Debutiful

Shannon Sanders , author of  The Great Wherever , joined the podcast to discuss drafting in a linear path, not planning to write a 400-page behemoth, and how short stories and novels differ. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781250421678   Links! Shannon Sanders on the Internet: https://www.shannonsanderswrites.com/ Shannon Sanders on Instagram: https://www.inst...

Yu-Mei Balasingamchow , author of  Names Have Been Changed , joined the podcast to discuss how Singapore inspires her, noodling on ideas until the right one presents itself, and how knowing nothing about the industry was equally freeing and scary. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9798217176595   Links! Yu-Mei Balasingamchow on the Internet: Yu-Mei Balasingamchow...

Meg Charlton , author of  Voyagers , joined the podcast to discuss her experiences in Roswell, writing a story that's ultimately about friendship, and why teaching writing is so rewarding. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780063441217   Links! Meg Charlton on the Internet: https://megcharlton.com/ Meg Charlton on Substack: https://substack.com/@selfhelpings Deb...

Sonia Feldman , author of  Girl's Girl , joined the podcast to discuss growing up as a reader, creating an online marketing POV, and how she wrote a coming-of-age novel that feels like summer. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780593978924   Links! Sonia Feldman on the Internet: https://soniacfeldman.com/ Sonia Feldman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wri...

Natalie Adler , author of  Waiting On A Friend , joined the podcast to discuss cultural conservatism, researching 1980s NYC, and being a dyke-about-town. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780593734025   Links! Natalie Adler on the Internet: https://www.natalie-adler.com/ Natalie Adler on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natalie.and.chester/ Debutiful on the...

Bobuq Sayed , author of  No God But Us , joined the podcast to discuss their journey to publishing, finding viewpoints to tell the story, and how community organizing influences their writing. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780063419469   Links! Bobuq Sayed on the Internet: https://bobuqsayed.com/ Bobuq Sayed on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djinn_t0ni...

We open the vault and are re-airing our January 2021 episode with Torrey Peters discussing her debut novel, Detransition, Baby . You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780593133385   Links! Torrey Peters on the Internet: https://www.torreypeters.com/ Torrey Peters on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/torreyadora Debutiful on the Internet:  https://www.debutiful.ne...

Laura B. McGrath , author of  Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction , joined the podcast to discuss the history of literary agents, their role in the publishing industry, and just how many books are published in a single year. (The answer will shock you.) You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780691256160   Links! Laura B. McGrath on the Inte...

'Pemi Aguda , author of  One Leg On Earth , joined the podcast to discuss finding joy in the hard parts of creativity, how short stories and novels are different, and what life has been like since her breakout debut story collection,  Ghostroots . You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781324065876   Links! 'Pemi Aguda on the Internet: https://pemiaguda.com/ 'Pemi Ag...

M Lin , author of  The Memory Museum , joined the podcast to discuss short stories, writing in her second language, and her approach to creativity. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781644453858   Links! M Lin on the Internet: https://m-lin.com/ M Lin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_memory_museum Debutiful on the Internet:  https://www.debutiful.net...

Monika Ostrowska , author of  Squirming , joined the podcast to discuss creating Triangle House , writing like everyone she knows is dead, and why she kept her poetry collection a secret. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781566897532   Links! Monika Ostrowska on the Internet: https://www.instagram.com/monikamostrowska/ Triangle House on the Internet: https://tr...

Miranda Shulman , author of  Harmless , joined the podcast to discuss writing four drafts of her debut in rapid succession, her experience at BookEnds, a fellowship supported by Stony Brook University, and saying no to an agent until her book was ready. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9798217046065   Links! Miranda Shulman on the Internet: https://www.mirandash...

Avery Curran , author of  Spoiled Milk , joined the podcast to discuss 19th century spiritualism, researching 1920s slang, and how she approaches writing academia vs fiction. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780385551595   Links! Avery Curran on the Internet: https://averycurran.co.uk/ Avery Curran on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averyelisabethcurran/ D...

Casey Scieszka , author of  The Fountain , joined the podcast to discuss Tuck Everlasting, her late, dear friend who helped hold her accountable while writing this novel, and finding a new agent as she transitioned from nonfiction to fiction. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780063393400   Links! Casey Scieszka on the Internet: https://www.caseyscieszka.com/ Ca...

We open the vault and are re-airing our February 2020 episode with  Brandon Taylor discussing his debut novel,  Real Life . You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780525538899   Links! Brandon Taylor on the Internet: https://brandonlgtaylor.com/ Brandon Taylor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandonlgtaylor Debutiful on the Internet:  https://www.debutiful.ne...

Eirinie Carson , author of  Bloodfire, Baby , joined the podcast to discuss finding her late best friend in everything she writes, finding a career without an MFA, and how publicity for her memoir and novel are different (and the same). You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9798217044825   Links! Eirinie Carson on the Internet: https://www.eiriniecarson.com/ Eirinie...

Anna Kovatcheva , author of  She Made Herself a Monster , joined the podcast to discuss being a lazy writer, growing up as a vampire girly, and wanting to surprise herself with every draft You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780063436374   Links! Anna Kovatcheva on the Internet: https://www.kovatcheva.com Anna Kovatcheva on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coz...

C. William Langsfeld , author of  Salvation , joined the podcast to discuss growing up on the Western Slope of Colorado, his non-traditional (and unagented) path to publishing, and the themes he finds in his writing. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781640097230   Links! C. William Langsfeld on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c.williamlangsfeld Debutiful o...

Stephen Fishbach , author of  Escape! , joined the podcast to discuss his writing journey, give some Survivor behind-the-scenes intel, and explain how he wrote what Debutiful considers the Great American Reality TV Novel we've all been waiting for. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9798217048151   Links! Stephen Fishbach on the Internet: https://stephenfishbach.c...

Alia Hanna Habib , author of  Take It From Me , joined the podcast to discuss celebrating amazing news, finding good voices, how to talk about nonfiction, and why being genuine matters. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780593700877   Links! Alia Hanna Habib's Newsletter: https://aliahabib.substack.com/ Alia Hanna Habib on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/al...

Kathleen Boland , author of  Scavengers , joined the podcast to discuss her days as a teenage jock, how the American West inspired her writing, and how relaxation comes in many forms. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780593834480   Links! Katheen Boland on the Internet: https://www.kathleenboland.com/ Kathleen Boland on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kpbo...

Learn more about DEBUT U - classes about the publishing industry taught by today's hottest writers.   Patrick Ryan , author of  Buckeye , joined the podcast to discuss his storied career, what makes short stories stand out, and how he approaches writing and finishing a book. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780593595039   Links! Patrick Ryan on the Internet: ht...

Learn more about DEBUT U - classes about the publishing industry taught by today's hottest writers.   Stephanie Wambugu , author of  Lonely Crowds , joined the podcast to discuss how place does and does not influence her writing, the difference between writing short stories and novels, and what writers she wants her writing to be in conversation with. You can purchase a copy of the book here: http...

Learn more about DEBUT U - classes about the publishing industry taught by today's hottest writers.   Claire Jia , author of  Wanting , joined the podcast to discuss what life is like in the months after you publish your debut book. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781963108279   Links! Claire Jia on the Internet: https://clairejia.com/ Claire Jia on Instagram:...

Discover the Best Debut Books of 2025. Learn more about DEBUT U - classes about the publishing industry taught by today's hottest writers. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Ally Ang , author of Let the Moon Wobble , reads a selection of poems from their debut poetry collection. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https:...