{"product_id":"the-creative-spark-how-musicians-writers-explorers-and-other-artists-found-their-inner-fire-and-followed-their-dreams-9781609521783","title":"The Creative Spark: How Musicians, Writers, Explorers, and Other Artists Found Their Inner Fire and Followed Their Dreams","description":"\"Knowledgeable, probing, and thoughtful.\" --Foreword Reviews\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eSmokey Robinson - Barbara Kingsolver - Francis Ford Coppola - David Sedaris - Jane Goodall\u003c\/b\u003e and other luminaries reveal the secrets to their creative success. \u003cb\u003eAmy Tan\u003c\/b\u003e talks about how she finds truth by writing fiction. \u003cb\u003eMelissa Etheridge\u003c\/b\u003e tells us how she channels her fire into her music. \u003cb\u003ePico Iyer\u003c\/b\u003e shares how seeking stillness enhances his creativity. And \u003cb\u003eCoppola\u003c\/b\u003e discusses how he found the courage to make groundbreaking films. \u003cp\u003e In \u003ci\u003eThe Creative Spark\u003c\/i\u003e, a collection of interviews prefaced by brief biographies, these luminaries join dozens of other voices to create a symphony of inspiration. \u003cb\u003eLucinda Williams\u003c\/b\u003e talks about honesty and making every word count; \u003cb\u003eJane Goodall\u003c\/b\u003e cites the value of persistence and believing in yourself; and \u003cb\u003eSmokey Robinson\u003c\/b\u003e heralds the timeless power of love songs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e For more than a decade, award-winning author Michael Shapiro (\u003ci\u003eA Sense of Place\u003c\/i\u003e) has interviewed many of our brightest creators. In \u003ci\u003eThe Creative Spark\u003c\/i\u003e, musicians, authors, explorers, and chefs speak about what drives them, what helps them see the world in fresh ways, and what inspires them to turn their visions into art. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Shapiro's work as a music journalist has led to interviews with legends including \u003cb\u003eGraham Nash, Lyle Lovett, Melissa Etheridge, Jake Shimabukuro, Merle Haggard, \u003c\/b\u003e and Jethro Tull bandleader \u003cb\u003eIan Anderson\u003c\/b\u003e. And he's spoken with creative masters in other fields, such as comedian \u003cb\u003eJoan Rivers\u003c\/b\u003e and author \u003cb\u003eFrances Mayes\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Yet it's not simply that Shapiro has had access to so many supremely talented people--it's that he gets them to go deep. Moments into his penetrating conversation with Lucinda (her fans call her by her first name), she tells Shapiro about how decisions made about her mother's funeral led to fissures in her family. From this achingly personal conversation, readers can glean fresh insights into why Lucinda has such a devoted following and why her songs open listeners' hearts.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Unexpected revelations pop up in every chapter of \u003ci\u003eThe Creative Spark\u003c\/i\u003e. Iowa folksinger \u003cb\u003eGreg Brown\u003c\/b\u003e isn't a household name, but his fellow musicians revere his poetic compositions. Then there's San Francisco Giants announcer \u003cb\u003eMike Krukow\u003c\/b\u003e, who turns every broadcast into a work of art. Chefs, including SingleThread's \u003cb\u003eKyle Connaughton\u003c\/b\u003e, discuss how they're transforming the way we approach fine dining and why social responsibility is essential.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Each chapter starts with a short biography of the creative person being profiled, then segues into Q+A. This collection brings together some of the best-known artists of our time with others who may not be as famed but who have valuable insights about living an artful life. \u003ci\u003eThe Creative Spark\u003c\/i\u003e stands as a testament to human achievement, showing how creativity illuminates our world. And how it resides in each and every one of us, just waiting to break out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Travelers' Tales Guides\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/09\/2019\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781609521783\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 448\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.55lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.51w x 1.13d\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael Shapiro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36661900640412,"sku":"9781609521783","price":33.11,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_5b3c965f-9a06-4817-9b2e-35af3fb9c02c.jpg?v=1603900530","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-creative-spark-how-musicians-writers-explorers-and-other-artists-found-their-inner-fire-and-followed-their-dreams-9781609521783","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}