Vietnam War & Past Lives: Inside Ellen Birkett Morris's Gripping Tale! | Episode 144

In this episode of the Bookaholic Podcast, Ellen Birkett Morris discusses her novel 'Beware The Tall Grass,' a poignant story about a mother and her child who has past life memories of serving in the Vietnam War. Ellen shares her inspiration from an NPR story about young children with past life memories and the challenges of expanding a short story into a novel. She highlights the significance of vivid imagery and metaphors in her writing and reflects on the validation from winning the Donald L. Jordan Prize. Ellen also talks about her upcoming projects, including a short story collection and a lighter novel. Join us for an insightful conversation about creative writing, overcoming fear, and the power of storytelling.

00:00 Welcome to the Bookaholic Podcast
00:27 Introducing 'Beware The Tall Grass'
02:04 The Inspiration Behind the Story
03:07 The Eight-Year Journey of Writing
03:46 Challenges of Transitioning from Short Stories to Novels
05:57 The Role of Tall Grass in the Story
08:03 Vietnam War as a Central Theme
11:29 Family Dynamics and Skepticism
12:44 Exploring Reincarnation and Mystical Memories
17:45 Accolades and Recognition
20:22 Future Projects and Final Thoughts