Writer, author and educator Samantha Dunn joins host Holly Hughes on today’s episode of The Holly Hughes Podcast. 

Coming from a background in writing rooted in journalism, Samantha Dunn always writes with the idea that someone, somewhere will read what she’s writing. From that foundation, Samantha has authored numerous books, short stories, essays and memoirs, including Faith in Carlos Gomez: A Memoir of Salsa, Sex and Salvation. She is now the editor of PREMIUM Magazine for the Southern California News Group, and also teaches at Chapman University.

Samantha and Holly talk about their creative processes, the influence of journalism on her writing, her love of horses, and living with Parkinsons.

Find Samantha online at samanthadunnwriter.com.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

03:03 The Creative Journey and Writing Process

06:00 The Role of Personal Narrative in Writing

08:59 Navigating the Challenges of Writing and Journalism

12:08 The Impact of Social Media on Storytelling

15:08 Defining Success and the Creative Identity

17:55 Finding Your Voice and Overcoming Obstacles

21:00 The Journey to Los Angeles and Personal Growth

23:31 Dancing Through Life

25:49 Creative Vulnerability and Transparency

27:06 Managing Challenging Personalities

29:06 The Burden of Teaching

30:31 Kintsugi - A Japanese art form using gold to repair broken pottery

32:22 The Art of Memoir

34:52 Cataloging Life Experiences

38:39 Facing Chronic Illness

40:08 Connection with Horses

46:38 Life-Changing Accidents

48:07 The Beauty of Scars and Friendship

49:04 The Art of Memoir: Truth vs. Fiction

50:11 Memory and Its Intricacies

52:30 Foundational Memories and Their Impact

54:44 Writing About Personal Experiences

57:19 The Process of Writing and Reflection

01:00:01 Transforming Material: From Memoir to Essays

01:02:34 The Challenge of Finding a Home for Writing

01:06:51 Embracing the Past: The Trailer Life

01:11:19 Caution: Frequent Stops Ahead