Literature

IN CONVERSATION

Johanna Hedva and Maggie Nelson on Kink, Capitalism, and the Hope-Doom Binary

October 2, 2024

To mark the release of their new essay collection, “How to Tell When We Will Die,” the writer, artist, and activist caught up with their old friend Maggie Nelson.

memoir

In Health and Safety, Emily Witt Writes the First Draft of Recent History

September 19, 2024

The author joined us to talk about her new book, “Health and Safety,” a memoir of her time in Brooklyn’s vibrant, drug-fueled underground party scene.

LIT

Garth Greenwell on Art, Sex, and the Human Urge For Self-Destruction

September 18, 2024

Before releasing his third work of fiction, “Small Rain,” the award-winning author talked to Ruth Madievsky about finding the strange pleasure in self-annihilation.

LIT

“Masturbatory Is a Compliment”: Tony Tulathimutte on Corniness and Rejection

September 17, 2024

“Nobody is at their best in the events that are depicted,” the author says of the characters in “Rejection,” his latest work of fiction. “They all go on the shit tier, unfortunately.”

LIT

“Every Sentence Matters”: Eugene Marten, in Conversation With Blake Butler

August 16, 2024

The author, who borrowed the anti-hero from Errol Morris’s documentary “Mr. Death” for his novel “Layman’s Report,” talked to Blake Butler about “the impossible art.”

LIT

“Eating Ass For Breakfast”: Precious Okoyomon, in Conversation With Eileen Myles

August 15, 2024

To mark the launch of their first poetry collection, the Nigerian-American artist called up their mentor Eileen Myles to talk Catholic guilt and being an American in Paris.

LIT

Jack Skelley on Hot Girls, Jungian Symbols, and the Naughty Algorithm

August 14, 2024

Shortly after the publication of his novel “Myth Lab,” the writer talked to editor Whitney Mallett about feet fetishes, Los Angeles, and his unbridled love for women.

XXX

How Charlotte Shane’s Memoir of Sex Work Became an Unlikely Love Story

August 13, 2024

The essayist and author joined us to talk about her new book “An Honest Woman,” a memoir of her time as a sex worker that doubles as an investigation of intimacy.

IN CONVERSATION

Matt Starr and Jemima Kirke on Horny Poetry and Hugh Grant’s Tiny Nipples

August 6, 2024

At the launch of his new book, “MOUTHFUL,” the poet and “Girls” star linked up to discuss rom-coms, masturbation, abandonment, and Hugh Grant’s tiny nipples.

LIT

Author Yasmin Zaher on Patrick Bateman, Birkin Scams, and Her Debut Novel The Coin

July 26, 2024

“I wonder sometimes,” says the debut author of her new novel, “is it a love-hate letter to New York, or is it just mostly hate?”

LIT

Author Sarah Manguso on Men, Marriage, and Writing Out of Rage

July 24, 2024

“If I were being deadly honest,” says the author of the explosive new novel, “Liars,” “I would say that rage has fueled most of what I’ve produced in my life.”

LIT

“Grief Has No Timeline:” Writer Sarah Gerard, in Conversation With Leslie Jamison

July 17, 2024

Before publishing “Carrie Carolyn Coco,” her new book investigating the murder of her friend Carolyn Bush, the author talked to Leslie Jamison about writing in and through grief.

LIT

“Yeah, Motherfucker. I Do Have a Substack”: John Ganz, in Conversation With Lauren Oyler

July 12, 2024

The avid tweeter and now published author talks to critic and fellow internet rabble-rouser Lauren Oyler about 90s nostalgia and the joy of picking fights online.

ICON

Dennis Cooper Has a New Book Out. Just Don’t Expect Him to Do Any Readings.

July 11, 2024

“Allen Ginsberg was really nice to me, but he wanted to fuck me,” says the author. “And when he realized he couldn’t fuck me, he stopped being nice to me.”

LIT

In Author Laura van den Berg’s Latest Novel, Things Are Getting Weird in Florida

July 10, 2024

To mark her sixth novel, the surreal “State of Paradise,” the author talked to us about Freud, Florida, and writing speculative fiction for the post-pandemic age.

LIT

Debut Author Oisín McKenna on Goblin Parties and Gay Communes

July 3, 2024

The Irish writer joins Paul Johnathan to talk partying in London, teenage hookups, and his debut novel “Evenings and Weekends.”

LIT

In Her Debut Novel, Hannah Regel Tackles the “Great Horror of Life”

July 2, 2024

To mark the release of “The Last Sane Woman,” the British writer talks about the expectations that come with being a female artist, London as a setting, pottery as metaphor, and the difficulty in understanding how others perceive us.

SMOKE BREAK

“I’m a Natural Exhibitionist”: A Quick Cig at Church With Writer Rayne Fisher-Quann

June 19, 2024

“We’re at church with our fans and we’re gossiping,” declared the literary it-girl at her sold-out Secrets reading last week. “It’s very Southern Baptist.”

honor levy

DEBUT

“Everybody’s Talking About Me”: Honor Levy, by Annie Hamilton

June 18, 2024

“I want to be misunderstood in a beautiful way,” says the writer, who connected with longtime friend Annie Hamilton to talk haters, last loves, and self-sabotage.

DEBUT

From Kashmir to Hollywood, Author Priyanka Mattoo Has Seen the World

June 18, 2024

In her debut memoir, “Bird Milk & Mosquito Bones,” the ex-talent agent charts the arc of her peripatetic life after her family’s home in her native Kashmir was destroyed.