Here she is, everyone: the thoughtful, talented, extraordinary Margaret Wilkerson Sexton, who joined me to talk about her gorgeous novel, On the Rooftop! Our conversation took a lot of wonderful turns and filled me with such a sense of reverence and connection. We covered a lot of territory — the importance of taking leaps of faith, spirituality, character development, divine intervention, Fiddler on the Roof, finding joy in dark places, and more. I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

If you haven’t read On the Rooftop yet, please do get your hands on a copy and treat yourself to this unforgettable story. Margaret’s books have won all kinds of very well-deserved awards and honors, but On The Rooftop has made her a certified superstar. It is the story of a formidable matriarch and the three talented daughters who sing together as The Salvations, and the choices that each woman in this family must make about her own future. At the same time, their beloved home in the Fillmore District in San Francisco is undergoing a major mid-century change of its own. The story is evocative, powerful, fun, heartbreaking, and above all, beautifully told by a masterful writer.

As always, I encourage you to visit and support the Onward Book Club’s partner, Elizabeth’s Bookshop and Writing Centre founded by the inimitable Rachel Cargle.