Ashley Whitaker earned her MFA from the University of Michigan, and her writing has appeared in publications like Tin House and Story Quarterly. Now, her debut novel Bitter Texas Honey is available for readers to dive into.
The novel follows Joan West, an aspiring writer caught between her conservative family and her messy past in 2011 Austin. As she mines her chaotic relationships and family dysfunction for material, especially her fraught connection with ex-muse Roberto, Joan is determined to make art out of her contradictions. But when her beloved cousin Wyatt hits rock bottom, Joan’s worldview begins to crumble, forcing her to confront what it really means to live, love, and create.
We asked the writer to answer our recurring My Reading Life questionnaire so readers could get to know her better and discover the books that shaped her life.
Continue reading “My Reading Life: Bitter Texas Honey author Ashley Whitaker’s reading journey began with the Baby-Sitters Club”