Having Difficult Conversations

Bridging the Gap and Finding Common Ground

In today’s polarized political climate, it’s easy to avoid or shy away from conversations with people whose views don’t align with our own. Yet, these difficult conversations are more important than ever. At Authors Unbound, we believe that the power of storytelling can help us engage with perspectives that challenge our assumptions, foster empathy, and create meaningful dialogue.

Conversing with others who see the world differently can offer valuable insights into the issues that shape our society. While it’s not always easy, learning how to have respectful, constructive discussions with those we may not agree with is a key step toward bridging divides and building a more connected community.

Join AU in approaching these discussions with patience, curiosity, and an open mind.

We’ve connected with a few of our authors to explore these themes and hear their perspectives on difficult conversations.

Dr. Zelda Lockhart is a Fulbright Specialist focused on cross-cultural story projects for generational healing in the U.S. and abroad. She holds a PhD in Expressive Art Therapies, an MA in Literature, and a certificate in writing, directing, and editing from the New York Film Academy. An accomplished author, her works include Trinity (2023), The Soul of the Full-Length Manuscript, and Fifth Born, which was a Barnes & Noble Discovery selection and a Zora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Award finalist. Her other books include Cold Running Creek, a Black Caucus of the American Library Association Honor Fiction award winner, and Fifth Born II: The Hundredth Turtle, a 2011 Lambda Literary Award finalist. Lockhart’s work as an educator and consultant centers on the transformative power of story and nature to bridge cultural divides and inspire healing. She is the recipient of the Lambda Literary Foundation’s 2024 Jim Duggins Outstanding Mid-career Novelist Prize.

Justin Lee has spent over 25 years navigating divisive issues with thoughtfulness and nuance. He is the author of Talking Across the Divide: How to Communicate with People You Disagree With, now used as a textbook in college classrooms. In 2001, he founded a faith-based nonprofit to facilitate dialogue about LGBTQ issues within Christian communities, and his book Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate became a widely-read work, bridging divides between progressives and conservatives. The updated edition of Torn was released in 2024. A sought-after speaker and media presence, Justin has been featured in outlets like The New York Times, CNN, and NPR, and has spoken in seven countries.

Elizabeth Rosner is the author of Third Ear: Reflections on the Art and Science of Listening, which weaves personal stories of her multilingual upbringing with the latest scientific breakthroughs in inter-species communication to explore how deep listening enhances our curiosity and empathy. Her previous nonfiction book, Survivor Café, examines the intergenerational effects of trauma through her experience as the daughter of Holocaust survivors. Rosner’s first three novels, The Speed of Light, Blue Nude, and Electric City, have won numerous awards, including national bestsellers and recognition from major publications. Her poetry collection Gravity was released in bilingual editions, with translations in Spanish and German. Her essays have appeared in outlets like the New York Times Magazine, Elle, and the Forward. A graduate of Stanford and UC Irvine, she now teaches and lectures globally, advocating for resilience and empathy.