MacKenzie Scott is returning to her literary roots in a surprising move that bypasses traditional publishing houses entirely. The philanthropist and former Amazon executive announced Saturday that she will be releasing her third novel, titled Last Days in Two Nations (A History in Eighteen Minds), for free via the newsletter platform Substack. Rather than a standard book launch, Scott plans to release the 80,000-word story serially throughout the month of August, inviting readers to subscribe and follow along as the narrative unfolds.
While Scott has shared the title page, table of contents, and a list of characters, she remains tight-lipped about the actual plot of the new work. This return to fiction marks a significant pivot from her recent public image as one of the world’s most aggressive givers. Having donated roughly 26 billion dollars to thousands of nonprofits and educational institutions over the last seven years, Scott has largely avoided the spotlight, communicating primarily through brief updates regarding her charitable grants.
Writing is not a new hobby for Scott; she possesses deep academic credentials in the field, having studied creative writing at Princeton University under the legendary Nobel laureate Toni Morrison. Her first novel, The Testing of Luther Albright, earned critical acclaim and an American Book Award back in 2005, followed by another publication titled Traps in 2013. After more than a decade of silence on the fictional front, this latest venture suggests a desire to reconnect with her artistic origins.
Despite her massive philanthropic efforts, Scott still maintains a staggering personal fortune estimated at nearly 34 billion dollars following her high-profile divorce from Jeff Bezos. By choosing to distribute her newest novel for free on Substack rather than seeking a commercial deal, she continues a pattern of defying conventional expectations around wealth and influence, opting instead for direct engagement with her audience on her own terms.