On this episode of Complicated Conversations, we welcome Chelsea Bieker to discuss her new novel Madwoman, an emotionally gripping story about Clove, a mother who has constructed a perfect life based on lies. When she receives a letter from her mother in prison, her past comes crashing back, and she must confront the truth. We chat with Chelsea about themes of motherhood, reinvention, the desire for self-improvement, the complexities of justice and pity, intergenerational trauma, the impact of male violence, and the healing power of storytelling. She tells us about her choice to use the second-person narrative and the intimately vulnerable power of addressing the reader directly. Madwoman is out now and it will stay with you as it has with us long after you turn the last page. Buy it, read it, share it, and listen to our spoiler-free chat with Chelsea wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices