Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Terry McMillan: Best-Selling Author, “Waiting to Exhale,” 2001
Terry McMillan, best-selling novelist in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded February 13, 2001 while on tour for her novel, A Day Late and a Dollar Short.
Terry McMillan’s novels focus on the lives, aspirations and journeys of discovery of African American women and their families. She hit the ground running with her first novel, Mama, in 1987, which she helped turn into a best-seller. She followed that with a series of novels that helped create a large fan base for her work. Among her best known novels are Waiting to Exhale and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, along with Disappearing Acts, all of which were adapted for film.
A Day Late and a Dollar Short is a long novel that focuses on several family members going through a variety of crises and revelations. It was adapted into a television film in 2014 starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ving Rhames, which is now available streaming on Kanopy, the free library app, as well as on other streaming services. This interview leans hard into that novel, with side trips into discussions about black families and black culture in America.
As of 2026, she has published ten novels and two works of nonfiction, and according to IMDb is working as a producer for a series of television films under the title Terry McMillan presents. Her most recent novel, It’s Not All Downhill from Here, was published in 2020.
This interview was digitized, remastered and edited in March 2026 and has not been heard in over twenty years.
Poul Anderson (1926-2001): Science Fiction and Fantasy Legend, recorded 1978
Poul Anderson (1926-2001), noted science fiction and fantasy author, winner of seven Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards, in conversation with the late Lawrence Davidson, recorded for the Probabilities radio program on KPFA on June 10, 1978.
The late Poul Anderson, who died on July 31, 2001 at the age of 74, is considered one of the greatest science fiction and fantasy authors of the twentieth century. He even has an asteroid named in his honor. Known for his hard science writing, in particular his Polysotechnic League series as well as his Landry series and his Time Patrol series, he was also a master of fantasy. There were also historical novels and mysteries. His career began in 1947 at the age of 21 with stories in Astounding Science Fiction, and he became a professional writer a year later. One of his novels became a film, the Hugo nominated novel, The High Crusade, in 1994 about an alien spaceship landing in medieval England. It is currently not streaming in the United States though if you search, you can find a DVD copy. As with many of the writers of the pulp and paperback era, Poul Anderson is ripe for rediscovery.
After Probabilities got its start in 1977, it was natural that the Orinda-based writer would become a guest on the show, This short conversation with co-host Lawrence Davidson, recorded June 10, 1978, was likely Davidson’s very first solo interview and came before the show’s focus turned to the history of modern science fiction.
The interview was digitized, remastered and edited on February 22, 2026, using the Adobe Podcast app to remove noise and echo. This interview has not been heard on the radio since its initial airing.
Poul Anderson Wikipedia page
Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links
Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors’ positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025.
Book Passage. Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
Books Inc. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
The Booksmith. Monthly Event Calendar.
BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar.
Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months.
Green Apple Books. Events calendar.
Kepler’s Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings.
Live Theater Companies
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. See website for readings and events.
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). See website for upcoming productions.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
American Conservatory Theatre Paranormal Activity, Feb. 19 – March 15, Toni Rembe.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information.
BATS Improv Improvised theatre. See website for schedule. BATS Bayfront Theatre, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco.
Berkeley Playhouse. Once, February 20 – March 22.
Berkeley Rep. How Shakespeare Saved My Life written and performed by Jacob Ming-Trent .January 23 – March 1, Peets Theatre. All My Sons by Arthur Miller, Feb. 20 – March 29, Roda Theatre.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming productions.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings.
BroadwaySF: The Notebook, February 10 – March 1, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters. note: BroadwaySF is now ATG Tickets.
Broadway San Jose: The Book of Mormon, March 6-8. Beetlejuice, March 31 – April 5. Les Miserables, April 29 – May 3. Back to the Future, June 2 – 7. The Sound of Music, July 21-26,
Center REP: Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon, March 29 – April 19.
Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond
Central Works After Happy by Patricia Milton, Feb. 28 – March 29.
Cinnabar Theatre. The Christians by Lucas Hnath, April 10-26, The Secret Garden, June 12 – 28.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco, ongoing. Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre A Chorus Line, June 6 – 21, 2026. See website for other events and concerts.
Golden Thread See website for upcoming events and productions.
Hillbarn Theatre: Songs for a New World, music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, March 5 -22.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. 2026 season: Sistahfriend by Phaedra Tillery-Boughton, Magic Theatre, May 15-17; African Stew by Dr. Lisa B. Thompson, Sept. 10-27. Magic Theatre; Soulful Christmas, December, Magic Theatre.
Los Altos Stage Company. Treasure Island, A New Adventure by By A.J. Allegra, James Bartelle and Alex Martinez Wallace, March 13-22..
Lower Bottom Playaz See website for upcoming productions.
Magic Theatre. Macbeth, a new version by Migdalia Cruz. March 18 – April 5.
Marin Shakespeare Company: One for All Solo Festival, hosted and curated by Josh Kornbluth, March 6-22. See website for schedule.
Marin Theatre: 60th Anniversary Gala, April 19. Pictures from Home by Sharr White, May 7-31.
Masquers Playhouse, Point Richmond. Improbable Fiction by Alan Aykbourn, Feb. 6 – March 1.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Closed. SF Chronicle gift article.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Gods and Monsters based on the novel by Christopher Bram, written and adapted by Tom Mullen, March 6 – April 5.
New Performance Traditions. See website for upcoming schedule
Oakland Theater Project. Assassins, March 29 – April 5. The House of Bernarda Alba by by Federico Garcia Lorca, adapted by Chay Yew, May 22 – June 7. The Fre by Taylor Mac, June 18-28.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Palace of Fine Arts Theater. See website for event listings.
Pear Theater. My Fair Lady, Feb 20 – March 8. See website for staged readings and other events.
Playful People Productions. The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong, March 6 – 22.
Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. The Children’s Theatre Association of San Francisco (CTA) presents Once Upon a Mattress, January 24 – February 28.
Ray of Light: Mean Girls. May 2026.
Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events.
San Francisco Playhouse. M. Butterfly by David Henry Hwang. February 6 – March 14..
SFBATCO. See website for streaming and in- theater shows.
San Francisco Shakespeare Festival. Shakespeare on Tour: Julius Caesar, through May. See website for more information.
San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season
Shotgun Players. The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia by Edward Albee, March 21 – April 19.
South Bay Musical Theatre: On The Twentieth Century, April 19-20.
SPARC: See website for upcoming events.
Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Lunatico See website for upcoming productions..
Theatre Rhino Left Field, written and directed by John Fisher, February 19 – March 15. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Primary Trust by Eboni Booth, March 4 – 29, Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto.
Word for Word. See website for upcoming productions.
Misc. Listings:
BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season.
Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar.
Fort Mason Center. Events calendar.Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances.
San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings.
San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings.
Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog.
League of Livestream Theatre: See website for streaming plays.
If you’d like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write [email protected]
.
