Write Life: A Writers Week Podcast
Write Life is a podcast hosted by students at Fremd High School in Palatine, IL. Each episode will feature a conversation with a student, faculty, or professional writer, and our guests will share a piece of their writing. Subscribe on iTunes now!!
Season 04
S04 Episode 01: Nicole Ricken (Student Stories #10) – 2016 Fremd graduate Nicole Ricken visits the Write Life podcast and shares stories about her songwriting, her work in the childhood cancer community, her TEDxUSC talk, and we hear her newest single, “Serendipity.” More information about Nicole’s work and her music can be found at her website, http://www.nicolericken.com, and at the following links:
TEDxUSC Talk – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krocL0QUCPE
Nicole on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YPGUDdDozqPh2248hukv4
Season 03
S03 Episode 07: Johnny Barrett (Student Stories #9) – 2016 Fremd graduate Johnny Barrett visits the Write Life podcast and shares a piece he wrote for the Illinois Wesleyan student newspaper, The Argus.
S03 Episode 06: Gloria Chao – Author Gloria Chao is interviewed about her debut release, American Panda. This episode is hosted by seniors Amy Ma and Sophia Mavromatis. For more information on Gloria and American Panda, please visit https://gloriachao.wordpress.com/
S03 Episode 05: Samira Ahmed – Author Samira Ahmed is interviewed about her debut release, Love, Hate & Other Filters. This episode is hosted by senior Shreya Tewari and sophomore Shruthi Krishna. For more information on Samira and Love, Hate & Other Filters, please visit https://samiraahmed.com/
S03 Episode 04: Tony Romano – Author and former Fremd teacher Tony Romano is interviewed about his latest release, Where My Body Ends and the World Begins. This episode is hosted by 2012 FHS graduate Tamar Alexanian. For more information on Tony and Where My Body Ends, please visit http://www.tonyromanoauthor.com/
On Thurday, Jan. 18, Writers Week will be hosting a book reading with Tony Romano at 7pm in our brand new Media Center. This event is open to the public.
S03 Episode 03: Tamar Alexanian (Student Stories #8) – 2012 Fremd graduate Tamar Alexanian visits the Write Life podcast and shares a piece about her experiences during first week of teaching in Taiwan.
S03 Episode 02: Nic Stone – Author Nic Stone is interviewed about her latest release, Dear Martin. This episode is hosted by seniors Shreya Tewari and Uma Trott. For more information on Nic and Dear Martin, please visit her website, http://www.nicstone.info/
S03 Episode 01: E. Lockhart – Author E. Lockhart is interviewed about her latest release, Genuine Fraud. This episode is hosted by junior Emma Pfister and sophomore Cameryn Peknik. For more information on E. Lockhart and Genuine Fraud, please visit her website, http://www.emilylockhart.com/
Season 02
S02 Episode 19: Mary Kubica – Author Mary Kubica is interviewed about her latest release, Every Last Lie. This episode is hosted by seniors Julia Azzarello and Saumya Dewan. For more information on Mary and Every Last Lie, please visit her website, http://marykubica.com/
S02 Episode 18: Andrea Peterson – Author Andrea Petersen is interviewed about her latest release, On Edge. This episode is hosted by seniors Sarah Jones and Koumani Ntowe. For more information on Andrea and On Edge, please visit her website, byandreapetersen.com
S02 Episode 17: Hannah Horton – Senior screenwriter, actress, and director Hannah Horton is interviewed and seniors Katie Haggett and Danielle Grandinetti.
S02 Episode 16: Sara Zarr – Author Sara Zarr is interviewed about her latest release, Gem & Dixie. This episode is hosted by senior Angie Cornwell and sophomore Sydney Lenz. For more information on Sara and Gem & Dixie, please visit her website, http://www.sarazarr.com/
S02 Episode 15: Jeff Zentner – Author Jeff Zentner is interviewed about his latest release, Goodbye Days. This episode is hosted by senior Emily Keith and freshman Cameryn Peknik. For more information on Jeff and Goodbye Days, please visit his website, http://jeffzentnerbooks.com
S02 Episode 14: Adam Bieda (Student Stories #7) – 2015 FHS graduate Adam Bieda is featured on this episode of Write Life and shares a new piece of creative nonfiction.
S02 Episode 13: Annie Victor (Student Stories #6) – 2015 FHS graduate Annie Victor is featured on this episode of the Write Life podcast and shares two great poems, one of which she read at our first ever Write Nite.
S02 Episode 12: Megan Spletzer (Student Stories #5) – 2015 FHS graduate Megan Spletzer is featured on this episode of the Write Life podcast and shares her senior year Writers Week piece.
S02 Episode 11: Brian Rosenwinkel (Student Stories #4) – FHS senior and Season One host Brian Rosenwinkel is featured in this episode of the Write Life podcast and shares a college essay that did not quite make the final cut.
S02 Episode 10: Tiffany D. Jackson – Author Tiffany D. Jackson is interviewed about her latest YA release, Allegedly. This episode is hosted by senior Nabeela Syed and sophomore Grace Downing. For more information on Tiffany and Allegedly, please visit her website, http://writeinbk.com/
S02 Episode 09: Imama Khawaja (Student Stories #3) – 2016 Fremd graduate Imama Khawaja visits the Write Life podcast and shares a piece entitled “High” and two connected poems.
S02 Episode 08: Madisen Hursey (Student Stories #2) – 2015 Fremd graduate Madisen Hursey visits the Write Life podcast and shares a few pieces of her writing.
