In a recent episode of the Book Dreams podcast, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley spoke with co-hosts Eve Yohalem and Julie Sternberg about her latest book, *Perestroika in Paris*, her writing process, her love for pets, and her time as a writer in Paris. This particular interview was recorded live during the Miami Book Fair 2021 and is notable for being completely unedited, providing listeners with an authentic glimpse into the conversation.
Read More
Typically, Book Dreams episodes are edited to condense interviews into a 20-25 minute format, but this unedited version offers insight into the show's behind-the-scenes process.
The Miami Book Fair, which began in 1984, is described as an "eight-day literary party" organized by Miami Dade College, featuring over 450 international authors and more than 250 publishers and booksellers showcasing their works. The event also includes antiquarians displaying signed first editions, original manuscripts, and rare collectibles.
Jane Smiley is known for her novel *A Thousand Acres*, which won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1992. She is also recognized for other works including *The All True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton*, awarded the 1999 Spur Award for Best Novel of the West. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters since 1987, Smiley's novel *Horse Heaven* was shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2002, and her more recent novel *Private Life* received acclaim from several top publications in 2010.
In addition to her fiction, Smiley has contributed essays and articles to notable publications such as *The New Yorker*, *The New York Times*, and *Elle*. She has authored various nonfiction works, including *Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Novel* and *The Man Who Invented the Computer*, along with a series of books for young adults centered on horses.
Book Dreams, co-hosted by Julie Sternberg and Eve Yohalem, caters to book lovers and releases new episodes every Thursday, tackling various engaging book-related topics.