Why Authors Write

In this fantasy-focused episode of Why Authors Write , host Sara Stanton sits down with scientist, “eldritch monster,” and award‑winning author Premee Mohamed to talk about how she turns visions, dreams, and chronic illness into vivid speculative fiction. From eerie fairy‑tale forests to post‑collapse Alberta, Premee unpacks how she builds worlds where magic, climate disaster, and parasitic fungi...

Bestselling author Annie Hartnett talks about channeling her real-life anxiety during a period of  family disasters into the darkly humorous novel, 'The Road to Tender Hearts.'  She discusses her style of blending magical realism, improbable events, and tragic episodes into a compelling, character-driven story and reveals that in Tender Hearts, the book’s flawed hero is based on her own father.  A...

Evolutionary biologist Jonathan Losos​​ talks about ​his lifelong love affair with cats, and discoveries about the private language ​of meows that t​hey use to communicate with humans. He reflects on the challenges and rewards ​o​f writing popular science books, and how his research for The Cat's Meow actually changed his own perspective the future of feline evolution.​  Takeaways ​Why Jonathan de...

Elizabeth Graver talks about why and how she transformed her family's own history of immigration, abandonment, remarriage, and survival into a gripping, unforgettable novel. She shares the challenges of transforming painful sometimes dark, family episodes into a universal story of family secrets and abiding love. In Elizabeth's own words, learn how Kantika changed her understanding of her immigran...

Launch co-hosts introduce 'Why Authors Write' and share the questions they want to dig into in future episodes about bestselling authors' motivations and writing process. Mary Cronin, Kristie Dickinson, and Becca Cronin delve into the diversity of book backstories, the genres they love, and author favorites. Takeaways Exploring the behind-the-scenes of authors' lives Understanding the process of w...