Jasmin Darznik is the New York Times bestselling author of Song of a Captive Bird. She is also the author of The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother’s Hidden Life and the forthcoming, The Bohemians.

The Bohemians is a novel that imagines the friendship between photographer Dorothea Lange and her Chinese American assistant in 1920s San Francisco.

Podcast host Matthew Felix and Jasmin discussed some of the main themes of the novel, including our desire to be seen and the many ways in which history repeats itself. Many of the issues facing society in the 1920s were in striking parallel to ones with which contemporary society grapples, including racism, xenophobia, a pandemic, and much more.

Jasmin explained why 1920s San Francisco was a surprisingly good time and place to be a woman photographer.

Jasmin discussed the creative process, both as reflected in Dorothea’s story and her evolution as an artist and personally, including the importance of an artist giving their all to their work and why she finds it essential to go with her gut when writing.

Jasmin shared her insights into writing historical fiction, including advice for writers just getting started in the genre.

The Bohemians is out April 6.