Magpie Audio Productions

07/24/2025

Glorious high summer in SW Montana

04/29/2025

Biking Bozeman

04/03/2024

Children who know their family's history are happier. They have a stronger sense of control over their lives. They have higher self esteem and better emotional health. Those were the astonishing conclusions of a 2010 Emory University study.

This book can help you capture your stories. And give your children (and their children) better lives!

Do It In The Kitchen: a step-by-step guide to recording your life stories (or someone else’s)

Do It In The Kitchen: a step-by-step guide to recording your life stories (or someone else’s)

02/28/2024

It's publication day for Chérie Newman's latest book. It's a how-to book that will walk you through choosing equipment, adjusting room sound, editing your recordings, and conducting interviews. It will also help you write scripts, specifically for audio, and get comfortable with the sound of your voice (and explain why you don't like it).

Available in audiobook, paperback, and eBook formats.

Do It In The Kitchen: a step-by-step guide to recording your life stories (or someone else’s)

02/23/2024

"At the time, I didn’t know enough to scout the location before I showed up to record so I’d know exactly what equipment to bring. Or, that if it wasn’t possible to scout beforehand, I should bring floor and tabletop mic stands, as well as long and short microphone cables. There was so much I didn’t know back then."

At the time, I didn’t know enough to scout the location before I showed up to record so I’d know exactly what equipment to bring. Or, that if it wasn’t possible to scout beforehand, I should bring floor and tabletop mic stands, as well as long and short microphone cables. There was so much I d...

02/22/2024

In this podcast episode, Paul Zakrzewski talks with Kathleen Schmidt to get an insiders perspective on the book publishing industry. "Too many books and lack of marketing support are primary reasons why the publishing industry struggles."

Last year, I came across an essay called “Book Publishing is Broken” by today’s podcast guest, Kathleen Schmidt. Using her decades of experience in book PR & strategy, Kathleen laid out several reasons why traditional publishing fails writers. (If you haven’t already read that post, you’ll...

02/21/2024

From Biographers International Organization, an interview with Rachel Jamison Webster, professor of creative writing at Northwestern University and the author of four books of poetry and cross-genre writing. During this podcast episode, she talks about her latest book, 'Benjamin Banneker and Us: Eleven Generations of an American Family.'

This week we interview Rachel Jamison Webster, professor of creative writing at Northwestern University and the author of four books of poetry and cross-genre

02/16/2024

Paul Zakrzewski's interviews are always informative and entertaining. During this episode he talks with Abigail Thomas about her memoir-in-fragments approach.

"Thomas’s is one of the great voices in memoir—shrewd, warm, devoid of self-pity—and like all wise teachers, she imparts insights about a life well spent, even when talking about a book well-crafted."

In this converation with memoirist Abigail Thomas, we discuss the backstory of writing Safekeeping, and that now-classic memoir was initially turned down by all the editors the book was sent, except for one.

02/07/2024

A podcast for readers and writers, and anyone who is thinking about writing. On this episode, Chérie Newman (owner of Magpie Audio Productions) talks with podcaster, writer, and book coach Paul Zakrzewski about her memoir 'Other People's Pets: Critters, Careers, and Capitalism in Yellowstone Country.' They also discuss personal discipline and publishing options.

The publishing landscape has undergone transformative changes in recent years, and authors are consistently exploring new paths to share their stories with the world. The recent conversation with Chérie Newman, a debut author with deep roots in audio production and a passionate pet sitter, sheds li...

02/07/2024

Wearing headphones will allow you to hear, while recording, exactly what your listeners will hear. That will help you with quality control during recording and editing.

01/31/2024

Paul Zakrzewski talks with Jay Michaelson about his latest book. After publishing nine other books of nonfiction and poetry, and hundreds of stories for publications like Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, and New York magazine, he’s just come out with his first work of fiction, The Secret That's Not a Secret.

In this episode, I talk with author, professor, journalist, and rabbi Jay Michaelson. After publishing nine other books of nonfiction and poetry, and hundreds of stories for publications like Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, and New York magazine, he’s just come out with his first work of fiction.....

01/17/2024

Amy and Paul talk about the importance of staying in drafting mode, letting go of perfectionist tendencies, the benefit of doing plenty of “scaffolding” before writing, and embracing a flexible approach to structure. We also discuss the value of accountability and finding a writing practice that works for your schedule and temperament.

Why would anyone want to jumpstart their memoir? For one thing, you’re tasked with plumbing your memory for sometimes difficult material. Added to that is the burden of turning out writing that often feels underwhelming—so much less than we know we can do. For recovering perfectionists, the comb...