The Ethics of Using Real Life in Your Fiction
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Join us for a juicy and candid conversation with debut novelists Emily J. Smith and Ali Kriegsman about using real life to inspire fiction. Emily and Ali are both tech founders turned novelists and their debuts are rich with details and plotlines derived from their real-life experiences in life, love, and work.
Emily's debut novel, "Nothing Serious," is a psychological thriller and coming-of-age story about a 30-something tech worker who goes into an obsessive spiral when her best friend and long-time crush is implicated in a woman's death, leading her to untangle years of internalized misogyny. It was included in "Most Anticipated" lists from The New York Times and LitHub, with LitHub calling it "brutal, complex, and necessary."
Ali's debut novel, "The Raise," follows a codependent female founder as she unravels the sudden and "accidental" death of her best friend and business partner at Burning Man - all while trying to raise a $75 Million Series C. Bustle named it one of the "Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2025" and it was selected for Reese Witherspoon's Book Club Podcast.
Liz Montesano is the founder and host of NYC's Open Book Club, a book club, weekly newsletter, and membership program where members and guests share book recommendations and connect in-person.
Together, we’ll discuss:
Why real experiences make great fiction
How to squeeze a juicy plot from real-life dramas
How to handle people seeing themselves in your work
When it comes to using life for inspiration — what’s the line? When do things go too far?
And much more!
Your $5 ticket fee will be donated in-full to Liz's Book Bar as a thank you for hosting us!
See you there.
Guest List
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