Featured Interview With Mary Ladd
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I collaborated with Anthony Bourdain and created The Wig Diaries: An Irreverent Cancer Book (2019) with illustrator Don Asmussen. The Long COVID Reader founding editor has written about meat clothing, withered sexuality, and pizza champions for the San Francisco Chronicle, Playboy, Wildfire, and the best-selling 642 Things to Write About and Lit Starts books and the best-selling 642 Things to Write About books. I am a proud We Wai Kai First Nation member and belong to the Writers Grotto.
I was born in San Francisco and raised California’s first capitol city. An adorable small rescue dog named Jerry provides unconditional love and the chance to walk and play.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Because my mom taught elementary school, we spent a lot of time reading and visiting libraries. Each summer meant I could read as much as I wanted, which I gobbled up.
My first piece was published in third grade, and I received a writing award a few years later. The coolest teacher in high school invited me to edit the school newspaper, and I continued to write and become more interested in food writing. Going to cooking school at age 29 seemed to be a great way to break into newspapers, and I went on to write for other publications, while spending my free time reading and learning.
I feel most comfortable in bookstores and libraries and love learning from readers and my fellow writers.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My greatest inspiration is at the Writers Grotto because our members try so many exciting things in their books. Members have won Pulitzer prizes and Guggenheim Fellowships and penned New York Times bestsellers, national TV series and movies. Notable alumni include Vanessa Hua, Jason Roberts, Tom Barbash, Glen David Gold, Ethan Watters, Ethan Canin, Po Bronson, Caroline Paul, Zara Stone, Vendela Vida, ZZ Packer, Roberto Lovato, Mary Roach, and Julia Scheeres.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
The Long COVID Reader: Writing and Poetry from 45 Long Haulers goes on sale November 15 and took an entire year of hard work and collaboration to publish. This anthology provides an unprecedented glimpse into the lives of 45 American COVID-19 long haulers and reflects broad demographics. As the world stands on the cusp of recovery, this piece of living history is a poignant reminder of the millions of people with Long COVID worldwide. It uses a patient-centric, experiential literary approach. The book is the brainchild of author and writer Mary Ladd, a one-time Anthony Bourdain collaborator who has had Long COVID since March2022. The Long COVID Reader
includes essays, stories, and poetry from Andrew David King, Pato Hebert, Nina Storey, Emily Pinkerton, Morgan Stephens, Nikki Stewart, Sonya Huber, Ann E. Wallace, Alexis Misko, and others.
The Long COVID Reader is a powerful testament to human strength and solidarity. Contributor Dr. Sabrina McQueen Johnson, a retired school principal, wife, and mother, says, “Being part of the first-everLong COVID Reader is significant because the pandemic was a firstfor the world, and our stories matter. This book is meaningful as it enables the forgotten Long COVID community to break their silence and contributes to the next phase of my healing.”
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