Wild Card with Rachel Martin George Saunders
Apr 2, 2026
George Saunders, award-winning author of empathetic, imaginative fiction. He talks about his new novel Vigil and its tug-of-war between mercy and accountability. He explores liminal spaces like life-afterlife settings and why they sharpen human neuroses. He also reflects on ambition, work ethic, parenting pressures, and the longing to quiet the self.
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Teenage Car Theft And The Vigilante Dare
- George Saunders once stole his parents' car as a teenager and only drove a block to a senior football party.
- He later recounted confronting alleged thieves of his dad's restaurant delivery, daring them to fight four-on-one, and none showed up.
Seeing A Nun And Priest Kiss In The Narthex
- As a child reader at mass, George saw a priest and nun making out in the narthex and realized religious figures are human.
- He kept the moment private for decades and concluded flawed teachers don't negate the truths they teach.
When In Doubt Work Through The Problem
- When stuck on a story, Saunders advises to keep working rather than waiting for inspiration.
- He learned at his first job in his family's restaurant that steady labor often produces unexpected solutions through revision.
