Edan Lepucki, novelist

F***ing Shakespeare

Novelist and genre shapeshifter Edan Lepucki is our guest on today’s show. Expert writing tips include: what to do when you realize you’ve spent four years writing two different novels that are actually the same, spoiler alert: Instagram poetry is probably not the answer. We talk about how having a baby is a great way to make you finish a project, and the value of an editor who is really good at telling you you’re brilliant. Also: Phuc does virtual marriage counseling sponsored by the I.T. department at Bloomsday Literary.

Buy all of Lepucki’s riveting work and also support her (budding) rescue-Maltese adoption habit by pre-ordering her Mothers Before photo project (inspired by her Instagram of the same name):

• California

• Woman No. 17

• If You’re Not Yet Like Me

Check out these essays of Edan’s that we love:

• from the NYT series Modern Love: “Taking Marriage One Year at a Time”

• and this inspired by the novel Woman No. 17, “Our Mothers as We Never Saw Them”

• all the things she wrote for The Millions

Suggested Reads and Honorable Mentions:

• Edan and cohost Amelia Morris’ Mom Rage podcast

• Amelia Morris’ memoir Bon Appetempt: A Coming of Age Story (with Recipes!)

• Minding the Gap documentary

• Good Talk by Mira Jacob

• Sally Mann selected works & photography

Finally, since we are huge dog people here on the show, in case you were wondering, Edan did not adopt the last available rescue Maltese in California. There are plenty. Find one of your very own here.

photo credit: Pet MD*

*also what Kate looks like when she wakes up in the morning.

photo credit: Adam Karsten