Naomi Hirahara is the author of the Mas Arai and Ellie Rush mystery series', and co-writer of a new nonfiction book, Terminal Island: Lost Communities of Los Angeles Harbor. Other topics on this week's show include the usefulness of critical theory's role in literature, and how to deal with article pitches from publishers and writers seeking press for their new books.

What does McSweeney's new campaign to raise $150,000 on Kickstarter mean for the publishing world? Also Tom Teicholz, the columnist behind Tommywood at the Jewish Journal, talks about self-publishing and his belief that L.A. is the greatest Jewish city in America.