Today, we hear from Bryan VanDyke, whose debut novel, IN OUR LIKENESS, will be published in September. We’re talking to Bryan about what to do when gatekeepers consider your writing “too quiet” and ways an author can make some noise with their new work without sidelining their own vision and style.  Watch a recording here. This audio/video version is available for one week. Missed it? Check out the podcast version above or on your favorite podcast platform. To find VanDyke’s debut and many other books by our authors, visit our Bookshop page.  Looking for a writing community? Join our Facebook page.  Bryan VanDyke is a former staff writer at The Millions. He holds an MFA from Columbia University and a BA from Northwestern. His debut novel, IN OUR LIKENESS is forthcoming from Little A this September. He is also the author of a book-length essay, ONLY THE TRYING: OR, HOW TO LIVE AFTER NOT QUITE DYING, a meditation on the nature of illness and recovery. His fiction has appeared in The Rumpus, Carve and elsewhere. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children. Photo by Kristina Flour on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com