The speaker reflects on their doubts and fears about the success of their book, discussing the lack of readership during the writing process and concerns about its tone. They mention a conversation with someone who questioned its appeal, but ultimately learn to trust their instincts and rely on their editor's guidance.
Mary Roach is the author of seven nonfiction books, including Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law.
"In these realms of the taboo, there's a tremendous amount of material that is really interesting, but that people have stayed away from. ... I'm kind of a bottom feeder. It's down there on the bottom where people don't want to go. But if that's what it takes to find interesting, new material, I'm fine with it. I don't care. I'm not easily grossed out. I don't feel that there's any reason why we shouldn't look at this. And over time, I started to feel that ... the taboo was preventing people from having conversations that it would be healthy to have."
Show notes:
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