Writing Through Grief: Megan Tady on Bluebird Day, Mother-Daughter Bonds, and Healing Through Fiction

In this emotional and layered episode of the SEAM Podcast, Amy Cohen Epstein sits down with novelist Megan Tady, author of Bluebird Day, to explore how fiction can hold space for grief, healing, and complex family dynamics. Megan’s novel follows a mother and daughter—former elite ski racers—who are forced to confront painful truths and rebuild their relationship while stranded in a Swiss village during a snowstorm. Inspired by personal loss and her evolving relationship with her own mother, Megan shares how writing became a path toward self-understanding and emotional reconciliation. Together, Amy and Megan discuss themes of parenting, performance anxiety, resilience, and the generational shifts in how we define strength and healing.

Amy Cohen Epstein:
I am so excited to be here with Meg Tady, author of Bluebird Day. And this is really cool because we actually did an in-person interview in Denver at Veronica Beard. It was kind of like a book club event. I fell in love with this book—it’s beautifully written, layered, and just my kind of read. I want to say I read it really quickly, but I feel like that sounds like an insult. It’s actually a compliment—I couldn’t put it down.

At first glance, it seems like a ski novel, but it’s so much more than that, in the best way. So let’s just dive in. Talk to me about your writing process, other books you’ve written, and what inspired this one—especially the title, Bluebird Day. I know what it means, but for those who don’t ski...

Megan Tady:
Thank you so much for having me! It was great to meet you in Denver, and I’m so glad the book resonated.

Bluebird Day is about a mother and daughter who are former ski racers. They’ve been estranged for years but are brought back together in a Swiss village when an avalanche traps them in town—and the only place to stay is a youth hostel with bunk beds. The mother has a secret she’s trying to hide, and the daughter is trying to uncover it.

A “bluebird day” is a bright, clear, sunny day after a snowstorm. That became a metaphor for the emotional storm the mother and daughter go through.

This is my second novel. My first, Super Bloom, came out in 2023. I have a journalism degree and used to work as a freelance journalist and editor. I thought I’d write nonfiction first—partly because I had imposter syndrome. I was reading a lot of literary fiction and thought, “Who am I to write a novel?”

But I started taking writing courses, began dabbling, and eventually wrote my first manuscript. It took eight years from start to publishing—so it was like my own extended MFA.

Amy:
Which is long in some ways, but in the scheme of things, not horrendously long.

Megan:
Exactly! And I’ve learned that it’s common. Lots of authors have books they’ve been working on for decades or that are still in a drawer. For a while I thought I was moving too slowly—but now I know that’s just how it goes.

Amy:
I actually talked to someone on a plane recently whose daughter is a professional skier. I told her she had to read Bluebird Day. It became a whole conversation about intensity in sports, parenting, and mental health.

One of the things I really appreciated in your novel was the generational difference between the way the mom and daughter handle mental health—especially around sports. Can you talk about that?

Megan:
Yes. My character Wylie, the daughter, starts to experience performance anxiety even though she’s an incredible skier. It blindsides her. Her mom, Claudine, doesn’t really understand—it’s all about mental toughness for her. She was raised with the mindset of “grit it out,” even when you're afraid.

But Wylie doesn’t want to grit it out. She’s part of a different generation that’s more open to talking about fear and mental health.

I interviewed former Olympic skiers and a sports psychologist named Jim Taylor, who works with young ski racers. He helped me understand how athletes can shift from the traditional model of toughness to one of mental resiliency. It’s not about ignoring fear—it’s about working with it and recovering from it.

Amy:
Yes! There’s such a thin line between adrenaline and paralyzing fear. I felt that when reading—how Wylie knows when she’s crossed that line. It becomes a safety issue.

And I went on a whole emotional journey with Claudine. At first, I was mad at her. I thought she was a terrible mom. But then you realize—it’s a generational thing. No one taught her there was another way.

Megan:
Yes, exactly. She was parented by someone who pushed her, and she didn’t know how else to do it. But she learns. The book is really about that evolution—how we learn to parent ourselves and others differently.

Amy:
That journey really hit home for me. And it’s not just about parenting—it’s about growing as a human being.

You’ve spoken about your relationship with your own mom being layered. Can you talk about how that informed this story?

Megan:
Sure. My mom passed away from pancreatic cancer a few years ago. Before that, we had our ups and downs. In my early twenties, we were pretty estranged. One summer, I moved in with her and she suggested we do weekly outdoor adventures together. I resisted—it sounded really hard.

But we did it. We hiked, kayaked, even did an overnight trip. It was transformative. Being outside together lowered our guard. We started forgiving each other—without having to hash everything out.

That summer helped me realize: my mom is a person. And I think that’s when our real relationship started. That experience directly influenced Bluebird Day.

Amy:
That’s beautiful. And when your mom passed, had you found peace?

Megan:
Yes. Thankfully, we had a really strong year together before she got sick. She was an amazing grandma. And when she was diagnosed, my publisher sent her an early copy of Super Bloom. It was one of the last books she read. That meant so much.

Amy:
That’s so special. And I love how that depth shows up in your writing. Also—the youth hostel in the book! It’s so hilariously awful and real. How did you come up with that setting?

Megan:
It’s based on a hostel I stayed at in Switzerland in my twenties. It had a basement disco that kept me up all night. I wanted Bluebird Day to include found family, quirky characters, and a sense of community. A youth hostel was perfect for that.

Amy:
It totally works. It’s so specific and realistic if you’ve ever been to one. It gave the story another layer of charm.

So what’s next? Are you working on a new book?

Megan:
Yes! I’m working on a holiday rom-com set in New York. It’s fun and light—a total palate cleanser. Fingers crossed it makes it out into the world.

Amy:
I hope so too. I loved this book so much. It’s one of those reads that stays with you. I want more—I want a sequel! I want to know what happens to Wylie and Calvin!

Megan:
Thank you, Amy. That means so much.

Amy:
This has been such a joy. Your writing is layered and meaningful, and I know it’s resonating with so many people.

Megan:
Thank you so much.

Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.