Laura Dickerman loves an assignment. So when her brother, Colin, came to her with an idea for a fun enemies-to-lovers book about rival editors forced to share a “hot desk,” Dickerman took the idea and ran with it, all the way to a publishing deal with Simon & Schuster. Along the way, she deepened the story to include themes about the publishing world of NYC now and in the early 1980s, the power of women’s friendship, and the lasting effects of the patriarchy. All this, and a hot romance!
Our interview is less about the story—have you really not read HOT DESK yet?—and more about what this debut year has been like for this 63-year-old first-time author.
Even before HOT DESK was published, Simon & Schuster selected your novel, along with one book from each of its divisions, for the Simon Selects program. What was it like to share your debut season with a diverse group of writers?
Simon Selects was my introduction to pre-publication and to the joy of connecting with other writers in a similar position. Simon Loves Indies took us to Boston and Chapel Hill to meet booksellers, so it was like a mini-summer camp of bonding. Luckily, this particular group of authors was the absolute best—and we still have a Simon Sisters group text. We were on that text chain the night that the incredible Patricia Smith won the National Book Award for Poetry—she actually apologized for being too flustered to mention us in her speech! The mix of established writers (Mona Awad, ML Rio) and fellow debut authors (Eliana Ramage, Lacey Dunham) meant that I had someone to give me advice and someone to commiserate and celebrate with at every step of the process.
Oh, that’s amazing, and something I bet a lot of authors would appreciate. The learning curve is steep, isn’t it? You had to quickly get up to speed on how book tours work, and the way in which technology (Instagram and BookTok) has replaced most traditional book advertising. What particular challenges did you have in doing your part to get the word out about HOT DESK?
In some ways, it was steep, but there was actually a full year between when the book was bought and when it was published (as is common for debut novels), so I had time to figure out what worked best for me in terms of promotion. I was very fortunate to have an amazing team of publicists and marketing people at Gallery Books (the division of S&S that published HOT DESK), but I was responsible for launching the social media blitz of my choice (obviously IG, where previously I had been haphazardly posting photos of clouds and food). I hired a savvy young friend of my daughter’s (forever grateful, Lila Chiles) for two weeks before my publication date, and she helped me to film an unboxing video, etc. After Lila, it may have taken me 1000 hours to “produce” one 20 second clip in which I held the book at the correct angle and didn’t appear to have three chins, but I’m getting better at it and really enjoy it. Because I’m supposed to be working on my next book, I recently had to employ a Brick to wean me from my IG addiction. One positive outcome of spending time on social media was discovering Bookstagram, where hordes of dedicated young (and not so young) mostly women read and engage voraciously. One negative outcome was the bracing realization that every single Tuesday, a brand-new crop of books comes out: as a reader, I’m overwhelmed, and as a writer, I’m a little bereft when everyone sprints on.
Yes, I imagine that can be a little dispiriting. And yet I’m struck by how supportive this community is, noting how often writers promote each other’s work. As an avid follower of @LauraDickermanWriter, I’ve been impressed with the novel way you’ve found to share recommendations with your audience. Can you tell us how Two Haiku Reviews came into being?
It’s fascinating how the process of engaging in the community of writers works: I should publish a book of my wheedling, personalized, vaguely desperate letters to established writers asking for a blurb. Blurbs are usually written by authors who share your editor, agent, publishing house, etc. So, most of the time, it really is who you know; on the other hand, one of my earliest and most enthusiastic supporters was Joanna Rackoff, who just happened to read an advance reader copy of HOT DESK. Her amazing blurb graces the cover, and I didn’t even send her a letter! While following Joanna on IG, I really admired how much she reads, and how generously she promotes other writers. I read widely all the time; I’m in two book clubs, and I’m the editor of bookclique, so I started Two Haiku Reviews as a short but sweet way to answer the question I often get asked: what should I read next?
Well, those haikus are a lot of fun and well done—in a handful of carefully chosen words, you let us know quite a bit about what the author has put between the covers.
Okay, so you’ve been on this year-long journey post-publication, and so much has happened: a book tour from Chicago to Boston, from Florida to London. I know that two very special stops for you were your adopted hometown, Atlanta, and your similarly packed-house presentation at the Strand in New York City. Would-be authors fantasize about book tours for sure (well, the extroverts, at any rate; I imagine the introverts are a bit horrified.) Do you have any notable Book Tour Moments for us?
