When asked why she became a writer, novelist Heidi Julavits pointed to her childhood diaries as early evidence of her path to be an author. But when she found those early journals in storage bins, they were disappointing. They possessed, in her words, the mind of a “paranoid tax auditor.” Yet they inspired her to try to write a diary again. The result is a collection of reflections on the foibles and desires of a busy writer, professor and mother. Each entry is a different meditation on time, identity and husbands, as well as ghosts and barns. Julavits joins us to talk about why she decided to write and publish her diary.

Guests

  • Heidi Julavits Novelist whose work includes "The Vanishers," "The Uses of Enchantment" and "The Mineral Palace." She is co-editor of the New York Times bestseller "Women in Clothes" and teaches writing at Columbia University.

Read A Featured Excerpt

THE FOLDED CLOCK by Heidi Julavits. Copyright (c) 2015 by Heidi Julavits. Excerpted by permission of Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, a division of Random House.

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