MacKenzie Scott, one of the best-known yet most private billionaire philanthropists, has announced the release of a new novel. It is her first book since 2013 and marks a notable return to the public sphere after several years of extremely limited contact with the press.
The novel is titled Last Days in Two Nations (A History in Eighteen Minds). Based on the four published pages of the manuscript, the work runs approximately 80,000 words and 317 pages. Scott has revealed the title, contents, character list and epigraphs, but has disclosed almost nothing about the plot.
The author plans to publish the book independently through a newly launched Substack newsletter with the same title. The platform allows writers to post texts directly and send them to subscribers, either free of charge or through a paid subscription. This format gives Scott control over the content, publication schedule and interaction with readers, while also allowing her to avoid the lengthy selection and approval process of a traditional publisher. Publication on Substack does not, however, rule out the involvement of editors, proofreaders and other professionals.
On Instagram, Scott urged her followers to read the newsletter and subscribe. She also announced that the novel would be released in installments throughout August. The writer’s representative has not yet provided additional details.
Scott studied literature at Princeton University under writer Toni Morrison. Her debut novel, The Testing of Luther Albright, published in 2005, received critical acclaim, and her second book, Traps, came out in 2013. At the time, Scott was married to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, whose company is based in Seattle.
After moving to the region and marrying Bezos, Scott became a prominent figure in Seattle and Washington state’s literary and cultural life, although she is not considered the official leader of the local literary scene. Her influence was expressed primarily through her own writing, philanthropy and interest in the region’s cultural institutions.
After her divorce in 2019, Scott became particularly well known for her large-scale philanthropy. She retains a fortune of more than $38 billion and remains a major Amazon shareholder. Since 2020, Scott has donated billions of dollars annually to nonprofit organizations; last year alone, her donations totaled approximately $7 billion.
At the same time, the philanthropist rarely gives interviews and has repeatedly criticized heightened media attention, explaining that she prefers to respect journalists’ independence and choose for herself when and how to speak publicly.
Based on: MacKenzie Scott steps back into spotlight with new book