"Sunday Morning": Writers on writing

Enjoy a look back at "Sunday Morning" conversations with some of the most popular writers of our time, including John Blackstone's 2006 profile of Anne Rice; Martha Teichner's 2017 interview with Louise Penny; Anthony Mason's 1999 visit to the home of Umberto Eco; Rita Braver's 2006 conversation with Neil Simon; and Jane Pauley's 2021 interview with Stephen King.
"CBS Sunday Morning" features stories on the arts, music, nature, entertainment, sports, history, science and Americana, and highlights unique human accomplishments and achievements. Check local listings for CBS Sunday Morning broadcast times.
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[@catherinecrawford3058]

When Carrie came out, I was a miserable teen. Years of bullying and being gaslighted had gutted me emotionally and mentally. The book validated my experience like nothing else before. While I never agreed with the violence she wrought, I understood it.

[@wonderwoman5528]

I’m sorry you went through bullying

[@roxannemitchell6112]

A majority of us have gone through what you have. I personally persevered through it all and came out a strong independent woman. Successful and confident. My bullyers became jealous, ugly, and weak. AKA KARMA

[@MrUndersolo]

The first of his novels I read, and the one I related to the most, too. High school was not easy, and King seemed to understand how teenagers thought.

[@sushantharpal5854]

Love you Catherine 😊

[@riverplate0101]

Hollar at me ma

[@jeanneratterman]

My mom and I read IN THE NAME OF THE ROSE to each other until we completed reading it. We’d stop and discuss it while reading and in between readings. I was in my 40’s and she in her late 70’s. It is still one of my favorite memories with Mom. We’d be so excited each night to get to reading it together. Thank you, Umberto.

[@darnitthelma4247]

Beautiful story ♥️

[@Shadowfax85]

I wish CBS would put together more author interviews like this.

[@reginaldforthright805]

They should do nothing but author interviews

[@bluecollarlit]

Like your style.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

It'd be nice to have a chance, but only authors with coin, crews, clout, connections, computer code control, communities, and opportunities are ever recognized. "Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope's strength resteeled. But to earn final peace at the Universe's endless refrain, We must see all in nothingness... ...before we start again." --DD1 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

[@yvonnekneeshaw2784]

THAT WOULD BE SO APPRECIATED !!❤

[@rabid_mongrel]

Dean Koontz Dan Simmons Clive Barker

[@janices6140]

I clicked for Stephen King, which was saved for last. However, it was a pleasure hearing the stories of the other authors. Thanks!

[@jeanmank742]

I never found the spark. I cried when Jane said it was so rare to find it. The passion in her voice!

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

I empathize with you; the passion in her voice makes one wonder what dreams she had that were unfulfilled, and which, despite her successes, still lived within her. The great successful person, who secretly had wanted to be something else, is such a trope in our culture - the actress \ writer \ businesswoman, etc. who really just wanted to be a wife and mother, baking cookies all day (an especially popular plot device in movies of the '40s and '50s) or the politician who just wanted to be an art \ actor \ musician, etc. Some people are very fortunate, in that they have someone to nurture and then fan that early fame. When I was about 10 years old, I made the statement that when I grew up I would be a famous writer ( note I wished to be a famous writer, and not a good writer, which makes a comment on my childhood naive arrogance vs. any inherent talent); my mother said that people who were famous were born with that as their fate, i.e. born lucky. She was not reprimanding me, I remember all these decades later, there was a sadness in her voice. I believe it was because of her own faded dreams and her maternal desire to protect me from disappointment. Well, decades later, I realize that nurturing as a child is vital, but there comes a point where we must nurture ourselves. Scary and lonely, life can be, but, it also has beauty - I wish you joy in your journey.

[@jeanmank742]

@@jeraldbaxter3532 Thank you so much for a beautiful post. You really understand and yes, you are a very talented writer. God bless you. My mother was a professional actress surrounded by many now famous names (many now gone) but fame eluded her so she gave up too soon and her children suffered from her regrets the rest of her life. As you wisely said, though, I am now nurturing myself and doing much better.

