Writers & Writing

The new year begins with a host of promising titles from George Saunders, Julian Barnes, Jennette McCurdy, Karl Ove Knausgaard and more. Here's a look ahead at what's publishing this month.

A historian of modern China, Jung Chang turns the lens back on herself in her newest book to understand how she sees the world and why she writes about China today.

Poet Amanda Gorman wrote a poem for Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE officer this week. Gorman reads her poem and speaks on its meaning.

Moore says writing is mostly labor, but "2% of the time, usually at the very beginning of a book and the very end of a book, it feels like flying." She's the author of Long Bright River.

NPR's Sacha Pfieffer speaks to comedian Chris Duffy about his new book, "Humor Me." In it, he explores how laughing can be therapeutic and argues that humor can be taught, lost and regained.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Carlotta Walls LaNier about her new children's picture book, "Carlotta's Special Dress," recounting her story as the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine.

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Daniyal Mueenuddin about his debut novel, "This is Where the Serpent Lives." It's a sprawling story winding through families, decades, crimes, and power in modern Pakistan.

Doug Stanton talks with Jim Harrison biographer Todd Goddard.

Beth Milligan talks with poet Kate Baer about her latest book of poetry, "How About Now."

John U. Bacon talks about his book "The Gales of November: The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald."