Lara Ehrlich—author of Animal Wife and upcoming novel Bind Me Tighter Still—writes boldly into the spaces where women’s ambition, desire, and defiance are often labeled monstrous. Her work examines transformation, power, and identity through a lens that is both fierce and lyrical.
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content on her Substack @laraehrlichLara’s debut with Red Hen Press, Animal Wife, is a powerful collection of stories exploring the metamorphosis of women as they become wives, mothers, and sometimes monsters. Winner of the Red Hen Press Fiction Award, Animal Wife was praised by New York Times bestselling author Ann Hood as “sensual and intelligent, with gorgeous prose,” adding that the book “made me dizzy with its exploration and illumination of the inner and outer lives of girls and women.”
Her new Red Hen novel, Bind Me Tighter Still, will be released on September 9, 2025. Walking the dangerous line between empowerment and entrapment, this novel explores power and hunger, sacrifice and motherhood, and celebrates the fierceness of female strength in a male-dominated world. Kirkus Reviews calls it “a thought-provoking and often intense exploration of motherhood, sisterhood, and the ties that bind.” Besides Red Hen publications, Lara’s amazing works have also appeared in F(r)iction, Literary Hub, and more.
Beyond the page, Lara is a literary community-builder. She is the host of Writer Mother Monster, a conversation series that offers solidarity and insight for women balancing writing and motherhood. She also founded and directs the Thought Fox Writers Den, which supports writers of all levels through workshops, coaching, and events—both in person and virtually. Lara teaches at the University of Connecticut and has shared her expertise through Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, Yale Writers Workshop, AWP, and the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.
We’re thrilled for the release of Bind Me Tighter Still and proud to be the home of her extraordinary voice.
Preorder the book on the Red Hen Merchandise site to receive an exclusive bundle.
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RED HEN WINS THE DAY!!!!!!