An Evening with Katie Yee and "Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar" (Virtual)

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 live Q&A.

Guest Host: TBA
Virtual Ticket: $14

Even if you can’t make it to Milliken Auditorium at the Dennos Museum Center, you can still experience this National Writers Series event from the comfort of your own home—live on event night or later on-demand at your convenience.

Each Virtual Ticket includes access to a private YouTube link, with the livestream beginning at 6:50 p.m. Virtual audience members are invited to submit questions during the event through a moderated chat.

There is no requirement to purchase a book with your virtual ticket, though a copy can be purchased directly through Horizon Books here: Maggie; Or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee.