‘Disappearing Earth’ author Julia Phillips reflects on her debut year, award shortlists, and what’s next

‘Disappearing Earth’ author Julia Phillips reflects on her debut year, award shortlists, and what’s next

National Book Award finalist Julia Phillips spent nearly three years writing her debut Disappearing Earth and even lived in the remote Russian village where the book is set. The debut was an instant hit when it was published in May and continued to gain momentum all the way into award season.

She is now a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction and the Center for Fiction’s First Novel Prize. Additionally. she is on the longlist for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction & Nonfiction. The finalists will be announced early in November.

I wanted to catch up with Phillips about everything that has unfolded since her debut was published and what’s next.

Continue reading “‘Disappearing Earth’ author Julia Phillips reflects on her debut year, award shortlists, and what’s next”

The 2019 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize announced

The 2019 Center for Fiction First Novel Prize announced

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”

6 more debut books from the first half of 2019 to read

6 more debut books from the first half of 2019 to read

There have been a lot of debuts that have been published this year. I curated a list of the best debuts for Electric Literature and left off a lot of books I have featured here on Debutiful. Still, there are more debuts that somehow missed my radar.

The following six books are debuts that I have recently read or discovered through booksellers, fellow writers, and librarians.

Continue reading “6 more debut books from the first half of 2019 to read”