Arts Alive! podcast: Author L.L. Kirchner

Back on the podcast this week is novelist L.L. Kirchner, who published two eye-opening memoirs before deep-diving head first into the world of fiction.

Not so long ago, Kirchner created, over the course of two years and change, a series of three character-driven novels (The Queenpin Chronicles) that began in 1940s St. Petersburg and ended in 1970s Havana.

Nearly all the protagonists – and a few of the bad guys – were women. “Kirchner,” said one online reader, “has created a fascinating group of women who refuse to be victims.”

Jessica Greer, the woman at the heart of her new book, The Critic, also faces considerable obstacles. For one thing, she’s the primary suspect in the ricin poisoning of the man who took her job, reviewing theater for a Pittsburgh alt-weekly. The FBI’s got her in their crosshairs.

There’s much, much more, but that’s the crux of The Critic. And for Jessica, things just couldn’t get worse. Until they do.

The Critic is fascinating and funny, serious and suspenseful, mysterious and marvelous.

Which is also a pretty good description of the author.

Click on the arrow to listen to the conversation.