Write Up The Coast – Step-In! Stories
Write Up The Coast – Step-In! Stories brings community voices to life — recorded live in the moment. At its heart is the mobile Step-In! booth, a small traveling space where people pause amid the noise of daily life to share a thought, a memory, or a feeling.
Beyond the booth, Step-In! also meets people where they are — on the street, at events, or in quiet one-on-one conversations — capturing the same spirit of openness and spontaneity wherever it happens.
Season 1: Write Up The Coast — curated conversations and reflections that explore the meaning of community through storytelling.
Season 2: Step-In! — spontaneous recordings from public spaces and personal exchanges that reveal real voices, real moments, and real connection.
Created and hosted by Mark Sanford Gross, Step-In! invites us all to pause, listen, and remember: every story matters.
Write Up The Coast – Step-In! Stories
Season 1, Episode 11 — “In Conversation: Paul Lisicky”
Recorded live at The Sea Ranch Lodge, this special episode features acclaimed writer Paul Lisicky in conversation with host Mark Sanford Gross. Against the breathtaking backdrop of where redwoods meet the ocean, Paul reflects on his latest book, Song So Wild and Blue: The Music of Joni Mitchell, and on what it means to be a writer — and a human — in today’s world.
Recorded live July 9, 2025, The Sea Ranch Lodge, California
Episode Description
In this Write Up The Coast “In Conversation” event, host Mark Sanford Gross sits down with New York–based author Paul Lisicky to discuss his newest book, Song So Wild and Blue: The Music of Joni Mitchell. Their conversation, recorded live on June 19, 2025, at The Sea Ranch Lodge, flows from Joni’s artistry to the craft of writing, teaching, and the lifelong search for meaning through words.
Beyond the event itself, Paul joined the local literary community for a reading at the Four Eyed Frog Bookstore, then shared a quiet coffee chat with Mark under the redwoods before departing. Their exchange captures both the depth and warmth that define the Write Up The Coast experience — connection through authentic conversation.
A special thank you to The Sea Ranch Lodge for hosting this event and to local musician Pam Powell for her dulcimer music featured in the episode.
For more on Paul Lisicky, visit paullisicky.net
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For more on Write Up The Coast, visit writeupthecoast.com
or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com
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for more information on Write-Up-The-Coast visit writeupthecoast.com or email writeupthecoast@gmail.com