There is a relationship between grief and transcendence that may not be immediately recognizable. But it’s one often expressed within art and in particular, children’s literature.
Whether it’s Lewis’s wardrobe to Narnia, Dorothy’s house transported by cyclone to Oz or a bridge to Terabithia built across a chasm of loss.
Grief has a way of transporting us to a fantastical world of imagination where we can more easily grapple with the difficulties of loss and even find closure to the trauma that sent us looking for relief.
In this episode, Makers & Mystics host Stephen Roach talks with children's book author Katherine Paterson about the motivations behind her writing and why she feels it is important to create a safe space through art and literature for young adults to work through difficult emotions and experiences.
Katherine Paterson is the author of more than 40 books, including 18 novels for children and young people. She has twice won the Newbery Medal, for Bridge to Terabithia in 1978 and Jacob Have I Loved in 1981.
Katherine Paterson’s Website
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This conversation was recorded at the Hope Words Writer’s Conference 2023.
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S13 E10: Comedy and Context with Andi Marie Tillman
S13 E09: To Mend The World with Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth
S13 E08: Come And Save Me with Danielson and Chris White
S13 E07: Mastery & The Flow State with composer Christen Lien
S13 E06: Creativity And Community Live at Square Halo Conference
S13 E05: Why Community Matters with Stephen Roach
S13 E04: The Art of Lament with Amanda Held Opelt
REPLAY: An Ethos of Healing with Elephant Heart
S13 E03: The Social Instinct with Christa Hardin
S13 E02: The Vocabulary of Encounter with Kaleb Moten
S13 E01: An Introduction to Community and Culture with Stephen Roach
S13 Trailer: Community and Culture Introduction
S12 Finale: Detachment and Desire with Stephen Roach
S12 E15: Returning To Eden with Heather Hamilton
S12 E14: Our Virtual Reflection with Sam Rad
S12 E13: Healing Our Provisional Personalities with Jay Stringer
S12 Bonus: Artist's Roundtable: Live at Loom
S12 Bonus: Abundance & Scarcity: Live at The Guild
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