ABOUT THIS EPISODE
I recently had the chance to chat with author David Fishkind to talk about his new book, Don't Step Into My Office. I picked this book up about a month ago and it immediately grabbed me—it is exactly the kind of writing I dig, and I have a feeling a lot of you will feel the same way. David describes the book as a "maximalist" mix of neo-noir, murder mystery, and family dramedy. It follows a protagonist named Jacob Garlicker who stumbles into a murder on a beach in 2016 and then basically spends the next several years trying to forget it ever happened. We talked a lot about how the story bridges the gap between stylish, "affectless" fiction and a more driving, genre-heavy plot.
One of the most interesting parts of our chat was David's honest take on the publishing world. After a rough experience a decade ago, he found a home at Arcade Publishing, which has quickly become one of my favorite publishers because they aren't afraid to put out incredible, unconventional books. We also dug into why it took five years between writing the first chapter and finishing the manuscript, a real-life time lapse that actually mirrors the timeline of the book itself. For the fellow book nerds listening, David dropped some heavy-hitting recommendations for the noir rabbit hole, citing names like Raymond Chandler, James Crumley, and Chester Himes as major influences on his style.
If you want to grab a copy of the book, he suggests checking out Oblong Books—an independent shop in the Hudson Valley.
Thanks for listening!
Kyler
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