My worst job was actually kind of a dream job at the time. I worked in a museum in the curatorial department, something I thought I really wanted to do. Most of curatorial is actually just a fancy-sounding administration job, especially the roles for anyone right out of college. But the worst part of my job was sending out rejection letters to unsolicited submissions for art. Most museums do this, by the way, and they have listed on their websites that they do not take unsolicited submissions for their collections. But people send them anyway, and I would end up reading about all of these people’s art and lives and then draft form letters to crush their dreams all day. I actually got yelled at for trying to make the standard letter slightly more polite. I felt awful every day at that job.

What book is on your nightstand now?

I’ve just finished If I’m Being Honest by Austin Siegemund-Broka and Emily Wibberley, which was such a delight. I’m hoping to dive into The Revolution of Birdie Randolph by Brandy Colbert and Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo next! I’m also finally getting to this dual biography of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley called Romantic Outlaws. It’s about the parallel lives of mother and daughter, even though Mary Wollstonecraft died giving birth to Mary Shelley. I love any story about legacy, and Mary Shelley definitely felt the weight of her mother’s legacy as she grew up.

How did you celebrate publishing your first book?

Went out to a pizza dinner with friends after my launch. I highly recommend it. It was a fantastic and delicious celebration surrounded by the people I love.

Where do you write your books?

Anywhere I can sit with my laptop. My desk, my couch, my bed. A coffee shop. I like variety, and I embrace that I’m able to do that right now in my career!

What challenges do you face in the writing process, and how do you overcome them?

Self-doubt is a big one. I think I just fake it until I make it, on that one. I just decide to keep going, even if I can’t quite believe that I’ll get there. I’ve found that continuing to show up and make progress is the only way I can quiet that voice.

What is your favorite word?

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

What was your favorite book when you were a kid? Do you have a favorite book now?