Tell us about NSFW.

NSFW is a coming-of-age story about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul. It’s about feminism, body issues, mommy issues, female ambition, the patriarchy, and sexual harassment. Also it’s funny. A funny novel about sexual harassment.

How are you nesting during this time?

I’m . . . not, really. The past few years have involved a lot of moving and upheaval. Or, I guess, flying around? Migration? Unexpected flight patterns? If I’m trying to continue the bird theme here. I hope I’ll get to do more nesting soon!

 Do you have a bird story or favorite feathered friend?

I can’t tell you how badly I wanted to play Zazu in my elementary school production of The Lion King. Or, rather, since there were twice as many kids as parts and everything got split, either Za or Zu. I ended up as Rafiki. In Seussical in high school, I really wanted to be one of the birds—Gertrude McFuzz or Mayzie LaBird—but I was cast as Mr. Mayor. As I write this, I’m starting to see a casting pattern, though I’m not sure what exactly about me screamed “paternalistic male supporting lead.”

What is your most memorable reading experience?

In seventh grade English class, we had to choose a theme for a poetry anthology and compile and write poems on that theme. Instead of choosing something like, say, love or nature, I chose depression and spent a lot of time with Sylvia Plath. I read “Cut” out loud to my seventh grade English class. Seventh grade was a rough year.

What makes you most excited about NSFW?

Hearing from readers! I recently read Melissa Febos’s BODY WORK, and in the opening essay, to paraphrase probably poorly, she writes about bringing the best of herself to writing and the worst of herself to the publishing process. I’ve found it a comfort to know I’m not alone in feeling that way—the whole publication experience is a crazy-making emotional rollercoaster. But the best part about it so far has been hearing from readers who connected with the book. For so long I didn’t know if anyone would ever read it.

 To tweet or not to tweet?

Tweet. Occasionally and not very well.

What books do you have in your bag / at your bedside right now?

I’m on a debut kick right now. THE RABBIT HUTCH by Tess Gunty, LITTLE RABBIT by Alyssa Songsiridej, and LAST RESORT by Andrew Lipstein.

Can you tell us your favorite rejection story?

When I was in college, I applied to join the Harvard Lampoon. I was rejected via a note slipped under my dorm room door in the middle of the night that said my jokes “failed to transcend referential humor.”

 What literary journals do you love?

No Tokens, Joyland, Catapult, Granta, Guernica, Freeman’s, VQR.

 What shakes your tail feathers?

During the pandemic, I became someone who loves running. I’m not fast, but it’s the only exercise that I feel good while doing, not just after—it quiets a certain chattering part of my brain I have a hard time turning off otherwise.

What advice do you have for fledgling writers?

Find writing friends you can be your most vulnerable and neurotic self with. Support them, and allow them to support you. Keep going. Remember that even if you can’t see your way through to the end of a story right now, it doesn’t mean you can’t get there. An entire book can be written one page at a time. It might not be a good one—but you’ll never be able to figure that out if you don't finish it first.

What other eggs do you have in your basket right now?

I’m working on my next novel—though not very quickly at the moment! I also run book to film development at a literary agency.