Bailey Merlin

One remarkable thing about writing is that it taught me how to laugh at myself.

In the movies, writing is portrayed as a solitary, serious act. Sometimes, it is. Sometimes, I'm so in the hole that I don't even know what day it is. Sometimes, I write with the grammar checker off and just GO. What books and movies don't seem to get right, even though those stories are literally written by writers, is just how funny it is to be a writer.

Like, I was reading through some pages I wrote while at a conference and realized the phrase "shrill as a tea kettle" no fewer than five times in five pages. And I realized why I did it. I was writing, got interrupted, then returned to the page with the phrase still in my head.

As I was reading it, however, I thought, "Wow, I really want some tea." But I didn't. I just wanted some uninterrupted writing time and the focus required to finish writing a scene with a lot of moving parts (i.e., a scene with three people in it instead of one, the way I usually write).

Does your work crack you up, too, or am I alone in this?

I didn't have expectations for publishing, but this surprised me the most:

After writing a story about an intentional living community, A Lot of People Live in This House, I really thought I'd be the poster child for, well, intentional community. And sure, folks are super curious about it. However, the most common feedback I get is how well I captured the lived experience of mental illness.

"Man, when Rachel was having a panic attack, I thought I was going to have one, too."
"I've never seen PTSD so well-portrayed in a novel before."
"Wow, Rachel is really annoying, but I get why."
"I've never struggled with mental illness before, and this book made me way more empathetic towards folks who do."

Recently, at a book club, one of the attendees was a therapist who said she wished all of her clients could find as healthy a community as the one Rachel finds in the novel. That was really powerful for me. Found family has the potential to be so healing. The next best thing? A novel about a person struggling with themselves who then finds the perfect place to heal.

This is 31, and things are changing💋

After dreading my 30th birthday my whole life, I've gotta say that being in your 30s kicks so much ass. I love knowing who I am and ALLOWING myself to be that person.

✨ I'm the author of A Lot of People Live in This House, a tender novel about the healing power of intentional community.

✨ I'm the founder of the Bi+ Book Gang, an ever-growing global community of writers who hold one another accountable.

✨ I'm the co-host of the always hilarious and informative podcast "Bisexual Killjoy."

✨ I make things happen, and I do my best work when I am doing that work with and for others.

Many, many weeks ago, my dear and talented friend Krista Miller came to Boston and took the most sensational photos of me. Not some of. The most.

I said, "Let's make it witchy." And she said, "Bet." Voila, voila, here we are.

Krista, I still don't know how you managed to capture so many sides of me in under 2 hours. Your work is art.

When we first discussed the session, I told Krista I wanted to do a photoshoot for a rebrand. But honestly? This isn't a rebrand; this was me the whole time. As my career continues to unfold, I hope to share more of myself with you. Current projects include research papers, an audiobook, growing the podcast, nurturing my communities, and writing some steamy historical romances to keep things light.

Shoutout to the busiest weekend of the summer ☀️

This Saturday, I was proud to share a table with Kathy Sherbrooke (author of The Hidden Life of Aster Kelly) and JB Harris (author of The Immigrant's Wife). It was a pleasure to swap stories with y'all. Massachusetts is full of so many talented authors!

Thank you to for hosting this local author event. Thanks especially to Ian for making us feel welcome!

Looking for your next read? A Lot of People Live in This House is perfect for anyone into cozy stories about found family and the healing power of community.

The book is taking on a life of its own. Check us out on August 19 at noon at the Barnes & Noble in Hingham. I want to sign some books and make a fool of myself. You won't want to miss that.