First, may I say how deeply I appreciated seeing my friends and family come out—you, Andy, were at quite a few of my book events, and that meant so much to me! Funny you mention that about introverts; when I met other writers on tour, many of them would say they hated this part of the process and couldn’t wait to get home to write in solitude. Not me! Put me in front of a crowd (hell, put me in front of the bookstore staff and one poor guy who wandered in from the street) and allow me to talk about my book, the writing process, what I’m reading? ALL DAY EVERY DAY, please! I’ve loved every minute of it! At first, only a few people had read the book, but by the last events, the questions were much more specific about the text, and it was gratifying and humbling to meet so many people who weren’t my friends and family who wanted to engage. Highlights? Well, early on, one of the booksellers created a “Hot Mess Manhattan” cocktail in honor of HOT DESK. Honestly, the best moments were when women told me that the themes of friendship and the more difficult issues of gendered power dynamics had resonated with them, and they shared their own experiences.
You really had the full range of book tour experiences, from intimate indie bookstore events to multi-author panels. I’m glad you liked the touring part and diving into all the parts of promotion. Yet by spring, there were drumbeats to get started on the next novel, weren’t there? So, there you were, promoting the hardcover of HOT DESK, awaiting the paperback, learning about the complexities of audiobooks and foreign rights, and trying to create at the same time. Is there a question in here? Probably quite a few. Pick one!
I wanted to give myself a full year to really enjoy the experience of being a crone with a debut novel! After the flurry of activity in the first few months, it was on me and my publicist to keep the party going, and we did a good job. My brother, Colin, (not my editor, but an editor, and deeply involved with HOT DESK) advised me to get to work on the second book earlier, so I would have something to focus on when the hoopla died down—I probably should have taken his advice—but I’m stubborn. I’ve just recently really started to work on my next book, but every once in a while, something surprising and exciting in the HOT DESK world comes along: finalist for the Georgia Writers Author of the Year for First Novel, an interview with my Russian publishers, requests to speak with book clubs, etc. But, aside from waiting for that call to come in from Hollywood, I’m pretty much finally moving on.
Hollywood, get on this, before Margaret Qualley is too old to play Rebecca! But I digress…So you’re back in the world of making up new characters and plots, but I know the kind of mother you are, and HOT DESK will always be your baby. Speaking of mothering, I bet you have some sage advice for the next author who is eyeing her upcoming debut with a mix of delight and terror. What can she do to minimize the spiral and maximize her enjoyment of this incredible ride?
First of all, pause and reflect on how incredibly lucky you are: there are so many talented writers who are never given this opportunity, and to hold your finished, officially published book in your hands is an honor and a joy. Reach out to other writers—I ask people to lunch all the time—writers I was on a panel with, writers coming through town for a reading, etc. Get to know booksellers in indie bookstores—they are the best people in the world! Go in and introduce yourself to everyone in every bookstore in your town and in the towns you visit. Offer to sign your books, offer to be part of their book clubs, tag them in posts. Choose one social media format you are already somewhat adept in (if you are an introvert or hopelessly technologically challenged, hire someone, ask your niece, troll through IG or FB or TikTok to see what your favorite writers are doing, then do the same). Get together a decent website (again, look at what your favorite writers have done or find a website that you admire and reach out to the person who created it). I answer every email that comes through my website and try to acknowledge everyone on IG who mentions HOT DESK. It is an extraordinary privilege to reach readers through a book, and I would advise engaging with them as much as you can.
What a great list, one that every debut author should memorize. There really is a job after the writing job in publishing, and it’s been fun to have a front row seat this past year, to watch you dive right in and help your novel reach readers around the world. I’m delighted to hear you’re well underway with another book. Thanks for helping us better understand what a first year of publication looks like. It may not be easy, but it’s important, and you’ve given the next group of debut authors a great template to follow for their own publishing journeys. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Andy, for all of your invaluable support throughout the entire process (I did name a therapist after you in HOT DESK)–and thank you for conducting this delightful interview! Love to keep fanning the flames!
