Slow Stories

Have you seen the moon? What do you want from this provincial life? How much risk can we allow in this careless, rotten world? These are just a few of the many questions readers will encounter in celebrated poet Kate Baer’s new book, How About Now. As the bestselling author of What Kind of Woman , And Yet , and I Hope This Finds You Well , Kate’s latest collection continues her thoughtful explorat...

What ingredients are necessary to write? Where does a story begin and end? Why is the blank page both endlessly exciting and daunting? For renowned poet, memoirist, and educator Maggie Smith, these questions are the center of her life and work. And in her latest book, Dear Writer, she offers something bigger than answers. Across ten principles, readers are greeted with a wealth of inspiration that...

What moves you—and where? Who are you when everything else falls away? What can you find in stillness? Renowned travel writer and speaker Pico Iyer has pursued these questions throughout his storied career and brings them close to home in his latest book, Aflame. In 1990, after narrowly escaping a devastating California wildfire—with only his mother’s cat in tow—Pico was ultimately rendered homele...

Think about the last time you felt connected to night: the moon’s luminous glow, the rhythms of a house party, the pulsing of the music, the heartbeat of a community. Caleb Femi’ s modern epic, The Wickedest , offers a way back to those feelings—and asks us to consider what lies beneath the surface. From 10:45 PM to 4:45 AM, readers attend the longest-running house party in South London’s shoob sc...

What is the role of beauty in this day and age? For some, it’s an aesthetic pursuit; for others, it’s simply a state of mind. If we’re talking about the global, multibillion-dollar industry, it’s something else entirely. But for Gloria Noto, beauty is more than meets the eye. As the founder of NOTO Botanics, a multi-use, gender-inclusive, clean cosmetic line, Gloria and her team are committed to “...

What makes a day? Is it the routine of brewing morning coffee or walking through the neighborhood? Is it more meaningful if it's spent in the company of others? And if we do find ourselves alone, what are we able to see in our solitude? Ayşegül Savaş's affinity for the details brings these questions to the forefront. She has a talent for transforming mundane moments into compelling prose that ling...

What does it mean to be faithful? This question is central to Lauren Elkin's debut novel, Scaffolding, which follows the trials and tribulations of two couples across time and space, occupying the same Paris apartment in 2019 and 1972. It is an incisive study of transformation—physical, emotional, geographical, familial. It is a question and questioning of desire: how we give it, show it, (try to)...

A note from Slow Stories' own Rachel Schwartzmann regarding her new book, SLOWING! — Order SLOWING: https://lnk.to/Slowing/   Subscribe to Slow Stories on Substack: https://slowstories.substack.com/   Read Rachel's essay in Literary Hub: https://lithub.com/against-perfectionism-and-productivity-on-embracing-flaws-as-a-writer/   Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelschwartzma...

What does it mean to grieve? What does it look and feel like? Why is it still so hard for us to understand? These are just a few questions Amy Lin tackles in her astounding memoir Here After. In a series of crystalline vignettes, Amy recounts the unexpected death of her husband Kurtis, her subsequent medical crisis—and the winding journey to live after inconceivable loss. In many ways, Here After...

Shared vision is at the heart of every great partnership—but a good sense of humor helps, too. Claudia Dey and Heidi Sopinka understand this sentiment. The two creatives met as undergrads at McGill University—and later at a bush camp, cooking for tree planters—and have lived multiple lives since then. In 2012, they co-founded the conscious fashion brand HORSES, which values beauty, utility, wildne...

"Point of view has a terrible memory. I've looked at photos scrolling up and over, zooming in and out, and realize it is not love I want, just the ability to zoom back out. A woman loses herself when she can no longer zoom out." This is one of the many resonant passages readers will encounter in Victoria Chang's latest poetry collection, With My Back to the World. Across three parts, Victoria enga...

When was the last time you cried? This question is at the heart of  Brandon Stosuy  and  Rose Lazar 's illustrated anthology,  Sad Happens: A Celebration of Tears . With contributions from a wide range of voices, including Phoebe Bridgers, Zeba Blay, Sloane Crosley, and many more, Sad Happens is a gentle offering that reminds us to get to the heart of our own stories—and our own humanity.  Off the...

