R.F. Kuang talks about writing Yellowface and the intricacies of friendship and cultural appropriation. Joe Ide discusses writing his IQ series from the perspective of a Black protagonist, influenced by his upbringing in South Central LA.

In this episode, New York Times bestselling author R.F. Kuang discusses her book Yellowface and its reflection of her experiences in the publishing industry. She shares the cathartic experience of writing from the perspective of June and updates us on her upcoming projects. The podcast also explores the challenges and frustrations of the publishing industry, the complexities of characters, and the dynamics of the book world. They also discuss discoverability in the publishing industry and announce the upcoming release of 'Catabassus', a fantasy love story set in hell.