Top 5 PBS Programs for Readers and Writers
Whether you are a published writer, an aspiring author, or a lover of all things literary, PBS has you covered! Join us in exploring some of the best reading and writing programs from PBS Books, News Hour, and our local affiliate stations. Through insightful author interviews and engaging book reviews, you will feel inspired to put pen to paper or flip through the pages of a novel.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and you can discover even more reading and writing content on PBS Books!
Write Around the Corner
Write Around the Corner is a local public television program presented by Blue Ridge and Appalachia Virginia PBS. The series features authors who are from Virginia or who write about Virginia, including Jeannette Walls, Barbara Kingsolver, Nikki Giovanni, Angie Kim, and so many more. Recorded on location, each half-hour interview delves into the stories behind the stories.
In the following episode, the series welcomes back New York Times bestseller Beth Macy to discuss her latest book, Raising Lazarus. This follow-up to her groundbreaking book, Dopesick, is a gripping story of heroes fighting addiction in communities across the country and individuals struggling for accountability in America’s courts.
A Word on Words
NPT's Emmy Award-winning A Word on Words features interviews with authors and poets about their latest books. Re-launched in 2015, the series was designed to be accessible and engaging for a new generation of readers. Join New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison and reporter Jeremy Finley for discussions with authors about their work, their process, and what they are reading for inspiration.
In the following episode, Finley sits down with award-winning author Richard Osman to discuss his novel The Last Devil to Die, a Thursday Murder Club mystery. Osman said: “I have these four detectives, and because they're from that generation who were overlooked, they are invisible. And yet they're so incredibly wise and experienced. And if you're invisible and wise, then you make an amazing detective.”
Beyond the Canvas
Beyond the Canvas is a new half-hour program from PBS News Hour that showcases some of the nation’s leading cultural creators -- musicians, playwrights, comedians, costume designers, among many others -- who show us how they turn their visions of the world into art. The program adds to News Hour's arts initiative Canvas, which features author interviews, book reviews, and more.
Finding one’s voice as a writer takes dedication, courage, and a willingness to reimagine the world through words on a page. In the following episode, News Hour correspondent Amna Nawaz sits down with novelist Margaret Atwood, playwright Danai Gurira, and others to discuss finding meaning as a writer.
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Readers Club
The PBS Books Readers Club is a monthly digital-first series that brings its members into conversations behind the stories of your favorite books and shows. You can watch the series on Facebook, YouTube, and the PBS App, with extended interviews available for PBS members on PBS Passport.
In the following special, Percival Everett discusses his newest novel, James. Everett places Jim, the enslaved character in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, front and center in this powerful narrative, giving voice to his untold story. Brimming with humor while delivering biting observations on themes of race and freedom, James is a provocative and unforgettable page-turner that will forever alter our perception of American literature.
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National Book Festival
The National Book Festival is an annual literary event hosted by the Library of Congress that unites best-selling authors and readers for engaging panel discussions and book signings. Founded in 2001, the festival has become the leading literary event in the nation, with hundreds of authors and thousands of readers participating.
The 2024 Festival is free and open to the public and will take place on Saturday, August 24, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you cannot attend, a selection of interviews with the festival's featured authors is available to stream on PBS Books. Below is a curation of our favorite interviews from the 2018 and 2019 festivals.
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