After finishing Beth Macy's latest bestseller, Paper Girl, I was eager to interview her.  Macy, an acclaimed writer known for exploring the forces unraveling America’s social fabric, was our guest writer for the Artemis Journal 2015 with her essay "Mining Life Along the River Bank."

As a longtime reporter for the Roanoke Times, she witnessed our region endure factory closures, dwindling jobs, opioid addiction,and the hollowing out of our community. Her genuine curiosity has fueled her success, leading to award-winning, bestselling books and a Hulu series based on her book Dopesick, which she co-produced and starred Michael Keaton.

Paper Girl is a meticulously researched book in which Macy returns to her roots in Urbana, Ohio. Driven to understand the growing political divide in our country, she spoke with former high school friends, family, and community leaders to explore why three out of four people in the county voted for President Trump. Nearly half the book consists of footnotes, and in-depth research underscoring of her investigation into the issues that have shaped and traumatized her hometown.

I couldn't put the book down, and in this podcast episode, you’ll hear directly from the writer herself. While our time together only allowed for a glimpse into this remarkable book, there is so much more for you, my listeners, to discover on your own.

CALL TO ACTION
Through the process of writing her book, Beth came to the conclusion she must jump in and run for Congress!

Enjoy—and remember, her books are widely available wherever you get your books.

https://bethmacyforcongress.com/