She conducted a great interview on ABC Radio.  I was in Sydney and she was at her headquarters in Melbourne, but she talked with me as if we were seated side by side.  Mostly we discussed my new creative nonfiction anthology, “Becoming a Doctor.”  Also the new magazine–formerly the journal, Creative Nonfiction.  Heard from a number of people after the interview, including the writer-physician Leah Kaminsky, former writer-in-residence at Bar Ilan University.  She’s the editor of a collection of nonfiction and fiction stories by prominent doctor-writers called “The Pen & the Stethoscope,” which will be published this year by Scribe Publications.  Not many doctor-writer anthologies around–which is odd–because physicians and writers are a great deal alike–both living solitary existences, both dealing with the everyday drama of life and death.

Most of the members of my audience at UTS (University of Technology Sydney) were well aware of the importance of Gay Talese’s “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold”  in the annals and history of the new journalism/creative nonfiction movement.  I read the famous  scene aloud–the one in which Sinatra confronts the screenwriter of the film, “The Oscar,” Harlan Ellison, over his shoes (“Game Warden boots,” says Sinatra) and some of the people in the audience could actually recite with me.  My host was Gabrielle Carey, the talented author who teaches in the creative writing program at UTS.

There were 177 applicants and only 12 slots available.  Nearly everyone applying was qualified–or even over-qualified.  Selection was difficult, finding 12 wonderful writers–poets, fiction and creative nonfiction–with an interest in science, technology and science policy.  Folks we thought would work together comfortably.  I have listed the winners below.  (For more information about To Think, To Write, To Publish and The Rightful Place of Science conference, check out www.cspo.org.

The winners:  Rachel Zurer, Lauren Oakes, Stephanie Harris, Deborah Gardner, JD Ho,Meera Lee Sethi,Victoria Blake, Sarah Whelchel, Mary McGrath, Mason Inman, Ross Carper, Jason Bittel.