With “Dad,” author Bob Seay faced the challenge of relating Alzheimer’s devastating impacts with respect while acknowledging its toll on an entire family.

Colorado Humanities & Center for the Book
An old family story about her dad riding the rails gave Jeanette Minniti inspiration
Author Jeanette Minniti began her novel “The Only Way Home” in a writing class, where it developed into historical fiction and a coming of age story.
Margaret Mizushima chose puppies to help power this Timber Creek K-9 mystery
In “Striking Range,” author Margaret Mizushima continues to weave the thread of Deputy Mattie Cobb’s past into her narrative. Babies, and puppies, were her agent’s idea.
For author Olivia Chadha, the story came easily. Creating the right world was hard.
When she wrote “Rise of the Red Hand,” author Olivia Chadha tried two different genres before she settled on a sci-fi-/fantasy world of YA fiction.
Jennifer Seman’s graduate research led to her book “Borderlands Curanderos”
Author Jennifer Seman had to dig deep for documents referencing her two main characters, who left little in terms of primary documents for “Borderland Curanderos.”
Adrian Miller drew on oral histories of enslaved people to address origins of barbecue
While exploring Black cultural ties to barbecue cuisine, author Adrian Miller’s research for “Black Smoke” also revealed its Native American foundation.
DU’s Prison Arts Initiative navigated COVID to create “Tell It Slant”
“Tell It Slant” co-editors describe the challenges of working with inmates during a pandemic, while one inmate describes what the program has meant.
The scientist in Susan J. Tweit provided her the raw material for “Bless the Birds”
Notes, journals and her blog gave “Bless the Birds” author Susan J. Tweit “primary source material” for the account of her final trip with her husband.
Blake Sanz explores how people become estranged from the places they call home
The author’s collection of short stories, “The Boundaries of Their Dwelling,” grew from his connections to Louisiana and Mexico.
For Todd Mitchell, a “nasty breakdown” led to creative “Breakthrough”
Todd Mitchell’s experience led him to research all aspects of creativity, and ultimately helped him become happier and more resilient.