Karl Marlantes, a renowned author and decorated Vietnam War veteran, recently headlined the Astoria Writers Guild October Creative Writing Festival. Marlantes, known for his critically acclaimed novels such as Matterhorn and Deep River, captivated the audience with a keynote reading, workshop, and an engaging conversation.

During his presentation, he shared insights into his writing process, the historical and cultural contexts of his works, and the profound themes of class, race, labor, and capitalism that permeate his storytelling. He sat down in conversation with Guild founder, Marianne Monson, for an in-depth conversation about his writing process and work. We’re indebted to KMUN for the recording.