It Will Last Longer: Storytelling Beyond Labels with Tara Sanders Brooks

In this powerful episode of Healthy Mind, Healthy Life, host Avik Chakraborty sits down with Tara Sanders Brooks—writer, cinematographer, and debut novelist—to explore what it means to tell stories that go beyond identity labels. Her upcoming novel It Will Last Longer is a striking blend of crime noir, literary fiction, and queer romance set in Los Angeles. Tara shares how her creative journey from film to prose has been driven by a desire to make readers feel less alone, and how her complex characters reflect the beautiful messiness of life.

This conversation dives into topics like the gaps in queer representation, the ethics of art inspired by tragedy, the volatile nature of public opinion in the digital age, and why flawed characters resonate so deeply. Tara also opens up about her own fears and triumphs in writing her first novel, offering a heartfelt message to fellow creatives to take risks and tell the stories only they can tell.

Tune in to understand why It Will Last Longer is more than a book—it's a statement.

About the Guest:
Tara Sanders Brooks is a Los Angeles-based writer and cinematographer. With bylines in American Cinematographer and Women in Media, Tara now turns her lens inward with her debut novel It Will Last Longer, releasing September 16. Her work brings raw emotion, layered storytelling, and a cinematic edge to the page, with a focus on queer lives beyond coming out narratives.

Key Takeaways :

• Tara discusses her transition from the film world to writing, highlighting how prose allows deeper emotional exploration.

• Her novel It Will Last Longer tackles queer life without centering solely on identity struggles, challenging the publishing world’s narrow expectations.

• She reflects on Viv, her morally complex protagonist, and the controversial decision to start the novel with a photo of a suicide scene—prompting readers to reflect on artistic ethics and digital culture.

• Tara talks about LA as more than a backdrop—it's a character in her novel, mirroring the protagonist’s internal grit and glamour.

• The episode explores the toxicity of online culture and how both public figures and everyday users face the emotional whiplash of digital judgment.

• She encourages creators to take risks, create what they wish existed, and believe

Connect with Tara Sanders Brooks:
Website: www.tarasandersbrooks.com

DM for book talks, film projects, and creative collaborations.

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