Acclaimed author Hannah Sward
Independent interview, February 2024

Hannah Sward on the process of writing “Strip: A Memoir”

by Chelsea Pegues 

Hannah is thirteen-and-a-half years sober when we sit down to discuss Strip. She is radiant in the natural light of her home, sunlight streaming through a nearby window and holding her in an almost protective glow. Smiling with ease and confidence, long honey-blond hair cascading over one shoulder, it’s hard to believe that this same woman has survived decades of sexual abuse, exploitation, disordered eating, and addiction to both methamphetamine and alcohol. And yet, her survival is not the most compelling aspect of her journey. It’s her reflection on this life which is absolutely polarizing; her ability to transport the reader through imagery and provide a visceral reaction to the scenes of her existence is an incredibly rare skill. Strip is not simply a “quit-lit” tale; it’s a gorgeous anthology of vignettes wherein we see a bohemian six-year-old carve her way through childhood trauma, venture into an adulthood rife with drugs and sex-work; and ultimately find, through sobriety, that she’s been an artist all along. Here, we discuss her process during the creation of this extraordinary book.

Chelsea Pegues: From the first few pages of Strip, I’m already sobbing. So, if you don't mind, maybe breaking it down, how does your journey begin with this memoir?

Hannah Sward: After my mother left. I just felt like, that's where to start. That's what I remember the most from those early, early, years. As you know, they're written in little chapters, so I can clip things along- you know, often with memoirs, it’s [focusing on] a portion of your life- and that was the way I first started writing.