Beginner's pluck: Writer and student Austin Taylor

After deferring her place at Harvard Law School, Austin wrote her first novel. But it is her second novel, Notes on Infinity, again written during a year out of college, that has recently been published

Author Austin Taylor: 'I’m working on two things, hoping one will work out.' Picture: Maryam Hiradfar

GROWING up on a dairy farm, Austin loved sport and reading.

“I’d take two books out of the library one morning, and change them for two more the following day,” she says.

She wrote stories from age seven to 12 but realised writing wasn’t a realistic career.

“I was also into maths and science,” she says.

At Harvard, she wrote articles for the Harvard Political Review and took a creative writing class with Jill Abramson, who had worked for The New York Times.

“I got great feedback,” she says. “I didn’t enjoy spending hours in a lab but I loved science policy. My thesis was on science communication.”

After graduating, Austin worked part-time for a year, then deferred her place at Harvard Law School. “During that year, I wrote a novel.”

She found an agent but not a publisher. “Meanwhile, I started working on Notes on Infinity. I took a second year off to finish the novel and sold it at auction in the US and the UK.”

Who is Austin Taylor?

Date of birth: 1999 in Waterville, Maine.

Education: NokomisRegional High School; Harvard, chemistry and English.

Home: “Maine. But I’m moving to the west coast to start law school at Stamford. I’m worried what AI will do to publishing and, as an attorney, think I’ll have a voice for change.”

Family: “My extended family all live in central Maine.”

The Day Job: Writer, and soon-to-be law student.

In Another Life: “I play the bass guitar. I’d love to play in a rock band.”

Favourite Writers: Zadie Smith; Lauren Groff; Barbara Kingsolver; Kurt Vonnegut; Jennifer Egan; Sally Rooney.

Second Book: “I’m working on two things, hoping one will work out.”

Top Tip: “Write a lot and read good writing.”

Website: austintaylorwrites.com
Instagram: @austintaylorwrites

The Debut:

Notes on Infinity. 

Michael Joseph: €17.32

Meeting in a Harvard chemistry class, Zoe is intrigued by Jack. From diverse backgrounds — Zoe’s the daughter of a professor, Jack comes from poverty — they are united by their brilliance and fierce ambition. 

They combine their expertise in a start-up to overcome ageing. Unstoppable, they are soon in a committed relationship. 

Life seems perfect. Then Zoe uncovers Jack’s shocking secret.

The Verdict: Quite brilliant. A real rollercoaster of a read. I loved it.