Peter Bognanni fell into YA fiction by accident. His new book, How to Lose Yourself Completely, is an outlet for his experience coming to terms with anxiety as a teen.
At the center of the novel is a 16-year-old named Case whose anxiety keeps him isolated until he makes friends with his older brother’s girlfriend. After his brother’s tragic death, Case finds himself on a trip in the Boundary Waters with other kids who also struggle with anxiety. On this episode, we talk with Bognanni, an award-winning novelist and Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate about his new book and his own mental health experiences.
Then, we talk with New York Times best-selling author Loryn Brantz about her new children’s book, I Am a Spicy Nugget. It’s a clever look at the big feelings children have and how they can sometimes take control. Brantz is also an artist, poet and Emmy Award-winning director, who has worked on Sesame Street, Elmo's World and Ms. Rachel.
Guests:
- Peter Bognanni, author, How to Lose Yourself Completely, professor of creative writing, Macalester College
- Loryn Brantz, author, I Am a Spicy Nugget
