Why do you write? Author Meredith Maran asked 20 great writers that question, collecting their replies in her new collection, Why We Write: 20 Acclaimed Authors on How and Why They Do What They Do. 

On the Morning Media Menu today, Maran shared writing advice she learned while getting responses from Isabel Allende, David Baldacci, Jennifer Egan, Sebastian Junger and Ann Patchett.

Press play below to listen to the whole interview on SoundCloud. We’ve collected a few quotes from the interview as well…

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The 100 semifinalists were announced by Amazon.com and Penguin Group in the second-annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. The panel of judges will name three finalists on May 15, 2009, and Amazon readers will pick the final winner.

According to the release, the semifinalists represent 94 cities, 33 U.S. states and seven countries. Four authors came from New York City and one hailed from Duncraig, Western Australia.

Here’s more from the release: “Once Penguin selects the three finalists, a panel of esteemed publishing professionals–including bestselling authors Sue Grafton and Sue Monk Kidd, literary agent Barney Karpfinger and Penguin Press Editor-in-Chief Eamon Dolan–will read and post their critiques of the top three manuscripts on Friday, May 15, [here].” (Via.)