[@patricelockertanthony7630]

@@jeraldbaxter3532 Another perspective on it is that she's had the occasion, both personally and professionally, to speak to, and interview, thousands of people (probably 10s of thousands). In all that time...all those years of conversations and interviews, she undoubtedly picked up on unfed dreams, unsatisfied longings, hopes...and unmet goals. She will have spoken many times to people who've had one piece, or two pieces of what she describes as the trifecta, but not the entire thing. Maybe that's why she spoke of it so passionately and clearly. Maybe she's taken what she's seen and heard over the years and is speaking for all of us.

[@dougmoring7321]

Read a ton of King's books. Loved almost all of them. But this story about what he did for his mom moved me more than any of them.

[@mainefem8541]

He's never forgotten his roots. A beloved Mainer (Tabitha, too)!

[@lesal.1373]

Anne Rice and Stephen King, two of my favorite authors! Great interviews with a few stories not heard often.

[@kt9166]

Anne was quite the writer, and is missed. Rest well, Anne.

[@TheSouthIsHot]

I love the interaction between Anne and her son Christopher. It's obvious that Anne was a great Mom!

[@everynewdayisablessing8509]

Yes. I noticed that too.

[@annasahlstrom6109]

Neil Simon is one of my all-time favorites.

[@FeralMutiny]

After having read countless books from almost every genre at age 49, I write stories myself these days more for myself and the pure joy of it. I will say that I concur with Stephen King when he once said during an interview that I watched that writing is like capturing lightning in a bottle. For me, I just allow my thoughts to wander and eventually an idea will surface that I can use. Regardless, even if I never get my work published, I will create stories until I take my last breath. There is nothing else that comes close in my life to the feeling of creating something from pure imagination...❤

[@josueab8880]

You should self publish as a treasure to those you love ❤️

[@Sumermak]

King is #1. I can pick up anything of his and I’m lost…regardless of how many times I’ve read it.

[@ThePricipleOfParsimony]

Stephen is the BEST thing on Twitter. He's so "normal", sane, and smart he gives me hope for humanity on the worst of days.

[@tiredofit4761]

I was carrying a Stephen King book most all my junior high and high school years. Anne Rice was also a large influence on my life. Her books were so deep but I didn’t discover her until I was in my 20’s. My mother took me to watch horror movies at the drive in. I saw The Omen, The Exorcist. I still can’t get enough of writers like these.

[@LoyaFrostwind]

King makes his characters very relatable, and his writing style is very fun and easy to read.

[@doughnutzz]

All of these interviews were excellent. I really connected to the King interview though. In addition to his talents as a writer, he is a nice man. I didn't know about the car accident that almost took his life and I teared up when he talked about what he did for his mother.

[@Sumermak]

If you haven’t read the Dark Tower series…he writes himself into it as part of a plot line in the 5th book I believe. His accident is mirrored in that book. Those are his best books in my opinion and I’ve read all of him including Bachman. His new one Later is a real trip especially if you listen to it with headphones, freaky!

[@marmantole]

His book On Writing is a memoir/writing book. It tells all about the accident if you’re interested

[@peacenow4456]

Such a kind, polite man. He was very kind to me when I, the lowly Legal Dept/2nd Asst/go-fer at a major studio, met him in passing and I told him I loved his work. 34yrs ago. Exactly... "I was never 34 yrs old."

[@margo3367]

I have paid to see author talks. It is their business to think and hence, they always have something fascinating to say.

[@judynblackwell]

What a wonderful video. I enjoyed hearing all these writers stories. Louise Penny's section made me cry. I came here for King but boy did her section take me away. She's doing exactly what I want to do as a writer- touching the lives of others and enriching them by creating a harbor from the darkness of life. Just truly touching.

[@yvonnekneeshaw2784]

Agree with you…I was touched by this interview

[@thebookwasbetter3650]

I always hated morning shows. Way too cheery this early in the morning. But CBS Sunday morning with the intro music, the half asleep sun, and more gentle colors, understood that we were only on our first cup of coffee and to chill the F out.

