The Leftscape Podcast: ‘Ridiculous! Tales from the Mind of D.L. Carter (Episode 45)’

Mary McGinley meets up with prolific author D.L. Carter this week on The Leftscape. D.L. Carter, who hails from the Australian Outback, has been telling stories before she could even write. Her fanciful tales grew nonstop from a child’s imagination, found their way through Doctor Who and Star Trek fan fiction and into her many titles including Ridiculous!, Obstreperous, The Use of Changing Magic, and First Destroy All Giant Monsters. She speaks with Mary about her works in Regency romance, fantasy, mystery, and science fiction. They also cover topics including misogyny in history, Carter’s zany sense of humor, her busy writing process, and the very demanding voices in her head. Those not familiar with the author will likely be drawn in by this interview. It is an excellent listen for anyone interested in embarking on a journey with the creative spark.

At the top of the show, Wendy Sheridan gives us the week’s celebrations. By far, the most discussed is Hairball Awareness Day. A few others – National Superhero Day, Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, Bugs Bunny Day, and National Honesty Day – also capture imaginations. Birthday shout outs go to a motley crew including Cedric the Entertainer, Barbra Streisand, Carol Burnett, Duran Duran’s Roger Taylor, Jerry Seinfeld, Willie Nelson, Ace Frehley, and the late Coretta Scott King.

The news in this episode still held the pre-Mueller Report jitters and speculation. Recorded just after Julian Assange’s arrest, the discussion reveals that the largest portion of everyone’s concern seems to go to Julian Assange’s cat. Robin Renée recognizes the powerful positive influence and complicated legacy of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle. Later, she shares a poem from her NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) efforts, plus some others on themes of poems, politics, sex, loss, and longing.

The Leftscape – the shape of progressive conversation: “Tales from the Mind of D.L. Carter (Episode 45).”