* Linda Joy shared how an early interest in memory and her family history eventually led to her interest in memoir.

* Linda discussed the history of memoir as a genre and talked about current trends.

* Linda Joy talked about the healing that can come from writing memoir, as well as how to ensure that a memoir also resonates with the reader.

* Linda Joy offered specific advice for authors undertaking their own memoirs, including how to get started; she also touched on pitfalls to avoid.

* In their teaching and writing, Linda Joy and Brooke don’t focus only a memoir but, more specifically, memoir for women. Host Matthew Félix asked Linda Joy how writing memoir differed for women versus men.

* In response to a recent “kerfuffle” in the New York Times, Linda Joy discussed the conference she and Brooke have organized, designed to address some of the key issues facing women memoirists, including what topics women can write about and expressing anger.

* The Women Writing Memoir conference begins 10/4 and takes place weekly for six weeks.