[@dominicwyartt3598]

Stephen King needs to be protected all costs I’ve love this guys work and hes an all over nice guy

[@melaniamonicacraciun9900]

Minute 23, the Umberto Eco vision, he is the one treating a language like music, using a slang as best marketing strategy because the writer's goal is communication, is bringing the stories to a large audience and get in touch directly with readers, being charming cute and funny for... having more customers and selling books. He knew how cinema is powerful, it happened to me so many times, after watching a movie getting curious reading the book...I still have Stephen King in three different languages at home and still the best one is... the movie script version

[@mikedahuman]

You already know the most replayed part of the video is my boy Stephen the King!

[@writebrobp]

I always love watching your stories on Writers and these interviews are exceptionally well done because they give us a real glimpse of the real person instead of the icon. Keep up the good work and I'll look forward to more, please! 🙂

[@gigih.9254]

Well done! Each story interestingly unfolded the writers' lives.

[@joycemorrice9509]

Absolutely wonderful interviews!

[@JLoveReads]

Please do more of these

[@nestaannjarrett4948]

I was able to read the black tower series all the way through. Afterward I found that I was ending a lot of my sentences with "Say I ". I had to read Francis Hodgson Brown's, the little princess too cleanse my mental pallet.

[@filmcourage]

Thank you! This was great to watch. We appreciate you editing this together.

[@shamszakhour6076]

What a fabulous compilation. Thanks!

[@avival66]

Me encanta Stephen King...ahora mismo estoy leyendo Blaze luego que lei su utimo libro Cuento de Hadas.💌

[@delmamontes4462]

This was fabulous! Thank you 😊

[@lindaireland3105]

This compilation was soooo good. Thank you 🎉

[@wilsonlorialitandtheater]

Wonderful sequence of interviews.

[@angelaholmes8888]

I absolutely enjoyed anne rice sleeping beauty trilogy ❤

[@shawnmurray9964]

Me too, what a world she created, shocking & relatable at the same time.

[@dangerkatdev]

That King interviewer was phenomenal.

[@BranTheBald]

Stephen King is so cool

[@virginiacosmides7605]

Excellent! Thanks for posting this

[@ratgirl13]

I’m glad I found this channel-such interesting subjects are featured here-subscribing. ❤

[@maryannkochanski5777]

Ann Rice is a fabulous woman and mother. I was born and raised Roman Catholic. It was a terrifying experience. I am not happy about what the Church has hidden for hundreds of years. Children. 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

[@lesliemacdonald7976]

Great compilation of interviews. Like seeing the end of an era. I wonder if bookstores are still filled with people wanting to see authors like they were in 1999? To see many of these titans now passed....

[@jillsalkin7389]

Fascinating! Thank you!

[@janespitfire9884]

Excellent interviews!

[@MemphiStig]

I absolutely love Anne Rice. I didn't know about her later Christian works, tho. I hate to hear that kind of talk from her, or from any religious type, who thinks they can convince you to believe thru some fancy words and images. That is not the path to true faith. No more than "Passion of the Christ." It convinces no one but the believers. But I still think she was a great lady and I know she was an amazing writer. And tbf I do still believe in vampires a little.

[@EzzyDT]

I love these authors. I wish you would have included some African American writers.

[@thelaurels13]

I agree. Some African American writers should have been included.

[@markberryhill2715]

What would they write about? Killing one another?

[@EzzyDT]

@@markberryhill2715 Your post is racist.

[@Gerumaareki379]

@@markberryhill2715Like King does?

[@12345gerrard]

So many talented people!

[@carolmeyer4186]

WOW That was BRILLIANT JOURNALISM I loved every one of those authors. Learning about each of them in such detail was great. Thank you. I’m sharing with my two daughters who love too read as much as I do. One is a librarian. 😊❤

[@janicethomas1377]

So happy to see my favourite Canadian author Louise Penny featured, her charming inspector Gamache mysteries presented and highlighting the unique setting in Quebec, la belle province 🇨🇦😍👏🏾

[@joanneannand7536]

❤❤❤❤ I’m big horror fan love Stephen king

[@yvonnekneeshaw2784]

I’ve watched a mystery series about Three Pines and loved it. Now I know a bit more about author and books behind the title. Thank you so much for this interview. 🇨🇦 ❤

[@lmacdonald1281]

This was AWESOME!!!!

