Accessibility links
Brandon Taylor on 'Filthy Animals,' 'Real Life' And Relationships : It's Been a Minute Author Brandon Taylor used to spend most of his hours studying nematodes under a microscope as a grad student. He wrote his first novel over a period of five weeks, mostly while in a lab. That book, Real Life, was released in 2020 to much critical acclaim. He published his second book this year, a short story collection called Filthy Animals.

Taylor talks to Sam about his focus on the tensions of everyday relationships, writing from a Black and queer perspective and his intended audience of just a couple close friends.

This conversation is part of a collaboration between NPR and the Library of Congress National Book Festival. For more information about the festival, visit loc.gov/bookfest.

You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at samsanders@npr.org.

It's Been a Minute

Brandon Taylor Wrote 'Real Life' And 'Filthy Animals' For His Queer, Black Friends

Brandon Taylor Wrote 'Real Life' And 'Filthy Animals' For His Queer, Black Friends

Listen · 31:26
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1036930975/1039031130" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Enlarge this image

Author Brandon Taylor writes into the tension of everyday relationships. William J. Adams/Penguin Random House hide caption

toggle caption
William J. Adams/Penguin Random House

Author Brandon Taylor writes into the tension of everyday relationships.

William J. Adams/Penguin Random House

Author Interviews

Brandon Taylor On His New Story Collection, 'Filthy Animals'

Author Brandon Taylor used to spend most of his hours studying nematodes under a microscope as a grad student in biochemistry. He wrote his first novel over a period of five weeks, mostly while in a lab. That book, Real Life, was released in 2020 to much critical acclaim. He published his second book this year, a short story collection called Filthy Animals.

Taylor talks to Sam about his focus on the tensions of everyday relationships, writing from a Black and queer perspective and his intended audience of just a couple close friends.

This conversation is part of a collaboration between NPR and the Library of Congress National Book Festival. For more information about the festival, visit loc.gov/bookfest.

This episode of 'It's Been a Minute' was produced by Liam McBain and edited by Jordana Hochman. You can follow us on Twitter @NPRItsBeenAMin and email us at samsanders@npr.org.