Join me as chat with Alyson Richman, author of 10+ novels listed on Art In Fiction, including The Time Keepers listed in the Other category and The Thread Collectors listed in the Textile Arts category.
Why Alyson likes to write novels inspired by the arts and the role the arts have played in her life
How her novels answer questions such as "can the creative spirit be extinguished in very difficult and dark times" and "Can creativity be a form of resistance?"
Genesis for The Time Keepers
The use of watchmaking in The Time Keepers as a metaphor for how we process time, particularly after suffering trauma
Research into watchmaking
Why she decided to set her novel during the Vietnam war
Parallels between events in the novel and current events
Researching The Time Keepers, particularly talking with people who experienced the Vietnam war
Prediction that more novels will start to be written around the Vietnam war now that it's 50 years in the past
The theme of friendship in The Time Keepers
Reading from The Time Keepers
Collaborating with Shaunna Edwards to write The Thread Collectors
The role Alyson's and Shaunna's ancestors played in creating characters for The Thread Collectors
Parallels between the Civil War setting for The Thread Collectors and civil unrest and racism in our own time
Repurposing cloth and thread in the Black community as inspiration for The Thread Collectors
One thing Alyson learned from writing his novel that she didn't know before
Alyson's new novel, due out in October 2025.
Press Play now & be sure to check out all Alyson's novels on Art In Fiction: www.artinfiction.com/novels?q=alyson+richman
Alyson Richman's website: www.alysonrichman.com
Music Credit
Paganology, performed by The Paul Plimley Trio; composed by Gregg Simpson
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Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany and Love Among the Recipes. Find out more on her website.