Untangling Dementia Themes in Teen Fiction with Krysten Lindsay Hager

Today’s guest is Krysten Lindsay Hager, who writes funny, charming, irresistible dramas for tweens and teens. Her stories are about friendship, self-esteem, fitting in, frenemies, crushes, fame, first loves, and values. She also writes about dementia, especially Lewy Body, in the teen novels “Competing with the Star,” a Readers' Favorite Book Award Finalist, and “Dating the It Guy.” Krysten’s experience with dementia started in her sophomore year in high school when her grandfather was diagnosed with “hardening of the arteries.” She helped her parents provide care for him, which affected her college years and led her to write “Competing with the Star.” Many years later her father was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia which inspired “Dating the It Guy.” In this episode we discuss why fiction is an excellent medium for educating teens about serious topics, why Robin Williams’ story helped her understood her father’s illness, how the vulnerability of dementia affects loving relationships, and the positivity to be found in saying “the long goodbye.” Read Krysten’s AlzAuthors Post: https://alzauthors.com/2017/02/01/krysten-lindsay-hager-how-young-adult-fiction-helps-heal-and-educate/ Start reading “Competing with the Star” https://amzn.to/2JJjIAs and “Dating the It Guy” https://amzn.to/33CEcCk now! (Note: We are an Amazon Associate and may receive a small commission from book sales.) Connect with Krysten Lindsay Hager Website: https://www.krystenlindsay.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KrystenLindsayHagerAuthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krystenlindsay/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KrystenLindsay Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/krystenlindsay/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClIQCsRcKc97-25oXvabZ8A About the Podcast AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys. We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization totally reliant on donations to do what we do. Your generosity will help cover our many operating costs, which include website hosting and maintenance fees, service charges to keep things running smoothly, and marketing expenses to promote our authors, expand our content, improve our reach, and more. Our ongoing work supports our mission to lift the silence and stigma of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. To sustain our efforts please visit https://alzauthors.com/donate/ . Thank you for listening. We are a WCN Featured Podcast. Proud to be on The Health Podcast Network. Want to be on the podcast? Here’s what you need to know. Shop our Store Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.