Le Guin discusses her writing career, education and influences. She also discusses the challenges of pursuing writing while caring for young children. Books specifically discussed include The Lathe of Heaven and Always Coming Home.

McDonald discusses his family background and early life in Scotland, his experiences during World War I in the Royal Air Force stationed in France, moving to Canada and working on farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan, moving to the United States, getting into the timber business, and becoming the British Consul in Portland just before World War II.