Bestselling author Amy Bloom is widely known for 2022 memoir “In Love.”

The memoir follows her journey with her late husband, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. The pair made a decision to travel to Switzerland to help him end his life.

Bloom’s latest book is different. “Blunt Instrument” is a vivacious, and often hilarious, murder mystery that’s set in the world of academia. And it’s partly inspired by Wesleyan University.

Bloom recently sat down with us to talk about her book and writing process.

Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Bestselling author Amy Bloom is widely known for 2022 memoir <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/in-love-a-memoir-of-love-and-loss-amy-bloom/5405ff46d067027a?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=dsa_nonbrand&amp;utm_content={adgroupname}&amp;utm_term=aud-1721779758455:dsa-19959388920&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=12440232635&amp;gbraid=0AAAAACfld42h3vW2CTSS2nS7ueRz5Qrqe&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwof_QBhCgARIsADaMzOfAYnKufGutAR5bUsAWwhrJTvl5u1UOVrC1uaJQzRXwtvaJi4eEwMkaAjdlEALw_wcB">&ldquo;In Love.&rdquo;</a>
The memoir follows her journey with her late husband, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. The pair made a decision to travel to Switzerland to help him end his life.
Bloom&rsquo;s latest book is different. <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/blunt-instrument-amy-bloom/d4e8e5e2f0b50bb7?ean=9781613167601&amp;next=t">&ldquo;Blunt Instrument&rdquo;</a> is a vivacious, and often hilarious, murder mystery that&rsquo;s set in the world of academia. And it&rsquo;s partly inspired by Wesleyan University.
Bloom recently sat down with us to talk about her book and writing process.
Where We Live&nbsp;is available on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-we-live/id706066099">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0j08SgnZIU5BmjDyHbgjgP">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/43f3a507-ebfa-4876-b34a-030759a8924c/where-we-live">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/Where-We-Live-p1207905/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/where-we-live-connecticut-public-radio-lz9NAwSEexh/">Listen Notes,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Produced by Connecticut Public, 'Where We Live' puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Where We Live is a call-in talk show about who we are in Connecticut and our place in the world.

Where We Live

Produced by Connecticut Public, '<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/where-we-live/about">Where We Live'</a> puts Connecticut in context. Host Catherine Shen brings us fascinating, informed, in-depth conversations and stories beyond news headlines.  We start local, but we take time to explore domestic and international issues and consider how they impact us personally and here at home.

Author Amy Bloom on first drafts, writing slowly and making use of every inspiration

It's been more than 60 years since environmentalist Rachel Carson's book, "Silent Spring," challenged the widespread use of synthetic pesticides like DDT and helped launch the modern environmental movement.

This hour, we learn about Carson's life, work and her enduring legacy through a new exhibit at Yale's Beinecke Library.

We'll also examine a current environmental challenge: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. This a class of man-made chemicals can be found in drinking water systems across Connecticut and the country. We'll explore the health concerns surrounding PFAS, efforts to limit exposure and what Carson's story can teach us about responding to today's environmental risks.

Guests:
Vasilis Vasiliou: Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale University
Carla Baricz: Librarian for Literature in English and Comparative Literature, curator for Beinecke Library’s exhibition: “Silent Springs, Windswept Seas: Rachel Carson’s Environmental Vision”
James Kessenides: Kaplanoff Librarian for American History at the Yale Library, curator for Beinecke Library’s exhibition: “Silent Springs, Windswept Seas: Rachel Carson’s Environmental Vision”

It's been more than 60 years since environmentalist Rachel Carson's book, "<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/silent-spring-rachel-carson/b797631377260b2d?ean=9780618249060&amp;next=t">Silent Spring</a>," challenged the widespread use of synthetic pesticides like DDT and helped launch the modern environmental movement.
This hour, we learn about Carson's life, work and her enduring legacy through a new exhibit at&nbsp;<a href="https://beinecke.library.yale.edu/">Yale's Beinecke Library.</a>
We'll also examine a current environmental challenge: per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. This a class of man-made chemicals can be found in drinking water systems across Connecticut and the country. We'll explore the health concerns surrounding PFAS, efforts to limit exposure and what Carson's story can teach us about responding to today's environmental risks.
Guests:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ysph.yale.edu/profile/vasilis-vasiliou/">Vasilis Vasiliou</a>:&nbsp;Professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale University</li>
<li>Carla Baricz:&nbsp;Librarian for Literature in English and Comparative Literature, curator for Beinecke Library&rsquo;s exhibition: &ldquo;<a href="https://events.yale.edu/event/silent-springs-windswept-seas-rachel-carsons-environmental-vision">Silent Springs, Windswept Seas: Rachel Carson&rsquo;s Environmental Vision</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li>James Kessenides: Kaplanoff Librarian for American History at the Yale Library, curator for&nbsp;<a href="https://beinecke.library.yale.edu/">Beinecke Library&rsquo;s</a>&nbsp;exhibition: &ldquo;Silent Springs, Windswept Seas: Rachel Carson&rsquo;s Environmental Vision&rdquo;</li>
</ul>

How Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' is still teaching environmentalists in 2026

Did you know that the Library of Congress is home to half a million children’s books? That’s a lot of summer reading!

