The National Writers Series is thrilled to welcome Katie Yee, a bold new voice in literary fiction, to discuss her darkly funny and deeply moving debut novel, Maggie; Or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar.
In this sharp, wry exploration of grief, heartbreak, and healing, a Chinese American woman’s world falls apart in a single night—first learning her husband is having an affair with a woman named Maggie, then receiving a breast cancer diagnosis shortly after. In a defiant twist, she names her tumor Maggie, too.
Told in inventive fragments, Maggie follows its narrator as she navigates motherhood, identity, and survival, crafting bedtime stories rooted in Chinese folklore, writing a guide to her ex-husband for the other woman, and speaking to the tumor as if it’s a roommate she never asked for. With echoes of Crying in H Mart and the acerbic wit of Nora Ephron, this unforgettable novel transforms personal tragedy into artful comedy—and tender reflection.
Critics have called Maggie “surprisingly optimistic and touching” (The Today Show) and “a gem of a novel…that will make you think, make you feel, and make you laugh” (The Wedding People author Alison Espach). Elin Hilderbrand praised it as “an absolutely delightful debut,” while Sharkheart author Emily Habeck called it “wise, tender,” and “sparkling with humor and hope.”
Katie Yee is a writer from Brooklyn whose work has appeared in The Believer, Los Angeles Review of Books, Literary Hub, and more. She’s a past fellow of the Center for Fiction, Kundiman, and the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, and currently works at the Brooklyn Museum. When she’s not writing, she’s hanging out with her very judgmental rescue dog, Ollie.
Join us for an unforgettable evening of laughter, insight, and literary brilliance as Katie Yee takes the stage to share how heartbreak, illness, and mythology intersect in her wildly original debut.
The event begins at 7 p.m. and includes a Q&A and author signing. Purchase of the book is not required for entry. Please note: signed books are only available at the live event.
Ellie Katz works as an environmental and science reporter for Interlochen Public Radio. Previously she worked for Heritage Radio Network, FRQNCY Media, Stitcher and Michigan Public Radio. Her work with IPR has been featured on NPR, Here & Now, Science Friday and more.
