Smart Podcast, Trashy Books Podcast

303. There is So Much Heroism and Good in People: An Interview with Laura Bradbury

TISSUE WARNING: this episode might make you cry. I got teary while recording it.

Today I’m talking with author Laura Bradbury about her memoirs, her new novella project, and her liver transplant. I met Laura at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference in British Columbia, Canada, several years ago when they had me as an international guest. Laura had just published her first memoir, My Grape Escape, and was honored with an award during the conference. Her speech was incredibly memorable and inspiring.

At the time, she was hoping for a transplant, and as she tells us during the interview, her view on life, and her view of her own fears changed drastically when she was told she had a vicious, incurable autoimmune disorder. She lost her fear of writing, and wrote that first memoir. Then she wrote another, and another. Now she has a series – the Grape series – chronicling her life from her decision to be an exchange student to France at age 17, and how her story changed drastically after that.

We talk about overcoming fear, having the courage to write, and what it means to write down your own history, and your own romance. Her memoirs are very much romances with her husband, but also with language, food, and of course wine. We also talk about her liver transplant, and how her life has changed in the year since she received a new liver from a living donor.

As Laura puts it, “There is so much heroism and good in people.”

This week was my birthday, and I turned 43. I love this conversation because every day is a gift, not just for Laura, but for me, and for you, too. So I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and that it helps you take another look at whatever fears may be holding you back.

Read the transcript

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Here are the books we discuss in this podcast:

You can find Laura Bradbury on her website, and on Instagram – definitely check out her photographs, as they are beautiful.

We also mentioned:

Wanna be an organ donor?

In the US, you can register in your state.

Curious about living donation?

You can learn more about how to become an organ donor, and learn more about living donation.

Other ways to help?

Give blood.

Give platelets.

Register for Bone Marrow donation at Be The Match.org. Individuals from minority groups are desperately needed for those awaiting bone marrow transplants. And if you’ve heard scary things about marrow donation, read on – it’s not anything like that.

Curious about Foreign Exchange?

There are many ways to become a foreign exchange student. Some programs include ASSE, YFU, EF, and AFS. Local Rotary options with scholarships are also often available for study abroad. And if you have a program suggestion, please let me know in the comments!

The Romance GenreCon at MCPL in Kansas City, MO, is happening August 3 &4, 2018, and you can find out more at mymcpl.org/Romance.

If you like the podcast, you can subscribe to our feed, or find us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows!

Thanks to our sponsors:

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What did you think of today's episode? Got ideas? Suggestions? You can talk to us on the blog entries for the podcast or talk to us on Facebook if that's where you hang out online. You can email us at [email protected] or you can call and leave us a message at our Google voice number: 201-371-3272. Please don't forget to give us a name and where you're calling from so we can work your message into an upcoming podcast.

Thanks for listening!

This Episode's Music

Shadow Orchestra Sweet as a NutOur music is provided by Sassy Outwater.

This is The Shadow Orchestra’s Matilda Reprise, from their EP Remaker.

You can find more about Shadow Orchestra at their MySpace page, and their music is also available on iTunes.


Podcast Sponsor

Whiskey Sharp: Torn

This episode is brought to you by Whiskey Sharp: Torn, by Lauren Dane.

Beau Petty has been searching his whole life. Searching for a place that fills all the empty spaces in him. Searching for a way to tame the restlessness. Searching for answers to the secret he’s never stopped trying to solve.

What he wasn’t searching for was a woman to claim all of him, but when Cora Silvera walks back into his life, he’s ready to search out all the ways he can make her his.

Cora has spent her life as the family nurturer, taking care of others. But now she’s ready to pass that job on to someone else. It’s time to make some changes and live for herself. It’s in that moment that her former teenage crush reappears and the draw and the heat of their instant connection is like nothing either of them has experienced. He craves being around her. She accepts him, dark corners and all.

Beau thinks Cora’s had enough drama in her life. He wants to protect her from the secrets of his past, even if it means holding back the last pieces of himself. But Cora is no pushover and she means to claim all those pieces. Because Sometimes what you find isn’t what you were searching for.

Whiskey Sharp: Torn by Lauren Dane is on sale June 26 and available for pre-order wherever books are sold.

Transcript

Click to view the transcript

This podcast transcript was handcrafted with meticulous skill by Garlic Knitter. Many thanks.

Remember to subscribe to our podcast feed, find us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
Smart Podcast, Trashy Books is part of the Frolic Podcast Network. Find many more outstanding podcasts at Frolic.media/podcasts!
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Add Your Comment →

  1. Julie says:

    Is there a problem with the podcast? It won’t download to my Android app? You are the way I know it’s Friday… I’ll miss you on my commute this morning! 🙂

  2. SB Sarah says:

    OOPS. My fault! I typoed. It should be up now! Apologies and happy Friday!!

  3. Betsydub says:

    Happy Birthday, Sarah! You (& the other Smart Bitches) are the gift that keeps on giving, so I hope you get a ton of what you give right back at you (I think you get an antiquated Kodak camera, too).

  4. SusanE says:

    This was so lovely. Now when I need to laugh I can picture the Post-it note. And Orville. Maybe Orville eating the Post-it note.

  5. Kareni says:

    A very happy birthday to you, Sarah!

  6. Kareni says:

    And thank you for a wonderful interview. Best wishes, Laura, for your continued good health. And all good wishes for Nissa; she sounds like a wonderful person.

  7. BrandiD says:

    Sarah, I want to thank you and the Smart Bitches again for having these transcripts! They make a world of difference to those of us who can’t hear, and I love being able to access author interviews! So thanks again for something that I know takes a considerable amount of planning and work. And Happy Birthday!

  8. SB Sarah says:

    Hey Brandi! You are very, very welcome. I’m so pleased that you enjoy them and find them useful. And thank you for the birthday wishes!

  9. AnneG says:

    This is great! I read a couple of Laura’s books shortly after I went to France for the first time, and I enjoyed them so much.

  10. Stephanie says:

    The podcast hasn’t updated on Stitcher since June 8th. Has anyone else had issues?

  11. SB Sarah says:

    @Stephanie: I’m not sure why that is, but I am working on it. I’ve tried to update the feed and refresh my settings at Stitcher, but their server keeps timing out on me when I do. I’m sorry about this – I am working on it!

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