By Addie Jones

In 2014, Kiley Reid wrote the beginning chapters of her debut novel “Such a Fun Age” in the Fayetteville staple Arsaga’s Coffee. Ten years later, she returned to this cafe in a full-circle moment while touring for her second work, “Come & Get It,” set at the University of Arkansas.

Reid is a contemporary author whose coming-of-age debut novel received national acclaim in 2019. A Los Angeles native and Marymount Manhattan College graduate, Reid is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan.

“Such a Fun Age” touches on race, class, culture and socioeconomic divide. Similarly, “Come and Get It” tackles the complexities of money and desire through the lens of resident assistant Millie Cousins.

“When I first start writing a novel, there’s not a lot of writing going on,” Reid said. “It’s mostly reading, listening, diving into the topics I’m interested in. This one specifically was consumption and money. I don’t enjoy novels that are heavy-handed or fiction that is masking as sociology, so what’s really important to me is to get hyper-focused on the characters and the people.”

She draws inspiration for this philosophy from fellow author Tayrai Jones, who once said, “We shouldn’t write about problems people; we should write about people’s problems.” 

“I think going into a novel saying, ‘I’m going to write about how terrible it is to live under capitalism is so vague and broad,” Reid said.  “You have to get obsessed with one person’s experience and one person’s story, and you also have to make them a real person, which means they can’t make perfect decisions all the time.”

Reid had a goal for people, especially NWA residents, to find themselves in her work, and based on readers’ responses, she certainly accomplished this mission of relatability. “Come & Get It” intrigued many with a connection to the UofA, from current students to faculty to alum, who were excited to see a place they called home be brought to life through the pages of a book.

Sydney Smith, who graduated from the university in 2019, has been a fan of Reid since her debut novel and instantly fell in love with her writing. She followed her on Instagram so she could be the first to know about her next work and said she was ecstatic to see a pig reminiscent of the university’s mascot on the cover. The book is set in 2017, right in the middle of her time as a student, so she was excited to transport back to this period, especially since she now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and has not returned to campus since graduation.

“I’m really looking forward to reliving those incredible college days through reading this new novel,” she said. “I can’t wait to see how the story tells all the things that make the UofA great, from Old Main to Dickson Street to the beautiful Ozark Mountains.”

Even those without a direct connection to the work were able to find joy in Reid’s publication. Morgan Upshaw, a “bookstagrammer” with the username @styleandsavings, said she highly recommends this book.

“I quickly devoured ‘Come & Get It,’” Upshaw said. “It’s an entertaining and sharp critique on how money impacts decisions of students on a Southern college campus.” 

Among Reid’s many accomplishments and accolades — including being long-listed for a Pulitzer Prize and earning the title of New York Times bestselling author — she said one of her greatest honors is writing the 3,500 foreword for “The Great Gatsby” alongside Baz Luhrman when it entered public domain in 2021.

The initial title of “Come & Get It” was “SOOIE,” a nod to the “Wooo Pig Sooie” or “Hog Call” chant that Razorbacks have used as a sporting and spirit tradition for nearly a century.

“I thought SOOIE was so fun and violent and emblematic of the book,” Reid said, “but unfortunately, when I would say it, people could not understand it.”

To aspiring writers or any creatives looking to develop their practice, Reid advises creating a ritual. Though she recognizes that life and responsibilities often get in the way, she said she works best by having a devoted place and time to write, sometimes even using specific songs to get her in the mood. 

While Reid used to work at night, similar to many other writers, she said she has finally “surrendered to science” and starts working early in the morning, rising along the sun.

Reid also continues to have strong reading habits as a method of learning from others and developing her craft.

“Reading has to be a big part of your writing process,” Reid said. “If you’re getting stuck, if you’re not sure of your way into a scene, going back to books that you love and discovering new books is a great way to hear a new voice, find a new way, and see what opportunities are available to you as a writer.”