#41: The 10-Year Journey to Never Been Better by Leanne Toshiko Simpson

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with Leanne Toshiko Simpson to talk about her novel Never Been Better and the deeply personal journey behind it. From living with bipolar disorder to navigating creativity, teaching, and storytelling, Leanne shares what it really looks like to build a life and career while managing mental health. CHAPTERS:  0:00 - Introduction 2:15 - Teaching Creative Writing at U of T 6:00 - What Leanne Does Day to Day 10:25 - Being Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder 11:55 - What Do Books Get Wrong About Mental Health? 17:22 - Favourite Mental Health Romances 21:25 - Never Been Better 32:10 - Writing The Ending of Never Been Better 34:55 - CBC Canada Reads 36:55 - What’s Next FOLLOW US: Morgann Book TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook  Leanne Toshiko Simpson: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leannetoshiko/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@leannetoshikowrites Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/leanne-toshiko-simpson/ Find her book at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/never-been-better-leanne-toshiko-simpson/1143604639 Pebbles and Company: https://www.pebblescompany.com/ Off The Shelf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Off.TheShelfPodcast  Hosted by: Morgann Book Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston  Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston  Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.