Ep. 215 - Diane Les Becquets: Between Heaven and the Rest of My Life

National bestselling novelist Diane Les Becquets joins Stories from Real Life for an unforgettable conversation about survival, faith, creativity, and the remarkable healing power of nature.

Known for literary novels that immerse readers in America’s wild landscapes, Diane has earned acclaim for Breaking Wild, The Last Woman in the Forest, and her newest novel, Where the Water Meets the Sky. Her latest work is a moving coming-of-age story set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that explores grief, memory, forgiveness, and the restorative power of community and the natural world.

But during the writing of this novel, Diane faced a life-changing challenge of her own.

Diagnosed with five brain aneurysms, she underwent complex surgery and emerged with a transformed perspective on writing, faith, family, and purpose. Following her recovery, she returned to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—traveling to the very locations that inspired her novel—as both a celebration of life and a pilgrimage of gratitude.

In this deeply personal episode, Diane shares how beauty, wonder, and wilderness continue to shape both her stories and her life.

In This Episode

* The inspiration behind Where the Water Meets the Sky

* Why Michigan’s Upper Peninsula became the heart of the novel

* Surviving five brain aneurysms

* Finding peace after trauma

* Faith, surrender, and creativity

* Nature as a source of healing