What pulls someone into a cult?

It's easy to shake our heads at cults, but in reality any one of us is one bit of circumstance from joining one. Prize-winning writer, Molly Aitken's short story THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENS published in the New Yorker explores how someone falls into the religious movement the Rajneesh that became infamous when the group moved from India to Oregon in the 1980s.

We also chat about the importance of sexuality in fiction, including the challenge — but need — of writing a good sex scene. Molly ends the conversation speaking about the benefits of writing about love.

Stuff mentioned and of note:

• Molly Aitken's Instagram
• THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENS the mentioned short story
• BRIGHT I BURN, Molly's novel on Alice Kyteler in 13th Century Ireland
• The Bad Sex in Fiction Awards
• The bad sex writing from British singer-songwriter Morrissey, frontman for The Smiths.
• Chicago Review of Books
• tuckerlegerski.com
• Keep up with Book Stuff and other creations at Tucker's Newsletter
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