Arts
In Episode 91, Caitlin Wahrer (author of The Damage) shares how she decided to tackle sexual assault of a man by a man, how she felt about writing a gay male protagonist as a straight woman, and how the U.S. legal system is re-traumatizing for sexual assault victims. This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights Why Caitlin doesn’t use cases she actually worked on as inspiration for her fiction writing. How Caitlin decided to tackle sexual assault of a man by a man. How Caitlin felt about writing a story about a gay, male protagonist as a straight woman (and what the discussions with her publisher looked like). What it was like to work with a sensitivity reader. What it means to her when gay men and sexual assault survivors tell her The Damage had an impact on them. (rephrase). The biggest difference she discovered in the impact of sexual assault of a female vs. of a male. How the U.S. legal system is re-traumatizing for sexual assault victims, Caitlin’s view of the legal system’s biggest problems, and how she thinks it could be improved. The restorative justice process. Why attorneys make such great fiction writers. Caitlin’s Book Recommendations [31:19] Two OLD Books She Loves Know My Name by Chanel Miller | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [31:34] Wild Seedby Octavia Butler | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [34:31] Two NEW Books She Loves The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano by Donna Freitas | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [37:28] Bath Haus by PJ Vernon | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [39:35] One Book She DIDN’T LOVE Cujo by Stephen King | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [44:12] One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About Dog Park by Sofi Oksanen (September 21, 2021) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [42:13] Last 5 Star Book(s) Caitlin Read [49:03] That Night by Gillian McAllister | Buy from Amazon [46:40] Other Books Mentioned Kindred by Octavia Butler [34:49] Salem’s Lot by Stephen King [46:13] About Caitlin Instagram Caitlin is a Maine girl through and through. She was born to two hippies who raised her in a small town in central-southern Maine without a single stoplight in it. Caitlin left the state for four years to study criminal justice and marriage and family studies at a college in Pennsylvania. She returned to Maine after graduation to attend law school and practice law. She and her husband live in southern Maine with their dog.