Why We Write
Latest Episodes
Buki Papillon's debut is No 'Ordinary Wonder'
Buki Papillon talks about her acclaimed debut "An Ordinary Wonder," a coming of age novel about Oto, an intersex teen growing up in Nigeria.
Writers Should Write Book Reviews with Tony Eprile
Tony Eprile has reviewed books, and of course, been reviewed. On this episode, he gives us a peak into his workshop on book reviews and shares the reasons why authors should write them, the pitfalls m
Celeste Mohammed gives a 'Pleasantview' of Trinidad
The interconnected short stories in Celeste Mohammed's debut novel, "Pleasantview" dispel the myth of Trinidad as a happy-go-lucky island nation, instead revealing it as a complex, troubled, multiraci
Filmmaker Thato Mwosa on 'Memoirs of a Black Girl' and true stories of Africa
Even though Thato Mwosa grew up in Bostwana, her dolls were white and so were most of the faces on her TV. When American shows like "Sister, Sister," "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," and "Martin" began
Author Andrea Wang on Growing up Chinese-American in the Midwest
Children's and middle-grade author Andrea Wang talks about her two new releases for young readers—both exploring Chinese-American identity and growing up in the Midwest. "Watercress" is a gorgeous pic
Why we need to talk about mental health with YA author Cameron Kelly Rosenblum
For our last episode of the season, young adult author Cameron Kelly Rosenblum talks about "The Stepping Off Place," her heartbreaking novel about friendship, mental health, suicide, love and growing up.
On the High Seas with Travel Writer Chaney Kwak
In his debut, "The Passenger: How a Travel Writer Learned to Love Cruises & Other Lies from a Sinking Ship," longtime travel writer Chaney Kwak recounts his harrowing experience on board the Viking Sky cruise ship that nearly capsized in 2019.
National Poetry Month: 'The Translator' by Kevin Prufer
Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet Kevin Prufer reads 'The Translator.'
National Poetry Month: 'As for the Heart' by Erin Belieu
Acclaimed poet Erin Belieu reads her poem "As for the Heart," written during the pandemic and published in her latest collection, "Come Hither, Honeycomb."
National Poetry Month: 'We Be Womxn' by U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo
It's National Poetry Month and we're doing things a little differently this month. Each week in April, we're inviting one poet from the Lesley community to share some of their verses and talk about their work. Zimbabwean-American poet U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adeb