Praise for “While You Were Out”

  • New York Times Editors’ Choice

  • Los Angeles Times September Book Pick

  • Indie Next Book selection

  • Outstanding Work of Literature Award — Community Read

  • Amazon Editors’ Choice

  • Goodreads Best Books

  • Next Big Idea Selection

  • Earphones Award Winner: AudioFile Magazine

  • Chicago Library Best of the Best

  • “The raw intimacy of her prose exemplifies the empathy our society so desperately needs.” —
    The New York Times

  • “A startling, important book.” —
    Los Angeles Times

  • “Electric." — LA Review of Books 

  • “Spellbinding,”—Book Page — Starred review

  • “Stellar, extraordinarily affecting,” Lit Hub, Starred review

  • “A searing debut” — Publishers Weekly,
    Starred Review

Recent Events

From Family Trauma, Suicide Loss & Bipolar to Advocacy & Healing | A Mental Health Recovery Story | July 28, 2025

Women In Business Symposium | August 21, 2025

Shattering the Shame of Mental Illness | OSHER | UW Milwaukee February 2025
Talk and Question and Answer Session

A short story about my family.

Let me tell you about a vacation I took with my big brother, Jake.

Connect with Meg on Instagram

Our ancestors must have been so damn hungry to leave this place.
Game on
From Houston to NYC to Milwaukee, Highland Park and Middlebury, VT: try to remember — You are loved. #NoMoreSuicide #SpeakUpAboutIt 😍
You can take the girl out Milwaukee but….
So thrilled to see a full house for Gail Freedman’s powerful documentary. The world is ready to talk about how we can do better in helping those with serious mental illness. Props to my adorable sisters-in-law for hosting me. #NoOneCaresAboutCr
Come join us this fall! Check out the full schedule at the link bio🍂🍁🍃 #WhileYouWereOut #SpeakUpAboutIt
You know you’re in trouble when your sister from New Orleans offers to have you stay with her to ride out the storm.
😳🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Desperate times call for whimsical measures. In the past week I’ve been invited to a Las Vegas wedding performed by a giant jar of mayonnaise and a baby shower where the parents registered for a Dracula poster. A welcome relief from the actual
Still love this place after 34 years — today! Happy birthday, house.
Book clubs are more fun with Patty Kissinger at my side — especially in our tiger pit friendly gear. Thanks to Whitelam Books for the wonderful evening. #WhileYouWereOut