Poets & Writers has announced the 2025 fiction cohort for Get the Word Out, a publicity incubator for early career writers. The program gives selected writers an opportunity to work with an experienced book publicist who will guide them in leveraging the opportunity presented by their first or second major book publication.
Continue reading “Announcing the 2025 Poets & Writers Get the Word Out Fiction Cohort”
Mariah Rigg‘s debut story collection, Extinction Capital of the World is one of Debutiful’s most anticipated debut books of 2025. The ten-story collection is set in present-day Hawai’i, weaving together tales of love, yearning, and sorrow. They offer a glimpse into land shaped by colonization and are odes to a breathtaking ecosystem constantly at risk of destruction.
The debut story collection is set for an August 5, 2025 publication from Ecco Books and is available for pre-order now!
Debutiful is ecstatic to offer readers a first look at the Vivian Lopez Rowe-designed book cover, provided to us by the publisher. Take a look below and read a Q&A with the author about how the book cover was designed.
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Below are the 42 best debuts according to Debutiful founder Adam Vitcavage. The list includes mostly fiction with a sprinkling of memoirs. It also includes debut-ish writers, who perhaps switched from nonfiction to fiction or previously wrote a short story collection and now debuted a novel. If you’re looking for more recommendations, the website, Debutiful recommends a handful of noteworthy debut books every month.
Continue reading “The Best Debut Books of 2024”
In his debut poetry collection, Find Me When You’re Ready, Perry Janes explores a journey from Detroit to Los Angeles, reflecting on the complexities of manhood, the lingering pain of childhood trauma, and the universal search for belonging. Through the lens of pop culture and personal memories, these poems capture a struggle for identity and healing beyond simple definitions, questioning the origins of the myths we carry and whether we can release them.
We had Janes answer our recurring A Life of Books questionnaire so readers could get to know the writer and also get some book recommendations.
In her debut novel How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund?, Anna Montague delivers an enchanting story of self-discovery, friendship, and resilience. Set against the backdrop of a road trip like no other, the novel follows Magda, a 70-year-old woman grappling with grief, identity, and a journey of a lifetime—with her best friend’s ashes in tow. We caught up with Montague to chat about Magda’s story and get a glimpse into the humor, heart, and inspiration behind this unforgettable debut.
Continue reading “Grief, Growth, and a Road Trip with Ashes: A Conversation with Anna Montague on How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund?”
The Book of Losman, the debut novel from K.E. Semmel follows Daniel Losman, an American living in Copenhagen, whose life is marked by solitude after his longtime girlfriend leaves him. He spends time with his three-year-old son, worrying the boy may have inherited his Tourette Syndrome. The hilarious and clever novel is slim and packs a punch on every page.
Semmel is a former Literary Translation Fellow from the National Endowment for the Arts whose own fiction and nonfiction has appeared in Ontario Review, Lithub, The Writer’s Chronicle, HuffPost, The Millions, The Southern Review, and The Washington Post. He has translated the works of Naja Marie Aidt, Karin Fossum, and Jussi Adler Olsen.
We asked the writer to answer our recurring A Life of Books questionnaire so readers could get to know him better and get a few book recommendations to add to their own TBR Pile.
Continue reading “A Life of Books: K.E. Semmel, author of The Book of Losman”
Kira Josefsson is a translator who works between English and Swedish. Originally from Sweden, she has lived in Finland, France, and Canada before settling down in New York City. In addition to her translation work. Josefsson also serves on the editorial board for Glänta, a Swedish magazine that covers arts and politics.
Her most recent translation is Antiquity, the debut novel by Hanna Johansson published in the U.S. by Catapult. We caught up with Josefsson to learn about how she tackles translating novels, what interests her about politics, and what titles she’s working on next.
Continue reading “Kira Josefsson discusses translating Hanna Johansson’s Antiquity”
Each month, Debutiful recommends noteworthy debut books for readers to discover.
Continue reading “12 noteworthy debut books to read this February”
Every month, Debutiful selects can’t-miss books from debut authors that readers will love. You can find more recommendations here.
Continue reading “Can’t-miss debut books you should read this October”
Every month, Debutiful selects can’t-miss books from debut authors that readers will love. You can find more recommendations here.
Continue reading “Can’t-miss debut books you should read this September”