a strange and funny feature of the newsletter format is that you're launched straight into a writer's mind and can remain subscribed for months (maybe years) with no preamble or context, so i genuinely appreciate the introduction here!
Thank you! Yes you are the ideal reader for my reintroduction =] It's really funny how when you write a newsletter you can kind of just tell your own story about yourself--you can even revise the story every once in a while, because the readers are mostly new.
I've had a Substack account for about a year now and you're one of the first writers that I subscribed to. You've been faithful in writing new material for your newsletters, and I love to read your unique perspective, especially when you've written about the classics. As a classic book reader myself, I'm really excited for your new book, What’s So Great About The Great Books? If you're interested, I posted a reflection on reading through the classic books from creation to the Renaissance here: https://substack.com/@chandasgriese/p-152045220
I tracked you down after reading "Default World," which I loved - I was clued into the book by the Barkan interview. I mostly avoid trans-fiction because I find most of it cringe. Not yours. Just a short note to say I think you are wonderful.
Oh fuck, so you wrote the Lithub money piece?! That was a great piece. Showed it to everyone who would pay attention. Most people didn't, but that's the world for you.
Coincidentally I knew I knew your name from somewhere, your novel with Feminist Press is ACTUALLY on my Amazon list (Acquisitions, the ur list, ever growing for over a decade, occasionally renovated when I buy a dozen books in a fit of mania, but mostly I forget to buy the books using the links in the list, so the list just sits static, ever growing) and I wanted to read it.
Cool.
Love your work, nice to make your passing, liminoid, Substack acquaintance.
Well first thing is you might just stink at writing novels (not my opinion just a possibility). Second thing is convenience. People read you here because they open the app every day and happen to see some short story that looks interesting--not a big commitment. And also even if you think your fiction is the best the only reason people read it is because they first loved your criticism (broad generalization). So everyone here knows you for writing about books. Just write a book about books it will sell like gangbusters Naomi.
I don't know if it's just me, but it doesn't seem like a time for fiction. Real life's just too interesting (and dangerous) to think about anything else . . . .
I loved the introduction to you most of all in this article, though I found it interesting to contrast with mine (where I leave out the names of institutions, avoid external parts of my identity, and focus on the internal stuff that impacts me emotionally). Though I have a few distinctive things (including a reputation around activism and work) so that if someone knew me IRL and read closely, they'd probably guess my IRL identity.
Re: substack - I thought my substack would be one of those that like, maybe 10 people would subscribe to, and they'd subscribe because they'd use it as a reference to look up books. But the little insights part of Substack suggests that people are actually reading it (what? weird).
I'm new to Substack, so definitely wasn't around when you were promoting your book, but am enjoying your posts now.
Lol I had more to say here so I forgot to say it, but yes, people do actually read substacks. It's somewhat amazing, because they're so skeptical of reading other things, but with this thing they're less skeptical somehow.
I write about money all the time in my newsletter because I can't find any other wealthy person doing so. If I write a novel it will have all sorts of details about money. I don't think many writers are comfortable writing about wealth and most writers don't have the background to get the details right.
I'm writing about the concept of anti-fragility as it applies to my relationships. It applies also to Great Books. Things that have lasted are anti-fragile.
I love your Substack for precisely that reason! It reminds me a lot of Louis Auchincloss or some of Herman Wouk's work. I love the honesty. I do not wish to be so bracingly honest about my own finances, but I attempt to at least avoid dishonesty.
Are you familiar with the site below: very useful for getting a sense of historical sums of money such as the x per year you referred to in Jane Austen's work.
Wide range of topics in this post, and so very nice to get an introduction to you! I'm interested in your forthcoming book about the great books. If you'd like a review in smaller outlets (a literary journal? my substack?), let me know. Either way, thank you!
in reading your bio, i realized that i think you were my TA at hopkins, for an ifp class in 2014 (my name is ruth, though i do not expect you to remember me). small world!!! i always enjoy your substack and i'm very excited for your book on great books. looking forward to reading more soon.
OMG yes I do remember you! You're from New Orleans, right? I definitely remember! Hopefully the class was good, I feel like I was not at my finest as a teacher
I read "The Battle of the Classics" because you recommended it and really enjoyed it, so in lieu of subscribing to your paid substack, I'm almost certainly going to buy one of your books! I had to inter-library loan "Battle," because I just don't have much money, to be honest, and I currently have "The Default World" requested on ILL. Anyway, all to say: this has morphed into my favorite Substack, away from the DeBoers and Ygelsias and Barkins of the world, as I finally admit that I don't give a shit about the news...
