Best Debutiful Podcasts (2025)

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Thank You, John by Michelle Gurule - What's a Sugar Baby? 31:24

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3h ago31:24

31:24

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Michelle Gurule, author of Thank You, John, joined the podcast to discuss being a sugar baby, when she first felt like a writer, and why her memoir is really about family. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781961884687 …

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First Taste: Isabella DeSendi Reads From Someone Else's Hunger 11:53

2d ago11:53

11:53

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Isabella DeSendi, author of Someone Else's Hunger, reads a selection of poems from her debut poetry collection. You can purchase a copy of the book …

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First Taste: Brian Gyamfi Reads From What God in the Kingdom of Bastards 6:51

5d ago6:51

6:51

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Brian Gyamfi, author of What God in the Kingdom of Bastards, reads a selection of poems from his debut poetry collection. You can purchase a copy of…

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Kaplan's Plot by Jason Diamond - Writer with a Capital W 50:42

7d ago50:42

50:42

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Jason Diamond, author of Kaplan's Plot, joined the podcast to discuss writing as a career, how his debut novel was inspired by his family, and why Stephen King will be taught like Shakespeare. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org…

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The Belles by Lacey N. Dunham - Modern Gothic Academia 40:28

14d ago40:28

40:28

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Lacey N. Dunham, author of The Belles, joined the podcast to discuss gothic fiction, navigating the literary community, and letting aspects of her novel's plot and structure fall into place naturally. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://book…

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The Once and Future Me by Melissa Pace - From (Not On) the Screen to the Page 37:19

22d ago37:19

37:19

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Melissa Pace, author of The Once and Future Me, joined the podcast to discuss her unconventional path to fiction, writing for the screen, and figuring out all of the genre elements to her debut novel. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://book…

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First Taste: Antonio Michael Downing Reads From Black Cherokee 10:40

22d ago10:40

10:40

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Antonio Michael Downing, author of Black Cherokee, reads an excerpt from his novel. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a…

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First Taste: Ed Park Reads From An Oral History of Atlantis 12:54

26d ago12:54

12:54

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Ed Park, author of An Oral History of Atlantis, reads an excerpt from his debut short story collection. You can purchase a copy of the book here: ht…

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Dominion by Addie E. Citchens - The Great Mississippi Novel 35:11

1M ago35:11

35:11

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Addie E. Citchens, author of Dominion, joined the podcast to discuss Mississippi, finding her path to writing that works for her, and making sure her ending was the ending her book deserved. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a…

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These Memories Do Not Belong To Us by Yiming Ma - From MBA to MFA 47:48

1M ago47:48

47:48

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Yiming Ma, author of These Memories Do Not Belong To Us, joined the podcast to discuss transitioning from the business and tech world to writing fiction, learning about how his memories work, and his love for the NBA! You can purchase a copy of the book h…

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First Taste: Tennessee Hill Reads From Girls With Long Shadows 5:49

1M ago5:49

5:49

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Tennessee Hill, author of Girls With Long Shadows, reads an excerpt from her debut novel. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop…

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Atomic Hearts by Megan Cummins - What is a Debut, Anyway? 51:31

1M ago51:31

51:31

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Megan Cummins, author of Atomic Hearts, joined the podcast to discuss debuting a novel after a successful story collection, writing a teen voice for adult readers, and her position at Public Books. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://booksho…

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Dwelling by Emily Hunt Kivel - The Hero's Journey of the Housing Crisis 38:07

1M ago38:07

38:07

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Emily Hunt Kivel, author of Dwelling, joined the podcast to discuss finding a good first reader, vulnerability, and the hero's journey. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780374616069 Links! Emily Hunt Kivel on the Inter…

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First Taste: Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo Reads From The Tiny Things Are Heavier 11:02

2M ago11:02

11:02

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo, author of The Tiny Things Are Heavier, reads an excerpt from her debut novel. You can purchase a copy of the book here: h…

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Extinction Capital of the World by Mariah Rigg - An Ode to Hawai'i, Family, and Climate 37:43

2M ago37:43

37:43

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Mariah Rigg, author of Extinction Capital of the World, joined the podcast to discuss Hawai'i, literary friendship, and writing after a concussion. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780063419971 Links! Mariah Rigg on th…

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Literary Agent Kate McKean Wants You To Write Through It 40:59

2M ago40:59

40:59

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Kate McKean, author of Write Through It: An Insider's Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life and creator of the newsletter Agents & Books, joined the podcast to her life as an agent, what's changes in the business in the past two decades, and why break…

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First Taste: Katie Yee Reads From Maggie 8:37

2M ago8:37

8:37

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Katie Yee, author of Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar, reads an excerpt from her debut novel. You can purchase a copy of the book here:…

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Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams - How Sometimes Accidents Lead to Success 25:24

