Courtenay Stallings is a writer, historian, and the author of Laura’s Ghost: Women Speak about Twin Peaks. The book explores how Laura Palmer, whose death lies at the center of David Lynch’s epic television series Twin Peaks, became an icon of strength and hope for women who have experienced similar abuse and trauma. In this conversation, Stallings discusses the origins of the project, why Laura’s story resonates specifically with women, the diversity of the Twin Peaks fan community, and the particular ways that Lynch’s work engages challenging ideas about gender, desire, and violence.