S02 Episode 07: Kat Spriggs (Student Stories #1) – Senior Kat Spriggs visits the Write Life podcast to share a poem on childhood.
S02 Episode 06: Throwback Thursday #4 – In this Throwback Thursday episode, we will share Writers Week performances from Mary Karr (2004) and Lin Brehmer (2004). This episode is hosted by Elyse McGinn and Tony Romano.
S02 Episode 05: Lisa Selin Davis – Author Lisa Selin Davis is interviewed about her latest YA release, Lost Stars, which was published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on October 4. This episode is hosted by junior Hannah Jaros and freshman Denise Carlson. For more information on Lisa and Lost Stars, please visit her website, http://lisaselindavis.com/
S02 Episode 04: Mary Fons – Writer, quilter, and Writers Week favorite Mary Fons is interviewed by seniors Kat Spriggs and Andie Evans. For more information on Mary, please visit her website, www.maryfons.com
S02 Episode 03: Ann Hood – Author Ann Hood is interviewed about her latest release, The Book That Matters Most. This episode is hosted by senior Katie Haggett and junior Paige Dirkes-Jacks. For more information on Ann, please visit her website, http://www.annhood.us/
S02 Episode 02: Andrea Fritz – Seniors Ruchi Chitgopekar and Brock Rubin interview writer and FHS French teacher Andrea Fritz.
S02 Episode 01: Mary Roach – Bestselling author Mary Roach is interviewed about her latest release, Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War. This episode is hosted by junior Gretchen Coleman and 2016 graduate Sarah Hoadley. For more information on Mary, please visit her website, www.maryroach.net.
Season 01
S01 Episode 19: Jason Hogrefe – Seniors Payton Kim and Jack Heinrich interview FHS PE teacher and Writers Week favorite Jason Hogrefe.
S01 Episode 18: Kimberly McCreight – Senior FHS Book Club members Kristi Escobar, Emily Fasick, and Jenny Walentowicz interview bestselling author Kimberly McCreight, whose new novel The Outliers releases today. For more information on Kimberly, please visit http://www.kimberlymccreight.com.
S01 Episode 17: Kevin Andrew Prchal – Seniors Will Komol & Anusha Thotakura interview singer/songwriter and Writers Week XXII guest Kevin Andrew Prchal. Kevin’s newest release is titled “Sorrow Sings” and is available now. For more information on Kevin, please visit http://www.kevinandrewprchal.com.
S01 Episode 16: Throwback Thursday #3 – In this Throwback Thursday episode, we will share Writers Week performances from Rick Bragg (2003) and Soren Palumbo (2007). This episode is hosted by Marilyn Berdick and Eric Schaefer.
S01 Episode 15: Liz Tomal – Senior Maddie Scharm and freshman Maegan Jong interview blogger and 2010 FHS graduate. For more information on Liz, please visit wanderlustliz.wordpress.com.
S01 Episode 14: Throwback Thursday #2 – In this Throwback Thursday episode, we will share Writers Week performances from Naomi Shihab Nye (2002) and Billy Collins (2001). This episode is hosted by Dorothy Koller and Becky Schomer.
S01 Episode 13: Jennifer Niven – Senior Sean Balkir and sophomore Lauren Noelle interview Jennifer Niven, bestselling author of All the Bright Places.
S01 Episode 12: Laura Ruby – Seniors Jessica Lu and Braden Kobeski interview National Book Award finalist, 2016 Printz Award winner, and Writers Week XXII guest Laura Ruby.
S01 Episode 11: Caitlin Parrish – Senior Zoe Che and junior Brian Rosenwinkel interview critic, playwright, essayist, and lecturer Caitlin Parrish, who is also an executive story editor for the hit CBS show Supergirl.
S01 Episode 10: Mike Vainisi – Senior Johnny Barrett and sophomore Amy Ma interview Mike Vainisi, 2004 FHS grad and the Head of Editorial at attn.com, a new media company with a mission to break down news, politics, and social issues for a young audience.
S01 Episode 09: Mark Iverson – Seniors Connor Bradshaw and Jared Narter-Slezak interview filmmaker and 2005 FHS grad Mark Iverson.
S01 Episode 08: A.S. King – Senior Natalie Pfister and junior Grace Altman interview award-winning author A.S. King, who reads the first pages of her upcoming release Still Life with Tornado.
S01 Episode 07: Throwback Thursday #1 – In this Throwback Thursday episode, we will share Writers Week performances from Harry Mark Petrakis (2002) and Daniel Ferri (2003). This episode is hosted by Gary Anderson and Sabra Gerber.
S01 Episode 06: Cristina Henriquez – Senior Sydney Hill and junior Danielle Ortiz interview Cristina Henriquez, author of The Book of Unknown Americans.
S01 Episode 05: Sarah Mathews – Senior Annie Zheng and junior Jack Rosenwinkel interview author and FHS graduate Sarah Mathews.
S01 Episode 04: Jeremy Herriges – Seniors Jose Hernandez and Matt Mrohs interview English teacher Jeremy Herriges.
S01 Episode 03: Chris Crutcher – Senior Cara Ward and sophomores Cassidy Lemme and Claire Spotak interview award-winning author Chris Crutcher.
S01 Episode 02: Julia Dirkes-Jacks – Senior Braden Kobeski and junior Ben Mathew interview senior Julia Dirkes-Jacks.
S01 Episode 01: Sierra DeMulder – Senior Natalie Pfister and sophomore Paige Dirkes-Jacks interview poet, author, and FHS favorite Sierra DeMulder.
Writers Week 