Podcast Summary: "The New Novel 'The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore'"

All Of It with Alison Stewart – WNYC
Date: September 30, 2025
Guest: Anika Fajardo, author

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode of All Of It celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by featuring debut novelist Anika Fajardo and her acclaimed book, The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore. Host Alison Stewart and Fajardo explore cultural identity, family, ancestry, and the journey of self-discovery through the lens of Fajardo's own life and her protagonist, Dory Moore. The conversation navigates the intersections of memoir and fiction, the experience of biculturalism, and the role that mothers, grandmothers, and female ancestors play in shaping identity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Journey from Memoir to Fiction

• Origins as a Writer

  • Fajardo recounts that she began as a writer without intending to write memoir, but as she explored her stories, realized she was chronicling her real-life family and origins.
  • Quote: "I discovered the genre of memoir. And little by little I discovered I was telling the story of my family and my kind of unusual origins." (01:24 – 01:53)

• Transition to Novel Writing

  • Fajardo feels the skills from memoir writing—keeping readers engaged, character arc, love of metaphor, and symbolism—translate well to fiction.
  • Quote: "I think of writing a novel basically the same as writing a memoir, except that I've made up all the true things." (02:10 – 02:31)

2. Autobiographical Parallels

• Both Dory and Fajardo are of half-Colombian, half-Minnesotan descent and experienced a disconnect from their Colombian heritage, though with notable differences:
  • Fajardo's parents divorced, leading her to grow up in the US without contact with her Colombian family until adulthood.
  • Dory is orphaned in her 30s and is prompted by her aunt's dying wish to embark on a search for her roots in Colombia.
  • Quote: "...I do know what it's like to go back and to seek roots, to try to figure out who you are when a big part of you has been missing your whole life." (03:10 – 03:29)

3. Inspiration and Concept for the Novel

• The death of Fajardo’s maternal grandmother in 2016 inspired the idea of being surrounded by ancestral voices.
• She transformed this into a literal device for Dory: a chorus of deceased female relatives who comment on her life.
• Quote: "What if a character actually had voices talking to her and it just kind of went from there?" (03:42 – 04:15)

4. Writing for Adults vs. Young Readers

• Desire to write "the kind of book I wanted to read" led Fajardo to adult fiction after middle grade novels.
• Adult fiction lets her explore deeper character development, more elaborate settings, nuanced love stories, and a richer vocabulary.
• Quote: "Just being able to use the vocabulary...you’re much more free with vocabulary and with language when writing for adults." (04:50 – 05:18)

5. About the Protagonist, Dory Moore

• Dory, a cartographer, is out of work and struggling with direction—both literal and metaphorical.
• She's cautious, set in her ways, and hesitant to take risks, but her journey forces her to "go without maps" and step outside her comfort zone.
• Quote: "She’s fascinated by maps and is always trying to figure out where she’s going and kind of her place in the world." (05:34 – 06:08)

6. Loneliness and Belonging

• Dory’s uniqueness in a predominantly white Minnesota community, being an only child with two mothers, contributes to her persistent sense of loneliness and feeling out of place.
• Her latest loss deepens her isolation, leaving her unsure if she wants to emerge from it.
• Quote: "...you kind of almost get used to that feeling of loneliness, and you don’t really know how to break out of that." (07:16 – 07:41)

7. Dual Timeline Structure

• A spontaneous creative choice led Fajardo to develop alternating timelines: present-day Dory and her mother Maggie’s youthful exploits in 1989 Colombia.
• Recent experiences in Colombia informed vivid descriptions of setting and atmosphere.
• Quote: "I had just been to Columbia before that and...it just kind of came alive for me." (07:59 – 08:20)

8. Characterization of Dory’s Mother

• Maggie (Margaret) is fueled by wanderlust and an openness to new experiences, seeking to escape the constraints of her Midwestern upbringing.
• Her embrace of Colombia is as much about self-discovery and love of life as it is about romance.
• Quote: "She doesn’t really know what she’s searching for until she falls in love with Juan Carlos and he brings her back to Colombia." (08:24 – 08:56)

