DESCEND.

AND SHE'LL BE TALKING WITH FORMER U.S.

POET LAUREATE TRACY K SMITH ABOUT THAT BOOK, ALSO ABOUT HER TWO BACK TO BACK NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNING BOOKS, SALVAGE THE BONES AND SING UNBURIED, SING .

SHE IS A REAL TREASURE.

>>CLARE: IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

>>LORENE: LET'S GIVE NONFICTION A CHANCE HERE.

>>MARK: IT'S MY FRIEND JOHN VAILLANT.

FIRE WEATHER: A TRUE STORY FROM A HOTTER WORLD .

A REMARKABLE STORY ABOUT A WILDFIRE IN CANADA THAT JUST IS A PERFECT WAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE.

HE'LL BE IN CONVERSATION WITH OUR FRIEND FROM EL VALLE, A GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL WRITER, BILL DEBUYS.

SO WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF BIG STUFF.

AND I THINK IF YOU'RE A NEW MEXICAN AT ALL OR FROM NEW MEXICO AND YOU THINK ABOUT DROUGHT, WILDFIRE, CLIMATE CHANGE, YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS IT.

IT'S A TERRIFIC BOOK AND JOHN IS A LOVELY GUY, THEY'LL HAVE A GREAT CONVERSATION.

>>LORENE: WONDERFUL.

WELL, I KNOW I'VE GOT TO START MY READING.

>>CLARE: THERE'S A LOT TO READ.

>>LORENE: I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR MAKING FREE TICKETS AVAILABLE.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT.

BOOKS AND READING, IT'S A LUXURY OF TIME, BUT IT'S ALSO THE LUXURY OF BEING ABLE TO BUY A $25 BOOK.

AND THEN FOR ME, BECAUSE I LOVE TO LISTEN TO BOOKS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S EVEN MORE, BUT IT'S SO WORTHWHILE, IT'S LIKE TAKING A VACATION.

>>CLARE: AND THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SEEING THE AUTHOR IN PERSON.

SO WE REALLY HOPE THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE 1500 TICKETS WILL BE USED, I THINK WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH RIGHT NOW.

>>LORENE: GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

>>CLARE: PLENTY, PLENTY LEFT.. >>LORENE: GOOD.

>>CLARE: I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AN AMAZING FESTIVAL.

>>LORENE: I KNOW, I KNOW.

AND I'M SO HAPPY TO BROADCAST IT STATEWIDE SO THE PEOPLE CAN PLAN TO COME UP ON MAY 17-19.

AND JUST EMBRACE YOU KNOW AS YOU SAY, THE POWER OF STORY BECAUSE WE WOULD BE VERY CULTURALLY STARVED IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE POWER OF STORY.

SO FOR YOURSELVES, DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE AMONG THE AUTHORS THAT ARE COMING?

>>CLARE: THAT'S HARD, I DON'T THINK I COULD PICK.

I REALLY WANTED JAVIER ZAMORA TO COME, BECAUSE WHEN WE SAW HIM LAST YEAR IN SUN VALLEY AT THE FESTIVAL UP THERE, HE WAS JUST SO POWERFUL.

>>LORENE: AND THAT BOOK IS SOLITO .

>>CLARE: SOLITO AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HIM.

BUT, YOU KNOW, JESMYN WARD AND ANNE LAMOTT, I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

>>MARK: WE'VE PICKED ALL THESE AUTHORS, BECAUSE WE LOVE THEIR BOOKS, ALL OF THEM, EVERY ONE OF THESE BOOKS.

>>CLARE: AND HAMPTON, WE'RE SO EXCITED.

>>LORENE: HAMPTON WROTE THE WIDE, WIDE SEA , HAS GOTTEN YOU KNOW, ELIZABETH KOLBERT WROTE HIS REVIEW FOR THE NEW YORKER.

I MEAN EVERYTHING, THE PUBLICITY THAT HE'S GETTING AND IT'S COMPELLINGLY WRITTEN.

>>MARK: IT'S A GREAT, GREAT BOOK.

I ACTUALLY GOT THE HONOR OF TALKING WITH HIM.

COLLEAGUE OF MINE, FRIEND, NEIGHBOR, YOU KNOW, AND IT'LL BE A BLAST.

>>LORENE: AND REMEMBER, ALL OF HIS OTHER BOOKS, LIKE ON DESPERATE GROUND , HE HAD TO GO TO COLD, HORRIBLE PLACES AND NOW HE GOT TO GO TO SOUTH PACIFIC.

>>CLARE: THE KINGDOM OF ICE, THAT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

>>LORENE: I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE DOING MORE TROPICAL LOCALES.

