Mark Meynell has done a lot of thinking about civility and cynicism and the writer's responsibility not just to win arguments, but to tell the truth. In this episode, Jonathan and Mark discuss the practice of generosity involved in both writing and reading, the virtues and vices of rhetoric, and how fiction and nonfiction persuade us in different ways.

Writers who make Mark want to write:
Graham Greene
John LeCarre
Elizabeth Strout

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<a href="https://www.markmeynell.net/">Mark Meynell</a> has done a lot of thinking about civility and cynicism and the writer's responsibility not just to win arguments, but to tell the truth. In this episode, Jonathan and Mark discuss the practice of generosity involved in both writing and reading, the virtues and vices of rhetoric, and how fiction and nonfiction persuade us in different ways.
Writers who make Mark want to write:
<ul>
<li>Graham Greene</li>
<li>John LeCarre</li>
<li>Elizabeth Strout</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://us15.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=78c50b8df93684101cc7deeaf&amp;id=cc4bc8c27c">Subscribe</a> to The Habit Weekly newsletter. <a href="https://thehabit.co">Find out more</a> about The Habit Membership.

Conversations with writers about writing, hosted by Jonathan Rogers.

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Episode 15: Mark Meynell

Jennifer Trafton’s new book is If Only We Could See: Reimagining Creativity, Compassion, and Calling Through the Extraordinary Life of Lilias Trotter. An historian, a visual artist, and a novelist, Jennifer is uniquely qualified to tell this story. In this episode, Jennifer and Jonathan Rogers talk about the remarkable life of artist and missionary Lilias Trotter. They also talk about the empathetic imagination, the value of seeing what is actually in front of you, and the role of humility in seeing clearly.

Jennifer Trafton&rsquo;s new book is If <a href="https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/if-only-we-could-see?_pos=1&amp;_sid=d1835e1bc&amp;_ss=r">Only We Could See: Reimagining Creativity, Compassion, and Calling Through the Extraordinary Life of Lilias Trotter.</a> An historian, a visual artist, and a novelist, Jennifer is uniquely qualified to tell this story. In this episode, Jennifer and Jonathan Rogers talk about the remarkable life of artist and missionary Lilias Trotter. They also talk about the empathetic imagination, the value of seeing what is actually in front of you, and the role of humility in seeing clearly.

Jennifer Trafton on Lilias Trotter

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/9b8af77a-d526-4de7-a926-b42b00114d94/transcript

Leslie Bustard did a lot of thinking, teaching, and writing about what God made women to be–as distinct from what women can and can’t do. She was working on a book on this topic when she died in 2023. In the last months of Leslie’s earthly life, writer and editor Théa Rosenburg came alongside to help Leslie get the book over the finish line. As it happened, Théa had to finish the work without Leslie. The book, called Strong Allies, released in 2026. Jonathan Rogers sat down with Théa at the Square Halo Conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and recorded the following conversation before a live audience.

Leslie Bustard did a lot of thinking, teaching, and writing about what God made women to be&ndash;as distinct from what women can and can&rsquo;t do. She was working on a book on this topic when she died in 2023. In the last months of Leslie&rsquo;s earthly life, writer and editor Th&eacute;a Rosenburg came alongside to help Leslie get the book over the finish line. As it happened, Th&eacute;a had to finish the work without Leslie. The book, called <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/strong-allies-creating-cultivating-restoring-leslie-anne-bustard/150f5da0629e2cff?ean=9781941106440&amp;next=t">Strong Allies</a>, released in 2026. Jonathan Rogers sat down with Th&eacute;a at the Square Halo Conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and recorded the following conversation before a live audience.

Théa Rosenburg and Leslie Bustard Were Strong Allies

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/6845c4da-d009-451c-a4d9-b42400bf05c0/transcript

Jamie Quatro is the author of Two Step Devil, a southern Gothic novel very much in the tradition of Flannery O’Connor. The Booklist review of Two-Step Devil describes it as "Brilliantly paced and exquisitely detailed, this striking novel takes on such weighty themes as faith, humanity, and frailty without a touch of melodrama . . . A spectacular masterpiece.” Bookpage called Quatro "a saint of Southern discomfort. Jamie Quatro and Jonathan Rogers recorded this conversation in front of a live audience at the Illuminate Conference near Chattanooga.

Jamie Quatro is the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/two-step-devil-jamie-quatro/72c9f831f2b61a99?ean=9780802165428&amp;next=t">Two Step Devil,</a> a southern Gothic novel very much in the tradition of Flannery O&rsquo;Connor. The Booklist review of Two-Step Devil describes it as "Brilliantly paced and exquisitely detailed, this striking novel takes on such weighty themes as faith, humanity, and frailty without a touch of melodrama . . . A spectacular masterpiece.&rdquo; Bookpage called Quatro "a saint of Southern discomfort. Jamie Quatro and Jonathan Rogers recorded this conversation in front of a live audience at the Illuminate Conference near Chattanooga.

Jamie Quatro's Two-Step Devil

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/2154d76e-7bb5-41c7-973e-b41d013f7e96/transcript

Episode 15: Mark Meynell

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