Sam Mills discusses her journey from studying at Oxford University to becoming a published novelist while caring for her father, who has Parkinson’s disease. She explains how the TM and TM-Sidhi programs helped her deal with the pressure at Oxford and contributed to her success as a writer, and she shares how the TM and the TM-Sidhi programs support her equanimity as she takes care of her parent. Ms. Mills also shares fascinating details about her novels and helpful tips for aspiring writers.

Sam Mills is an Oxford-educated British novelist and non-fiction writer. Her ninth book, a 550-page literary novel, The Watermark, was recently published in England by Granta and is available in the United States from Melville Press. Her memoir, The Fragments of My Father, was reviewed by The Times as “beautifully written … a brave and original book filled with all kinds of glittering fragments—personal, literary, and political.” Her three young adult books have won prestigious awards, with one adapted for theater and another optioned for film.

Sam Mills discusses her journey from studying at Oxford University to becoming a published novelist while caring for her father, who has Parkinson’s disease.

Ms. Mills is the co-founder and managing director of Dodo Ink, an indie press dedicated to publishing daring and imaginative novels.

Christine Albers, host of TM Talks, interviewed Sam Mills. This interview was aired on March 2, 2025.