New writers (myself included ) put too much hope and thus pressure put onto themselves when their book comes out. I mean why not? You spent years doing, was waiting for the day the world would get to read it and you’ll win the `Pulitzer’,
But of course it all ends not with a bang but a whimper. How anticlimactic. I’m going to be in your shoes soon next year.
Thing is, when your first book it out, a lot of your anxiety flies away too and then you feel more at peace with yourself; who you are, the kind of artist you are, and that’s how we mature. I should buy your book. I wonder if they’ll ship to France.
I read and enjoyed Default World. I was actually pretty surprised to learn - a while back in this blog - that it hadn't sold that well. I assumed it would have relatively lower numbers due to indie press, but honestly I thought the topic (tech decadents) and the protagonist (trans POC) would get it more attention, since both are topics du jour. It's mysterious to me, what hits and what doesn't. I wrote a Goodreads review of it - already mentioned in these comments a while back, sorry to be repetitious - and gave what for me was a high rating, and it's currently the top review of the book... but when I just now checked if any of my Goodreads friends read it, it was like one person. Although he did give it 5 stars! Anyway, like I said, it's mysterious to me - I don't have hordes of followers or friends, but I think @ 8k is not a bad combined number of both. The experience sorta hardened my feeling that many people don't use Goodreads to find new or interesting books, but rather to read about books that they've already read or that they've heard about. Or were assigned. Lotta teens on the site. That's just my impression from reading comments on my reviews of less-well-known or older books - a lot of "I've never heard of this before" or "You read such bizarre books" type comments.
I agree about taking off "not a transphobe"! Please! As the kids say, it's kinda cringe.
Really looking forward to your nonfiction book coming out. Looks fun and interesting, and I was glad to read that it's written in the same casual voice I've become familiar with in this blog.
Yes I saw that review. Thank you so much for that by the way! For all my other books, the top review is quite negative, and it's kind of nice that isn't the case for this one :)
a strange and funny feature of the newsletter format is that you're launched straight into a writer's mind and can remain subscribed for months (maybe years) with no preamble or context, so i genuinely appreciate the introduction here!
Thank you! Yes you are the ideal reader for my reintroduction =] It's really funny how when you write a newsletter you can kind of just tell your own story about yourself--you can even revise the story every once in a while, because the readers are mostly new.
I've read your literary novel *and* your YA novel! Please praise me accordingly as the One True Naomi Fan.
LOL I mean only two more to go, and you'll be a completist
I've had a Substack account for about a year now and you're one of the first writers that I subscribed to. You've been faithful in writing new material for your newsletters, and I love to read your unique perspective, especially when you've written about the classics. As a classic book reader myself, I'm really excited for your new book, What’s So Great About The Great Books? If you're interested, I posted a reflection on reading through the classic books from creation to the Renaissance here: https://substack.com/@chandasgriese/p-152045220
Thank you! I'm glad you're a fan =]
I tracked you down after reading "Default World," which I loved - I was clued into the book by the Barkan interview. I mostly avoid trans-fiction because I find most of it cringe. Not yours. Just a short note to say I think you are wonderful.
Yay thank you! What an endorsement!
Oh fuck, so you wrote the Lithub money piece?! That was a great piece. Showed it to everyone who would pay attention. Most people didn't, but that's the world for you.
Coincidentally I knew I knew your name from somewhere, your novel with Feminist Press is ACTUALLY on my Amazon list (Acquisitions, the ur list, ever growing for over a decade, occasionally renovated when I buy a dozen books in a fit of mania, but mostly I forget to buy the books using the links in the list, so the list just sits static, ever growing) and I wanted to read it.
Cool.
Love your work, nice to make your passing, liminoid, Substack acquaintance.
Thank you! Yay, glad you'd heard of me elsewhere
Actually, like, apparently six or seven elsewhere’s by my count.
Well first thing is you might just stink at writing novels (not my opinion just a possibility). Second thing is convenience. People read you here because they open the app every day and happen to see some short story that looks interesting--not a big commitment. And also even if you think your fiction is the best the only reason people read it is because they first loved your criticism (broad generalization). So everyone here knows you for writing about books. Just write a book about books it will sell like gangbusters Naomi.
I don't know if it's just me, but it doesn't seem like a time for fiction. Real life's just too interesting (and dangerous) to think about anything else . . . .
Will be preordering your Great Books book!
I loved the introduction to you most of all in this article, though I found it interesting to contrast with mine (where I leave out the names of institutions, avoid external parts of my identity, and focus on the internal stuff that impacts me emotionally). Though I have a few distinctive things (including a reputation around activism and work) so that if someone knew me IRL and read closely, they'd probably guess my IRL identity.
