GutterPunks – Danelle Morton

“World On Fire” Finalist for The PEN Literary Non-Fiction Award

August 27, 2013August 27, 2013 - by Danelle - Leave a Comment

A World On Fire: Life and Death In A New Orleans Squat is a finalist for the PenUSA literary non-fiction award, but alas did not win.

A Piece Of The Fire – – Notebooks Rescued From The Warehouse Fire Arrive In My House

March 5, 2012March 5, 2012 - by Danelle - 1 Comment

A box of items rescued from the NOLA warehouse fire arrives in my house carrying a mystery in the soot and crumbled pages.

Talk Of The Nation features “A World On Fire”

February 28, 2012February 28, 2012 - by Danelle - Leave a Comment

On The Talk Of The Nation my interview with host Neal Conan was surprisingly cheerful considering the subject was eight young people who died in a fire. The callers, both adults who had been travelers and kids who were traveling, talked not about danger, but about the joy of pure freedom and few responsibilities.

Travelers – – World On Fire featured on WBUR “Here And Now”

February 27, 2012February 27, 2012 - by Danelle - Leave a Comment

WBUR “Here and Now” featured my Boston Review story, and the comments posted under it show how much the traveling kids’ lifestyle of hopping trains and scrounging a livelihood intrigues, infuriates and touches people’s imaginations.

Canadian Drive Time Radio features “A World On Fire”

February 20, 2012February 20, 2012 - by Danelle - Leave a Comment

My appearance on Montreal drive-time radio surprised me as the interviewer wanted to speak about my daughter and me, not about those who died in the fire.

The Anniversary of the Tragic Squat Fire – – My Story Is Published in The Boston Review

December 28, 2011February 20, 2012 - by Danelle - Leave a Comment

A year ago eight young vagabonds perished in a squat fire in New Orleans’ 9th Ward. Who were they? How did they end up in that place on that night? What forces drew them onto the rails, and what did they leave behind? My story, published in The Boston Review today, is an attempt to answer those questions.