Bookends with Mattea Roach

Years before he coined the term “enshittification,” Cory Doctorow was just a kid who was fascinated by computers — until he saw how profit and monopoly tainted the industry. Now, Cory is a leading policy advocate and writer who uses fiction to explore how things could be different. His latest novel, Picks & Shovels, is the third in his series about forensic accountant Martin Hench, who investigates financial crime in Silicon Valley. Cory joins Mattea to talk about the dawn of the PC, how the promise of computing got so off track and why jail-breaking your Tesla might be the best response to U.S. tariffs. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Helen Phillips: In a world run by AI, what makes us human?Rachel Kushner: In Booker Prize finalist Creation Lake, an agent provocateur faces deep questions about how to live

H. Nigel Thomas’ latest novel, A Different Hurricane, is set on the lush Caribbean island country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s about two young men who become secret lovers until society forces them apart — and it draws on Nigel’s own experiences as a gay man who left Saint Vincent for Montreal when he was just 21.If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Aysegul Savas: Finding home in foreignness and capturing the uncertainty of early adulthoodEric Chacour: Exploring the power of familial expectations and forbidden love

A famous rapper, an Al Pacino movie and a captive whale named Lolita seemingly don’t have much in common. But in Jennine Capó Crucet’s latest novel, Say Hello to My Little Friend, she manages to bring them all together in an ode to the magic of Miami. Jennine joins Mattea Roach to talk about the wild ride of writing the book and how her own experiences as a Cuban American are reflected in the story.  If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Teresa Wong: Illustrating her family's past — in all its ordinary and epic momentsKaveh Akbar: Finding meaning in sobriety and writing his bestseller, Martyr! 

For Emily Austin, living like a rat means embracing the small joys and avoiding societal expectations — and that idea is at the centre of her new novel, We Could Be Rats. The book follows two sisters as they reckon with mental health struggles, their relationship to each other and the difficulties of growing up in a small town.  If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Zoe Whittall: Why heartbreak is a valid form of grief Fawn Parker: Blending her own grief with fiction in new novel Hi, It’s Me

Nnedi Okorafor’s latest book is about a writer whose new science fiction novel brings her unexpected literary fame — and it asks a lot of questions about what it means to be a storyteller today. Nnedi joins Mattea Roach to talk about metafiction, the crossroads of disability and technology and how her experiences as a Nigerian American shaped her story. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Nalo Hopkinson: How Caribbean folktales inspired her fantastical novel, Blackheart ManHelen Phillips: In a world run by AI, what makes us human?

In The Riveter, Jack Wang explores the untold stories of Asian Canadians during the Second World War. The novel follows Josiah Chang, a Chinese Canadian soldier navigating the horrors of war while facing discrimination at home. Jack joins Mattea Roach to talk about the historical context of the novel, the complexities of writing about war and the value of diverse perspectives.If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:V.V. Ganeshananthan: Exploring the complexity of Sri Lanka's civil war in her prize-winning novel, Brotherless NightTeresa Wong: Illustrating her family's past — in all its ordinary and epic moments

Helen Phillips, an accomplished author and creative writing teacher, dives deep into the implications of technology on our humanity in a dystopian future. She discusses her latest novel, which reflects a world ravaged by climate change and dominated by superintelligent AI. Helen candidly shares her creative process and how personal experiences influence her writing. The conversation highlights the balance between technology and authentic human connections, emphasizing the importance of nurturing joy and wonder in our children despite overwhelming consumerism.

In I Might Be in Trouble, a struggling writer wakes up to find last night’s date dead in his bed — and it only gets worse from there. The novel is YA writer Daniel Aleman’s first foray into adult fiction and it touches on themes of loneliness, the trials of modern dating and the lengths we go to find connection in a fragmented world. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Rumaan Alam: How would you spend a billion dollars? Pasha Malla: Parodying a wellness resort with horror and humour

When Kate Gies was born without an ear on one side, a plastic surgeon told her parents that he could “fix” her. In her new memoir, It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished, Kate recounts her harrowing journey through numerous surgeries, many of which failed — and questions what it really means to “fix” a body. Kate joins Mattea Roach to talk about blurry medical boundaries, growing up with a congenital difference and pushing back against oppressive beauty standards.If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Amy Lin: Widowed at 31, she looks for the beauty in griefJenny Heijun Wills: Sharing her journey of transracial adoption and self-discovery in her moving essay collection

You might be surprised to learn that Emma Knight’s new book, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, isn’t about marine life at all. The novel follows two Canadian students finding their way in Scotland as they navigate family secrets and first love. Emma joins Mattea Roach to talk about coming of age abroad, the freedom of the pre-smartphone age, and her interest in imperfect mothers. If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:Fawn Parker: Blending her own grief with fiction in new novel Hi, It’s Me Alan Hollinghurst: Coming of age in Britain and writing through the gay gaze