2M ago25:24

25:24

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Hattie Williams, author of Bitter Sweet, joined the podcast to discuss accidentally finding a career in book publicity, finding the drive to write a book, and how art and music influenced her life. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://booksho…

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House of Beth by Kerry Cullen: Sad, Weird, Horny 32:23

2M ago32:23

32:23

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Kerry Cullen, author of House of Beth, joined the podcast to discuss literary scouting, having a 'drawer' novel, and writing with OCD. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781668074596 Links! Kerry Cullen on the Internet: …

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First Taste: Carrie R. Moore Reads From Make Your Way Home 9:26

2M ago9:26

9:26

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Carrie R. Moore, author of Make Your Way Home, reads an excerpt from her debut short story collection. You can purchase a copy of the book here: htt…

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My Train Leaves at Three by Natalie Guerrero: Finding Yourself and Your Community 45:22

2M ago45:22

45:22

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Natalie Guerrero, author of My Train Leaves at Three, joined the podcast to discuss her dog Tupac, finding her community, and navigating the publishing industry. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780593977330. Links! Na…

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Hot Girls with Balls by Benedict Nguyễn: Are you a Six, or a Green? 38:17

3M ago38:17

38:17

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Benedict Nguyễn, author of Hot Girls With Balls, joined the podcast to discuss trans athletes, internet novels, and finding joy in unplugging. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781646222476. Links! Benedict Nguyễn on th…

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First Taste: Rob Franklin Reads From Great Black Hope 5:09

3M ago5:09

5:09

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Rob Franklin, author of Great Black Hope, reads an excerpt from his debut novel. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/33…

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Imagine a Door by Laura Stanfill: Inside Indie and Small Presses with Forest Avenue Press' Publisher 25:45

3M ago25:45

25:45

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Laura Stanfill is the publisher of Forest Avenue Press and the author of Imagine a Door. She joined the podcast to discuss running a small press, why distribution matters, and what writers can do to "succeed" when they don't have a big publicity budget. G…

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Ezra Kupor's Galley Brag is the Must-Read Publishing Newsletter of the Year 43:13

3M ago43:13

43:13

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Ezra Kupor works at HarperCollins Publishers, where he acquires and edits a diverse list of titles across the Harper Perennial and Harper Books imprints. He also created Galley Brag, the must-read publishing newsletter of the year, where he attempts to be…

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Girls Girls Girls by Shoshana von Blanckensee: Nurse by Day, Writer by Any Available Moment 32:16

3M ago32:16

32:16

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Shoshana von Blanckensee, author of Girls Girls Girls, joined the podcast to discuss being a poet in the 1990s, becoming a nurse during the pandemic, and writing whenever she has free time. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/…

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First Taste: Jayson Greene Reads From UnWorld 7:05

3M ago7:05

7:05

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Jayson Greene, author of UnWorld, reads an excerpt from his debut novel. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/978164…

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Foreclosure Gothic by Harris Lahti: Skateboarding, Foreclosures, and Finding Your Voice 32:43

3M ago32:43

32:43

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Harris Lahti, author of Foreclosure Gothic, joined the podcast to discuss skateboarding, living in Upstate New York, and what he took from his time getting an MFA. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781662602825. Links! …

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First Taste: Lydi Conklin Reads From Songs of No Provenance 8:10

4M ago8:10

8:10

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Lydi Conklin, author of Songs of No Provenance, reads an excerpt from their debut novel. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.…

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There Are Reasons For This by Nini Berndt: Writing To Serve the Story's Purpose 41:24

4M ago41:24

41:24

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Nini Berndt, author of There Are Reasons For This, joined the podcast to discuss playing with Barbies to construct stories, brothers and the idyllic family, and discovering what this story could be during pandemic walks around Denver. You can purchase a c…

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Aggregated Discontent by Harron Walker: Early Aughts Nostalgia 55:55

4M ago55:55

55:55

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Harron Walker, author of Aggregated Discontent, joined the podcast to discuss early Aughts nostalgia, how freelance writing has changed over the years, and the importance of being brunette. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/…

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First Taste: Beena Kamlani Reads From The English Problem 8:44

4M ago8:44

8:44

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Beena Kamlani, author of The English Problem, reads an excerpt from her debut novel. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/…

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Old School Indian by Aaron John Curtis: Love What You Write 38:53

4M ago38:53

38:53

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Aaron John Curtis, author of Old School Indian, joined the podcast to discuss always taking art and writing seriously, being a bookseller, and hoping that those who will connect with his book will find it. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https:/…

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The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei: Knowing What You Want To Write 36:23

5M ago36:23

36:23

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Jemimah Wei, author of The Original Daughter, joined the podcast to discuss literary friendships, what "success" means, and knowing what she wanted to write. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780385551014 Links! Jemimah…

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First Taste: Sarah Aziza Reads From The Hollow Half 10:22

5M ago10:22

10:22

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Sarah Aziza, author of The Hollow Half, reads an excerpt from her debut memoir. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://www.sarahaziza.com…