[@angelaholmes8888]

My favorite Stephen king books are Dolores Claiborne Rose Madder Billy summers The dark tower series

[@EastSide-qc5oy]

I never read Dolores Claiborne but I think the film version with Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh was very underrated. I don’t think it was a big hit when it came out but to me it was quite memorable.

[@melissagarza2376]

Can watch Dolores Claiborne over and over , or at least once a year. I think Kathy Bates made that movie a hit! Hands down!

[@angelaholmes8888]

@@EastSide-qc5oy I absolutely love the film adaptation of Dolores Claiborne it's one of the best king adaptations the book also great

[@maryannkochanski5777]

Haven was the wildest series on TV that I ever watched. It blew me away !

[@lorisharpe]

Love that Mr. King!!!!

[@gabo6713]

Loved this video.

[@BookGiveaways]

Enjoyed this inteview immensly. The 360 degrees journey between belief to no belieft back to belief.

[@jasonlaw4659]

Very interesting. very informative.

[@jaelinsmith5207]

Happy Wednesday CBS Sunday Morning

[@Soxandnicole]

I love Steven King, actually not the writer but the person.

[@c.michellesparks2925]

Aww mannnn. I wish her well but I'll miss her stories.

[@ww7883]

King's lack of pretense belies his near-genius ability to string words together with great effect.

[@mackfarlainethebarenakedau5113]

I love Neil Simon's typewriter. I'm.much more of a typewriter guy than computers. Don't get the appeal of word processors.

[@kforest2745]

His movie Dr Sleep that follows The Shining if there’s a 3rd then going back in history prior to The Shining and its hotel’s history would make for a really interesting story, so not the history we’ve already seen in the hotel but the history that led to that an unmarked grave.

[@MsBerries25]

Very interesting ❤

[@taradeleeuw2344]

Intimate letters were my signature,desperate pleas in writing

[@shawnmurray9964]

If you’ve ever read Rice’s vampire books you would be hard pressed to say she was an atheist at the time. Those books are filled with religious imagery & the protagonists searching for their lost humanity.

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

Thank you for your observation, it has helped me in considering my ambivalent feelings about Ms. Rice. I should have given more thought to the fact that her seeming 180° switch from "The Vampire Queen" writer to devout Catholic was not a symptom of a flaky instability, but of a very real personal battle. Her vampire novels were filled with questions about God and religion, yet her writing so lush, so hypnotic (if I may skate dangerously close to hyperbole), that it is easy to lose sight of the signs of what her ambivalence truly signifies.

[@shawnmurray9964]

@@jeraldbaxter3532 I’m glad you can maybe see her struggle from a different perspective. When you consider her young daughter had just died & then she creates the tragic Claudia. Amadeo & his strict beginnings, all the richly created mythology of each character’s background. Maharet, Memnoch. There’s so much to demonstrate her search for some sort of answer. I was pleased that she found a voice with her Catholicism again as well. I’m sure it was all very cathartic. I try to take my time when I read her work, there’s always something new to ponder. It’s a joy.

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

@@shawnmurray9964 I love Maharet! She is one of my favorite characters in any medium; in some strange way that even I do not completely fathom, she reminds me of L'waxanna Troi, on Star Trek.

[@shawnmurray9964]

@@too1leasy no one cares what you believe

[@shawnmurray9964]

@@too1leasy are you not feeling heard at home?

[@MartaWeeks]

Agree!

[@CharanjitKaurRANDHAWAn]

ਚੰਗੀ ਕਹਾਣੀ

[@lynnturman8157]

Never knew Neil Simon got the Mark Twain Award. Imagine that: giving the uh...."MARK TWAIN" award to a writer instead of an actor or a stand up.

[@LeInevitable]

I miss her presence.

[@taradeleeuw2344]

I like making chapters

[@Theantichryst]

❤

[@distractionb]

I have yet to read a Steve King novel that didn't turn to crazy garbage half way through. Anne Rice makes Tom Cruise look sane.

[@joswenson8285]

I think it's so awesome Ann is on a mission for Jesus!! God bless you Ann!! That is the least we can do for our Lord of Lords and King of Kings!!! So happy you believe in truth!!!

[@LindaC616]

Ann passed away a few years ago

[@mackfarlainethebarenakedau5113]

Not when she's wanting the church and the Word of God to comply to her way of thinking.

