Writer’s Voice: compelling conversations with authors who challenge, inspire, and inform

Episode Summary

On this episode of Writer’s Voice, two authors share stories of retreat and re-engagement in a world unraveling.

First, novelist Jess Walter talks about So Far Gone, a gripping, darkly funny, and deeply moving novel about Rhys Kinnick—a retired journalist who escapes to a cabin in the woods, only to find himself drawn back into the chaos of American life when his estranged daughter disappears and his grandkids show up at his doorstep.

“The first thought you have is: can I turn away? And I call this a thought experiment… what draws us back into the world?” — Jess Walter

Then, science journalist and memoirist Marguerite Holloway shares her journey in Take to the Trees, a personal exploration of forest ecology, climate grief, and finding courage through tree climbing. Her story blends memoir, science, and deep-rooted hope in the face of environmental loss.

“There was something about shifting my focus to the skills… and the community of women watching out for me—that overcame the fear.” — Marguerite Holloway

Together, these interviews ask: What do we do when the world feels too far gone? And what brings us back?Connect with WV:

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Key Words: Jess Walter, So Far Gone, Christian nationalism, literary thriller, retreat from society, conspiracy culture, Marguerite Holloway, Take to the Trees, forest ecology, tree climbing, women arborists, climate anxiety, dendrochronology, forest health, climate change and trees, Bear and Melissa Lavangie,

You Might Also Like: Jess Walter, THE COLD MILLIONS, Manjula Martin, THE LAST FIRE SEASON

And check out Francesca’s new podcast about creating a new land ethic, Changehampton Presents: Changing the World One Yard At A Time

Segment 1: Jess Walter

Jess Walter discusses his novel So Far Gone, which blends suspense, family drama, and social commentary. The book follows Rhys Kinnick, a man who checks out of society—only to be pulled back in by a family crisis and rising Christian nationalism. Walter reflects on fatherhood, political polarization, toxic masculinity, and the enduring power of love in dark times.

Key Topics

• Christian nationalism and militia movements
• Political polarization and conspiracy culture
• Fatherhood, estrangement, and family reconciliation
• Masculinity, mental health, and reinvention
• Journalism as a path to fiction

Read or listen to a sample from SO FAR GONE

Segment Two: Marguerite Holloway

Marguerite Holloway joins Writer’s Voice to talk about her memoir Take to the Trees, a deeply moving blend of personal narrative, environmental science, and immersive adventure. The book chronicles Holloway’s journey as a tree-climbing novice who enrolls in the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop—run by pioneering twin sister arborists Bear LeVangie and Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll.

As Holloway grapples with ropes, rigging, and the emotional terrain of loss, she ascends not only into the forest canopy but into deeper understanding—of trees, grief, and resilience. Alongside her own personal story, she shares the stories of charismatic tree species and the scientists racing to document and protect forests amid unprecedented environmental threats.

The interview touches on women’s leadership in a male-dominated field, the healing potential of climbing, and the intertwined fates of humans and trees. It culminates in a message of grounded hope: even in the face of arboreal decline, new communities and new ways of seeing the world are taking root.

Key Topics

• Climate change and forest die-off
• Women in arboriculture and tree science
• Tree climbing as healing and empowerment
• Building community through shared learning
• Climate anxiety and reframing fear
• Tree-ring science (dendrochronology)
• Storytelling as a tool for environmental change