Leanne Toshiko Simpson's debut novel is a rom-com about mental illness

The Canadian writer talks to Q's Tom Power about her first book, Never Been Better

Image | Leanne Toshiko Simpson

Caption: Leanne Toshiko Simpson in the Q studio in Toronto. (Vivian Rashotte/CBC)

Media Audio | Q : Leanne Toshiko Simpson: Why the rom-com is the perfect format to discuss mental illness

Open Full Embed in New Tab (external link)Loading external pages may require significantly more data usage.
Leanne Toshiko Simpson is looking at romantic comedy through a new lens. The fourth-generation Japanese Canadian writer has just released her debut novel, Never Been Better, which tells a love story set at a psychiatric facility. Simpson lives with bipolar disorder and has spent time in a psych ward herself. She sits down with Q's Tom Power(external link) to tell us why she wanted to use the rom-com format to talk about mental illness.

Embed | Other

The full interview with Leanne Toshiko Simpson is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power(external link). Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Leanne Toshiko Simpson produced by Ben Edwards.