[@arzabael]

17:43

[@Bionicjulius]

I found all stories interesting, but if you clicked for King, it starts at 33:40.

[@ShenefeltsAudiobooks]

“I am not apt to follow blindly the lead of other men”-Charles Darwin

[@gyanprakashraj4062]

WE R DIFFERENT...

[@jamestrotter1760]

I didn’t know Bob Lazar was a writer.

[@heatherh.197]

But that Freddy Kruger sweater

[@kalipress4338]

Movies insult the original writings. It becomes amusement rather than the turning of the pages.

[@mikeydan]

I have been mad about this man since Carrie. He just never puts a literary foot wrong.

[@jeanmank742]

And nobody can create a character better. It blows mind how this man understands women, but then, he has a formidable wife to help him!

[@shawnmurray9964]

You should try his son’s novels. Joe Hill has written quite a few enjoyable stories. One that creeped me out entirely, it was great 😂

[@TenTonNuke]

Most writers are eccentric, but Anne Rice seems like she's lost her mind completely.

[@4FYTfa8EjYHNXjChe8xs7xmC5pNEtz]

He got John Lennon AND Michael Hutchence

[@benrosn8154]

Stephen King is an absolute genius

[@cesarprieto2983]

What about writers in cars getting coffee?

[@rabid_mongrel]

🤗

[@gusgus8134]

She should have stuck to vampires.

[@shawnmurray9964]

Why? Did you not like her other books or just the idea that she would write about Jesus too after Lestat?

[@shannonbowman5990]

😊

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

"Before I start, I must see my end. Destination known, my mind's journey now begins. Upon my chariot, heart and soul's fate revealed. In time, all points converge, hope's strength resteeled. But to earn final peace at the Universe's endless refrain, We must see all in nothingness... ...before we start again." --DD1 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

[@innerlocus]

The Jesus story is about the first vampire, 'drink my blood and live forever,' what a hellish thought or curse.

[@josiesride]

✨✨✨

[@coastalbeer]

I ordered "The Kid Gallagher Story " for myself, but then my wife got ahold of it! Its been three months now. Evidently her girlfriends have been passing it around. Who is Kid Gallagher and what has he done to my wife?

[@noneofurbusiness5223]

Anne Rice's parents weren't stict, they were devout. There's a difference!

[@emilywong6923]

I read part of Jesus as a 7 year old and found the book interesting.

[@irreverentjules-240]

Yikes I don't know how Stephen King lives in peace knowing IT.

[@melissagarza2376]

😂

[@irreverentjules-240]

@@melissagarza2376 Thank you for watching!

[@irreverentjules-240]

Ignore that I was responding to people on my site and didn't realize this response was from something else.

[@maibara1151]

Evidence is there in the 37 charges-don’t be blinded by Trump’s response. As a candidate and “actor”, his philosophy is any publicity is good publicity, even if you’re lying outright to everyone.

[@melaniamonicacraciun9900]

Writing is much better in a journalistic way, willing to reveal a story and witness facts even if ..from a very private point of view, from my behalf, writing is releasing, makes me feel so free that nobody could...segregate my thoughts, if this is the crime l have to feel guilty about. I think, since the ancient ages, when ... people wanted to carve in stones the facts and save the stories for the future generations to come, words have this magic power to capture attentions and we have all something to say about facts. Once we put words on paper available for the others to read them, it's always about being great entertainers, if readers are interested on a story no matter if invented or real. Once Jesus used to be a true human being and some of real facts nobody wants to know about. What if Virgin Mary was another war rape victim? If Jesus was blonde having rather European kind of face, let's say the very favorite one is... Leonardo da Vinci vision, nobody wants to recall that this fact happened...1400 years after Jesus was walking on this planet...but then the witnesses memory is that one. When we share opinions is already...best writing achievement above all, therefore guys, keep on loving books because they still change our lives and we have the duty to witness facts, you can bet on it

[@BooksForever]

Sorry to see Anne Rice having a mental breakdown. I hope her rational mind prevailed in the end.

[@kathrynwitte3398]

It did!

[@Victoria-js4wq]

Jesus heal sinners and said sin no more. Love sinners but not sin.