In Episode 219, Sarah talks with author T Kira Madden about her debut novel, Whidbey. A dark, atmospheric story that explores the long reach of violence and the lack of recourse many victims face, Whidbey tackles difficult themes including sexual abuse, stalking, and the ways narratives around these crimes are shaped by media and public perception. Sarah and T Kira discuss the inspiration behind the novel, its complex characters, and the themes at the heart of the story. Plus, she shares a bit about what she's working on next and some terrific book recommendations.

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

Books by T Kira Madden: Whidbey and Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls
A brief, spoiler-free overview of Whidbey
The inspiration behind the novel
Revisiting the impact of sexual assault through fiction
What the character of Mary-Beth brings to the story
The ways the novel explores justice, accountability, and the limited options available to victims
How the reality show storyline reflects the power of media to shape public narratives
What T Kira is working on next

T Kira's Book Recommendations [36:42]

Two OLD Books She Loves

Reading the Waves by Lidia Yuknavitch (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:56]
Scorched Earth by Tiana Clark (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:43]
Other Books Mentioned
- The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch (2011) [37:15]

Two NEW Books She Loves

Extinction Capital of the World by Mariah Rigg (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:38]
Bloodfire, Baby by Eirinie Carson (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:28]

One Book She DIDN'T Love

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver (2003) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:58]

One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About

Lovers XXX by Allie Rowbottom (June 4, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:22]
Other Books Mentioned
- Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (2024) [46:43]
- The Hop by Diana Clarke (2022) [47:09]

Books From the Discussion

There There by Tommy Orange (2018) [36:32]