After a year-and-a-half of talking books, reading, and writing, I've made the decision to move on from Broken Spine Social Club.

This is a farewell to the project, but not to all of you! I'll be back right here October 1st with a new, evolved way for us to stay in conversation.

Thank you for listening - and chat soon <3

Sam Wachman's debut novel is the powerhouse coming-of-age story of Artem, a 12-year-old boy navigating his sexuality and survival against the backdrop of the Russo-Ukranian War.

Wachman's novel hits close to home. An English teacher and volunteer for Ukranian refugees, Wachman's love of his second homeplace infuses his story with deep emotion, complexity, and care.

Today, Wachman and I sit down to discuss homeland, growing up, and writing fiction against the reality of war. A must listen, and a must read from HarperCollins, out now.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/bsscpod

NEWSLETTER: https://blottingpapers.substack.com

THE SUNFLOWER BOYS: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-sunflower-boys-sam-wachman/22086613?aid=106686&ean=9780063418226&listref=books-of-the-pod

What’s better than a good thriller? A good thriller spanning the Hamptons, Amsterdam, and London putting a critical eye to the art world. That’s precisely what’s in store for readers of author Rue Matthiessen’s debut novel, Woman with Eyes Closed. Rue and I chat though her writing process, interest in visual arts, and world-building in the place she calls home in today’s episode of Broken Spine Social Club.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/bsscpod

NEWSLETTER: https://blottingpapers.substack.com

WOMAN WITH EYES CLOSED: https://bookshop.org/p/books/woman-with-eyes-closed/6480d9c565b2b809?ean=9781957607320&next=t&aid=106686&listref=books-of-the-pod