Sue William Silverman on Her “Selected Misdemeanors” and Finding Metaphor

What do a dead goldfish, Pat Boone, and crème de menthe have in common? For acclaimed memoirist Sue William Silverman, they’re all part of her deeply personal and poetic exploration in her latest book, Selected Misdemeanors: Essays at the Mercy of the Reader. In this conversation, Sue opens up about the emotional missteps and moments that shaped her—and how writing flash essays allows her to capture the weight of fleeting experiences. Sue shares her unique approach to writing: mining small, seemingly mundane memories and transforming them into meaningful metaphors. From walking on hands with her sister to confronting childhood trauma and the aftermath of emotional scars, each essay in Selected Misdemeanors reveals a shimmering truth beneath the surface. We also explore the challenges of memoir writing, why metaphors matter, and how women can claim their voices through storytelling. Sue also discusses her childhood obsession with Pat Boone—and the extraordinary real-life full-circle moment that followed decades later. If you're a writer, reader, or anyone fascinated by how truth becomes art, this episode is for you.