Novelist Angela Flournoy on Friendship, Time, and the Wilderness of Contemporary Adulthood

Deep Reading lists for each episode can be found at phoebe.substack.com - Today's conversation is with Sophie Bishop, an associate professor at the University of Leeds, whose new book Influencer Creep: How Optimization, Authenticity and Self-Branding Transform Creative Culture is out now. Sophie shares how her early work on beauty bloggers led her to coin the phrase “influencer creep,” why artists now face the same anxieties as influencers about constant visibility, and how these dynamics connect to broader questions about labour rights, AI, and the future of cultural work. - @phoebelovatt @deepread.phoebelovatt

Deep Reading Lists are available at phoebe.substack.com - Something a little different this week: Episode #42 of Deep Read is a live conversation with Lindsay Peoples, Editor-in-Chief, recorded in London during Fashion Week. We spoke about making intentional work in a noisy media landscape, why fashion and politics are inseparable, and how she balances the heaviness of the job with joy. - @phoebelovatt @deepread.phoebelovatt @lrpeoples @thecut

Deep Reading lists for each episode can be found at phoebe.substack.com - Today I’m joined by New York-based novelist Angela Flournoy, whose highly anticipated second book The Wilderness explores the evolving friendships of four Black women over the span of two decades. In our conversation, Angela and I discuss what it means to come of age in uncertain times, how friendship can serve as a strategy for survival, and why Los Angeles and New York — the twin backdrops of her novel — carry such symbolic weight. We also talk about writing through motherhood, the shifting markers of adulthood, and the influence of writers like Toni Morrison and Mike Davis on Angela’s work.

Deep Reading lists for each episode can be found at phoebe.substack.com - A special episode recorded live in London, June 2025. Ronan and I spoke about: How she recovered from creative, professional, and financial burnout Interning in her late 20s Having hobbies!! Protecting sacred spaces Her physical movement practice Different moods for different months Managing the pressure to always be sharing - @phoebelovatt @phoebelovattpubliclibrary @ronanksm  

Deep Reading lists for each episode can be found at phoebe.substack.com - Bolu Babalola is the author of 'Love in Colour', 'Honey & Spice' and a new book titled 'Sweet Heat', which comes out on July 3rd 2025. We spoke about finding joy amid the darkness, being a public person, internet discourse, Yoruba culture, and why rom-coms are due a proper renaissance – plus much more. - @phoebelovatt @phoebelovattpubliclibrary @bolu    

Deep Reading lists for each episode can be found at phoebe.substack.com - Kai Avent-DeLeon is the founder of the concept store Sincerely, Tommy and the restaurant Che–both beloved fixtures in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, the neighbourhood where Kai was born and raised. She also runs Sanctuary, a retreat programme in upstate New York. We spoke about Kai's spiritual and wellness practices, her approach to goal-setting and parenting, the power of real-life community, and so much more. -  @phoebelovatt @phoebelovattpubliclibrary @kaiaventdeleon  

This special episode was recorded live at the Miu Miu Literary Club, which took place on 9th-10th April 2025 in Milan. Under the direction of Mrs Miuccia Prada, and now in its second iteration, the Literary Club is the latest in a series of cultural experiences devised by Miu Miu to promote the arts. - Naoise Dolan is an Irish author whose first book, ‘Exciting Times’, was published to widespread acclaim in 2020. Naoise followed this with the equally well-received ‘The Happy Couple’ in 2023. In both books, Naoise tackles the confusion of contemporary life with precision and wit: her characters grapple with sexuality, housing instability, social media malaise, and our growing class disparities. At the same time, Naoise brings a fresh, often unpredictable perspective to the timeless topics of education, girlhood, and desire that inform this year’s Literary Club curation. - Deep Reading Lists can be found at phoebe.substack.com - @phoebelovatt @phoebelovattpubliclibrary @naoisedolan @miumiu

This special episode was recorded live at the Miu Miu Literary Club, which took place on 9th-10th April 2025 in Milan. Under the direction of Mrs Miuccia Prada, and now in its second iteration, the Literary Club is the latest in a series of cultural experiences devised by Miu Miu to promote the arts. - Lauren Elkin is the translator behind Simone de Beauvoir’s posthumously published book ‘The Inseparables’ - a focus text for this year’s Miu Miu Literary Club - and she is the author of multiple non-fiction books and novels. These include 2024’s ‘Scaffolding’, which explores the ethics of desire, the transition from girlhood to womanhood, and the impact that formative teachers can have on our lives. - Deep Reading Lists can be found at phoebe.substack.com - @phoebelovatt @phoebelovattpubliclibrary @lauren_elkin_ @miumiu  

Deep Read #35 is with the artist and director, Martine Syms.  Martine is one of the most prominent names in the contemporary art world. Her work encompasses sculpture, digital art, video, publishing, and photography, and has been shown in dozens of galleries and iconic art institutions worldwide. In 2022, she made her directorial debut with 'The African Desperate', and she's currently working on her second feature. Martine is as fun as she is brilliant! We discussed shame, astrology, Sapphic poetry, badmind people, awkward stages, visibility, and so much more.  - Deep Reading lists for every episode can be found at phoebe.substack.com - @phoebelovatt @phoebelovattpubliclibrary @martinesyms  

Camilla Blackett originally hails from Reading in the UK but is now based in Los Angeles. Camilla started her career as one of the “teenage consultants” writing for the original UK production of Skins before making the move to LA in 2012, where her screenwriting career quickly skyrocketed. Camilla and I have been friends for many years and I thought it would be interesting to share some insight into the life of a successful writer in LA. We discussed why the Hollywood trade union strikes of 2023 set an important precedent for the creative industries at large; how streaming changed the landscape of TV writing; why LA and London offer the ideal dual bases for a creative life, and the advice Camilla gives to anyone hoping for their big break in her industry. - @phoebelovatt @phoebelovattpubliclibrary @thecamillard