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Burned By Books

New Books Network
New York City
Mental Illness
Book Recommendations
One Woman Show
Zambia
The Imagined Life
2025 Books
Family Dynamics
Literature
Independent Bookstores
Brandon Taylor
Queerness
Mental Health
Desire
Metropolitan Museum Of Art
Queer Literature
London
Grace Zulu
The Original
Seduction Theory

A podcast for writers and readers who are obsessive about their books. Interviews with established and up-and-coming writers, and recommendations for the best in contemporary fiction, poetry, and drama. Chris Holmes. Chris is Chair of Literatures in English and Associate Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. He is the co-director of The New Voices Fes... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes213Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsFiction

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Latest Episodes

In upstate New York in 2001, nine-year-old twins Sabina and Camilla spend the summer weathering the moods of their erratic mother while finding themselves pulled toward diverging interests: Sabina into the mystery of their absent French father and Ca... more

“I hear whispers: Have you seen her? The woman who is not a woman, she is a walking museum. Have you seen her wares?”

The narrator of SL Carroll’s radiant debut leads an empty life in a small town until she is employed to catalogue the Museum's coll... more

Now I'm Photogenic and Other Stories I Tell Myself (Black Lawrence Press, 2026) is a collection of ten playfully strange and unsettling stories, some realistic and some surreal. The characters in these pages feel alienated: from their communities an... more

When Saul Keng Hsiu and his wife, Mei Lee, move from China to the United States to take possession of a 160-acre homestead bequeathed to them by a distant relative, all they have are the possessions on their back, some hidden gold, and a pocketful of... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Tom Lin
Author of Babylon, South Dakota
Author, Babylon, South Dakota
Episode: Tom Lin, "Babylon, South Dakota" (Little Brown and Co, 2026)
Téa Obreht
Author
Author
Episode: Téa Obreht, "Sunrise" (Random House, 2026)
Paul Yoon
Author of Etna
Author, Etna
Episode: Paul Yoon, "Etna" (Scribner, 2026)
Caroline Bicks
Author of Monsters in the Archives, My Year of Fear with Stephen King
University of Maine
Episode: Caroline Bicks, "Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King" (Hogarth, 2026)
Seamus O'Reilly
Author of Prestige Drama, columnist for The Observer, The Irish Times, The Irish Examiner
Author
Episode: Seamus O’Reilly, "Prestige Drama" (Cardinal, 2026)
Emily McBride
Author of Queen Mab
Emily McBride (Queen Mab)
Episode: Emily McBride, "Queen Mab" (FSG, 2026)
Julie Buntin
Author of Famous Men and Marlena
Author, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Episode: Julie Buntin, "Famous Men" (Random House, 2026)
Andrew Martin
Author of Down Time; writer
Author
Episode: Andrew Martin, "Down Time" (FSG, 2026)
Isabel Cheung
Writer and art critic based in Hong Kong
Independent
Episode: Ysabelle Cheung, "Patchwork Dolls" (Blair, 2026)

Host

Chris Holmes
Host of the show; Chair of Literatures in English; Associate Professor at Ithaca College; writes criticism on contemporary global literatures; co-director of The New Voices Festival.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 78 ratings
  • The sound of gushing praise

    I have come to contemporary fiction a bit late in my reading life. Now that I have plenty of time on my hands (having taken early retirement five years ago) and determined to avoid the destructive addiction of today’s online political discourse, I turned to literature as a balm. Chris Holmes’ podcast seemed a nice way to hear about new writing, especially novels, which I find more satisfying than short stories. There are a few things to be said in praise of this podcast. Unlike the Book Review p... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    sidneyhart
    United States2 years ago
  • Eclectic

    I am impressed by the variety of books reviewed here. The host’s enthusiasm and thoughtful preparation for these discussions makes this a great listen. Well done!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Se. Valpolicella
    United States3 years ago
  • It is indeed

    ...the best podcast about literature that exists. Generous and penetrating. I've been listening for years; how come I haven't left a review until now? A real personal failure!

