Our Story
We met in a workshop in the fall of 2016, when we were both just starting out on our writing journeys. Neither of us knew at the time how momentous that meeting would be–that we would find in each other a best friend and creative partner we’re still working with almost a decade later. Since that first class, we’ve supported each other through writing more than four novel drafts, including Ava’s debut Definitely Better Now, navigating agent querying, graduating from MFA programs, getting married, and having babies. As our lives got busier, one thing stayed consistent: finding time to write together. We can’t wait to write with you, too.
Who We Are
Caroline Shifke
Caroline Shifke is a born-and-raised New Yorker with an MFA in fiction from The New School and a certificate in writing for children and young adults from Stony Brook University. After graduating from Princeton, she received a Fulbright to teach English in Turkey. Caroline lives in New York City with her husband and daughter. She is represented by Lisa Grubka and Gwen Beal at United Talent Agency.
Ava Robinson
Ava Robinson is a writer, educator and New Yorker. She has had her work published in Soundings East, Santa Fe Writers Project, Oprah Daily, and elsewhere. Her debut novel, Definitely Better Now, was released in December 2024 and was a Book of the Month pick. She is represented by Jamie Carr of The Book Group.
Ava’s debut novel, Definitely Better Now, was written with Caroline using these exact same tools.
A touching and deeply funny debut about starting over sober only to discover life’s biggest messes are still waiting right where you left them.
Bittersweet and darkly hilarious, Definitely Better Now is about navigating sobriety and complicated family dynamics is witty, heartbreaking, and profoundly relatable.