Laura Beatty

Laura Beatty, an Ondaatje Prize–shortlisted novelist, is joined by potter and author Edmund de Waal to explore her short story, *Pear Trees*. They dive into the intertwining of folklore and ecology, discussing how human relationships with nature shape identity. The duo examines the constraints of the short story form and the ephemerality of pear blossoms. They touch on themes of belonging and the mutable connection between humans and trees, weaving humor and tenderness into their reflections on life and mortality.