In Anyone's Ghost, August Thompson captures the ache of growing up while growing as a writer after his hard-won pursuit of the MFA program at NYU.

How do you write a coming-of-age story that's both deeply vulnerable and slyly funny, all while resisting clichés about queerness and masculinity? August Thompson joins me to talk about his debut novel, Anyone's Ghost, a Lambda finalist and one of my favorite under-the-radar gems.

From his MFA experience at NYU to navigating long COVID while finishing the book, Thompson reflects on the highs and lows of becoming a first-time author and the vulnerable process of rejection. He also shares how humor, bisexuality, and memory shape his storytelling, which major literary prizes have now recognized with adoration.

In our funny conversation, August and I discussed:

• How Art Helped Form the Bones of August's Story – August shares the books, films, and music that inspired his book, which even brought in the lead singer from The National for a book signing moment of his dreams at The Strand.
• Mining Adolescence for Humor– The role of humor was as imperative as Thompson's love story, and why he wanted to balance this story with this unexpected levity amidst the yearning.
• The Fresh Perspective on Sexuality For Readers – Thompson discusses his approach to writing about bisexuality and the narratives regarding male bisexuality that he still wishes to see in publishing, while celebrating being longlisted for a Lambda Literary Award.

📚 BONUS BOOK LIST: As a bonus for listeners, don't miss this week's companion list: Books About Music That Hit All the Right Notes. Explore 41 novels and memoirs that celebrate musicians, bands, songwriting, and life behind the scenes. Patrons will also receive today's printable checklist to bring on their next library day.

Meet August Thompson

August Thompson is from the middle of nowhere, New Hampshire, and has lived in Los Angeles, NYC, Berlin, and Madrid. His debut novel, Anyone's Ghost, was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, longlisted for the Center For Fiction Debut Novel Prize, and named a best book of the year by Amazon, Vogue, and Elle. His writing has appeared in The Guardian, The New York Times Magazine, and beyond.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download Today's Show Transcript

NEW BOOK LIST: 41 Books About Music That Hit the Right Notes

Join the September Book Club Chat (Rust & Stardust by T. Greenwood)

Anyone's Ghost by August Thompson

Malcom X

The Insider

A24

Neon

The National

Anyone's Ghost by The National

Strand Books

Sad Dad Book Club

This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process (Podcast Interview with August Thompson's Paperback Book Cover Designer)

Lillian Vernon Writers House

The Wassaic Project

Katie Kitamura

Jonathan Safran Foer

Jeffrey Eugenides

Moonlight

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Call Me By Your Name by André Acimen

The Talented Mr. Ripley

Chris Bram

Franny and Zooey by JD Salinger

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