Authenticity has never been more critical in a world that celebrates fleeting trends. In an industry like fashion, and for entrepreneur Mason Spector, discerning design is just a small part of creating long-term impact and connection. As the co-founder of the Los Angeles-based clothing brand Madhappy, Spector and his team are committed to "using apparel, events, and experimental retail spaces to e...

An essay, Chelsea Hodson tells us, should be an attempt at clarity. That may be true for a writer, but clarity is the last thing that comes to mind when reading Chelsea's words. Instead, we are swept away by her striking prose, repetition, digressions. Chelsea's words pulse with desire, fear, and hope. Readers walk away from the page, not always knowing what to think but feeling something primal j...

How do we find and maintain a sense of wonder in a world that's become so unpredictable? Katherine May (author of Wintering and The Electricity of Every Living Thing) tackles this pressing question in her latest book, Enchantment, which is “an invitation to each of us to experience life in all its sensual complexity and to find the beauty waiting for us there.” Calling upon the natural elements—ea...

The world can learn a lot from Tembe Denton-Hurst —like how to tell a story and, perhaps more importantly, how to tell the truth. She does this and more in her stunning debut novel,  Homebodies , which “is a testament to those trying to be heard and loved in a world that refuses to make space.” In this electric story, readers follow Mickey Hayward, a writer in New York navigating the crossroads of...

Who are you when no one is looking? This question came to mind when reading Allie Rowbottom's incisive debut novel, Aesthetica . The story follows Anna, a former Instagram celebrity, on her path of reflection and redemption as she seeks to undergo a high-risk elective surgery called Aesthetica™, which is said to “reverse all her past plastic surgery procedures, returning her, she hopes, to a truer...

To hold joy in your hand means to honor sadness in your heart, for the two are inextricable. This sentiment is one that many of us will recognize after a prolonged period of chaos and transformation. But for poet and author Ross Gay , studying these modes has paved the way for art that will stand the test of time. Enter Inciting Joy , Ross's latest essay collection, which “considers the joy we inc...

From Chopped to Top Chef to restaurant dreams, Fatima Ali' s star was on the rise. But after a devastating cancer diagnosis upended her plans, the young chef vowed to experience all she could with the time she had left. Yet as her illness suddenly worsened, Fatima pivoted once again, this time turning to the page as a place to reflect on her identity, food, family, and life. The result is  Savor ,...

How do you define beauty? Where does beauty come from? Why is beauty important? For Ella Frances Sanders , these questions take center stage in her latest book, Everything, Beautiful, an artful guide that encourages readers to “find hidden beauty in the world.” With elegant prose and calming illustrations, Everything, Beautiful  provokes deeper inquiry into how we've come to understand beauty and...

Think about the places you frequent most. What’s the experience like? How does it make you feel? How are you connecting? And who are you connecting with? Whether online or offline, Naj Austin has been exploring these questions through her visionary endeavors, which include Ethel’s Club and, most recently, Somewhere Good , an “audio platform for intimate community conversations.” With its distinct,...

What we leave behind can still shape what moves us forward. This idea is at the core of Kayla Maiuri's poignant debut novel,  Mother in the Dark .  In this quietly captivating story, readers follow Anna, a young woman who finds herself at a crossroads as her complicated past converges with the present. As Anna's family life unfurls, we meet various characters who inspire deeper reflection about wh...

This is your sign to take a break. Step outside, and feel the delicate earth beneath your feet. Stretch your arms towards the sky, and put your phone in your pocket. Whether you're a city dweller or beach-goer, the great outdoors is closer than you think—but no matter where you are, one idea endures: when we disconnect from our devices, the world opens itself up to us in magical ways. For Getaway...

Let's start with a simple truth: Lisa Taddeo's work is anything but slow. Time and time again, her readers are pulled into honest—devastating—examinations of rage, grief, and what it means to be a person in the world. From her acclaimed work of nonfiction, Three Women , to her unforgettable debut novel  Animal , Lisa's writing is not merely an invitation into a story but a rallying cry to recogniz...

As hours pass, pay attention to the way the light shifts. Notice how the afternoon sun fades into dusk. Another night has arrived: How was your day? How do you feel? And perhaps more importantly, how will you rest and replenish? These questions drive the work of creative entrepreneur Ashley Merrill . Over the years, her company, Lunya , has grown into a category-defining sleepwear brand at the int...