discover debut authors
The Center for Fiction announced the seven book shortlist for their First Novel Prize. Of the seven, six were featured previously on Debutiful. Three were interviewed here (see below), while another I interviewed for Electric Literature.
Continue reading “The 2019 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize announced”
In his debut novel, Bangkok Wakes to Rain, Pitchaya Sudbanthad threads together woven stories set in his birthplace to piece together a reveal a history reaching back in time to the near future.
Though the author was born in Thailand, he was raised in Saudi Arabia as well as America, all of which influenced his writing. His desire to write about Bangkok stems from his yearly visits there where he has an intimate understanding of the city but still feels like a visitor every time.
The novel’s many narratives include an American doctor nearly a century ago, a Thai photographer in the 1970s living in Los Angeles, and a Thai restauranter living working in Japan. These characters, and more, all reveal the beautifully rich interworkings of the city’s politics, neighborhoods, and relationships.
I spoke with the author about crafting his debut novel, how place influenced his work, and Thailand’s cultural exports.
Continue reading “Pitchaya Sudbanthad on the culture and history in ‘Bangkok Wakes to Rain’”
Each month, we will pick a handful of buzzworthy and under the radar debut books we feel you’ll enjoy.
Continue reading “6 debut books you should read this February”
debutiful 