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Rock Is Lit

Rock Is Lit

Written by: Christy Alexander Hallberg
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 “I really tried to create a band that I would love, if they were real”— Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones & The Six Fiction writers have long been seduced by the anarchy, defiance, and raw power of rock ‘n roll, creating stories about music, the people who make it, and the characters who love it with the same intensity as the most ambitious concept albums. But until Rock is Lit first aired in September 2022, there had never been a podcast devoted to this art form—the rock novel—and the show remains a singularity. In each episode, host Christy Alexander Hallberg, author of the award-winning rock novel Searching for Jimmy Page (Livingston Press, 2021), interviews authors about craft and the musical inspiration behind their work, then brings in music experts, like legendary groupie Pamela Des Barres, to add real-world context to the bands or musical periods featured in the novels. Hallberg has quickly earned a reputation as a meticulous researcher and creative producer, frequently garnering compliments from guests such as Rex Weiner, author of The (Original) Adventures of Ford Fairlane: “You’re so well versed in what I wrote and, of course, your own rock ‘n roll history is pretty terrific.” The podcast’s growing roster of rock novels includes: Dana Spiotta’s National Book Award-nominated Eat the Document, works by BIPOC authors like Chris L. Terry’s Black Card, metal-centric novels like John Wray’s Gone to the Wolves, YA LGBTQ debuts like Jessamyn Violet’s Secret Rules to Being a Rockstar, Scifi rock novels like Sarah Pinsker’s Nebula Award-winning A Song For A New Day, rock novels adapted to film like Garth Risk Hallberg’s City on Fire, and celebrity rock novels like the legendary Suzi Quatro’s The Hurricane. Tune in to Rock is Lit and join the mounting number of Lit Listeners on their quest to find the very best rock novels. A proud part of Pantheon Podcasts. Watch the trailer on YouTube. Find Christy Alexander Hallberg and Rock is Lit on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube: @ChristyHallberg2023 Rock Is Lit Art Music
Episodes
  • Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest Spotlight: General Submission Winner Cynthia Swanson Reads Her Winning Story, “A Possibility Nonetheless”

    Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest Spotlight: General Submission Winner Cynthia Swanson Reads Her Winning Story, “A Possibility Nonetheless”
    Sep 11 2025
    In this episode of Rock is Lit, Cynthia Swanson, winner of the second Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest in the General Submission category, reads her winning story, “A Possibility Nonetheless.” MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Rock is Lit theme music Sixties 60’s music (free to use) “The Water is Wide” by Pete Seeger “Mr. Tambourine Man” by The Byrds “There But For Fortune” by Joan Baez Sixties 60’s music (free to use) Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Cynthia Swanson’s website: https://cynthiaswansonauthor.com/ Cynthia Swanson on Bluesky: @cynswanauthor.bsky.social Cynthia Swanson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiaswansonauthor/ Cynthia Swanson on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CynthiaSwanson/ Cynthia Swanson on Instagram: @cynswanauthor Cynthia Swanson on Substack: https://thewhatifjournal.substack.com/ Rock is Lit on Instagram & Bluesky: @rockislitpodcast Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram and YouTube: @christyhallberg Christy Alexander Hallberg on Facebook: @ChristyAlexanderHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest Spotlight: Undergraduate Student Submissions Winner Mavis Wolff Reads Her Winning Story, “Yes, Please”

    Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest Spotlight: Undergraduate Student Submissions Winner Mavis Wolff Reads Her Winning Story, “Yes, Please”
    Sep 8 2025
    Congratulations to the winner of the second Bill Hallberg Rock ‘n’ Roll Short Story Contest in the Undergraduate Student Submissions category, Mavis Wolff! Listen to Mavis read her winning story, “Yes, Please,” in this episode. Mavis Wolff is a Corporate Social Purpose Intern with Volunteer Tennessee, and a Peer Mentor at MTSU's University Writing Center. She has developed a strong skillset in professional mentorship, academic research, and compositional tutoring. She is a published researcher and has received several honors for her academic excellence and creative writing. She hopes to pursue a JD in Fall of 2026, after graduating with a B.A. in English (Writing) and a Minor in Spanish. MUSIC IN THE EPISODE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE: Rock is Lit theme music Sixties 60’s music (free to use) “Don’t Forget to Dance” by The Kinks “Come Dancing” by The Kinks “State of Confusion” by The Kinks Sixties 60’s music (free to use) Rock is Lit theme music LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451 Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350 Mavis Wolff’s website: https://maviswolff.com/ Mavis Wolff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maviswolff/ Rock is Lit on Instagram & Bluesky: @rockislitpodcast Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram and YouTube: @christyhallberg Christy Alexander Hallberg on Facebook: @ChristyAlexanderHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Kim Gottlieb-Walker’s Journey from Rock & Film Photography to Fiction Teaser

    Kim Gottlieb-Walker’s Journey from Rock & Film Photography to Fiction Teaser
    May 13 2025
    In this special Rock is Lit episode—available exclusively on YouTube—legendary rock and film photographer Kim Gottlieb-Walker joins Christy to talk about her novel, ‘Lenswoman in Love’, a love story steeped in the sights and sounds of the 1960s and 1970s music and film scenes. Kim shares behind-the-scenes stories of working with a young Cameron Crowe and shooting icons like Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Gram Parsons, and Jim Morrison. She also discusses what it was like to be a film set still photographer on classics like John Carpenter's ‘Halloween’ and TV shows like 'Cheers' and 'Family Ties'. As a bonus, Kim walks us through a visual slideshow of her iconic photography that inspired moments in her novel. This is a rare, can’t-miss episode best experienced with your eyes and ears. WATCH HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMiLtXU71l8 For Kim’s full bio, see her website. LINKS: Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Goodpods: ⁠https://goodpods.com/podcasts/rock-is-lit-212451⁠ Leave a rating and comment for Rock is Lit on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rock-is-lit/id1642987350⁠ Kim Gottlieb-Walker’s website: ⁠http://lenswoman.com/⁠ Kim on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/KimGottliebWalker⁠ Lens Woman in Love Facebook page: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/groups/938323581755313⁠ Kim on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/kimgottliebwalker/⁠ Kim on Bluesky: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/kimgottliebwalker.bsky.social⁠ Rock is Lit on Instagram & Bluesky: @rockislitpodcast Christy Alexander Hallberg on Instagram and YouTube: @christyhallberg Christy Alexander Hallberg on Facebook: @ChristyAlexanderHallberg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    7 mins
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