7+ Chapter Chat: The Physicality of Fiction

Susan Wiggs on ‘Wayward Girls’, Handwriting & Processing Hard Truths
In this episode of Chapter Chat, we sit down with bestselling author Susan Wiggs to celebrate the paperback release of her deeply resonant novel, Wayward Girls.
Published: Aug. 27, 2026 at 5:49 PM CDT

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - In this episode of Chapter Chat, we sit down with bestselling author Susan Wiggs to celebrate the paperback release of her deeply resonant novel, Wayward Girls.

Susan opens up about the passionate, specific feedback she has received from readers and shares her unique creative process, from the grounding ritual of handwriting her first drafts to how she physically transitions when writing about traumatic themes.

We also explore the striking parallels between how novelists and journalists decompress and process the heavy, emotional stories they are responsible for telling.

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