Ep 166: Writing the Book That Scares You a Little (with Rachel Beanland)
Rachel Beanland has written three novels (her newest, The Half Life, releases on July 14, 2026 from Simon & Schuster), and she's still surprised by how much each book teaches her.
In this episode, we talk about what it actually looks like to challenge yourself as a writer—specifically, her decision to write her latest novel, The Half-Life, in first person for the first time.
(As I've recently learned while working on my own novel, it's harder than it sounds, and Rachel has the perfect explanation as to why.)
We also get into how personal history shapes fiction (her first novel grew out of a family tragedy from nearly a century ago), why a strong sense of place isn't optional, and what happens when you trust your instincts even when the process feels messy as hell.
CONNECT WITH RACHEL
Website: rachelbeanland.com
Instagram: @rachelbeanland
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