T Kira Madden Finds Joy in the Dark

The award-winning author's writing process prioritizes play, even as she crafts deep, difficult stories.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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T Kira Madden, the acclaimed memoirist and novelist, has a unique writing process that involves using a different typewriter for each book to capture its "vibe." She writes the entire first draft without stopping and doesn't make corrections until the transcription phase. Madden's latest novel, "Whidbey," explores the aftermath of a child sexual abuser's murder through the perspectives of three women, challenging readers' assumptions about likability and the criminal justice system. Despite the dark subject matter, Madden herself is a joyful and optimistic person who finds creative inspiration in everyday observations and activities like cooking and reality TV.

Why it matters

Madden's approach to writing offers a unique perspective on how artists can find control and ritual in the creative process, even when exploring difficult themes. Her ability to find humanity in all of her characters, including perpetrators, challenges readers to examine their own biases and the systems that fail both survivors and offenders. Madden's commitment to indigenous practices and her fascination with hero and villain narratives also provide insight into her cultural identity and literary interests.

The details

Madden writes the entire first draft of each book on a new typewriter that aligns with the book's "vibe," not stopping until she's reached "three surprises." She then transcribes the manuscript to a computer, allowing sentences and scenes to fall away if they don't feel urgent enough. Madden also uses color-coded sticky notes for different characters and timelines, and reads her work aloud often. For "Whidbey," she wrote on a bright red IBM Selectric II, alongside a "spooky" stained glass lamp, driftwood from the real Whidbey Island, models of banana slugs, and a picture of Monica Lewinsky. The novel follows three women connected through their experience with a child sexual abuser in the aftermath of his murder.

  • In 2017, while attending a writer-in-residence program on Whidbey Island, Madden had to interrupt her residency to travel to South Florida to establish a restraining order against the man who sexually assaulted her when she was 12.
  • By 2020, the short story Madden had written from the perspective of a child sexual abuser's mother became the basis for the character of Mary Beth in "Whidbey."

The players

T Kira Madden

An award-winning memoirist and novelist who has a unique writing process and finds joy in the creative process, despite exploring dark themes in her work.

Suzanne Hoover

Madden's mentor and former MFA thesis advisor, whose guidance helped nurture Madden's knowledge of perspective and structure in her writing.

Hannah Beresford

Madden's spouse, who is a poet and editor.

Monica Lewinsky

A picture of Lewinsky sits on Madden's desk, as the author is interested in how true crime narratives often fail to consider the long-term impact on the people involved.

Birdie Chang, Linzie King, and Mary Beth Boyer

The three main characters in Madden's novel "Whidbey," who are connected through their experience with a child sexual abuser.

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What they’re saying

“So much of life is out of our control and messy, and writing is a place where I get to step into this ritual. At its best, it's like you're casting a spell. Like you're stating your intentions.”

— T Kira Madden, Author (elle.com)

“I think it comes down to this essential need to have your suffering seen or acknowledged. The people who love you only regard you a certain way, or they want you to move on. And for me, in that moment, I was able to tell someone new of my suffering, to get to see them react to that, to hold that.”

— T Kira Madden, Author (elle.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Madden's ability to find joy and ritual in the writing process, even when exploring dark themes, challenges readers to approach difficult subject matter with empathy and an open mind. Her commitment to indigenous practices and her fascination with hero and villain narratives offer a unique perspective on the power of storytelling to reflect and shape our understanding of the world.