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Rock Is Lit

By: Christy Alexander Hallberg
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  • Summary

  • “I really tried to create a band that I would love, if they were real”— Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones & The Six Fiction writers have long been seduced by the anarchy, defiance, and raw power of rock ‘n roll, creating stories about music, the people who make it, and the characters who love it with the same intensity as the most ambitious concept albums. But until Rock is Lit first aired in September 2022, there had never been a podcast devoted to this art form—the rock novel—and the show remains a singularity. In each episode, host Christy Alexander Hallberg, author of the award-winning rock novel Searching for Jimmy Page (Livingston Press, 2021), interviews authors about craft and the musical inspiration behind their work, then brings in music experts, like legendary groupie Pamela Des Barres, to add real-world context to the bands or musical periods featured in the novels. Hallberg has quickly earned a reputation as a meticulous researcher and creative producer, frequently garnering compliments from guests such as Rex Weiner, author of The (Original) Adventures of Ford Fairlane: “You’re so well versed in what I wrote and, of course, your own rock ‘n roll history is pretty terrific.” The podcast’s growing roster of rock novels includes: Dana Spiotta’s National Book Award-nominated Eat the Document, works by BIPOC authors like Chris L. Terry’s Black Card, metal-centric novels like John Wray’s Gone to the Wolves, YA LGBTQ debuts like Jessamyn Violet’s Secret Rules to Being a Rockstar, Scifi rock novels like Sarah Pinsker’s Nebula Award-winning A Song For A New Day, rock novels adapted to film like Garth Risk Hallberg’s City on Fire, and celebrity rock novels like the legendary Suzi Quatro’s The Hurricane. Tune in to Rock is Lit and join the mounting number of Lit Listeners on their quest to find the very best rock novels. Watch the trailer on YouTube. Find Christy Alexander Hallberg and Rock is Lit on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg
    2023 Rock Is Lit
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Episodes
  • Rock Queen Writers: A Panel Discussion on Writing About Musicians in Fiction, with Jessamyn Violet, Mallory Smart, Claire Hopple, Kirsti MacKenzie

    Rock Queen Writers: A Panel Discussion on Writing About Musicians in Fiction, with Jessamyn Violet, Mallory Smart, Claire Hopple, Kirsti MacKenzie
    Apr 26 2024
    *Listen to the audio-only episode here, or watch the video version on YouTube, which may make putting voices with faces easier since there are five people in the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkCdyH7Y_YM *The audio-only episode was taken directly from the video without further editing. I’m so excited about this special episode of Rock is Lit. It’s a first for the podcast, actually: a panel discussion, with four amazing women rock novelists, hailing from Canada to Chicago to LA and back to my neck of the woods here in Asheville, NC. Kirsti MacKenzie, Mallory Smart, Claire Hopple, and Rock is Lit veteran Jessamyn Violet are joining me to talk about our experiences and thoughts about writing fiction about musicians. Jessamyn Violet is a writer and musician out of Venice Beach, CA. Her debut novel, ‘Secret Rules to Being a Rockstar’, was published in April 2023 by Three Rooms Press. Short fiction can be found in ‘Ploughshares’, ‘Lit Angeles’, ‘805 Art + Lit Journal’, and more. She is also the drummer for the psych rock band Movie Club. Mallory Smart is a Chicago-based writer and Editor-in-Chief of Maudlin House. Some people even call her ‘The Only Living Girl in Chicago’. Mallory is the host of the podcast Textual Healing, where she dives into the fusion of literature and music, and co-hosts That Horrorcast with Dmitry Samarov where they get lost in the weird world of horror films. Her latest book, ‘I Keep My Visions To Myself’, just came out from With an X Books. Kirsti MacKenzie is the author of ‘Better to Beg’, as well as editor in chief of ‘Major 7th Magazine’. Her work has been published in ‘HAD’, ‘Rejection Letters’, ‘trampset’, ‘Autofocus’, ‘Maudlin House’, ‘Identity Theory’, and elsewhere. Claire Hopple is the author of six books and the fiction editor at XRAY. Her stories have appeared in ‘Wigleaf’, ‘Vol. 1 Brooklyn’, ‘Forever Mag’, and others. She grew up in the woods of Pennsylvania and currently lives in Asheville, NC. Her next book, ‘Take it Personally’, is forthcoming from Stalking Horse Press in February 2025. Each of these four talented authors brings a unique perspective to the conversation. From the creative sparks that ignite our own work to the cultural impacts of rock novels in general, we'll navigate the winding paths of character development and uncovering the challenges of breathing life into fictional musicians while honoring the essence of their real-life counterparts. We'll delve into the stigmas surrounding rock novels, dissecting perceptions and stereotypes to reveal the nuanced portrayals crafted by these talented authors. And of course, no discussion on writing fiction about musicians would be complete without reflecting on current trends and the evolution of the genre, including the explosive success of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s rock novel ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’. So, tune in and turn up the volume as Rock is Lit takes you on a journey through the pages of rock literature, where every word is a chord and every story a kickass concert. LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Rock is Lit Episode 26, Jessamyn Violet: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jessamynvioletwithlinalecaro Jessamyn Violet’s website: https://jessamynviolet.com/bio Jessamyn Violet on Instagram and Twitter: @jessamynviolet Movie Club’s website: https://www.movieclubtheband.com/about Kirsti MacKenzie on Twitter: @KeersteeMack Mallory Smart’s website: https://mallorysmart.com/ Mallory Smart on Twitter and Instagram: @malsmart Claire Hopple’s website: https://clairehopple.wordpress.com/bio/ Claire Hopple on Twitter and Instagram: @clairehopple Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Exploring Jewish Identity, The Holocaust, and the Healing Power of Music in Jason Warburg’s Novel ‘Home Was a Dream’

