Podcast Summary: New Books Network – Michael Mirolla, "How About This…?" (At Bay Press, 2026)
Host: Holly Gattery
Guest: Michael Mirolla
Date: February 10, 2026
Book: How About This…? (At Bay Press, 2026)
Episode Overview
In this engaging and thought-provoking episode, host Holly Gattery interviews celebrated Canadian author Michael Mirolla about his newest genre-bending novella, How About This…?. The conversation dives into metafiction, narrative experimentation, AI-driven storytelling, the absurd in literature, and the uncomfortable truths of our contemporary world. Mirolla and Gattery discuss the novel’s origins, themes, tone, and structure, as well as its unique voice and implications for modern readers.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Rural Life & Multi-Generational Households
[02:19–04:31]
- Mirolla and Gattery share anecdotes about rural living and multi-generational households.
- Mirolla describes living with his daughter and grandchildren—a set-up which is becoming more common due to economic realities.
"It's becoming more common now because of... the economic situation."
— Michael Mirolla [03:19]
The Genesis of How About This…?
[04:31–09:35]
- The novel blends speculative fiction (AI taking over human domains) and metafictional techniques.
- Mirolla was inspired by trends in generative AI, “genre-bending” fiction, and decades of metafictional writing.
- He emphasizes the importance of emotional “heart” at the story’s center, despite experimental structure:
"No matter how sophisticated, no matter how metafictional a piece of work is... it has to have some heart at the center of it."
— Michael Mirolla [07:36]
Satire, AI, and the Novel’s Dedication
[09:35–14:52]
- The book is dedicated (in part) to “our esteemed and revered ancestor, ChatGPT,” a tongue-in-cheek move poking fun at AI’s encroachment into creative fields and the confusion between genuine sentiment and satire.
"As authors these days, we have quite a bit of experience with AI trying to muscle into our territory. So I thought that sort of dedication was appropriate."
— Michael Mirolla [11:29] - The difficulty of distinguishing sincere statements from satire is discussed, reflecting today’s sometimes absurd social/political climate.
"Sometimes the difference between tongue in cheek, the difference between satire and what's actually going on in the world is not that, not being separated anymore."
— Michael Mirolla [12:46]
Absurdity as a Clarifying Agent
[14:52–22:28]
- Gattery posits that well-done absurdity in literature is “a beautiful clarifying agent.”
- Mirolla, citing Samuel Beckett and Salvador Dalí, argues that the absurd brings the kernel of truth into sharp relief.
“If the absurd works... like Jonathan Swift, it points out larger truths.”
— Michael Mirolla [21:17] - The absurdity in the novel is less about the characters’ relationships than the AI narrator’s attempts to mimic (and fail to understand) genuine human experience, which is both funny and unsettling.
Example Reading: “Here Come the Foundlings”
[24:14–31:11]
- Mirolla reads a pivotal passage: Elspeth discovers the mysterious twins on her back deck.
- The prose combines playful asides, metafictional devices, and the AI narrator's algorithmic voice:
"I touched the stroller again to make sure it wasn't a hallucination, then wheeled them into the house... and suddenly realized I hadn't been breathing the entire time, had been holding my breath as if it was going to be my last."
— Michael Mirolla [29:20] - The segment exemplifies the book’s tone: alternating between deadpan, hyper-detailed observation, and narrative self-awareness.
Narrator, Narrative Games & Reader Trust
[31:11–37:22]
- Gattery notes the narrator’s sly product placements, detours, and attempts to manipulate the reader—a mimicry of algorithm-driven content:
“At points it's like, wait, am I being advertised to... or is the narrator trying to get me to buy a Fitbit?”
— Holly Gattery [31:11] - Mirolla admits he writes firstly for himself, expressing a balance between faith in reader intelligence and nonchalance about those who “don’t get it”:
"If a reader doesn't get it, there's not much I can do about it... I'm not going to become James Patterson just to please an audience."
— Michael Mirolla [33:34]
Narrative Disintegration & Metafiction
[37:22–45:59]
- Gattery praises the text for engaging the reader's critical faculties and guiding them toward “unsettling” territory, especially as the AI narrator’s voice breaks down.
- Mirolla explains the metafictional move: the story acknowledges its own artificiality, separating narrative from external reality.
"Stories are not the external world, they're not a representation of the external world. They are their own creation."
— Michael Mirolla [41:09] - He references earlier works where characters rebel against their creator, asking whether autonomy means losing identity or gaining it.
The Novella Form & Artistic Economy
[46:11–51:55]
- Gattery and Mirolla celebrate the novella as a form that demands precision and focus.
- Mirolla says the story “organically” reached its length—never artificially padded.
"You can't just artificially try to inflate the thing... at a certain point, it becomes unbalanced, and then the reader will start making snoring noises."
— Michael Mirolla [50:39]
Teachability & Relevance
[51:55–53:38]
- Gattery recommends the book for media literacy and university-level discussions, praising its voice, “legs,” and implications for critical consumption of narrative and information.
"I think that this book needs to be given to high school students in media literacy classes... it is highly teachable, highly fun, highly compelling, and... a little bit unsettling in the best possible way."
— Holly Gattery [51:55]
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “No matter how sophisticated, no matter how metafictional a piece of work is... it has to have some heart at the center of it.” — Mirolla [07:36]
- “As authors these days, we have quite a bit of experience with AI trying to muscle into our territory.” — Mirolla [11:29]
- “Sometimes the difference between satire and what's actually going on in the world is not being separated anymore.” — Mirolla [12:46]
- “If the absurd works... like Jonathan Swift, it points out larger truths.” — Mirolla [21:17]
- “At points it's like, wait, am I being advertised to... is the narrator trying to get me to buy a Fitbit?” — Gattery [31:11]
- “Stories are not a representation of the external world. They are their own creation.” — Mirolla [41:09]
Segment Timestamps
- 00:05 — Host & guest introductions; book premise explained
- 02:19 — Rural life & multi-generational households
- 04:31 — Book genesis and themes; AI & metafiction
- 09:35 — Discussion of AI, satire, and book’s dedication
- 14:52 — The role of absurdity in story
- 24:14 — Mirolla reads from the novel (“Here come the Foundlings”)
- 31:11 — Craft: narrative play and reader engagement
- 37:22 — Engaging the reader's critical faculties and implications of narrative breakdown
- 40:53 — Metafiction, narrative disintegration, and “who controls the story?”
- 46:11 — Novella form and resistance to narrative inflation
- 51:55 — Teachability and takeaways
- 53:38 — Sequel preview and conclusion
Closing: What’s Next
- Mirolla reveals a sequel titled How About That?, a “search novella” following Ariel’s journey to find her twin Malik, with adventures spanning Spain, Mars, and interdimensional spaces.
“The sequel is about how she goes first to Spain to look for him... and ends up on Mars at one point, and then ends up in an interdimensional space.”
— Michael Mirolla [53:38]
Tone & Language
- Conversational, playful, self-aware—reflecting both host and guest’s affinity for metafiction, literary games, and humor.
- Balances critique of modern society and technology with exuberant appreciation for literary possibility.
Recommendation:
How About This…? is highlighted as an inventive, unsettling, and darkly funny novella—ideal for readers, students, and educators interested in AI, metafiction, and the unstable boundaries between truth, narrative, and satire.