Barbara Kingsolver Discusses Her Writing Process and Latest Novel, ‘Unsheltered’

The works of novelist and poet Barbara Kingsolver weave themes of social justice and the environment into entertaining stories that have garnered her a variety of awards, and even a selection for Oprah's Book Club. Her works include The Poisonwood Bible, the story of a missionary family in the Congo, and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, an account of her family’s attempt to eat locally.

Her latest novel is called Unsheltered, and it asks the question: How could two hardworking people do everything right in life and still end up destitute? She’ll read from the book at a Houston event on Monday, Oct. 22, at Cullen Performance Hall at the University of Houston.

In the audio above, Kingsolver tells Houston Public Media's Ernie Manouse about the difference between the sort of literary fiction she writes and what some might consider more disposable, commercial fiction. They also discuss her writing process, and how she develops themes, characters, and language.