Daphne Palasi Andreades Seeks Deeper Truths from Fiction

At Pen America, Daphne Palasi Andreades discusses her debut novel, Brown Girls, and why stories remain an essential part of her life. “Stories have helped me understand myself and the world more deeply,” she says. “They’ve allowed me to feel less alone, taught me new things, helped me consider other perspectives; they’ve sparked my imagination, transported me to other places and times. The best stories have made me feel grateful to be alive and in awe of how complex life and people are—and in awe that language could capture this. As an artist, I am fascinated by how a form as artificial and contrived as fiction can, in fact, lead to deeper truths.”