Sarah and Emily sit down to discuss what does it take to not only survive but thrive across decades in publishing? In this episode of On the Write Track, we’re joined by literary powerhouses Melissa de la Cruz and Margaret Stohl: bestselling authors, and co-founders of YALLFest and YALLWest, two of the largest youth literature festivals in the country.

We dive deep into their journeys through the evolving landscape of publishing: from writing bestselling YA series, to crafting graphic novels, developing games, and even adapting their work for film and television. Melissa and Margaret share how working across mediums has challenged and expanded their creative lives, and what it takes to stay adaptable in an industry that’s constantly shifting especially in the era of romantasy.

But at the heart of this episode is a rich conversation about community; how festivals like YALLWest grew out of a desire to democratize the author-reader connection, how mentorship and collaboration have shaped their own careers, and why building supportive literary communities is crucial for both writers and readers to survive.

We also get candid about the behind-the-scenes of adaptations, juggling commercial pressures with creative vision, and why saying yes to new opportunities and formats—from prose to scripts—has kept their careers thriving.

If you're a writer wondering how to build lasting community, or explore new storytelling mediums, this episode is packed with wisdom, blunt hard-earned advice from two women who’ve truly done it all.

Yall Fest

Yall West

Melissa de la Cruz

Margaret Stohl

Episode 06: G Willow Wilson: Co-creating Ms. Marvel, Writing for Comics & Having to Write your Marginalization

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• Margaret Stohl's books
• Melissa de la Cruz's books
• Jo and Laurie by Margaret Stohl and Melissa de la Cruz
• Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl
• Super Visible: The Story of the Women of Marvel Comics by Margaret Stohl
• War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
• The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
• Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldtree
• The Doorman by Chris Pavone
• Emily Varga's books
• Sarah Mughal Rana's books

Come back on the first Thursday of every month for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back on the first Thursday of every month for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!