Listen in as I chat with Denny S. Bryce and Eliza Knight, co-authors of Can't We Be Friends: A Novel of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe listed in the Music category on Art In Fiction.
View the Video on YouTube
- How Denny & Eliza decided to write their novel about Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe
- Research tidbits that led them into the story
- How both Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe changed the face of entertainment, Ella in jazz and Marilyn in film
- Marilyn Monroe as one of the first female producers
- Ella Fitzgerald's influence on jazz and how she made sure she was in the mix for each change in music trends within jazz
- What the friendship meant from each woman's point of view
- The power of female friendship; quote from Michele Obama
- Ella and Marilyn, and their relationships with the men in their lives
- How Can't We Be Friends is a novel about striving to be the best, about excellence even more than fame
- How Ella Fitzgerald was "dangerous"
- Challenges that Eliza & Denny faced writing a novel about two real people
- Reading by Denny Bryce from Can't We Be Friends
- Reading by Eliza Knight from Can't We Be Friends
- The collaboration process; how Denny & Eliza wrote the novel together
- What both Eliza & Denny learned from writing Can't We Be Friends
- Use of first and third person in Can't We Be Friends
- The power of spreadsheets!
- What Denny is working on now
- What Eliza is working on now
Press Play now & be sure to check out Can't We Be Friends on Art In Fiction.
Denny S. Bryce's Website
Eliza Knight's Website
Music Credit
Paganology, performed by The Paul Plimley Trio; composed by Gregg Simpson
This website contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. As an Ama
Are you enjoying The Art In Fiction Podcast? Consider giving us a small donation so we can continue bringing you interviews with your favorite arts-inspired novelists. Click this link to donate: https://ko-fi.com/artinfiction.
Also, check out Art In Fiction at https://www.artinfiction.com and explore 2300+ novels inspired by the arts in 11 categories: Architecture, Dance, Decorative Arts, Film, Literature, Music, Textile Arts, Theater, Visual Arts, & Other.
Want to learn more about Carol Cram, the host of The Art In Fiction Podcast? She's the author of several award-winning novels, including The Towers of Tuscany and Love Amon
Popular Podcasts
Cold Case Files: Miami
Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides. Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.