Saturday, February 22, 2-4 PM: Liza Monroy, Author of "The Distractions:" Reading, Book Talk, Signing, in Conversation with Malena Watrous
To preorder “Distractions,” click on this link to go to our web store
————————————————- About The Distractions
Liza Monroy (Author)
Mischa Osborn spends her days as a ProWatcher--keeping distracted people on task and lonely ones accompanied--from her Brooklyn Megabuilding, while eating PetriMeat Steax and working out with her favorite personal trainer, a straight-talking algorithm named Tory. Her carefully constructed, isolated existence is suddenly upended by a chance realspace encounter with a HighlightReel celebrity, Nicolás Adán Luchano. On their first date, hiking in Kuulsuits and watching DroneBeez pollinate flowers, Mischa experiences a brief but intense realspace connection. Mischa takes to relentlessly watching Nic onReel. As Mischa's ReelWatching spirals into an all-consuming obsession, and even realspace stalking, Mischa takes increasingly desperate measures to be seen and valued, sucking others into her vortex of obsession until she completely loses control. Meanwhile, someone is equally obsessed with Mischa, tracking her every move and perhaps even influencing her choices. A tale of how technology enables obsession, envy, and unrelenting comparison, told through an eccentric cast of interconnected characters, invites us to reflect on who we are watching, and why.
Liza Monroy’s books include the novels The Distractionsand Mexican High, the memoir The Marriage Act: The Risk I Took To Keep My Best Friend In America And What It Taught Us About Love, and Seeing As Your Shoes Are Soon To Be On Fire, a collection of personal essays based on one of the “most popular, provocative, and unforgettable” columns for The New York Times’ “Modern Love” column and a voicemail from an ex. Another of her “Modern Love” installments was selected and read by Malin Ackerman for the series’ podcast. Liza is considered an all-arond expert on romantic love. https://www.lizamonroy.com
About Malena Watrous
Malena is a writer of fiction and non-fiction, who grew up in Beautiful South Eugene. Her novel, If You Follow Me (Harper Perennial) won a James Michener award and was a Lammy finalist. She has also co-authored 2 cookbooks: My Mexico City Kitchen, with Gabriela Camara, and Scandinavian From Scratch, with Nichole Accettola. She teaches creative writing and serves as creative writing curriculum coordinator for Stanford’s Continuing Studies, where she helped to start the online novel writing certificate program. She works as a freelance writing coach and developmental editor. She lives in Santa Cruz, with her husband Matt Schumaker, their son Max, and two furry muses. https://www.malenawatrous.com