Episode 8
Books Are Magic — Brooklyn — Lynne Tillman
Craig Mod in conversation with Lynne Tillman at Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, chatting for fifty-one minutes on May 22, 2025
Lynne Tillman — author of many, many novels and non-fiction books, Guggenheim Fellow, and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist — and Craig discuss their two new books and friendship and loss. Craig reads a passage from his book about a walk in Japan that serves as a reflective journey on friendship and loss. Lynne reads from her own book, illustrating her storytelling style rooted in observations of ordinary life. The dialogue dives into various subjects, such as the nature of memoirs, the act of writing, the impact of personal experiences on storytelling, and Craig's unique approach to capturing life's details through photography. They also touch on themes like the influence of mentors, the benefits of meditation, and the importance of genuine human interactions. Toward the end, they engage in an audience Q&A, discussing the essence of memoir writing and its juxtaposition with personal history.
Chapters
- 00:00 — Introduction and Book Reading Request
- 00:19 — Discussing Book Designs and Photos
- 00:49 — Craig Reading: Iron Frogs
- 02:41 — Lynne Reading: Come and Go
- 04:33 — Discussing TBOT's Unique Structure
- 06:08 — The Writing Process and Personal Reflections
- 07:29 — Reflections on Friendship and Loss
- 08:19 — Publishing Journey and Fine Art Edition
- 09:26 — Personal Anecdotes and Reflections
- 18:41 — Influential Book Recommendations
- 22:18 — Walking in Japan and Its Challenges
- 25:13 — Meeting John McBride and His Influence
- 27:46 — Discovering the Pilgrimage Route
- 29:05 — Meditation Retreat Experience
- 30:39 — Bizarre Encounters and Reflections
- 35:13 — Therapy and Personal Growth
- 36:28 — Engaging with Readers and Writing
- 42:46 — Flash Round: Authors Showdown
- 46:13 — Lessons from John McBride
- 48:09 — Photography and Writing
- 49:29 — Final Q&A and Reflections
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Craig Mod is a writer and photographer based in Japan. He's the author of the books Things Become Other Things and Kissa by Kissa and is a MacDowell, Ragdale, and VCCA writing fellow. His essays and articles have appeared in The New York Times, Eater, The Atlantic, California Sunday Magazine, Wired, Aeon, New Scientist, Virginia Quarterly Review, The New Yorker, The Morning News, Codex: Journal of Typography, and elsewhere.
He writes newsletters, oh yes, newsletters: Roden & Ridgeline.
The work on this site is supported 100% by paid memberships and book & print sales.
Whatever you do, don't follow @craigmod on Bluesky or Instagram.