1--What is the title of your latest release?
THE GUILT PILL
2--What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Maya Patel has it all—her own start-up, a sexy, doting husband, influencer status, and now, a new baby. Or does she? Because behind closed doors, Maya's drowning. Her newborn's taking a toll on her marriage, her best friend won't return her calls, and her company's hanging on by a thread. The worst part? It's all her fault. If she could just be a better boss, mother, wife, daughter, friend… Maybe she wouldn't feel so guilty all the time.
Enter: #Girlboss Liz Anderson, who introduces her to the "guilt pill," an experimental supplement that erases female guilt. At first, it’s the perfect antidote to Maya’s self-blame and imposter syndrome, and she finally becomes the unapologetic woman she’s always wanted to be. But there's a catch: for Maya to truly "have it all," she needs to be ready to risk it all. And as Maya falls deeper and deeper down the pill's guilt-free rabbit hole, her growing ruthlessness could threaten everything she's built for herself—and the family she's worked so hard to protect.
Electric, taut, and sharply observed, The Guilt Pill is a feminist exploration of motherhood, race, ambition, and how the world treats women who dare to go after everything they want.
3--How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I knew it would be either in New York or San Francisco—both because of the tech angle and also because those are cities I know best.
4--Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?
Absolutely. Maya Patel is an eldest daughter, loyal friend, an overwhelmed boss, and at the end of the day, a woman just trying to do her best in a world that’s telling her to be everything. I would love to be there for her and let her know it’s okay for her to take care of herself, too.
5--What are three words that describe your protagonist?
Ambitious, empathetic, passionate
6--What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I’ve learned so much. Something that comes to the top of my mind: trust the process. Sometimes a piece of work takes much longer than we may have expected. But that time is never wasted. It helps a work become what it was meant to be.
7--Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I do a mix of both. I do love having the first 50 pages feel as strong as possible before moving forward but I’m trying to let go of that (unlearning perfectionism is a practice, ha!)
8--What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
I’m a big dessert person, especially if it has chocolate. I love a cookie from Levain Bakery.
9--Describe your writing space/office!
I have an office space in our apartment that is my writing space and where I have virtual appointments for my psychiatry private practice. It’s got a sound machine, aromatherapy, and some quotes on the wall that inspire me.
10--Who is an author you admire?
There are so many authors I admire. I admire how Meg Wolitzer creates her characters with so much compassion and heart.
11--Is there a book that changed your life?
I read A Thousand Splendid Suns in college and loved it. When I found out the author was also a physician, I thought for the first time that it could be possible to be both a physician and author
12--Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published)/Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
It was summer 2023---two years after I decided to switch genres and take my biggest creative risk. My amazing agent was enjoying my manuscript fifty pages in and then finished it a few days later.
13--What’s your favorite genre to read?
I read across genres. I love thrillers, literary fiction, and I also read a lot of nonfiction.
14--What’s your favorite movie?
I’m not sure if I have a favorite but every winter, I rewatch The Holiday
15--What is your favorite season?
I love the first hints of spring in New York City. It feels like everyone collectively gets excited to be outside, wear brighter colors, enjoy more sunlight.
16--How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
That’s changed over the years. I used to love a big celebration and now prefer a nice dinner with a few close friends
17--What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I just finished and loved the finale of The White Lotus. The social commentary, humor, and character dynamics were all fantastic!
18--What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Mexican food
19--What do you do when you have free time?
Sleep, read, and try to have as much phone free time as possible
20--What can readers expect from you next?
I’m working on a novel about women’s anger and also a nonfiction project about emotional well-being
A Novel
What if women could get rid of their guilt?
Maya Patel has it all—her own start-up, a sexy, doting husband, influencer status, and now, a new baby. But behind closed doors, Maya's drowning.Her newborn is taking a toll on her marriage, her best friend won't return her calls, and her company's hanging on by a thread. The worst part? It's all her fault. If she could just be a better boss, mother, wife, daughter, friend… Maybe she wouldn't feel so guilty all the time.
Enter: #Girlboss Liz Anderson, who introduces her to the "guilt pill," an experimental supplement that erases female guilt. At first, it’s the perfect antidote to Maya’s self-blame and imposter syndrome, and she finally becomes the unapologetic woman she’s always wanted to be. There's just one catch—for Maya to truly "have it all," she has to be willing to risk it all. And as Maya falls deeper and deeper down the pill's guilt-free rabbit hole, her growing ruthlessness could threaten everything she's built for herself... And the family she's worked so hard to protect.
Electric, taut, and sharply observed, The Guilt Pill is a feminist exploration of motherhood, race, ambition, and how the world treats women who dare to go after everything they want.
Women's Fiction Psychological | Literature and Fiction Literary [Park Row, On Sale: April 15, 2025, Hardcover / e-Book , ISBN: 9780778368342 / eISBN: 9780369760937]
Saumya Dave is a writer, psychiatrist, and mental health advocate.
As a writer, she enjoys exploring the unique dynamics that exist in immigrant families. Her second novel, What a Happy Family, will be published in June 2021. Her debut novel, Well-Behaved Indian Women, was featured in The New York Times Book Review, ELLE, Bustle, Buzzfeed, and more. Saumya's essays, articles, and poetry have been in outlets including The New York Times, ABC News, Refinery29, and HuffPost, among others.
Saumya has a passion for women’s mental health and wellness. She and her husband, Samir Sheth, founded thisisforHER, a nonprofit which uses art therapy to improve mental health awareness and education for women and girls in low- and middle-income countries. She is a practicing therapist, as well as an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai, where she teaches Narrative Medicine.
Saumya was born in India and grew up in Atlanta. In her seventh-grade journal, she wrote: "I will be a psychiatrist and writer someday". She is a graduate of Georgia Tech and the Medical College of Georgia, where she was an inductee into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She completed her Psychiatry Residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she was a Chief Resident and an inductee into the AΩA Medical Honors Society. She completed a Psychoanalytic Fellowship with the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.
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