In Episode 44 of Literary Prospects, we talk with author Chelsea Bieker about her new novel, Madwoman.
Chelsea is the author of the debut novel Godshot, which was longlisted for The Center For Fiction’s First Novel Prize, and named a Barnes and Noble Pick of the Month. Her story collection, Heartbroke, won the California Book Award and was a New York Times “Best California Book of 2022” and an NPR Best Book of the Year. Her latest novel, Madwoman, is out now. Chelsea’s writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Granta, The Cut, Wall Street Journal, and others. She is the recipient of a Rona Jaffe Writers’ Award, as well as residencies from MacDowell and Tin House Books. Raised in Hawaii and California, she now lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two children.
In this interview, Chelsea talks about the personal story that drove her to write about motherhood, domestic violence…and grocery stores; what she knows now that she wishes she’d known before publishing her first book; and much more…