Today, it’s our annual summer reading show, dedicated to all things YA and kid’s reads. We’ll hear from the author of “Tell Me A Story: Fantastic Children’s Books from the Library of Congress” and talk about the books to inspire the young reader in your household.

We want to hear about your favorite YA read that brings you back to those carefree summer days; email us at wherewelive@ctpublic.org.

Guest:
Kym Powe: Children and YA Consultant for the Connecticut State Library
Hannah Freece: Writer-Editor, Publishing Office at Library of Congress. She is the editor of “Tell Me A Story: Fantastic Children’s Books from the Library of Congress”

Did you know that the Library of Congress is home to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.loc.gov/collections/childrens-book-selections/about-this-collection/">half a million children&rsquo;s books?&nbsp;</a>That&rsquo;s a lot of summer reading!
Today, it&rsquo;s our annual summer reading show, dedicated to all things YA and kid&rsquo;s reads. We&rsquo;ll hear from the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/explore-the-history-of-children-s-literature-in-new-collection-close-up-book/s/ee8c2445-4e70-451b-b27f-b648e5bb03a7">&ldquo;Tell Me A Story: Fantastic Children&rsquo;s Books from the Library of Congress&rdquo;</a>&nbsp;and talk about the books to inspire the young reader in your household.
We want to hear about your favorite YA read that brings you back to those carefree summer days; email us at wherewelive@ctpublic.org.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Kym Powe:&nbsp;Children and YA Consultant for the Connecticut State Library</li>
<li>Hannah Freece:&nbsp;Writer-Editor, Publishing Office at Library of Congress. She is the editor of &ldquo;Tell Me A Story: Fantastic Children&rsquo;s Books from the Library of Congress&rdquo;</li>
</ul>

Looking for a book for the young reader in your life? We got you covered

In April, 18-year-old Rihan was mistakenly detained by U.S. Immigation and Customs Enforcement. The teen, who lives in Cheshire, Connecticut, spent two weeks in a detention facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Today, Rihan is back home and just graduated from Cheshire High. 

But with his legal status in limbo what's next for a young man with a dream to attend college and an uncertain future in the U.S.?

"They have taken everything of mine," Rihan said. "My legal status and everything like that. I don't have anything now to move forward in the future."

This hour, we talk with Rihan and his father, Zia. We're using their first names only for their safety and the safety of their family in Afghanistan. We'll also speak with their immigration attorney about the tenuous road ahead for a family whose legal status hangs in the balance.

GUESTS:


Rihan: Cheshire teen detained for two weeks by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in April, 2026.


Zia: Rihan’s father. He served the U.S. Army as an interpreter and cultural advisor during the war in Afghanistan.


Samantha Rosenberg: Cheshire Board of Education Chair


Lauren C. Petersen: Private practice immigration attorney in New Haven, currently representing Rihan and his family. She’s Founder and Executive Director of Pavillion Immigrant Assistance in Hartford, and she’s also a co-managing attorney for the American Immigrant Legal Clinic in New Haven.

Connecticut Public's Patrick Skahill contributed to this episode. Special thanks also to Rihan's uncle Tariq, and family advocate, Dick Harvey.

Where We Live is available on Apple Podcasts,Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

In April, 18-year-old Rihan was mistakenly detained by U.S. Immigation and Customs Enforcement. The teen, who lives in Cheshire, Connecticut, spent two weeks in a detention facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Today, Rihan is back home and just graduated from Cheshire High.&nbsp;
But with his legal status in limbo what's next for a young man with a dream to attend college and an uncertain future in the U.S.?
"They have taken everything of mine," Rihan said. "My legal status and everything like that. I don't have anything now to move forward in the future."
This hour, we talk with Rihan and his father, Zia. We're using their first names only for their safety and the safety of their family in Afghanistan. We'll also speak with their immigration attorney about the tenuous road ahead for a family whose legal status hangs in the balance.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Rihan: Cheshire teen detained for two weeks by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in April, 2026.
</li>
<li>
Zia: Rihan&rsquo;s father. He served the U.S. Army as an interpreter and cultural advisor during the war in Afghanistan.
</li>
<li>
Samantha Rosenberg: Cheshire Board of Education Chair
</li>
<li>
Lauren C. Petersen: <a href="https://lcpimmigration.com/">Private practice immigration attorney</a> in New Haven, currently representing Rihan and his family. She&rsquo;s Founder and Executive Director of <a href="https://pavilionct.org/who-we-are">Pavillion Immigrant Assistance</a> in Hartford, and she&rsquo;s also a co-managing attorney for the <a href="https://cirict.org/immigration-legal-services/">American Immigrant Legal Clinic</a> in New Haven.
</li>
</ul>
Connecticut Public's Patrick Skahill contributed to this episode. Special thanks also to Rihan's uncle Tariq, and family advocate, Dick Harvey. Where We Live is available on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/where-we-live/id706066099">Apple Podcasts,</a> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0j08SgnZIU5BmjDyHbgjgP">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/43f3a507-ebfa-4876-b34a-030759a8924c/where-we-live">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Government/Where-We-Live-p1207905/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/where-we-live-connecticut-public-radio-lz9NAwSEexh/">Listen Notes,</a> or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Author Amy Bloom on first drafts, writing slowly and making use of every inspiration

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