Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

[Lisa See, practical matters]: The fun little family research project that turned into a “New York Times” notable book + telling stories that have been hidden Ep 1122


Listen Later

I'm talking with Lisa See, the New York Times bestselling author of so many beloved books, including Lady Tan's Circle of Women, The Island of Sea Women, Snow Flower and the Secret Ban, Shanghai Girls, and Dreams of Joy. Lisa's books often center the experience of women across time and cultures, particularly stories that have been lost, forgotten, or deliberately covered up.


Lisa talked with me while she was on vacation and I'm so thankful that she carved out some time for us.


We covered:

- How her mother and grandfather were both writers, so she, naturally, vowed never to become one… and how that all changed when she was bumming around Europe on $5 a day after college

- The atrocious 1970s TV miniseries that was so poorly written, it inspired her to try writing fiction (under the pen name Monica Highland)

- How she started researching the Chinese side of her family thinking that she’d include a short letter about it in that year’s holiday card, and how that grew into “On Gold Mountain,” her first book written under her own name, as well as a national bestseller and New York Times notable book

- What’s been easy and what’s been hard about her work as a novelist

- A peek into her (fascinating) research process

- The routine she follows every morning routine (that involves waiting for her husband to get done exercising)

- Why she doesn’t worry about keeping her tea hot


Big thanks to our sponsor, AquaTru.com. Use promo code KATE to save 20% off a reverse osmosis water filter and support this podcast!


For full show notes with links to everything we discuss, plus bonus photos!, visit katehanley.substack.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Finding the Throughline with Kate HanleyBy Kate Hanley

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

103 ratings


More shows like Finding the Throughline with Kate Hanley

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,967 Listeners

TED Radio Hour by NPR

TED Radio Hour

21,953 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,827 Listeners

10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

10% Happier with Dan Harris

12,716 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

87,348 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,408 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

16,359 Listeners

What A Day by Crooked Media

What A Day

12,333 Listeners

Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner by Crossover Media Group

Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner

2,951 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,931 Listeners