What inspired you to write your latest novel, More or Less Maddy?  

“Driven by the conviction that story holds the power to educate, demystify, humanize, and create empathy, I've devoted much of my life to writing about people who tend to be ignored, feared, and misunderstood because of what’s going on inside their brains…. When I was on tour for Every Note Played, the last Q&A question was typically, ‘What are you going to write about next?’ My answer, ‘I think I’m going to write about bipolar disorder,’ was invariably followed by gasps, hushed conversation, and applause from the audience. That kind of big reaction to a possible next book topic had never happened before, and it emboldened my desire to write about it.”  

Brain health is at the centre of your work. What influences you to shine a spotlight on a particular disease or disorder in a book? 

“I would say it’s equal parts personal connection and curiosity. Still Alice (Alzheimer’s) was inspired by my experience with my grandmother, motivated by the question: What does it feel like to have Alzheimer's? Left Neglected (hemispatial neglect) was born out of curiosity after reading a three-page story in A Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks. I had to know more!  

“I wrote Love Anthony (autism) for my beloved cousin Tracey and her son Anthony as part of my own search for understanding and deeper meaning. I wrote Inside the O’Briens (Huntington’s) because I wanted to shed a much-needed and human light on this hideous neurodegenerative disease. Every Note Played (ALS) was written in honour of Richard Glatzer who co-wrote the script and co-directed the film Still Alice while living with ALS and who died shortly after Julianne Moore won her Oscar.  
 
“I chose to write about bipolar disorder because I think it’s hiding in plain sight everywhere and carries so much stigma, shame, and misinformation. I hope More or Less Maddy helps to alleviate these.” 

As a neuroscientist and a novelist, how do you balance the demands of both worlds while taking care of yourself? 

“When I’m not on a book or speaking tour, research and writing happen primarily in the mornings. When I’m writing, my daily goal is 1,000 to 1,500 words. As a single mom, after school and evenings belong to my kids. In between, I prioritize exercise, connection, play, and joy—walks with my girlfriends and my dog Peanut, dance class, yoga, and pickleball. And I always have tickets to see a play, a dance performance, a comedian.”  

In terms of brain health, is there a habit you can share that readers could make a part of their everyday?  

“Sleep! Every neuroscientist I know makes sleep a priority. Sleep science is very clear on the connection between sleep and health. Sleep is a nuanced, biologically busy state vital to your health, survival, and optimal functioning. Insufficient sleep puts you at a higher risk for heart disease, cancer, infection, mental illness, Alzheimer’s, and memory impairment.” 

What can you tell us about the connection between reading and brain health? 

“Neuroimaging studies have shown that reading fiction activates the parts of your brain that actually mediate the experiences you’re reading about. So, stories quite literally give our brains the chance to walk in someone else’s shoes. Studies have also shown that reading fiction can help us to take on the perspective of other people, share feelings, infer intentions, and care. Basically, reading fiction is like taking your brain to the empathy gym.”