Endnotes on Ghosts: Patrick Cottrell, Lynn Steger Strong, and More Voices from Thresholds

This is Thresholds, a series of conversations with writers about experiences that completely turned them upside down, disoriented them in their lives, changed them, and changed how and why they wanted to write. Hosted by Jordan Kisner, author of the essay collection Thin Places, and brought to you by Lit Hub Radio.

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It’s the end of our “ghosts” capsule and not a moment too soon! Those days sure are getting shorter…

This episode features Patrick Cottrell on his change-of-seasons vibe this year, a clip from our long-ago episode with Lynn Steger Strong (whose new book Flight is out soon!), more Threshold alum highlights, and scary-season book recommendations from the October Country, courtesy of Drew.

Subscribe and download the episode, wherever you get your podcasts!

From the episode:

Patrick Cottrell: I’m in Denver where it’s fall but around 70 degrees and sunny. I’ve lived here for over a year now, and I’ve noticed the seasons change in a really slow and subtle way. It’s not as dramatic as it was when I lived in Wisconsin or New York City. Having said that, of course, the days are becoming shorter and colder, and I’ll be eating more soup and wearing more layers of clothes.

One thing I’ve started to do during this time, when time is starting to slow down and maybe I’m even being more of a hermit than usual, I like to go through my closet and get rid of things that no longer fit. For most of my adult life, I’ve worn the same clothes, and the past couple of years I’ve gained weight and have needed new clothing, which has been weird because I just don’t buy new clothes. So I’ve tried to go on Poshmark or eBay, and I buy the same shirts I’ve always worn, just in bigger sizes. So part of getting ready for winter is organizing my closet, purging things, and looking for the same shirts I’ve always worn, just used online or maybe at Goodwill.

I have to be careful about purging my closet because I accidentally gave away one of my favorite shirts. It was one that I found online after searching for two years, and it must have been thrown into a donation bag. And now it’s gone. Once I realized my mistake, I went to Goodwill to look. But someone had already bought it because it’s just a really good shirt. It was very thin and comfortablem and someone else is wearing it now in Denver. I’ve always worn the same things over and over, almost like a uniform. That probably goes back to my Catholic school days where you didn’t have to think about what you’re wearing. You just put it on. But I think I’ll stop here and just say, I hope whatever you’re doing this season brings you enjoyment.

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For more Thresholds, visit us at thisisthresholds.com. Original music by Lora-Faye Åshuvud and art by Kirstin Huber.