It sounds like you’re still working while trying to write another book. What do you do for a living in addition to being a novelist? And what do you do for fun (if you have any playtime!)?
Have you been on tour for the book, and if so, what can you tell us about the experience?
How involved did you get in the creation of the audio version of the novel?
Are you able to tell us anything about your next novel? And also, how does the experience of writing Book 2 differ from that of writing Book 1?
It was just me and my agent for the most part! Because the novel was my thesis project, my advisor in grad school saw and gave input on very early drafts, which was HUGELY helpful, but drafts 3-5 were all my agent and I.
And I generally don’t show works-in-progress to anyone until I have a draft done and, usually, at least one big edit under my belt. It feels to me like that first draft is just throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks; my editorial instincts are strong enough to fix a lot of issues in the space between a first and second draft. Another opinion comes in handy when I’ve run out of road in terms of my own biases, preferences, etc and need someone to tell me what I’m not seeing.
I actually lost my job about four months ago. I’d been doing very soul-crushing office work since graduation. Since then, I’ve taken the time to try and start a career as a freelance editor and ghostwriter. I used to ghostwrite romance novels for a living, and that’s still a booming industry. Slowly gaining traction in the field and really hoping I can swing a viable career out of it this time. There’s a lot of trade offs - a steady paycheck is much nicer than the panic of not knowing what your next project will be or when you’ll get it - but the freedom is much more conducive to writing (and life in general, TBH). And even though it would seem like doing creative work all day would leave me with less creative energy for my own projects, it’s actually the opposite. I barely wrote at all when I was stuck in an office bored out of my skull all day even though, in theory, I had loads of time between emails that I could have been using to write. Now, I have less free time but a lot more confidence and inspiration.
I put together a little reading in my city when it came out, went to AWP this year, and then did a reading and had a family gathering in NY, but that’s about it as far as a book tour. I definitely prefer staying home whenever possible, so I wasn’t too sad about not having a proper tour schedule. It was nice to celebrate and be the center of attention, but I also have three dogs and was working a full-time office job when the book came out so taking time off to leave the city wasn’t easy. The most fun I’ve been having is checking the local bookstores every few months to sign whatever new copies have come in–it’s always surprising when I go and see all the books I’ve signed have sold!
I got to approve the narrator (Ellen Archer, who did a fantastic job!) and it was fun answering the questions she had about what sorts of voices to give different aspects of the book! Since I wasn’t writing it thinking it would ever even get published, never mind an audiobook, I was tickled when she asked “what should the voice of the beets be like?”
The book I’m working on now feels like it couldn’t be more different than Beta Vulgaris. The premise of Beta Vulgaris is definitely out there but in terms of form, it’s a pretty standard novel. The book I’m working on now is very formally experimental–lots of found objects, multiple POV’s, definitely not something that I can use an existing plot structure to write. It’s about a video game streamer who goes missing and the obsessive community that’s formed around her, so a lot of the book is written in first-person plural from the community’s POV. I’m using a lot of comment sections, blog articles, chat logs, YouTube video scripts, etc., and there’s another first-person perspective throughout giving another view into the whole deal. It’s non-linear, abstract, and proving to feel kind of impossible to pull together. I’m trying for House of Leaves meets Several People Are Typing meets We Used to Live Here. It’s really exciting–I think I’m more excited about its potential than I was about Beta Vulgaris–but way, way more challenging. It’s a little hard to believe I’ll pull it off, but I’m giving it the ol’ college try!
That sounds fascinating! It’s funny, but as you were describing it I was actually thinking House of Leaves. How long have you been working on it? Do you know when it’ll be released or is it too early to tell that yet? Do you have deadlines you have to meet? (And congrats on ridding yourself of the soul-sucking job; that’s only going to help.)
I agree! I listened to the audio version and loved it (and, of course, the narrator is a big part of that). I didn’t realize there was so much collaboration between the narrator and the author. Did you get to “audition” different narrators first, or was it more of a “here’s a narrator we like, are you OK with her?” kind of thing?
Are you able to tell us which books you’ve ghostwritten? I imagine part of your agreement is to never tell that you helped with a book, but I’m curious about that. Is it hard to write a book you don’t get credit for? I’d find that pretty frustrating, personally.
I’ve been thinking up the concept for years now but really only dove in when I found myself (semi-blissfully) unemployed 
So it’s very, very early stages. Knowing myself, it’ll probably be a year before I have a draft I’d want to show anyone and then who knows where it will go from there! The only deadline is self-imposed; I’d like to have the first draft by the end of 2025. If I let myself really lean in to getting words on the page even if they’re all trash, I think I can do it. 
I didn’t hear any other options - they sent me her bio and some samples and I liked what I heard. I can’t imagine anyone doing it more justice, so whoever narrowed the choices down to her did a great job.
I am legally bound to not disclose any of the books I’ve ghostwritten, but I really don’t mind. I can see what people are saying about my romances and if people are liking it, I’m happy! The people who have enjoyed Beta Vulgaris know my name, but they don’t really know me, if that makes sense. There’s still that layer of distance that you always have unless you’re a celebrity author. Ultimately, if the reader has a good experience because of the words I put on a page, that’s all the satisfaction I really need.
Is there anything we haven’t touched on that you’d like to share about yourself or your work?
I’m just really grateful to every reader who has picked up Beta Vulgaris and the opportunity to talk about my creative process here! Thanks for the thoughtful questions and for the invitation!
Thank you so much for being here & chatting with us, Margie! You’ve been a marvelous guest, and we’ve enjoyed talking to you very much. Best of luck with your new book! We’ll be looking forward to it.