NO SPOILERS in this conversation with debut novelist and lawyer, Erica Katz!!*** This episode proves just how complicated and fun things can get when three women who worked in BigLaw start a conversation!*** Erica tells us about The Boys Club, a book that draws parallels to Sweetbitter, The Firm, The Devil Wears Prada, and Luckiest Girl Alive. She explains that she was inspired to write this novel as therapy for herself at a time of uncertainty in America and as a way to explore honestly the way things are in corporate America. Fiction, she shares, provides a beautiful way for people to examine the different facets of, and contradictions within, people without judgement. (02:45)*** While some have told Erica that Alex Vogel, the protagonist of The Boys Club, is “unlikeable,” Carinn and Kate disagree and loved hearing Erica explain Alex’s complexities, what power and money can do to people and the many different faces of BigLaw. Erica shares how her own conflicted feelings while working in BigLaw provided fuel for the character. (06:39)*** In Erica’s acknowledgements she hopes for “all little girls” that “the working world be more level for your generation than it was for mine,” which leads us into a thoughtful discussion of gender inequalities and diversity initiatives within BigLaw. (15:38)*** Erica explains why she wanted to include a perfectly complicated character like Derrick, a black man who gave this book a fresh angle from stale legal thrillers. (26:35)*** On this podcast we seem to love to interview lawyers turned authors, like Erica, exploring why and when each decided to make the leap. Listen to Erica explain how she didn’t even realize she was writing this novel at first and when it dawned on her that this could really be something. And if you don’t believe in kismet, you may want to hear how she found her agent, a woman who -- of course -- used to be a lawyer in BigLaw with Erica! (30:38)*** Erica shares her writing process and how it changed from when she first started writing this novel while practicing law versus how she does it now that she is on book number two. We also get a sneak peak into her second book! (39:49)*** As always, we talk astrology...Erica is a Gemini, like many of the authors we have interviewed. (47:20)*** The Boys Club has been optioned by the highly impressive Michael Sugar as part of his first look film deal with Netflix so Erica shares what level of involvement she intends to have in the adaptation as well as some potential casting discussions! (52:28)We've launched a platform at patreon.com/popfictionwomen to keep making the podcast you love -- and to make it even better. For a one time contribution to support this episode, use venmo @ carinn-jade.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @popfictionwomen and on Twitter @pop_women. To do a full deep dive, check out our website at www.popfictionwomen.com.Stay Complicated!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.