Recently, Barry and I had a fascinating conversation with Helen Zuman. You can hear about her writing, her decision to not complete her MFA, and Common App, her WIP that I am just wild to get my hands on. She also shares about her memoir, Mating in Captivity.

Psst…she was also my mindset coach for a bit, and a very good one!

I am hard at work (play?) over here on novel number three, but more blog posts coming in the next week or so…at least I hope so. Holiday weekends are fun but not great for producing things, am I right?

I am very sincere on the episode when I say I MUST read Helen’s novel when it’s completed!! Wait until you hear her description of it…I think you’ll join me in my anticipation. Give our episode with Helen a listen. Note: NSFW.

Helen Zuman, photo courtesy of Helen Zuman.

Helen’s Bio:

After graduating from Harvard in 1999, Helen Zuman joined a cult—oops!—stayed for five years, then composted the stinky guck of that experience into fertile soil via Mating in Captivity, her award-winning memoir. Next, she published What Is a Sex Cult? How Cults Reveal Our Culture. As of 2023, she is working on a novel, provisionally titled Common App, in which a college application essay editor compromises the Republicrat candidate’s chances of winning the 2024 presidential election by taking creative license with his son’s Common App Personal Statement. Born in London and raised in Brooklyn, Helen currently homesteads with her husband in Beacon, New York, while dreaming of her next trip to Scotland. She listens to her favorite song, “Scotland the Brave,” three times a day. To stay in touch, sign up for her email list at helenzuman.com.