In this episode, we interview Dr. Mai Wang, a third-year assistant professor of literature at the University of Texas at Dallas. Mai discusses her path to securing an advanced contract for her first book with Edinburgh University Press, as well as her plans to complete a second book on the Chinese writer Eileen Chang before going up for tenure. The conversation delves into Mai's focus on financial independence, insights on the tenure review process, negotiating her starting salary, and managing the demands of research, teaching, and family life as an early-career academic.