This week we visit with Rachel Beanland in Richmond, Virginia.

Rachel is the author of two novels, The House Is On Fire (Simon & Schuster, 2023) and Florence Adler Swims Forever (Simon & Schuster, 2020).

The House Is On Fire was selected as an Indie Next pick by the American Booksellers Association, a ‘GMA Buzz Pick’ by Good Morning America, a “most anticipated” book by the Washington Post, and one of the best books of 2023 by NPR and The New Yorker.

Beanland’s debut novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, was selected as a book club pick by Barnes & Noble, a featured debut by Amazon, an Indie Next pick by the ABA, and one of the best books of 2020 by USA Today. It was also named a New York Times Editors’ Choice and was recognized with the 2020 National Jewish Book Award for Debut Fiction.

Beanland attended the University of South Carolina and earned her MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has taught at the College of William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Richmond, where she was the 2023-24 Writer-in-Residence. Beanland lives in Richmond, Virginia with her family.

Rachel’s Books on the Bed:

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

Young Woman and the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World by Glenn Stout

The Richmond Theater Fire: Early America’s First Great Disaster by Meredith Henne Baker

The Color of Water by James McBride

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Matt’s gifts for Rachel:

The Price of a Child by Lorene Cary

The Which Way Tree by Elizabeth Crook