In this week's edition of Endnotes, we take a look at Hannah Pittard's If You Love It, Let It Kill You, where a novelist and creative writing instructor reflects on her life and the craft of fiction over the course of writing her latest book. In its review, PW says "The novel brims with quick wit."
Here's how the book came together:
Hannah Pittard
“I started this book the same day I discovered that a fictional version of myself had been knifed to death in a story by my ex. I couldn’t stop thinking about my fictional murder. And I couldn’t stop thinking that this—an ex-wife writing about being written about—would be a pretty funny way to address my entrance into middle age and the onset of perimenopause.” Photo credit: Ayna Lorenzo
Maria Massie
“Hannah sent me about 80 pages of the novel-in-progress, which were brilliant. The pages crackled with her signature intelligence and wit—she was playing with autofiction in a way that was highly original, hilarious, and brave. Hannah’s then-editor, Caroline Zancan at Holt, responded to the pages immediately, making it a seamless process.”
Tim Duggan
“I can’t think of any storyteller who’s quite like Hannah. Her ability to get inside the heads of her characters is amazing to behold, and just a thrill and a pure pleasure to read. I kept turning the pages faster and faster, marveling at how she created this world that somehow reflects right back on us.”
Nicolette Seeback Ruggiero
“The modern typeface reflects the freshness of Hannah’s writing, while the little hints of hand-lettering make it feel more personal. But the cat is the absolute highlight. A talking cat seemed like the perfect representation of this zany novel, and the sassy cat that was approved was the perfect choice.”