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When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris: An Intimate Third Date Conversation 57:48

5M ago57:48

57:48

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Denne Michele Norris, author of When the Harvest Comes, joined the podcast to discuss getting over false starts, building community, and finding Big Chief's truth. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9780593729601 Links! D…

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Big Chief by Jon Hickey: From False Starts to Finding the Book's Path 37:13

6M ago37:13

37:13

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Jon Hickey, author of Big Chief, joined the podcast to discuss getting over false starts, building community, and finding Big Chief's truth. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781668046463 Links! Jon Hickey on the Intern…

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First Taste: Lena Moses-Schmitt Reads From True Mistakes 8:47

6M ago8:47

8:47

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer introduces their book and reads a selection from it. Lena Moses-Schmitt, author of True Mistakes, reads three poems from her debut poetry collection. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://b…

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Luminous by Silvia Park: Finding the Right Way to Tell the Story You Need to Tell 39:48

6M ago39:48

39:48

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Siliva Park, author of Luminous, joined the podcast to discuss the use of pronouns in Korean, starting their debut as a middle-grade novel, and writing sibling stories. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781668021668 Lin…

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We Pretty Pieces of Flesh by Colwill Brown: How Doncaster and Disability Shaped and Re-Shaped Her Writing 38:29

7M ago38:29

38:29

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Colwill Brown, author of We Pretty Pieces of Flesh, joined the podcast to discuss how growing up in Doncaster, coming to terms with a long-term invisible disability, and how this novel came to her on a bench. You can purchase a copy of the book here: http…

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Guatemalan Rhapsody by Jared Lemus: Getting Stories to Work on the Fundamental Level 38:50

7M ago38:50

38:50

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Jared Lemus, author of Guatemalan Rhapsody, joined the podcast to discuss how Guatemala inspires him, being a pantser with a belt, what he means by "the fundamental level," and the difference between writing a short story and a novel. You can purchase a c…

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First Taste: Sarah Lyn Rogers Reads From Cosmic Tantrum 9:02

7M ago9:02

9:02

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer will introduce their book and read a selection from it. Sarah Lyn Rogers, author of Cosmic Tantrum, reads three poems from her debut poetry collection. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https:/…

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Loca by Alejandro Heredia: An Ode to The Bronx, Dominican Culture, and Queerness 38:56

7M ago38:56

38:56

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Alejandro Heredia, author of Loca, joined the podcast to discuss the interiority of characters, why he wrote about the Dominican Village in the Bronx, immigration, and queerness. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://bookshop.org/a/339/9781668…

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First Taste: Freda Epum Reads From The Gloomy Girl Variety Show 7:05

7M ago7:05

7:05

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer will introduce their book and read a selection from it. Freda Epum, author of The Gloomy Girl Variety Show, reads a short excerpt from her debut memoir. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https:…

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The Edge of Water by Olufunke Grace Bankole: How to Embrace The Unknown 41:08

8M ago41:08

41:08

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Olufunke Grace Bankole, author of The Edge of Water, joined the podcast to discuss the power of coffee, taking an untraditional path to publishing, and why embracing the unknown can lead to success. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://booksh…

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First Taste: Kyle Paoletta Reads From American Oasis 5:56

8M ago5:56

5:56

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer will introduce their book and read a selection from it. Kyle Paoletta, author of American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest, reads a short excerpt from his debut nonfiction book.…

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Good Girl by Aria Aber: Finding Character Desire 30:04

8M ago30:04

30:04

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Aria Aber, author of Good Girl, joined the podcast to discuss always wanting to be an artist of some kind, writing in English vs German or Farsi, and figuring out how to find her characters' desires. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https://books…

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First Taste: Maria Zoccola Reads From Helen of Troy, 1993 9:45

8M ago9:45

9:45

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. On every First Taste Reading Series episode, a writer will introduce their book and read a selection from it. Maria Zoccola, author of Helen of Troy, 1993, reads three poems from her debut poetry collection. You can purchase a copy of the book here: https…

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Homeseeking by Karissa Chen: Exploring Long Lost Romantic and Familial Love 38:04

9M ago38:04

38:04

Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book review. Karissa Chen, author of Homeseeking, joined the podcast to discuss how her MFA at Sarah Lawrence gave her confidence as a writer, how being a lit mag editor helped shape her own writing, and how she explores that romantic and familial love can endure desp…

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First Taste: Julian Zabalbeascoa Reads From What We Tried to Bury Grows Here 12:20

9M ago12:20

12:20

DISCOVER THE BEST DEBUT BOOKS OF 2024! DISCOVER THE MOST ANTICIPATED DEBUT BOOKS OF 2025! Sign up for our emails to never miss an interview, book excerpt, cover reveal, or book recommendations. Welcome to the First Taste Reading Series on Debutiful. This is a series in which writers read a short excerpt from their book so readers can whet their app…