    Every episode is a gift.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    young4552
    United States4 years ago
  • Refreshing ♥️👍🏽

    I listened to the conversation Chris had with Xochitl Gonzalez and loved to hear questions based on his knowledge of writing and literature! That definitely makes for a better conversation with the authors and when they get excited, the audience gets even more excited about their books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Luz-y-Traducciones
    United States5 years ago
  • A rare treat

    It’s a pleasure to listen to such rich, compelling interviews with exciting contemporary writers. Highly recommended!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    oregonbookworm
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners mention strong enthusiasm from the host, with occasional critiques about overly effusive praise but overall high esteem for the conversations.
Fans appreciate the focus on contemporary fiction and poetry, noting the conversations feel generous and comprehensive.
Listeners praise thoughtful preparation and deep author interviews, highlighting insightful craft questions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#116
New Zealand/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#217
New Zealand/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Téa Obreht, "Sunrise" (Random House, 2026)
Q: What attracted you to the idea of reenactments and how did you balance authenticity with myth in Sunrise?
She describes reenactment as a mechanism to examine how myth is created and sustained, noting that the book uses a writer within the book to signal self-awareness about storytelling. The balance comes from letting genre conventions exist while simultaneously subverting them to expose the ethical tensions in historical storytelling.
Téa Obreht, "Sunrise" (Random House, 2026)
Q: How did you decide to thread together these particular divergent moments in Wyoming's past?
Obreht explains that the three timelines were shaped by deliberate pacing and thematic alignment, with the goal of letting each narrative illuminate the others. The threads were developed over time, driven by the idea that the West is a palimpsest where myths continually resurface and re-interpret history.
Caroline Bicks, "Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King" (Hogarth, 2026)
Q: What was most surprising about the archive reveals, such as King's use of intertextuality and his attention to sound in revisions?
Bicks notes that King's marginalia and copy-editor interactions reveal a writer deeply aware of how word choices shape meaning and rhythm, along with a broader literary brain that constantly references Shakespeare, Emerson, and other intertexts.
Caroline Bicks, "Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King" (Hogarth, 2026)
Q: How did the collaboration with Stephen King and his wife Tabitha influence the book's approach and access to materials?
She describes a relationship built on trust and respect, with King allowing access to drafts and discussions that shaped the narrative, while remaining hands-off in a way that let her authorial journey guide the project.
Caroline Bicks, "Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King" (Hogarth, 2026)
Q: The first question is maybe the most obvious one, and that is, how does a scholar of early modern literature come to write a book about Stephen King?
Bicks explains that the shift happened after being offered the Stephen E. King Chair and developing a personal fascination with King's craft, which she pursued by spending a sabbatical year in the archives, driven by curiosity about how King creates fear and language.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Burned By Books

What is Burned By Books about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview series focused on contemporary fiction, poetry, and literary culture, featuring in-depth conversations with established and emerging writers. Episodes center on craft, writing processes, and the social, historical, and informal contexts that shape new books—from archival discoveries and authorial inspiration to ethical questions in representation and mentorship. Notable strengths include long-form, conversational interviews that reveal authors' methods, influences, and real-world publishing dynamics, plus a recurring emphasis on how literature intersects with memory, technology, and climate themes. This mix makes it a strong fit for readers and writers seeking nuanced, genre-spanning discussions and practical takeaway... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Burned By Books?

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1. Otherppl with Brad Listi: Books & Culture
2. Poured Over
3. Writers on Writing
4. The Book Review
5. The Stacks

How many episodes of Burned By Books are there?

Burned By Books launched 6 years ago and published 213 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Burned By Books?

Recent guests on Burned By Books include:

1. Tom Lin
2. Téa Obreht
3. Paul Yoon
4. Caroline Bicks
5. Seamus O'Reilly
6. Emily McBride
7. Julie Buntin
8. Andrew Martin

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