In episode 166, author Andrew Boryga joins me to discuss his debut novel, Victim, a funny and gripping satire about success and identity. Through the adventures of Javier, Victim explores what "diversity" means, why society loves a victim narrative, and the pitfalls of chasing fame online. Boryga combines humor with biting social commentary without sacrificing heart. This is a juicy and highly discussable story! In our chat, Andrew shares his inspiration behind the book, his decade long road to publication, and what he finds most effective in a satirical novel. Plus, Andrew shares some fantastic book recommendations!

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

• A spoiler-free overview of Victim.
• Andrew shares the inspiration and decade-long development of the story.
• How his journalism background is reflected in his book.
• Why Andrew decided to craft Javier's story as a memoir.
• Andrew's journey to finding an agent and getting published.
• Why Andrew followed his dream of writing fiction, rather than publishing an essay collection like many publishing insiders were advising him.
• The way his story drafts and characters evolved over time.
• How his MFA workshop helped shaped the story.
• Riding that fine line for a balanced satire: focusing on the social commentary without going over the top.
• The themes Andrew is exploring in his next book!

Andrew's Book Recommendations [34:19]

Two OLD Books He Loves

• Bodega Dreams by Ernesto Quiñonez | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:30]
• Loving Day by Mat Johnson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:11]
• Other Book Mentioned:
  • Pym by Mat Johnson [37:56]

Two NEW Books He Loves

• The Birthparents by Frank Santo | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:09]
• Blackouts by Justin Torres | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:38]
• Other Book Mentioned:
  • We the Animals by Justin Torres [40:57]

One Book He DIDN'T Love

• Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:13]
• Other Book Mentioned:
  • The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz [43:21]

One NEW RELEASE He's Excited About

• Oye by Melissa Mogollon (May 14, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:14]

Last 5-Star Book Andrew Read

• Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:37]

Other Books Mentioned

• Yellowface by R. F. Kuang [27:31]
• The Sellout by Paul Beatty [31:14]

About Andrew Boryga

Website | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)

Andrew Boryga is a writer, editor, and author from the Bronx, New York, currently residing in Miami, Florida with his wife and two children. Victim is his debut novel.

Boryga began his career writing for a local newspaper in the Bronx at age 16, eventually securing an internship with The New York Timesby age 18. His nonfiction writing has since been featured in prominent publications such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Paris Review, and The Daily Beast, among others. Boryga's contributions to writing education extend beyond his own work, encompassing teaching roles for elementary school students, college students, and incarcerated individuals in Florida. He has also shared his insights on writing and the writing life through lectures at various academic institutions. Throughout his career, Boryga has been awarded prizes by Cornell University, The University of Miami, The Susquehanna Review, and The Michener Foundation.