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Don Swaim Interviews

Often described as a "nature writer," Rick Bass locates his subjects in the sweeping desert landscapes of the Southwest and the far West. His work, however, concerns the relationship between human nature and the natural world. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, son of a geologist, Bass was early exposed to the mysterious workings of the natural world. Bass worked as a petroleum geologist for several years, and has since continued to occasionally work in geology, which informs his narratives.

In an article in the Bloomsbury Review, John Murray wrote, "Bass is characteristically Southwestern in independence, his restlessness, his humor, his vitality, his sunny outlook, his distrust of unchallenged authority, and his disdain for affectation and pretense."

Bass published his first novel, Where the Sea Used to Be, in 1998. His most recent fictional work is a short story collection, The Hermit's Story: Stories (2002). Most of his other recent works have been nonfiction, including The New Wolves (1998), Brown Dog of the Yaak: Essays on Art and Activism (1999), Colter: The True Story of the Best Dog I Ever Had (2000), and The Roadless Yaak: Reflections and Observations About One of Our Last Great Wilderness Areas (2002).

Rick Bass reads his story, The Fireman, at the 2006 Ohio University Spring Literary Festival. Introduction by Darrell Spencer.

Rick Bass Reading, 2006
( RealAudio, 53 min. 47 sec.)

"What I know about writing" might be the title of this Rick Bass lecture. He talks about the "show don't tell" rule of writing, which he considers the most important rule of all. It's also a rule he doesn't always follow. "Always trust that the reader is at least as smart as you are" is his second most important rule of writing. Listen to Rick Bass at the 2006 Ohio University Spring Literary Festival.

Rick Bass Lecture, 2006
( RealAudio, 50 min. 27 sec.)

Also on Wired for Books, a 1991 interview with Rick Bass:

Rick Bass talks with Don Swaim about lifestyle and writing. Bass lives partially detached from the rest of the world in a remote location. For each novel, he writes his ideas out on a notepad because his typing speed is slower than his writing.

Listen to the Rick Bass interview with Don Swaim, 1991
( RealAudio, 31 min. 05 sec.)