<club-desc-paragraph>When Lucien and Sophie meet in recovery, their draw to one another is clouded by their use of Memoroxin, an experimental memory drug designed to help Alzheimer's patients and used recreationally by the Hollywood Elite. The Shimmering State asks readers to consider what they would do if they could take a drug that gives them someone else's memories - and how would it change them? In conversation with Belletrist, author Meredith Westgate divulges where the inspiration for Memoroxin came from, how building memories has changed over time, and why Los Angeles was the perfect setting for the book. Meredith's master exploration of memory takes you on a journey you aren't likely to forget - right?<club-desc-paragraph>
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<club-landing-h3>The Shimmering State<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Emma and Karah introduce The Shimmering State and author Meredith Westgate. The three discuss the development of the title and the cover, how social media inspired the story, and why Meredith is so intrigued by the "commodification of memory".<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>Writing The Shimmering State<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Meredith talks with Emma and Karah about how time is structured in the novel, and why destabilizing reality is so important to creating speculative fiction. The trio also discuss the changing reality around experiencing life versus documenting it, and Meredith admits a surprising detail about her writing of The Shimmering State.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>L.A.: The City of Extras<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Meredith, Emma, and Karah discuss Los Angeles as an important, and iconic, character in the book, and Meredith's thinking behind having characters that are both real people in the real world and wholly imagined.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>The Great Escape<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Emma and Karah ask Meredith to break down her character's need to escape. The conversation then turns to the wellness industry and escapism, suppressed female rage, trauma recovery, and the danger (and excitement) of a fictitious illegal drug like Memoroxin.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>Mothers, Lovers, Doctors, & Friends<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Meredith shares why the humanity of Dr. Sloane is so important and nuanced, and speaks to the intersection of power and healthcare in the U.S. At the end of the talk, Emma and Karah consider why The Shimmering State feels like such a true Belletrist book.<club-landing-paragraph>
