Leila.C.Nadir.PhD

Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro says 'I'd rather die' than use generative AI Del Toro's new Frankenstein adaption reimagines Mary Shelley's 1818 Gothic novel. Frankenstein was like a tech bro: "creating something without considering the consequences," he explains.

“I am not interested, nor will I ever be interested. I'm 61, and I hope to be able to remain uninterested in using it at all until I croak. ... The other day, somebody wrote me an email, said, ‘What is your stance on AI?’ And my answer was very short. I said, ‘I'd rather die.’” 🫡

​BREAKING: Today, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum opened all 1.56 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s Coastal Plain to oil and gas leasing. These lands are sacred to the Gwich’in Nation, home to irreplaceable wildlife and wilderness, and have never seen industrialization.

Exploring the intricacies of open adoption Author Nicole Chung joins us to talk about her reporting on open adoptions for The Atlantic.

I talked with Dave Miller @opb.org about my reporting on open adoption and what it was like growing up as a transracial adoptee in Oregon. Thanks to Think Out Loud for having me back on the show! You can listen here:

🌟 I’m teaching a new class on one of my favorite craft topics: How To End Things for WritingWorkshops.com! Monday nights, 7-9pm EST, in November. Starting in 2 weeks. For all fiction and nonfiction genres, including TV/film. 🌟🌟 #writingworkshops

Info: writingworkshops.com/products/how...

INTIMATE GEOPOLITICS: October 7! Online Maine Lit Fest panel about the rocketing + ricocheting of US imperial policies, bombs, + drones across continents, oceans, generations, diasporas, language. With Jen Soriano, Sahar Muradi, Hala Alyan. More info + register link: mainewriters.org/calendar/geo...

Hedgebrook is a magical wonderful place that has stayed with me! I hope your app is successful!

There are people who got COVID at Bread Loaf who did all, if not most, activities outdoors. The upset and surprise is also about Bread Loaf's policies, cover-ups, and gaslighting (+ excommunicating) of COVID+ attendees. And the failure to protect vulnerable people once the outbreak happened.

Thanks for posting this. I contracted COVID there and was excommunicated by staff like all the early COVID+ cases. My COVID recovery included emotional recovery as well, and it hurts every time I see someone covering up what happened. I lost a month of writing and health to that conference.

I really loved it there! Hedgebrook is a special place!

Pastoral scene of the Hedgebrook Farm sign near road the Hedgebrook is on.

Hedgebrook Waterfall and Pond

Sitting in the window of Hedgebrook's Waterfall Cabin and writing

Photo of trees on Hedgebrook property

My recent @writehedgebrook residency was one of the most blissful and magical experiences of my writing life. One more day to apply! Happy to give application advice or answer any questions via DM. hedgebrook.org/writers-in-r...