This conversation with my old friend Shawn Smucker is one of the best I've had in awhile. We talk about reading and ghost writing and self-publishing and (not) censoring what our kids read.

And we also talk about the books we wish we'd written. Somehow I shock Shawn with one of my answers!

Shawn Smucker is the author of six novels, including his latest The Weight of Memory (which I devoured in a day). Shawn calls The Weight of Memory "a modern day fairy tale."

You can hear more about the trip to Sri Lanka where Shawn and I met in my Secret Tapes interviews (part of my Secret Stuff private podcast).

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Mentioned in this episode:

ACF Bookens (author who goes back and forth between traditionally published and self published)

Elizabeth Strout (one of Shawn & Laura’s current favorite authors)

Books Shawn wishes he’d written:

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

The Brothers K by David James Duncan

Books Laura wishes she’d written:

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

I'm Laura Tremaine.

I live in Los Angeles. I'm a reader, a podcaster, a wife, and a mom.

At all times, I have (at least) 10 Things To Tell You. And I know that YOU have 10 Things To Tell.

This place is about connection, with each other and with ourselves. We can only do this by opening our eyes and seeing others and (even harder) by letting ourselves be seen.

Let’s tell our stories.

Let’s share our stuff.

I’ll go first.