Of all the writers anywhere, Edgar Allen Poe might be the least likely person you’d turn to for advice. His life was beyond complicated: he married his cousin, got fired from one job after another, constantly feuded with friends and rivals, and he was always broke. Still, though Poe failed and then failed again better, he also persevered.

I recently sat down with author Catherine Baab-Muguira, who drew deeply on his works and life to take the familiar image of Poe in a new and surprising direction in her darkly inspiring self-help book, Poe for Your Problems, which aims to teach you how to overcome life’s biggest challenges to succeed at work, love, and art—despite the odds and no matter your flaws. [Read more here]