Re: substack - I thought my substack would be one of those that like, maybe 10 people would subscribe to, and they'd subscribe because they'd use it as a reference to look up books. But the little insights part of Substack suggests that people are actually reading it (what? weird).
I'm new to Substack, so definitely wasn't around when you were promoting your book, but am enjoying your posts now.
People definitely read it.
Lol I had more to say here so I forgot to say it, but yes, people do actually read substacks. It's somewhat amazing, because they're so skeptical of reading other things, but with this thing they're less skeptical somehow.
Hi Naomi,
Two things:
I write about money all the time in my newsletter because I can't find any other wealthy person doing so. If I write a novel it will have all sorts of details about money. I don't think many writers are comfortable writing about wealth and most writers don't have the background to get the details right.
I'm writing about the concept of anti-fragility as it applies to my relationships. It applies also to Great Books. Things that have lasted are anti-fragile.
Always enjoy your essays!
I love your Substack for precisely that reason! It reminds me a lot of Louis Auchincloss or some of Herman Wouk's work. I love the honesty. I do not wish to be so bracingly honest about my own finances, but I attempt to at least avoid dishonesty.
Are you familiar with the site below: very useful for getting a sense of historical sums of money such as the x per year you referred to in Jane Austen's work.
https://www.measuringworth.com
Wide range of topics in this post, and so very nice to get an introduction to you! I'm interested in your forthcoming book about the great books. If you'd like a review in smaller outlets (a literary journal? my substack?), let me know. Either way, thank you!
I'd love to send you a review copy when they're available! Email me at rhkanakia@gmail.com?
in reading your bio, i realized that i think you were my TA at hopkins, for an ifp class in 2014 (my name is ruth, though i do not expect you to remember me). small world!!! i always enjoy your substack and i'm very excited for your book on great books. looking forward to reading more soon.
OMG yes I do remember you! You're from New Orleans, right? I definitely remember! Hopefully the class was good, I feel like I was not at my finest as a teacher
yes that's me!! and i remember enjoying the class!! hopefully i wasn't too obnoxious of a 19 year old :)
I read "The Battle of the Classics" because you recommended it and really enjoyed it, so in lieu of subscribing to your paid substack, I'm almost certainly going to buy one of your books! I had to inter-library loan "Battle," because I just don't have much money, to be honest, and I currently have "The Default World" requested on ILL. Anyway, all to say: this has morphed into my favorite Substack, away from the DeBoers and Ygelsias and Barkins of the world, as I finally admit that I don't give a shit about the news...
New writers (myself included ) put too much hope and thus pressure put onto themselves when their book comes out. I mean why not? You spent years doing, was waiting for the day the world would get to read it and you’ll win the `Pulitzer’,
But of course it all ends not with a bang but a whimper. How anticlimactic. I’m going to be in your shoes soon next year.
Thing is, when your first book it out, a lot of your anxiety flies away too and then you feel more at peace with yourself; who you are, the kind of artist you are, and that’s how we mature. I should buy your book. I wonder if they’ll ship to France.
I read and enjoyed Default World. I was actually pretty surprised to learn - a while back in this blog - that it hadn't sold that well. I assumed it would have relatively lower numbers due to indie press, but honestly I thought the topic (tech decadents) and the protagonist (trans POC) would get it more attention, since both are topics du jour. It's mysterious to me, what hits and what doesn't. I wrote a Goodreads review of it - already mentioned in these comments a while back, sorry to be repetitious - and gave what for me was a high rating, and it's currently the top review of the book... but when I just now checked if any of my Goodreads friends read it, it was like one person. Although he did give it 5 stars! Anyway, like I said, it's mysterious to me - I don't have hordes of followers or friends, but I think @ 8k is not a bad combined number of both. The experience sorta hardened my feeling that many people don't use Goodreads to find new or interesting books, but rather to read about books that they've already read or that they've heard about. Or were assigned. Lotta teens on the site. That's just my impression from reading comments on my reviews of less-well-known or older books - a lot of "I've never heard of this before" or "You read such bizarre books" type comments.
I agree about taking off "not a transphobe"! Please! As the kids say, it's kinda cringe.
Really looking forward to your nonfiction book coming out. Looks fun and interesting, and I was glad to read that it's written in the same casual voice I've become familiar with in this blog.
Yes I saw that review. Thank you so much for that by the way! For all my other books, the top review is quite negative, and it's kind of nice that isn't the case for this one :)