Black Milk: On the Conflicting Demands of Writing, Creativity, and Motherhood

A thoughtful and incisive meditation on literature, motherhood, and spiritual wellbeing from Turkey's leading female author

After the birth of her first child, Elif Shafak experienced a profound personal crisis. Plagued by guilt, anxiety, and bewilderment about her new maternal role, the acclaimed novelist stopped writing for the first time in her life. As she plummeted into post-partum depression, Shafak looked to the experiences of other prominent female writers—including Sylvi…