On today’s episode of Complicated Conversations, we are thrilled to be talking with Lauren McBrayer about her adult debut novel, Like A House On Fire. ** Lauren begins by telling us about how this novel helped her write a more authentic version of herself. She shares an amazing story of how the novel came to be and what her metaphorical death and the books of Dani Shapiro and Sally Rooney have in common with that. (03:30)** Merit, the protagonist of the novel, is not Lauren, but she tells us about the moment she realized she was writing about herself – not so much as wish fulfillment, but more to explore the parts of herself she knew existed but she hadn’t looked at before. (06:04)** Speaking of complicated women, Lauren tells us about her development of Jane. Through Jane she explores desire and the distinction between a woman you want to emulate and a woman you’re attracted to. (08:45)** We discuss parenthood and how balancing career and motherhood felt like a slow fracturing of self. In trying to perform so many roles Lauren shares the moment she realized she had totally lost herself. (10:47)** Lauren tells us how to push back on the “lemmings” who think women can only be one thing. (13:04)** Lauren is so happy when we tell her that she seems to have integrated two key parts of herself  – the law and her writing career. With three lawyers on the line this gets personal! (17:28) ** We discuss how the book explores the dismantling of a false identity and how to trust yourself in this very messy process. Find out what her old middle school journals have to do with her process! (22:15)** Lauren tells us about the epilogue and how that snuck up on her. (28:58)** Lauren discusses the title “Like A House On Fire” and the unlikely way she came up with it. (33:10)** We talk astrology…not just Lauren’s sign, but that of Merit and Jane too. (35:28)** Lauren tells us what she is loving right now. (38:34)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.