Who is Rafael Frumkin?
Raf is a novelist, essayist, critic, humorist, teacher, and tree-lover. She also writes for the small screen.
Raf - short for both Rafael and Rebekah Ann Frumkin — has been an ex-girl and ex-girlfriend; she’s also an ex-man and defected English professor. She’s fascinated by thought’s twisty transits in our postmodern world, from the vagaries of gender to the rise of the cyber cult.
Raf’s second novel, Confidence, has been described as “Theranos...but make it gay.” It was a New York Times Editor’s Choice and one of the Washington Post’s 50 Best Books of 2023. Her collection, Bugsy, was longlisted for the 2024 Story Prize. Her first novel, The Comedown, taught her a lot about life.
It’s true: Raf still offers Zoom Office Hours and independent classes! More on both below.
What is this “Cosmic Cheeto,” and why should I trust it?
Raf believes that a creative life can belong to anyone who wants one. The Cosmic Cheeto — named as a cheeky reference to a beloved book — is more than just an author newsletter. It’s a bespoke literary community for anyone who’s craving narrative nuance as an antidote to political polemics.
When you subscribe to the Cosmic Cheeto, you get Raf’s essays about the literary life, her author interview podcast, and her independent class offerings. You’ll also get out-of-the-box musings on pop culture, politics, and philosophy.
Founding members get the chance to join Raf twice yearly for zoom Office Hours: hour-long free-wheeling conversations about anything and everything for the creatively curious. More detailed info at the bottom of this post.
Raf has more than just institutional bona fides: like you, she has been through it. She knows that a good, creatively fulfilled life doesn’t have to involve anointment by a New Yorker critic, marriage to a surgeon named Nathan, or the removal of buccal fat.
If you’re a student, low on funds, or unsure whether to take the paid-sub plunge, please get in touch! Raf will be happy to send you a trial gift subscription :)