9. Call to Adventure & Heritage

• Dory’s trip to Colombia wasn’t previously considered; the journey is prompted by her aunt’s dying wish and a challenge from her eventual love interest about being a cartographer who hasn’t traveled.
• Quote: "How can you be a cartographer and not have gone anywhere?" (09:22 – 09:45)

10. Research and Cartography

• Fajardo immersed herself in mapmaking history and techniques, relying on books, websites, and her background as a research librarian.
• She includes a disclaimer in the novel noting possible technical inaccuracies, but relished the opportunity to learn and depict the field.
• Quote: "I had so much fun just learning about the history of map making." (10:12 – 10:52)

11. The Ancestral Chorus

• Dory’s guiding voices are not protective spirits, but a Greek chorus of opinionated female relatives who comment rather than direct, coming and going like viewers of a TV show.
• Quote: "They’re more weighing in on her life...they kind of all hang out and check in and see how she’s doing and then make comments about her." (11:06 – 11:56)

12. Colombia and Family Legacy

• Fajardo wants to portray Colombia as complex and beautiful, challenging narco stereotypes and highlighting the rich positive history and people.

• Quote: "I want to have it, this book, be an antidote to, you know, narcos or things like that...it’s a beautiful place filled with really beautiful people." (16:16 – 16:44)

• In Colombia, Dory discovers community, support, and a sense of belonging, both among expats and Colombians, which challenges her previous isolation.

• Quote: "This is the first time that she’s really found a group of people that are alive that are supporting her and really cheering for her." (17:03 – 17:08)

13. Dedication & Matriarchs

• Fajardo dedicates her novel to her grandmother Sally and the "madres, abuelas, and grandmothers" in her life—across both her American and Colombian families.

• Sally is remembered as vibrant, adventurous, and intellectually curious, a woman who defied the limits of her era.

• Quote: "She was an energetic, extremely energetic person, loved trying new things, was really active...She really embraced life." (17:35 – 18:15)

• The dual-language dedication reflects the author’s hybrid family and cultural experience.

• Quote: "Even though I haven’t spent a huge amount of time with them like they are, they’re very dear to me." (18:22 – 18:52)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On Fiction and Memoir:
  "I think of writing a novel basically the same as writing a memoir, except that I've made up all the true things." — Anika Fajardo (02:13)
• On Seeking Roots:
  "I do know what it's like to go back and to seek roots, to try to figure out who you are when a big part of you has been missing your whole life." — Anika Fajardo (03:10 – 03:29)
• On Colombia's Complexity:
  "I want to have it, this book, be an antidote to, you know, narcos or things like that...that's not everything that it is and that it's a beautiful place filled with really beautiful people." — Anika Fajardo (16:16 – 16:44)
• On Ancestral Voices:
  "They’re more weighing in on her life...they kind of all hang out and check in and see how she’s doing and then make comments about her." — Anika Fajardo (11:06 – 11:56)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:24 – 01:53] — Origins of Fajardo's writing and memoir process
• [02:13 – 02:31] — Distinction between memoir and fiction
• [03:07 – 03:29] — Parallels between author’s life and Dory’s story
• [03:34 – 04:15] — Inspiration for ancestor voices motif
• [05:34 – 06:08] — Characterization of Dory Moore
• [07:16 – 07:41] — Exploration of loneliness in Dory's character
• [08:24 – 08:56] — Dory's mother's search for meaning/love
• [09:22 – 09:45] — Challenge to Dory’s worldview as a cartographer
• [10:12 – 10:52] — Mapmaking research and process
• [11:06 – 11:56] — The Greek chorus of ancestral women
• [16:16 – 16:44] — Fajardo’s intent in portraying Colombia
• [17:33 – 18:15] — Description of Fajardo's grandmother Sally

Tone and Host-Guest Dynamic

The conversation is warm, inquisitive, and reflective, centered around themes of family, belonging, and the duality of cultural identity. Fajardo’s responses are thoughtful and personal, revealing her attachment to both the content and meaning behind her work. The interview maintains an accessible and engaging tone throughout.

Conclusion

This episode offers a deep dive into Anika Fajardo’s The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore, blending her personal story and her literary vision. Through rich dialogue, listeners gain insight into the nuances of bicultural identity, the evolving nature of family, and the ache and artistry of self-discovery—making this not only an exploration of a novel but also a meditation on how we map our own lives and heritage.