trash musings.

Last week I completed the manuscript for my novel, American Garbage. This is a book I began writing during my senior year in college. With the help of some wonderful professors, I was able to craft a story of poverty, desperation, violence, and wealth, all hidden under the shiny plastic wrapping of a fictional reality TV show.

I’ve loved reality television for years. From the shows that hide in the bottom of the dumpster like My Strange Addiction and Wife Swap, to the high-brow docuseries produced by streaming services like Netflix. The weirder, the better. With programs like Married At First Sight providing a dystopian view of love, the idea of a reality show that refuses to stop filming under any circumstances makes sense to me.

There have been allegations against Tyra Banks and her production team for mistreatment of the young models on America’s Next Top Model. It isn’t hard to imagine many other series hide similar tales of abuse of their cast and manipulation of the audience.

American Garbage is a story I hold close to my heart for many reasons. It’s dark and disturbing, but at the same time, it has glimmers of lightheartedness and empathy. I can’t wait to find a home for this book and share it with all of you.