ASU instructor’s debut novel becomes a bestseller on Amazon
Desiree Groft poses with her new book, "Girl, Unemployed." Photo by Haskell Moore
Desiree Prieto Groft’s newly released novel "Girl, Unemployed" focuses on women and work — a subject close to Groft’s heart.
“I have always been obsessed with women and jobs,” said Groft, a writing and literature instructor at Arizona State University, who drew inspiration for the novel from her graduate school studies.
"'Girl, Unemployed' is the fun, fiction version of my grad school thesis, 'Women, Money, Jobs,'" Groft said. "The novel is inspired by my life and the lives of many other women who dealt with similar hardships and loss during the Great Recession … which was also the first digital recession. So many of us were suddenly expected to demonstrate that we not only had years of education and experience for a prospective role, but that we could also … do several jobs in one for lower pay."
Like Jess, the protagonist in this semi-autobiographical work, Groft started her career in travel and held a mix of jobs once she began graduate school — from yacht server to bartender and actress before finding her place in academia.
Groft said the theme has not often been central to women’s literature.
“I always felt that even when they did talk about jobs (in women's literature), it was still like jobs were peripheral,” Groft said. “And even then, she just had to hold it together long enough to get the guy at the end of the novel so he can swoop in and pay for everything.”
The book is also drawing the attention of readers on Amazon, having graced the top of multiple bestseller listsDuring the week of March 9, the book was ranked No. 1 in New Releases for Single Women’s Fiction; No. 3 in New Releases for Humor; No. 4 in New Releases for Women’s Humorous Fiction; and No. 5 in Travel Humor. in March.
ASU News talked to Groft, who teaches in the School of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies at ASU's West Valley campus, about her book, her job experiences and taking her writing career into her own hands.
Note: Answers have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Question: Without giving away too much, what is the story about?
Answer: This story is about success and how we define it.
My heroine must change her definition of success. And we all have to change our definition of success, especially since we are regularly bombarded with exaggerated illustrations of success on social media. Success can look different for every season of life.
Q: Edith Wharton was one of the authors that inspired the book. Why?
A: Edith Wharton was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for “The Age of Innocence” in 1921. Some of her characters were often on the fringe of wealth, similar to (those in) my novel.
In (Wharton's) “The House of Mirth,” the main character, Lily Bart, gets invited into (Lawrence) Selden’s apartment in New York City. It wasn’t appropriate for a woman to enter a man’s home alone during the early 1900s. But Lily Bart takes the risk. When she sees Selden’s place for the first time, she “sighs into one of the shabby leather chairs, and says, ‘How delicious to have a place like this all to oneself! What a miserable thing it is to be a woman.’"
That excerpt was from the seventh page of the novel. I was hooked after that because I was surprised at how modern and relevant Lily Bart’s mindset and language were compared to today. I was also struck by how many women are still dealing with the issue of housing to this day.
Q: You have already had very rich experiences in your life. You were born in Laredo, Texas, and have lived in Rome, London, Chicago, New York City and Austin. How did those experiences impact the novel?
A: I've had the opportunity to see into both worlds of wealth and poverty. Part of my healing was publishing this novel myself because I've lived in that world of wealth, fame and celebrity. I also attended a prestigious grad school, which allowed me access to accomplished writers, agents and editors. But I often felt like we were indoctrinated with the idea that a writer isn't a real writer unless they receive the imprimatur of a literary great or the "Big Five" publishers and/or have books optioned for television or film.
Like many other writers, I became a hamster on a wheel.
Then I had my daughter. I want my daughter and other women to know that we can spend years of our lives working hard and preparing, but at the end of the day, we must give ourselves patience and grace and use the resources we have at our disposal to send our work off into the world.
I endeavor to teach my students skills that translate well from an educational setting to full-time paid work in this hyper-competitive digital economy.
Desiree Prieto GroftASU instructor and author of the book "Girl, Unemployed"
Q: How will this book impact your work with students at ASU?
A: The book inspires honest, frank conversations about the expectations students may face when trying to carve out their path and identity in the workforce, especially when things don't always go as planned. I regularly teach a "Writing for the Professions" course during which students write their resumes, job letters and thank you letters for their prospective jobs, among other real-world assignments.
I also teach more creative courses like "Travel Writing" and "Cross-Cultural Writing," during which students get to practice writing essays and short stories to pitch for publication one day. I’m both an academic and practitioner, so I endeavor to teach my students skills that translate well from an educational setting to full-time paid work in this hyper-competitive digital economy.
Q: Is there a sequel planned? What’s next?
A: Yes! I’m working on book two at the moment. We’re also trying to get the audiobook finished. Some women have confessed they are very excited about the audiobook since they are the primary caretakers for their families and haven’t been able to finish the eBook and paperback. I also have a bit of a sketch comedy and “acting” background, so I can’t wait to do my characters justice and bring them to life myself.
More Arts, humanities and education
Local traffic boxes get a colorful makeover
A team of Arizona State University students recently helped transform bland, beige traffic boxes in Chandler into colorful works of public art. “It’s amazing,” said ASU student Sarai…
2 ASU professors, alumnus named 2025 Guggenheim Fellows
Two Arizona State University professors and a university alumnus have been named 2025 Guggenheim Fellows.Regents Professor Sir Jonathan Bate, English Professor of Practice Larissa Fasthorse and…
No argument: ASU-led project improves high school students' writing skills
Students in the freshman English class at Phoenix Trevor G. Browne High School often pop the question to teacher Rocio Rivas.No, not that one.This one:“How is this going to help me?”When Rivas…