Better World Books Podcast: Norris Church Mailer

05/05/10 • 19 min

Norris Church Mailer is a real person. That may seem like an odd way to start a blog post but her memoir and her life could be the stuff of great fiction. A beautiful girl, a much older famous man, his former wives, his large brood of children, a modeling career, famous friends, attendance at historical events, and the list goes on. But what makes A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS so readable is that it’s real and Norris doesn’t hold back.

She shares the good, the bad and the ugly. There were affairs, there were arguments, there was sickness and death – but there was also love and family and art and humor. After reading A TICKET TO THE CIRCUS, meeting Norris was like meeting someone I’ve always known. She was unapologetic about her life choices (as she should be) not in the least bit braggy and totally brave. She admits her health is not good (she’s living with a cancer that should’ve killed her years ago) and yet she is still living her life to the fullest.

My favorite moment in the interview came when I asked Norris if she ever felt out of place when hanging out with people like Muhammad Ali or Fidel Castro... and she said “No. I looked around at the other people there and I thought ‘Why not me?'” I totally love that. I’m going to make it my new mantra.

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

Previous Episode

Better World Books Podcast: Todd Johnson

THE SWEET BY AND BY is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve put it down. Debut author Todd Johnson has drawn the characters so vividly and with so much love that, for me, they have become woven into the fabric of my own memories. I know when I think of a true caretaker, the person I’ll imagine is Lorraine, and when I am talking about women in their twilight years, I’ll think not only of my own grandmothers, but of Margaret and Bernice.

Now, I’m not usually someone who signs up for books (or movies) that are meant to make me cry, but I think I’ve actually had an epiphany here about the difference between a tear-jerker and a genuinely touching and emotional story. Todd Johnson achieves the latter with THE SWEET BY AND BY because he didn’t set out to jerk your tears, he set out to tell a story about people who are often marginalized or ignored. At first glance this book seems to be about aging and dying, but when you get to the heart of the matter it’s really about living and love.

Read it. You’ll be glad you did. But first, check out my talk with Todd, where I can barely hold back the tears!

Enjoy the interview, and click here to check out the rest of the great authors talking about their books on our podcast!

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host

Next Episode

Better World Books Podcast: Holly LeCraw

Holly LeCraw is the real life hero of book nerds everywhere. Her dad founded Oxford Books in Atlanta and she grew up with her nose in a book. Now she’s a writer herself and her brand new book THE SWIMMING POOL is really making waves (pun fully intended).

Though it may look like a beach book, it’s really much more than that. THE SWIMMING POOL is at the surface (yup – I’m punning again) about a young man who falls in love with a woman who was once his late father’s mistress. But the book also includes an unsolved murder, postpartum depression, and a pivotal cocktail party around (you guessed it) a swimming pool. Alas, that still doesn’t cover it entirely. After talking with Holly in depth (ha ha ha), I’d say the book is really about the choices we make either because of or in spite of the people we care deeply about.

When Holly and I sat down to chat we hit it off right away. It turns out we have a few things in common and got to laughing pretty easily. You’ll appreciate Holly’s insight into her work and her totally cringe-worthy pun towards the end!

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Want more of the Better World Books Podcast now? Click here to check out the rest of the great authors who stopped by or called in for a chat!

Comments or questions about the podcast? Feel free to comment here on the blog, or email me at [email protected].

— Dana Barrett, Podcast Host