April 2025: Lily Brooks-Dalton’s The Light Pirate
“This is the conundrum of living in places that aren’t accommodating to us anymore in the way that they used to be. It’s so easy to be tucked into your safe home and think, ‘just move’. But, these are people’s homes. They invest their whole lives in these spaces. It’s no small thing to just move.”
Episode 54
The April 2025 JHBC selection, The Light Pirate, is a haunting, lyrical, and original story that takes place in the near future, set against the backdrop of climate-ravaged Florida, with parts of the state going underwater and being abandoned by those who used to call it home. The story follows Wanda—a luminous child born out of a devastating hurricane—as she navigates a rapidly changing world. With elements of literary fiction, speculative realism, and subtle magical undertones, The Light Pirate is a meditation on grief, transformation, resilience, and the relationship between humanity and the natural world. It’s both a warning and a whisper of hope—a reminder that even in the face of collapse, there is still beauty, connection, and light.
In this discussion with The Light Pirate author, Lily Brooks-Dalton, she and Jen discuss:
- How the simple practice of journaling helped Lily evolve her craft and find her own unique voice as a writer
- The ways in which Lily weaves unexpected, real-life texture into her work by marrying her passions in other hobbies and subjects
- The evolving demands on a modern author
- And Lily talks about her next book project titled ‘Ruins’ that explores the fascinating field of archaeology
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
The Light Pirate: A Novel by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Motorcycles I’ve Loved: A Memoir by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Good Morning, Midnight: A Novel by Lily Brooks-Dalton
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
Audition: A Novel by Katie Kitamura
Take a peek around
If you’re not sure where to begin, I got you, friend. I’m always bringing you something new to enjoy.
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