From Poetry to the Cosmic Mystery of Yellow with Amy Pence| S5 EP234: Book Banter Podcast
- Dianne Burckhardt
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
Amy Pence discusses the research, creativity, and writing journey behind her debut novel, Yellow.
Menu: Listen to Today's Episode • Episode Soundbite video • Book Banter Magazine
Two Bleeped words: k!ller, assa$$inated
Hello My Happy People,
This interview was so much more than I expected. Some interviews stay focused on the book. Others grow into conversations about the writing life itself. My interview with Amy Pence was definitely the latter.
Amy joined me to discuss her debut fiction novel, Yellow, a story that blends cosmic mystery, Southern Gothic atmosphere, and the complexities of girlhood into something that is both imaginative and deeply grounded in reality. As she described the research behind the novel, I found myself becoming more and more fascinated by the world she had created. From historical events like the Watergate scandal and Skylab to the remarkable organism that inspired the story's mysterious yellow slime mold, every piece of the novel is supported by thoughtful research before Amy adds her own imagination to bring it all to life. By the end of our conversation, Yellow had moved much higher on my ever-growing to-be-read list.
One of my favorite moments came when we started talking about the yellow slime mold itself. I couldn't help but ask whether the classic science fiction film The Blob had ever crossed her mind while she was writing. That led us into a discussion about the real organism that inspired the novel and the fascinating scientific research surrounding it. It's one of those topics that sounds almost too strange to be true until you discover that nature often creates stories just as incredible as fiction.
As much as I enjoyed learning about Yellow, what really resonated with me was our conversation about writing as a profession. Amy and I come from the same generation, and although our careers have followed different paths, we discovered we had many of the same experiences. We both talked about how writing programs teach students how to write, but rarely teach them how to build a career as a writer. Whether someone hopes to become an author, a journalist, or another kind of professional writer, understanding contracts, submissions, queries, marketing, and the business side of publishing is just as important as understanding craft. It's a subject I believe deserves far more attention in higher education, and it made for one of my favorite discussions of the interview.
Another part of our conversation that really resonated with me was the importance of mentorship within the writing community. Amy spoke about how much it meant to have fellow author Robert Gwaltney help her navigate the business side of publishing her first novel. I thought it was a wonderful reminder that even experienced writers continue learning from one another, and it was especially fun for me because Robert will also be appearing on Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt September 30th, episode 242. His willingness to share his knowledge is a perfect example of how supportive the writing community can be.
Amy's background as both a creative writing instructor and an accomplished poet gave her a unique perspective on that conversation. It was interesting to hear how her years of writing poetry influenced her transition into long-form fiction while still allowing her to create a story that feels entirely its own.
If you enjoy hearing how writers develop their ideas, the research that shapes their stories, and the realities of building a writing career, I think you'll enjoy this week's conversation with Amy Pence. It was one of those interviews that started with a book and ended with a much broader discussion about creativity, storytelling, and the profession we both love.
If you haven't already listened to today's podcast, just click the purple microphone below to go listen now to S5 EP234 of Book Banter with Dianne Burckhardt—Book Talk Podcast, and don't forget to check out Amy's books using the links below.
Enjoy,
Dianne
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