Literature

How to Tell a Great Story

May 19, 2016  • Aspen Ideas To Go

Powerhouse literary couple Geraldine Brooks and Tony Horwitz didn’t start their careers writing books. The two were war correspondents covering events like the Gulf War in the 1990s. In this episode, Brooks and Horwitz are onstage for a lecture series held by Aspen Words,the literary organization of the Aspen Institute. Besides recalling their reporting experiences, the duo discuss what it takes to write a great book.

Brooks is a Pulitzer Prizewinning historical novelist. Her first book, “Year of Wonders,” was an international bestseller. Her latest work, “The Secret Chord,” is based on the life of King David.

Horwitz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and has written several bestsellers, including “Midnight Rising,” about a raid in the slaveholding South that sparked the Civil War.

Catch up on previous episodes by visiting the Aspen Ideas Festival website.

Marci Krivonen is the associate editor and producer of public programs at the Aspen Institute.

The “Aspen Ideas to Go” podcast is a weekly show featuring fascinating speakers who have presented at the Aspen Ideas Festival and other public programs offered by the Aspen Institute — including Aspen Words, the Alma and Joseph Gildenhorn Book Series, and various events around the country. For a curated listening experience, subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or listen to each episode on the Aspen Ideas website.