Mashreads Podcast

This week on the MashReads Podcast, we talk to Arvin Ahmadi about his debut novel 'Down and Across.' The book follows Scott Ferdowsi, who is on a guest to find his purpose and become gritty. When he runs away from his home in Philadelphia to D.C. for the summer, he meets Fiora, a crossword puzzle enthusiast struggling to define her own life as well. "You hear sometimes, and this is a cliche, that life is like a crossword puzzle. But Fiora’s perspective is a bit different," explains Ahmadi. "[She believes] that life is like constructing a crossword puzzle. Where you’re given the grid, you’re given the constraints of your life, but it’s up to you to actually fill in the squares." Join us as we talk about grit, crossword puzzles, writing diverse characters, and more. And, as always, we close the episode with recommendations: Arvin recommends two books: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. “It’s crazy, it’s this multi-universe story but at the same time, it’s a story full