This is an interview with the founder and producer of Tufts Univeristy Radio's (WMFO-FM) program, Words and Music. This is a venue for novelists and short story writers to read from their work.It is now aired Saturdays 1 to 2pm.* published in the Somerville News.

Leslie Lombino is the host and producer of WORDS AND MUSIC, a Tufts University radio show (WMFO) , dedicated to readings by local novelists and short story writers. This Somerville Arts Council Grant winner (2000) and veteran journalist is currently working on a novel, RAPTURE, that deals with the hardscrabble life of a young journalist, as she investigates a Christian cult.

DH: Can you describe the genesis of your radio show, WORDS and MUSIC?

LL: I first had a radio show at the Zeitgeist gallery on Broadway in Cambridge. I think I did it for a year. Then it became clear that the FCC was circling.
Around that time, there was a writer, who was affiliated with Tufts Radio. I told her that I thought the Zeitgeist radio station would be closed down by the FCC. I fairly quickly got a show, and in a matter of months the Zeitgeist station closed.

The real genesis of this was when in the mid-90's the Boston Globe ran an article to the effect that GRANTA magazine had a list of the most promising young writers in America. Somerville per-capita, had more writers on that list than the island of Manhattan. The show in a way was a means to flush people out. ..to create a community for writers and in turn help them get connected with the community. I think the show reaches a 5 mile radius- Somerville, Medford, Arlington, and Cambridge. Stories on the radio have been missing for me for a long time. It is really clear to me ( since I have been doing this show for 4 to 5 years) that there are all these short story writers and they can't find a venue.

I stay in touch with Tim Hutton of Newtonville Books, who has a reading series, and also weaves music and writing together. If any of my past contributors are featured anywhere, I make sure my mailing list knows. Any of my contributors...I will promote.

DH: Can you talk about some of the Somerville artists you have hosted? What is unique about these writers?

LL: Two people who have been featured are Steve Almond, who wrote a novel, MY LIFE IN HEAVY METAL, and Anika Nailah, who does the BOOK OF HOPE series over at MYSTIC VALLEY.
She works with teens in the projects, and brings in writers from the community. The kids learn how to express their feelings through writing. She publishes chapbooks of the kids' work. They have readings at Starbuck's in Davis Square. I also had Anne Slater, a writer who has a rock band( Cherry Soda)., and poet, singer and musician, C.D. Collins who has a new CD out, KENTUCKY STORIES.

All the Somerville writers I have featured are realistic writers. I have not run across anyone who is doing fantasy or science fiction.

DH:You've been a resident of Somerville for a number of years. In fact, you live in a historic home. What do you find attractive about the city, as someone who is very involved with the arts community?

LL:What is attractive is there is such an active, artistic community. What is also attractive is the cultural diversity. Because I am bringing up my children, I didn't want them to grow up in a place where everybody looked like them. I wanted a place that looked like the real world world, not some precious little enclave.

DH: Can you tell me something about the historic home,you and your family live in?

LL: It was built in 1870, which was of course right after the Civil War. Somerville became a city in 1850. We are only the third owner. The Cumming family was the original owner for over 100 years. I feel a gentle presence there.

DH: You won a Somerville Arts Council Grant in Literature for the year 2000. Can you talk about this? What projects have you funded?

LL: Janet McGowan, who was a contributor ( to Words and Music), called me one day and said there is so much you can do with all the writers you know. We brainstormed. One thought was: " I don't like the idea of reading in dusty little libraries, and basements in bookstores." Stories are entertainment. So I wanted to bring readings to cafes, where people normally gather, and look for entertainment. So I put together a grant, which stated that I wanted to bring writers to the cafes of Somerville. We started out in Davis Square, at REDBONES. We had three readings that were funded by that grant. The following year Roz Cummings of the Somerville Writers Interest Group came to me and said ,"I want you to continue this through SWIG" So she funded three more readings, this time at the BURREN ( a Somerville Irish Pub) .

The readings have been great, We usually have a packed crowd. I will probably continue even after the funding is gone. The BURREN maintains an atmosphere where people are comfortable...they feel part of things. We do it twice a year. I believe our next reading will be in May.

DH: You have completed a novel, entitled RAPTURE. It is about the hardscrabble life of a young female journalist, as she investigates a Christian Cult. Can you talk about this, and how much is this culled from your own life experience as a journalist?

LL: The novel takes place in the Midwest. I lived there for awhile. I never worked for a lifestyle magazine like the main character. When I was in Lawrence, Kansas I read an AP story, about a group of born-agains in Arkansas, who believed they were about to experience the Rapture.( an event before the end of the world).

I never thought of myself as a fiction writer. This is my first novel. Since I heard this story, I thought, " Why not give it a shot?" I read this story in the early 80's, and it nagged me. To exorcise this obsession I had to fictionalize it.

DH: Any future projects?

LL: I am working with people at WMFO to produce a contemporary radio play by a (formerly) local writer,Michael Meeske. The story is a Gothic one...a mystery with a twist. It concerns a mysterious plague.

DOUG HOLDER