Remix: How Author Frances de Pontes Peebles Finds Power in Writing
About this episode
Frances de Pontes Peebles discusses her writing journey, the challenges of motherhood, and the impact of her Latina identity.
The Brazilian-American novelist says she never had to claim her Latina identity because “it embraced me” as she grew up bilingual, bicultural, and multinational. On tour for her latest novel, The Air You Breathe, de Pontes Peebles tells Alicia about wrestling with the tension between needing time and space to create while meeting the demands of being a dedicated mother. She also recounts difficult scenes from her postpartum depression and how the act of telling someone saved her. Writing continues to save her, and she guards her gift ritualistically, including her tradition to “let the wall be empty for a while.” Follow Frances on Twitter @chiquinhapeebles. And buy her book, The Air You Breathe. If you loved this episode, listen to Lilliam Rivera, Carmen Maria Machado, Valeria Luiselli and Quiara Alegría Hudes for more on summoning the writing muse. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!
People in this episode
Host: Alicia
Guest: Frances de Pontes Peebles
Topics covered
- identity
- writing
- motherhood
- mental health
- bilingualism
- cultural heritage
Keywords
- Frances de Pontes Peebles
- The Air You Breathe
- writing
- motherhood
- postpartum depression
- Latina identity
- bilingual
- bicultural
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: The Air You Breathe
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