Emily Bond turns life-quakes into page-turners, turning chemo rooms into writing rooms and everyday crises into bestselling fiction. In her conversation with Ryan, Emily shares how a surprise Stage 2 breast cancer diagnosis collided with a two-year-old at her feet, and how she finished her “magical realism rom-com” Sort of Seeing Someone between infusions. She explains the mental trick that kept her buzzing her hair with a toddler by her side, and offers blunt advice on talking to friends who are fighting for their lives. From inking a HarperCollins deal to shelving a pandemic-dated manuscript, she shows that humor, strict deadlines, and a touch of woo-woo can turn any detour into a new chapter.