Aaron Armstrong's Blog, page 28

The Mechanics of Mystery Stories, Minnesotan Authors, & Holden Caulfield

Shortly before heading out to Minneapolis, Dave and I were starting to get into a couple of books by William Kent Krueger. Well, it turns out that he lives in the area, so while we were in town, he graciously agreed to let us swing by and set up shop in his dining room to talk the mechanics of mystery writing, how he got his start, and, of course, what he’s reading. Listen in as we discuss:

What makes a good mystery storyWhy he frequently include 13-year-olds as primary characters in his...

Criticism & Community, Side Hustles, and the Power of Moments

Continuing our adventures in balmy Minneapolis, Dave and I had the chance to chat with our friend Jeremy Writebol. Jeremy is the director of Gospel-Centered Discipleship (our sponsor for the last few episodes), as well as an author and a pastor. During our chat in a relatively quiet executive lounge, we discussed:

The time I gave Jeremy a critical review on his bookDave’s commitment to the show and our long introductionsWhy we need to have a community around us, especially as writersWhat it’...

Half-Canadians, Fluid Language, & the Uniqueness of American Christianity

While in exotic Minneapolis, sitting in a fancy executive lounge at our hotel, Dave and I had a chance to talk with Canadian blogger and author Tim Challies—and as soon as the mics were on, things got heated. Listen in as we discuss:

If Aaron is still a CanadianThe fluidity of the English languageTrends that Tim’s seen in publishing over the last 15 yearsThe benefit of visual theologyTim’s advice for aspiring authorsWhat’s unique about American Christianity from an outsider’s perspective?

...

Super Bowls, Anna Karenina, & Cries for Help

Work travel is often challenging, but one benefit of it is going to conferences is that I have the opportunity to chat with writers who don’t often come to Nashville. During the Super Bowl last week, Dave and I sat down to chat with Jen Wilkin, who is one of the best theologically-minded writers I know and a whole lot of fun to hang out with. Listen in as we discuss:

What Jen really thinks about Super Bowl SundayJen’s sci-fi street credWhat recommending a book can meanWhat happened when I...

UFOs, Scary Stories, & J.J. Abrams

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One of my favorite people to interview is Andrew Peterson. He’s been on the show once before (in its previous incarnation), and he’s a great guy to talk books, music, and theology with. Well, today I have some good news: Andrew joined Dave and me in the studio to talk creativity, music, books, and his beef with J.J. Abrams. Listen in to hear:

Where to get the best burrito in NashvilleThe difference between writing a song, a fantasy/adventure story, and a memoirThe best advice to people who...

Libraries, weird publishing stories, & Eastern Orthodoxy

Dave and I are back in the studio, and we’ve brought along a friend—Joel J. Miller, Chief Content Officer of Michael Hyatt & Company. Dave and Joel are old pals, having worked together at another publisher back in the day, so listen in as they reminisce, while discuss:

Joel’s career in publishing (and what he misses from his time in the industry)One of the authors Joel really regrets working with (but it’s cool for him to share this since the dude he mentions went to jail for defrauding his...

Boys in a Bookstore Wearing Microphones

Today, we’re offering a special Dave-less bonus episode featuring our friend Nick Rynerson. Nick was in town on business, and we decided that we should to something amazing: we should go to McKay’s, one of my favorite bookstores!

Get ready for the weirdest episode we may have ever done as we:

Offer hot takes on books we seeRecommend books for one anotherDescribe our approaches to bookstore browsingSearch for David Foster Wallace books and other titles Nick can’t rememberGet a totally...

Weird Manliness Book Trends, John Eldredge, & Fairy Tales

What’s my problem with the weird books that tell men how to be men? Bill Delvaux joins Dave and me in the studio to talk books for men, faith, and gender stereotypes (a little). Listen in as we discuss:

What I (Aaron) really thinks ofWild at Heart How guys use busyness as a way to avoid having to deal with personal issuesThe problem with most books directed toward menOur fascination with Jeff Goldblum and Nicholas CageHow mythical stories can help us better understand our wiring as men

This...

Saints and Scoundrels, Women’s Bible Studies, & Teleconferencing Guests

Nancy Guthrie, who is already in the running for best guest ever after last episode, returns for another round of talking books, banter, and throwing shade at Dave (well, actually at me, but I like to pretend it was directed at Dave). Listen in as we talk:

Why it’s taken us so long to have her on the showWhy we like having guests in-studio instead of joining via teleconferenceIf/when one of us will be invited onto Nancy’s podcast, Help Me Teach the BibleThe story behind Nancy’s upcoming...

Becoming an Author, Endorsing a Book vs a Person, & the Story You Need to Tell

At long last, Nancy Guthrie joins us in the studio this week! Nancy is a Bible teacher, host of Help Me Teach the Bible, and the author of many books, including the upcoming Saints and Scoundrels in the Story of Jesus, which we’ll talk about a bit next episode. But this week, we’re talking about a lot of different and important topics, including:

Nancy’s history in publishing—from publicist to author—and how it made her a better writerWhy we should thank the author of The Total Woman (Google...