In Praise of Second Novels

By Mark Sarvas

Hello friends,

In a recent email exchange, I was discussing second novels with a writer I know for an essay she’s writing on the topic. As the release of my second novel, Memento Park, is imminent, I am, needless to say, awash with thoughts on the second novel. It’s a poor, neglected thing isn’t it? These days, it’s all about sexy debuts, you have to splash big right out the gate or be forgotten. I was reading some thing the other day in which John Irving mentioned a time in his career where he had written three novels already – but not yet The World According to Garp. It made me envy that gentler time in the publishing marketplace, when authors were given time to develop themselves and make a name. Read more at Tiny Letter.

Join Mark Sarvas in conversation with Julie Robinson about his second novel on May 10. Read more about the event here.