BUT EVERYTHING HE WRITES, I MEAN, HE'S REALLY A WONDERFUL WRITER AND HE GETS RIGHT TO THE HEART, TO THE CRUX OF EVERYTHING AND THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CAPTAIN COOK.

>>CLARE: IT'S SUCH A GREAT ADVENTURE.

>>LORENE: IT'S JUST LIKE A NOVEL, IT'S WRITTEN SO COMPELLINGLY, IT'S LIKE A NOVEL.

>>CLARE: WE DIDN'T MENTION DAVID GRANN WHO WROTE KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON AND HIS PREMIER BOOK WAGER , WHICH IS ALSO A GREAT ADVENTURE STORY.

>>LORENE: YES.

ISN'T IT ABOUT A MUTINY... >>MARK: HAMPTON IS GOING TO BE INTERVIEWING HIM, VERY MUCH PEERS.

>>CLARE: LYNSEY ADDARIO, WHO IS A WAR PHOTOGRAPHER AND WE CAN'T FORGET KAI BIRD WHO WROTE THE BIOGRAPHY OF OPPENHEIMER.

>>LORENE: ON WHICH THE FILM OPPENHEIMER WAS BASED.

>>MARK: HE'LL BE IN CONVERSATION WITH OUR GREAT BIOGRAPHER, JAMES MCGRATH MORRIS.

>>CLARE: THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY... >>LORENE: THAT'S A WONDERFUL PAIRING.

>>MARK: TALKING ABOUT THE BOOK, TALKING ABOUT THE ART AND CRAFT OF BIOGRAPHY.

TALKING ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE OPPENHEIMER'S LEGACY, VERY COMPLICATED LEGACY GLOBALLY AND OBVIOUSLY VERY MUCH, A VERY COMPLICATED LEGACY HERE IN NEW MEXICO, GIVEN THE LITERAL FALLOUT.

>>CLARE: WE DIDN'T MENTION JULIA ALVAREZ, I KEEP FORGETTING HER.

>>LORENE: I KNOW, I KNOW.

>>CLARE: SHE'S SATURDAY NIGHT.

>>LORENE: HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS?

>>CLARE: WELL THAT'S THE ONE PEOPLE REALLY KNOW, BUT THIS ONE IS CEMETERY OF UNTOLD STORIES.

SHE'S GETTING GREAT REVIEWS FOR THAT.

>>MARK: SHE'S A REAL NATIONAL TREASURE.

>>CLARE: THERE'S SO, SO MANY.

>>LORENE: I KNOW.

>>CLARE: PATRICK RADDEN KEEFE.

>>MARK: NEW YORKER , AUTHOR, INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST.

>>CLARE: HE WROTE ABOUT THE SACKLER FAMILY.

>>MARK: EMPIRE OF PAIN , THE SECRETS OF THE SACKLER FAMILY.

>>LORENE: PAIN PILLS.

>>MARK: WHICH WAS MADE INTO TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT FILM PROJECTS, TV PROJECTS.

HE'S ALSO GOT A WONDERFUL BOOK ABOUT THE TROUBLES IN IRELAND CALLED SAY NOTHING A TRUE STORY OF MURDER AND MEMORY IN NORTHERN IRELAND .

YOU KNOW, HIS LATEST BOOK IS ROGUES, WHICH IS A GREAT COLLECTION OF ALL HIS ROLLICKING COLLECTION OF HIS STORIES FROM THE NEW YORKER .

HE'S REALLY A MASTER JOURNALIST AND ONE OF THE BEST, MOST ENTERTAINING STORYTELLERS ON STAGE I'VE SEEN.

>>CLARE: HE'S REALLY GREAT ON STAGE.

>>LORENE: YOU KNOW, I END UP TALKING TO YOU AND THEN I THINK I WANT ALL THESE BOOKS AND CALL ME IN A MONTH.

I JUST WANT TO READ, READ, READ, READ.

BUT WE'VE COME TO THE END OF OUR TIME.

IT'S BEEN SUCH A PLEASURE TALKING TO YOU.

OUR GUESTS TODAY ARE CLARE HERTEL AND MARK BRYANT.

THANK YOU FOR PUTTING TOGETHER THE SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL.

I WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER IT'S MAY 17TH THROUGH 19TH IN SANTA FE AND JUST COME AND BASK IN THE BRILLIANCE OF THE COMMUNITY OF WRITERS AND THE INSPIRATION OF BOOKS.

SO THE POWER OF STORY, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>>MARK: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE FESTIVAL.

>>LORENE: WELL, I LOVE THE FESTIVAL.

I MEAN, I'M STARTING READING NOW.

I'M LORENE MILLS, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE.

AND DON'T FORGET THE SANTA FE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL, WE'LL SEE YOU THERE AND REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES.

AND FROM THE