The Long Road to a Debut Novel (and Why It’s Worth It) with Rosie Storey

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What happens when you don’t give up on writing—even after a failed debut attempt, agent rejections, and a long detour through corporate life? In this episode, I’m joined by London-based author Rosie Storey, whose debut novel Dandelion Is Dead is finally making its U.S. release.

We talk honestly about Rosie’s nonlinear publishing journey, the persistence it takes to keep writing after rejection, and why messy, mid-thirties lives deserve to be at the center of fiction. We also dive into Dandelion Is Dead—a sharp, emotionally layered novel about grief, identity, and the lies we tell when we’re trying to survive loss. Plus, Rosie shares three literary recommendations that balance humor and heartbreak beautifully.

📚 Books Mentioned

Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey — Literary Fiction | Grief, Identity

The First Bad Man by Miranda July — Literary Fiction | Unconventional Women

Self-Help by Lorrie Moore — Short Stories | Humor & Heartbreak

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason — Literary Fiction | Mental Health, Marriage

⏱️ Episode Timestamps

[00:00] Meeting Rosie Storey & debut novel introduction

[01:00] Early writing life and corporate career detour

[02:00] Quitting work, failed first novel, and starting again

[03:00] Rejections, agents, and persistence

[04:00] Dandelion Is Dead — premise and themes

[05:00] Writing messy midlife stories

[06:00] Why no life is neat and tidy

[07:00] Book recommendation: The First Bad Man

[09:00] Book recommendation: Self-Help

[11:00] Book recommendation: Sorrow and Bliss

[12:30] Where to find Rosie online

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