In this season two opener of Write of Passage, author Vanessa Riley reflects on finishing her 30th book and what it means to remain a storyteller in a time when truth is contested and history is incomplete. She explores why fiction—especially historical fiction—is essential for marginalized voices whose lives were never fully recorded, and how storytelling preserves memory, resilience, and humanity when official records fall short. From The Truman Show to Caribbean women pirates and the realities of modern publishing, this episode is a call to writers and readers alike to protect stories, tell the truth, and remember boldly.
Keywords:
storytelling, historical fiction, Write of Passage podcast, Vanessa Riley, fiction and truth, marginalized history, Black women writers, Caribbean women pirates, Fire Sword and Sea, publishing industry, cultural memory, narrative resistance, women storytellers, sickle cell anemia in fiction, season two premiere, writers podcast, creative courage, banned stories, literary activism, books and history, author reflections
Episode Notes & Extras
Find my full show notes, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and extras on Substack → vanessariley.substack.com
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