Ep. 217: Sharp Humor, Big Hearts and a Touch of Murder: Jesse Sutanto Returns
EQ: How are contemporary authors exploring themes of belonging, identity, and inclusion in today’s writing landscape?
Bestselling author Jesse Sutanto is back to talk about the whirlwind success of Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, reflecting on how her career has shifted in recent years and how cultural and political landscapes shape her work. She shares the inspiration behind Vera Wong, and how she mixes humor with more serious themes around family, belonging, and identity in her novels. Jesse also describes how she navigates stereotypes, the importance of authentic representation in publishing, the impact of BookTok and social media on her connection with readers. We get a little hint at what she’s working on next!
Related Link:
Oprah and Mindy Khaling’s Production Company to produce TV show on Vera
Do Your Fudging Homework:
Annie: We’re facing down a literacy crisis in America the likes of which we’ve never seen. So, really, you should be reading more in general and why not start with Jesse’s books? Support a creative who’s doing groundbreaking work while bettering yourself in the process.
Hope: Ditto (and go read the Vera Wong series!)
Jesse: Abandoned Queens by Richard Panchyk