On this episode of The Billy D’s Podcast, Billy sits down with author Laura Buchwald for a thoughtful and emotionally resonant conversation about grief, storytelling, and her novel The Book of Reservations. The discussion opens with a universal question: What if you could have just one more meal with someone you’ve lost? That longing—especially powerful around holidays, anniversaries, and meaningful traditions—sits at the core of Buchwald’s work. Her novel introduces a protagonist who can communicate with the dead, setting the stage for a story that blends love, loss, and the enduring human desire for connection beyond death.
Laura shares how her lifelong passion for writing eventually led her to novels, and how real-life experiences with grief—particularly the loss of her father—deeply shaped her creative process. Rather than treating grief as a linear journey, she describes it as personal, unpredictable, and cumulative. The conversation explores themes of belief versus skepticism, hospice experiences, and the possibility that death may not be the end. Billy and Laura thoughtfully examine how people process loss differently, and how storytelling can offer comfort, meaning, and even gratitude in the face of sorrow.
The interview also dives into the craft and discipline of writing in today’s changing landscape. Laura offers candid advice for aspiring writers about embracing messy first drafts, persevering through rejection, and writing from a place of genuine love rather than chasing trends. They also touch on the role of AI in creative work, the pressures of publishing, and the importance of preserving local culture—particularly neighborhood restaurants, which inspire the novel’s setting. Described as a cross between The Bear and Ghosts, The Book of Reservations weaves together restaurant life, spiritual connection, and human relationships, making this conversation a rich listen for readers, writers, and anyone navigating grief while searching for meaning.
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