Madeline Cash Discusses Her Debut Novel 'Lost Lambs'

In an email interview, Cash revealed that she dedicated about a year to writing the novel. The inspiration came from various sources, including personal experiences and literature she admires. Much of the writing took place in her Chinatown apartment while she worked as a copywriter for Jack in the Box. She also mentioned revising the work during a residency at the Ditrapano Foundation in Italy.

The novel underwent significant transformation from its initial draft, aided by her editors Bobby and Jackson, and feedback from friends who reviewed multiple drafts.

When asked about her influences, Cash credits works such as Joseph Heller's *Something Happened* and Jonathan Franzen's *The Corrections* as key inspirations. She aims to create a systems novel that challenges readers to consider societal and political frameworks. Cash's narrative style reflects a blend of her favorite authors, showcasing fluidity and deadpan wit that captures the absurdities of modern existence.

Character development played a crucial role in her writing process. Cash mentioned utilizing character charts and story circles to delineate the Flynn sisters—Harper, Louise, and Abigail—as well as their parents, Catherine and Bud. These characters emerge from a mix of personal reflection and fictional creation, with some traits inspired by real people.

The title *Lost Lambs* refers to Bud's self-help group and reflects the characters' struggles for meaning and belonging. Cash's choice of a polyphonic narrative structure was influenced by her background in copywriting, where wordplay and linguistic experimentation flourish.

Cash's engagement with themes such as societal scrutiny and the pursuit of immortality emerges through subplots, including a secret society led by Paul Alabaster, who seeks to conquer aging through unconventional methods. This plotline stems from her fascination with the intersection of science and vanity, linked to her investigative interests in contemporary societal issues.

Her work as co-founder and co-editor of Forever magazine has also shaped her approach to fiction writing, providing her with a platform for collaboration and gaining insights from working with other writers.

As for her future projects, Cash recently completed her second novel and is currently working on a Sunday crossword puzzle, promising more details to come.