Alice Mattison, Author: Writing a Novel is Like a Calamity That Besets You (S2 E22)

Kites and Strings

Our introduction to Alice Mattison was learning that she wrote a book entitled, The Kite and String, How To Write With Spontaneity and Control - And Live to Tell the Tale (Penguin Books). In pretty short order we were able to bring Alice onto the show and are so happy that we did. Not to mention, we breathed a sigh of relieve when we realized that we we're not gonna get sued for using the name Kites and Strings.
Alice was a joy to talk with. The string part of her Kite and String involves the process of proofreading, editing and basically cleaning up after you're allowed you kite to run amuck so as to create. Catherine and Steve can get behind that whole-heartedly, and in this episode of Kites and Strings, also learn of how being a young mom, with young mom responsibilities, ironically helped Alice find the head-space and the time to write. And write she did.
On top of her career teaching college-level students for 20+ years, Alice has made a career of writing. Although she claims to have come to writing late, she quickly make up time. Thus far, Alice has published seven novels, in addition to the aforementioned guide for writers, a book or poems and short stories and at least a dozen short stories that have been published in the New Yorker and similar publications. We learn too that there are at least two more publications on the horizon. Whew.
Per Wikipedia, Alice Mattison's publications...

• "Conscience," (novel), Pegasus, 2018
• "The Kite and the String", (craft), Viking, 2016
• "When We Argued All Night", (novel), Harper Perennial, 2012.
• "Nothing Is Quite Forgotten in Brooklyn" (novel) Harper Perennial, September, 2008.
• "In Case We’re Separated: Connected Stories" William Morrow/Harper Collins, October, 2005;
• "The Wedding of the Two-Headed Woman" (novel) William Morrow/HarperCollins, August, 2004. Paperback, Harper Perennial, 2005.
• "The Book Borrower" (novel) 1999, William Morrow and Co. Paperback, Harper Perennial, 2000. Reissued, Harper Perennial, 2008;
• "Men Giving Money, Women Yelling" (intersecting stories), Morrow, 1997. Paperback, Quill, 1998; New York Times Notable Book, 1997.
• "Hilda and Pearl" (novel) Morrow, 1995; large print edition, Thorndike Press, 1995. Paperback, Harper Perennial, 2001.
• "The Flight of Andy Burns" (short stories), Morrow, 1993.
• "Field of Stars" (novel) Morrow, 1992.
• "Great Wits" (stories) Morrow, 1988. Paperback, Penguin Books,1990.
• "Animals" (poems) Alice James Books, 1980.

Alice's website: https://www.alicemattison.com/
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