Uncorking A Story

“The stories aren’t about violence—they’re about the preciousness of life. Each one is a reminder that this could happen to anyone.” — Jude Berman Jude Berman grew up surrounded by books and cultural diversity, thanks to her refugee parents. After a career in academic research and running independent presses, she turned her attention to her own writing. In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Jude rejoins me to discuss her latest work, Shot: A Dictionary of the Lost, a collection of 26 short stories exploring the human toll of gun violence. Together, we explore her unique publishing journey, the role of age and experience in writing, and the power of fiction to build empathy and spark conversation.   Key Themes Writing vs. Publishing Journeys: Jude explains the difference between building a life as a writer and actually getting published. Many of her books began in a drawer before finally seeing the light of day. Age as a Strength: Jude emphasizes that writers often improve with age, bringing lived