Janice Deal

“As a close observer of the American landscape and the colorful and conflicted characters who inhabit it, [Janice] Deal is a writer well worth our attention.”�

So grateful to Donald Evans and Michael Antman for the inclusion of my novel “The Blue Door” in a listing of Chicago Books We Loved: 2025. Michael’s thoughtful deep dive into the world of my character, Flo, and my work overall, humbled and delighted me.

Thanks to Michael, Don, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, and, of course, my publisher New Door Books!

Chicago Books We Loved: 2025 by Donald G. Evans (with Michael Antman and Susan Dennison) Best Of lists are built on the false premise that the author has exhaustively consumed all the possibilities and judged the entire field on its merits. Nobody has read all the books (or seen all the movies, or tasted every…

It was a privilege to chat with author Sharon White, whose most recent novel, “If the Owl Calls,” was released by Betty Books (an imprint of WTAW Press) in November 2025. Sharon and I talked mystery, music, and the poetry of grief; thanks to Betty for connecting us, and to The Masters Review for sharing our conversation:
https://mastersreview.com/a-conversation-with-sharon-white-author-of-if-the-owl-calls/

“Well crafted and paced, this is a beautifully told story of loss and escape”: thank you, Shamana Ali; it is an honor for my novel “The Blue Door,” released this year by New Door Books, to be included on Literary Hub’s 100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025!

100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025 The idea of 100 Notable Small Press Books was born November 2024, after The New York Times’s annual 100 Notable Books list featured eighty-two books from the Big Five publishing houses (Pengu…

So excited to be vibing with Lynn Sloan and Erica Stern at the Printers Row Lit Fest on Sunday, September 7! We’ll be talking about Women on the Verge: specifically, the themes mined in Erica’s memoir/ghost story “Frontier,” and my novel “The Blue Door.” What does it mean when a woman doesn’t hew to the expected female narrative? Come join us in lively discussion at the North Stage at 5:00 p.m.

Printers Row Lit Fest The 40th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest, returns to Printers Row on September 6-7, 2025.

What a privilege to be back on Book Stew, chatting with Eileen MacDougall about my novel “The Blue Door” from New Door Books. Our wide-ranging confab touched on everything from what it means to be an alien and the connective tissue provided by a secret language, to that moment when a person can make a mistake and . . . blink. Eileen, thank you for spending time with me—and with Flo from “The Blue Door”!

Book Stew Episode 140 - Janice Deal In this episode, Janice Deal is back on the show, this time joining Eileen to discuss her new novel The Blue Door, which stars two characters from her short ...

Warm thanks to Mike Consol for welcoming me to Novelist Spotlight! Our conversation ranged wide: we talked about the differences between writing novels and short stories, and how lean writing can be something like a gesture drawing, or a sculpture. We discussed movies; the map that accompanies my story collection “Strange Attractors” from New Door Books; and open versus closed story endings. And we both agree: George Saunders is a really nice human! To hear the confab, please click here.

Novelist Spotlight #186: Novelist and short story writer Janice Deal In the spotlight is Janice Deal, the author of two novels titled THE BLUE DOOR and THE SOUND OF RABBITS, and two short story collections titled THE DECLINE O...

“Written with emotional depth, ‘The Blue Door’ is infused with empathy”: warm thanks to Wendy Fox for including my novel “The Blue Door,” from New Door Books, in an Electric Literature roundup of fifteen small press books to read this summer. I’m honored to be part of this list, and to have my work associated with Wendy Fox's premise: art has value, perhaps especially during challenging times. As she points out, books can remind us to resist complacency, to embrace a broader view of life—and in so doing inform our own humanity.

15 Small Press Books You Should Be Reading This Summer - Electric Literature Resistance is a theme in these new indie titles you won’t want to miss

My new short story, “BAE,” appears in the Summer 2025 issue of Colorado Review. I’m so pleased and proud to be part of this beautiful issue! To order a copy, click here:
https://coloradoreview.colostate.edu/colorado-review/

What a beautiful week of conversation, connection, and discovery! New Door Books and Philadelphia welcomed me and “The Blue Door” with tremendous warmth and heart. During the course of three book events that New Door made possible, David and I had the joy of connecting with people we already know and love, and meeting new friends. We were uplifted by the city’s art; walked The Towpath along the Manayunk Canal and the Schulykill River, the intrepid Ann de Forest as our guide; and devoured sweets ranging from pink cookies to the best tres leches cake I’ve ever eaten. Throughout, we were warmed by the epic support of the New Door team.

Huge thanks to Head House Books, Main Point Books, the Faithfull Book Club, moderator Ann de Forest, and authors Kate Brandes and Elise Juska for creating spaces in which conversation flowed and insights flourished. Thank you to everyone who came to cheer on “The Blue Door” last week; your interest and enthusiasm mean the world to me. And special thanks to Doug and Peggy Gordon for hosting us with their trademark kindness, generosity, and hospitality.

Huzzah, New Door Books and Philadelphia!