    Exploring Jewish Identity, The Holocaust, and the Healing Power of Music in Jason Warburg’s Novel ‘Home Was a Dream’
    Apr 12 2024
    In Episode 51, Jason Warburg delves into the intricacies of his new novel, the third in his Tim Green series, ‘Home Was a Dream’, where themes of Jewish heritage, identity, and the haunting legacy of the Holocaust intertwine with the healing power of music. Jason shares insights into his personal connection to Jewish culture and history, revealing how these influences shaped the characters’ journeys in the novel. Through the lens of characters grappling with their Jewish identity, Jason explores the profound repercussions of the Holocaust on a generation haunted by loss and trauma. Against this backdrop, music emerges as a potent force, offering solace and connection amidst the turmoil. Through an engaging discussion, Jason illuminates the ways in which music serves as a conduit for healing and understanding, weaving together the threads of personal and collective memory in a tale that resonates with emotional depth and resonance. PLAYLIST No Copyright Music/Classic Rock Rock is Lit theme music [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” “Oh Very Young” by Cat Stevens “Wiegala” by Ilse Weber “Ich wandre durch Theresienstadt Wiegala” by Ilse Weber Gorecki Symphony “Night Moves” by Bob Seger “Make Me Smile” by Chicago “Cover Me Up” by Jason Isbell “Games People Play” by The Spinners “Your Song” by Elton John No Copyright Music/Classic Rock Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Rock is Lit Episode 33, Jason Warburg ‘Believe in Me’: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jasonwarburg Rock is Lit Episode 40, Jason Warburg ‘Never Break the Chain’: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jasonwarburganduglyamericanwerewolfinlondonrockpodcast Jason Warburg’s website: https://www.jasonwarburg.com/ Jason Warburg on Twitter: @JasonWarburg Jason Warburg on Instagram: @jason_warburg Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Episode 50 Part 2: Exploring Real-Life Musician Disappearances with Nathan D. Duvall, Inspired by Jeff Jackson’s Novel ‘Mira Corpora’

    Episode 50 Part 2: Exploring Real-Life Musician Disappearances with Nathan D. Duvall, Inspired by Jeff Jackson’s Novel ‘Mira Corpora’
    Apr 4 2024
    In Part 1 of Episode 50, we delved into the mesmerizing world of author Jeff Jackson and his acclaimed novel ‘Mira Corpora’, in which enigmatic underground rockstar Kin Mersey mysteriously disappears. Now, in Episode 50 Part 2, Nathan D. Duvall (host of the Lucid show on 103.3 Asheville FM) and this semester’s Rock is Lit intern, Cador Jones, join me to talk about actual musicians who, like the rockstar in Jeff’s novel, vanished without a trace, including Richey Edwards, Jim Sullivan, Connie Converse, Christina “Licorice” McKechnie, and more. PLAYLIST “Lithuania” by Julian Calendar Rock is Lit theme music [Guitar Instrumental Beat] Sad Rock [Free Use Music] Punch Deck—“I Can’t Stop” Avant-Garde Sound Collage/Experimental Electronica/Royalty Free Background Music (8-mindemo Mix) “This Road” by Julian Calendar “4st 7lb” by Manic Street Preachers “How Sad, How Lovely” by Connie Converse “U.F.O.” by Jim Sullivan “I Know You” by The Incredible String Band, with Christina “Licorice” McKechnie “When the Music’s Over” by The Doors “Jerome” by Jim Sullivan Julian Calendar Medley: “Stolen Eyes,” “King Blank” Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Rock is Lit Episode 1 featuring Jeff Jackson (‘Destroy All Monsters’) with Nathan D. Duvall: https://www.christyalexanderhallberg.com/rockislitpodcast/jeffjackson-nathandduvall Jeff Jackson’s website: http://deathofliterature.com/ Jeff Jackson on Instagram: @deathofliterature Jeff Jackson on Twitter: @DeathofLit Julian Calendar on Bandcamp: https://juliancalendar.bandcamp.com/ Trailer for ‘Mira Corpora’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upTakZdScwY Nathan D. Duvall’s website: http://nathandduvall.com/ Nathan D. Duvall’s Lucid show on 103.3 Asheville FM: https://ashevillefm.org/show/lucid/ Nathan D. Duvall on Instagram: @nathandduvall Cador Jones on Instagram: @bluecadorade Christy Alexander Hallberg’s website: www.christyalexanderhallberg.com Christy Alexander Hallberg on Twitter, Instagram & YouTube: @ChristyHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins
Art Music Literary History & Criticism
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