Why We Write

Matthew E. Henry, PhD, gives an unflinching portrayal of teaching while black in his debut poetry collection of the same name.

Candice Iloh draws from her own upbringing for "Every Body Looking," her debut YA novel, which has been longlisted for the 2020 National Book Awards.

We wrap up our second season with a reflection on Lesley University's three-decades old literary magazine.

Mariama Lockington's debut middle grade novel, For Black Girls Like Me, incorporates poetry and prose into a story about a transracial adoptee who deals with racism, mental health and growing up.

What's the hardest part about writing? Sitting down and doing it. Today's guests are the founders of the newsletter Sit Down and Write, in which published authors share their writing habits and talk about their new books.

Best-selling young adult author Jason Reynolds dissects some of his favorite passages to uncover the keys to writing a powerful narrative.

In her debut, physician and author Lisa Gruenberg writes a lyrical memoir about her family, pieced together from her father's letters, research, and reconstructing the lost histories of a family torn apart by the Holocaust.

"There's no willy-nilly in writing," says acclaimed author A.J. Verdelle and part of that is mastering scene writing. In this workshop, A.J. talks about what goes into writing scene for all genres and why it's a necessary skill for any aspiring author.

Jasmine Warga's first middle grade novel, "Other Words for Home," is making tons of 2019 book lists and for good reason. The timely, emotional and hopeful novel in verse follows a Syrian sixth grader as she adjusts to her new home in Cincinnati even as she experiences uncertainty and fear.

Tracy Strauss's debut memoir, "I Just Haven't Met You Yet," explores her process of healing as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and the pursuit of love in the 21st century.