Sleepless Nights, Epic Road Trips, and the Magic of Books: A Conversation with Mason Engel

What's Your Why?

I had become a writer. The habit had stuck, and I fell in love with books and reading and writing, and the rest of the path unfurled from there. - Mason Engel

Discover the epic journey of Mason Engel, who embarked on a mind-blowing adventure to all 50 states in just 50 days, to read 50 books and interview 50 authors. Whoa! Imagine the day to day of meeting fascinating authors, navigating through time changes and road challenges, and learning the heartwarming stories of small-town America. Hear Mason’s perspective on storytelling and the human connection. This a super fun and captivating expedition that unfolded on the road.

My special guest is Mason Engel

Mason Engel is an independent author and filmmaker. His sci-fi novel, 2084, has been downloaded over 35,000 times, and his short documentary about indie bookshops, The Bookstour, has played at the Miami, Brooklyn, Louisiana, and Portland Literary Festivals. His upcoming feature-length documentary, Books Across America, follows him as he travels to 50 states, reads 50 books, and interviews 50 authors, all in 50 days. A treatise on why we tell stories, the film includes interviews with James Patterson, Joyce Carol Oates, Ann Patchett, Walter Mosley, Brandon Sanderson, Ken Liu, and many more. Mason lives in Columbus, Indiana, where he spends his time editing Books Across America, writing a new novel based on his travels, and dreaming about a "Parts Unknown" for the book world.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Discover the journey of Mason Engel's 50-state book tour.

• Understand the vital role of independent bookstores in communities and how they contribute to local culture and literary diversity.

• Uncover the profound impact of reading and storytelling on personal development, empathy, and societal change.

• Discover the enriching experience of exploring local cultures through literature and discover the power of storytelling in connecting communities.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Subscribe to the Winds of Change newsletter by visiting the website mentioned in the conversation ThinkWY.org. This will keep you updated on the latest episodes and news related to the podcast.

• Follow Books Across America on social media platforms for updates on the release of the documentary. You can find them on Instagram and Facebook with the handle books across America and on Twitter as books x America.

• Visit the website booksxamerica.com and subscribe for updates on the release of the documentary. This will ensure that you receive notifications about the film's availability and release date.

• Stay tuned for the release of the documentary and learn more here:

• Explore the work of author CJ Box, who was interviewed in the podcast. Discover his books and delve into the captivating stories that represent the geography, people, and causes of Wyoming.

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