
Episode #4
Demet Divaroren on Blood Moon Bride
This episode features a conversation with Turkish-Australian author and editor Demet Divaroren about her dark fantasy novel Blood Moon Bride . Demet discusses the novel's long journey to publication, writing feminist speculative fiction, and the ways fantasy can be used to explore power, identity, resistance and belonging. This episode also includes a discussion of world-building, symbolism and magic systems in fantasy, the influence of family history on storytelling, and the role of speculative fiction in examining real-world issues such as misogyny, injustice and cultural erasure. The conversation explores the concept of "coming of age" across a lifetime, the importance of critical thinking and self-determination for young people, and the ways literature can provide a safe space for readers to engage with complex social and emotional themes.

