Book Series Guide

Author guide

Rachel Yoder Books in Order

Rachel Yoder is an American writer from Iowa City, Iowa. She holds MFAs in fiction from the University of Arizona and nonfiction from the University of Iowa, where she was an Iowa Arts Fellow. Her fiction and essays have appeared in publications including Harper's, The Kenyon Review, The New York Times, The Paris Review, The Southern Review, and The Sun. She is a founding editor of draft: the journal of process and serves as an assistant professor of screenwriting and cinema arts at the University of Iowa.

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Catalog record updated .

Rachel Yoder's Newest Book

Cover of Nightbitch

Nightbitch

novel · First published 2021

An ambitious mother puts her art career on hold to stay at home with her newborn son, but the experience does not match her imagination. Two years later, she steps into the bathroom for a break from her toddler's demands, only to discover a dense patch of hair on the back of her neck. In the mirror, her canines suddenly look sharper than she remembers. Her husband, who travels for work five days a week, casually dismisses her fears from faraway hotel rooms. As the mother's symptoms intensify, and her temptation to give in to her new dog impulses peak, she struggles to keep her alter-canine-identity secret. Seeking a cure at the library, she discovers the mysterious academic tome which becomes her bible, A Field Guide to Magical Women: A Mythical Ethnography, and meets a group of mommies involved in a multilevel-marketing scheme who may also be more than what they seem. An outrageously original novel of ideas about art, power, and womanhood wrapped in a satirical fairy tale, Nightbitch will make you want to howl in laughter and recognition. And you should. You should howl as much as you want.

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of Nightbitch

Nightbitch

Yoder's acclaimed debut novel and most widely recognized work.

Outside the series

Bibliography by category

Novels (1)
  1. Nightbitch

    novel · 2021

    An ambitious mother puts her art career on hold to stay at home with her newborn son, but the experience does not match her imagination. Two years later, she steps into the bathroom for a break from her toddler's demands, only to discover…

Short fiction (1)
  1. Infinite Things All at Once

    short_story_collection · 2017

Frequently asked questions about Rachel Yoder

Who is Rachel Yoder?

Rachel Yoder is a writer and founding editor of draft: the journal of process. She is best known for her debut novel, Nightbitch, which was adapted for film by Marielle Heller.

Sources: penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)cinematicarts.uiowa.edu (opens in a new tab)

Where does Rachel Yoder live, and where did she study?

Yoder lives in Iowa City with her husband and son. She holds MFAs in fiction from the University of Arizona and nonfiction from the University of Iowa, where she was an Iowa Arts Fellow.

Source: penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)

What does Rachel Yoder do professionally besides writing books?

She is an assistant professor and head of screenwriting at the University of Iowa. She also co-founded and edits draft: the journal of process, which publishes creative work alongside discussions of how it was made.

Source: cinematicarts.uiowa.edu (opens in a new tab)

What inspired Rachel Yoder to write Nightbitch?

The novel grew out of an essay about Yoder’s experience pumping breast milk at work while missing her child. After leaving her job to become a stay-at-home mother, she wrote about the resulting loss of identity and creative life.

Source: theguardian.com (opens in a new tab)

What awards and recognition has Rachel Yoder received?

Nightbitch was an Indie Next Pick, was named a best book of the year by Esquire and Vulture, and was longlisted for the 2022 Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award for First Fiction.

Source: penguinrandomhouse.com (opens in a new tab)