This week on The Habit Podcast, Jonathan Rogers interviews Barnabas Piper, author of Hoping for Happiness.

They talk about the unrealistic expectations that artists can sometimes project onto their craft, how much easier it is to write while sad than while happy, and the distinction between hope and optimism.

Transcripts are available for The Habit Podcast. View them at RabbitRoom.com/podcast.

This week on The Habit Podcast, Jonathan Rogers interviews Barnabas Piper, author of Hoping for Happiness.
They talk about the unrealistic expectations that artists can sometimes project onto their craft, how much easier it is to write while sad than while happy, and the distinction between hope and optimism.
Transcripts are available for The Habit Podcast. View them at RabbitRoom.com/podcast.

Conversations with writers about writing, hosted by Jonathan Rogers.

The Habit

The Habit Podcast

S2 E39: Barnabas Piper

Daniel Nayeri’s latest novel—The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story—recently received the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. In this episode Daniel speaks with Jonathan Rogers about Iran’s role in World War II, food writing, fathers, providence, the wisdom of children, and incompetent spies.

This episode is sponsored by The Habit Writer Development Cohorts, a six-week small-group intensive starting January 12. The Habit Writer Development Cohorts provide practical tools, insights, and encouragement that writers at all experience levels. 

Daniel Nayeri&rsquo;s latest novel&mdash;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-teacher-of-nomad-land-a-world-war-ii-story-daniel-nayeri/d254bd270f6ddc78?ean=9781646145669&amp;next=t">The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story</a>&mdash;recently received the National Book Award for Young People&rsquo;s Literature. In this episode Daniel speaks with Jonathan Rogers about Iran&rsquo;s role in World War II, food writing, fathers, providence, the wisdom of children, and incompetent spies.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="TheHabit.co/Cohorts">The Habit Writer Development Cohorts</a>, a six-week small-group intensive starting January 12. The Habit Writer Development Cohorts provide practical tools, insights, and encouragement that writers at all experience levels.&nbsp;

Daniel Nayeri on The Teacher of Nomad Land

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/b289f60a-2db3-41d1-96c5-b3b400c55fa6/transcript

You probably know Sally Lloyd-Jones as the author of the Jesus Storybook Bible, a book that has been around for almost twenty years. She has also published more than twenty other books for children, including Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, His Royal Highness King Baby, and Skip to the Loo: A Potty Book. Her latest is Jesus, Our True Friend. Sally is committed to delight, and that makes her a delight herself. This is a delightful conversation between Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jonathan Rogers.

This episode is sponsored by The Habit Writer Development Cohorts. Join "Cohort Week Zero," a free mini-class, at TheHabit.co/Development.

You probably know Sally Lloyd-Jones as the author of the Jesus Storybook Bible, a book that has been around for almost twenty years. She has also published more than twenty other books for children, including Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, His Royal Highness King Baby, and Skip to the Loo: A Potty Book. Her latest is <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/jesus-our-true-friend-stories-to-fill-your-heart-with-joy-sally-lloyd-jones/d07b6811717f1ed2?ean=9780310160885&amp;next=t">Jesus, Our True Friend</a>. Sally is committed to delight, and that makes her a delight herself. This is a delightful conversation between Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jonathan Rogers.
This episode is sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="TheHabit.co/Cohorts">The Habit Writer Development Cohorts</a>. Join "Cohort Week Zero," a free mini-class, at <a href="TheHabit.co/Development">TheHabit.co/Development</a>.

Sally Lloyd-Jones on Delight

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/f2200eb5-e7c5-4b6b-8c80-b3ad003e689f/transcript

Galahad and the Grail is Book 1 of Merlin’s Isle, Malcolm Guite’s retelling of the King Arthur legends in ballad form. It releases in March of 2026. In the prelude to Galahad and the Grail, a voice shimmering in the morning air says:

Poet, take up the tale–
Take up the tale the land still keeps,
In earth and water magic sleeps,
The dryad sighs, the naiad weeps,
But you can lift the veil.

Malcolm has taken up a very old tale and lifted the veil on stories that have lingered in the traditions of the British Isles longer than the English language itself. 

Scholar and teacher Junius Johnson is taking up the tale in another way. Starting in January 2026, Junius is teaching a 20-week online class on the King Arthur legend. He describes the class as a chance to see for yourself why this story has fascinated the imagination for so many centuries.

In this episode, Malcolm, Junius talk with Jonathan Rogers about how King Arthur rode into their lives, and what these stories have meant to them.

This episode is sponsored by The Habit Writer Development Cohorts. Join "Cohort Week Zero," a free mini-class, at TheHabit.co/Development.

<a href="https://store.rabbitroom.com/products/merlins-isle?_pos=1&amp;_psq=galahad&amp;_ss=e&amp;_v=1.0">Galahad and the Grail</a> is Book 1 of Merlin&rsquo;s Isle, Malcolm Guite&rsquo;s retelling of the King Arthur legends in ballad form. It releases in March of 2026. In the prelude to Galahad and the Grail, a voice shimmering in the morning air says:
Poet, take up the tale&ndash; Take up the tale the land still keeps, In earth and water magic sleeps, The dryad sighs, the naiad weeps, But you can lift the veil.
Malcolm has taken up a very old tale and lifted the veil on stories that have lingered in the traditions of the British Isles longer than the English language itself.&nbsp;
Scholar and teacher <a href="https://academics.juniusjohnson.com/">Junius Johnson</a> is taking up the tale in another way. Starting in January 2026, Junius is teaching <a href="https://academics.juniusjohnson.com/">a 20-week online class on the King Arthur legend</a>. He describes the class as a chance to see for yourself why this story has fascinated the imagination for so many centuries.
In this episode, Malcolm, Junius talk with Jonathan Rogers about how King Arthur rode into their lives, and what these stories have meant to them.
This episode is sponsored by <a href="TheHabit.co/Cohorts">The Habit Writer Development Cohorts</a>. Join "Cohort Week Zero," a free mini-class, at <a href="TheHabit.co/Development">TheHabit.co/Development</a>.

Malcolm Guite and Junius Johnson Take Up the Tale

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d699cc26-51ff-4875-9bdb-aa4e006494dd/clips/ce0fc265-07d5-4a0a-a744-b3a600bf6dbf/transcript

S2 E39: Barnabas Piper

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