88 Cups of Tea

Laura Atkins is an author, teacher and independent children’s book editor with over twenty years of editorial experience. She’s worked with publishing companies helping to produce winners of the Coretta Scott King Award and American Library Association Notable Book selections. I’m so excited to bring her on the show to discuss her passion about diversity and her work as a co-author of the children’s book "Fred Korematsu Speaks Up".

"Fred Korematsu Speaks Up" is the first book of the “Fighting for Justice” series which introduces young readers to real-life heroes and heroines of social progress. The story of Fred Korematsu’s fight against discrimination explores the life of one courageous person who made the United States a fairer place for all Americans, and it encourages all of us to speak up for justice.

In today’s episode, Laura walks us through the world-building of her children’s book, and how she and her co-author Stan Yogi used a focus group to help them craft their novel for their intended audience. We continue to discuss the importance of a detailed research process to accurately represent history, and how Laura and Stan used multiple storytelling techniques to make all the of the information more accessible for the young readers. We also talk about the responsibility the publishing industry has to diversify representation in the literary world.

Say 'Hi' to Laura on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here!

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!

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If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

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Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!

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Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

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Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

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“We want to have this be a window that people can come through and then feel like they have the tools to dig deeper and go further.” -Laura Atkins (Click to tweet)

“I tend to think structurally as if I was closing my eyes and seeing a landscape and then seeing shapes emerge.” -Laura Atkins (Click to tweet)

“What I am looking for right now is self-belief and confidence as a writer and a creator.” -Laura Atkins (Click to tweet)

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

• A look into the world-building of "Fred Korematsu Speaks Up"
• Laura shares how she and her co-author Stan used a focus group to craft their novel for the children’s book audience
• How Laura and her co-author used multiple storytelling techniques to make their story accessible to young readers
• How the format will present itself as it’s own creative process in your novel 
• The importance of a detailed research process to represent history accurately 
• How Laura and Stan ended their novel by giving their readers outlets to learn more about Fred Korematsu’s story 
• Laura introduces Biddy Mason as the subject of her next novel 
• Laura discuss the responsibility the publishing industry has to diversify representation in the literary world

Laurin Mayeno is the author of “One of a Kind, Like Me/ Unico Como Yo”, a bilingual children’s book inspired by her own experiences with her son and her community activism. In “One of a Kind Like Me”, a young boy fights gender stereotypes by dressing up as a princess for the school parade. Laurin’s book is breaking ground as one of few bilingual, multicultural children’s books about gender diversity, and its inspired much-needed conversation about gender diversity with educators, families, and children.

Laurin's episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby'. I just borrowed audiobooks through "Libby" last week and it's been AH-mazing. For those of you who are new to it, "Libby" is a brand new reading app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

In today’s episode, we dive deeper into Laurin’s relationship with her son Danny, and how he’s shown her a world where love is not limited by gender. Laurin has tirelessly dedicated her time to working with organizations, schools, and families to create spaces where gender-diverse young people and their families can thrive. Today’s conversation is a really special one for me as I hope all parents of LGBTQ children will be as supportive and loving as Laurin is today. Especially in light of the news yesterday, Laurin’s work and contributions are needed now more than ever.

Further into our conversation, we discuss why it’s beneficial for writers to work with a writing coach and how a writing coach helped to shape Laurin’s story. Laurin walks us through her process of being a first-time writer where we cover how to publish, the learning curves she had to go through, and how to market your book. And we also touch on self-publishing versus traditional publishing.

Say 'Hi' to Laurin on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here!

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! 

---

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

“Learn and keep learning. It’s not a process that ends, it’s a process that continues.” -Laurin Mayeno (Click to tweet)

“People have immense capacity to go through challenging times and learn and grow if they’re given the opportunity.” -Laurin Mayeno (Click to tweet)

“Society has some learning and growth to do.” -Laurin Mayeno (Click to tweet)

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

• Laurin shares the personal experiences that inspired her to create "One of a Kind, Like Me"
• Why it’s beneficial for writers to work with a writing coach and Laurin shares how a writing coach helped to shape her story
• How Laurin stays proactive in learning about the LGBTQ community
• Advice for parents who are worried about their LGBTQ children being harmed in public
• The challenges and sobering realities of parents who have children who are LGBTQ
• Why it’s crucial to highlight diverse literature for children
• Laurin walks us through her process of being a first-time writer: How to publish, learning curves, how to market
• How to turn a story that wasn’t meant to be a children’s story, into a children’s story
• Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing
• Why it’s important to get your book on as many lists as possible

Kate Schatz is the New York Times-bestselling author of "Rad American Women A-Z" and "Rad Women Worldwide". Her books introduce readers to a list of powerful female role models and change-makers. From activists and artists, to scientists and rock stars, Kate highlights brave women who’ve impacted and altered our history for the better. I am so grateful for books like these.

Kate's episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby'. I just borrowed audiobooks through "Libby" last week and it's been AH-mazing. For those of you who are new to it, "Libby" is a brand new reading app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

In addition to delving into detail about the inspiration that led her to writing her books, we discuss her collaborative relationship with the illustrator of her books, Miriam Klein Stahl. Kate also walks us through what the heavy research process was like, and which of the women’s stories surprised her most during the research phase.

Further into our conversation, Kate gives really solid and helpful advice on rediscovering yourself and owning your identity in motherhood. We continued to discuss the importance of joining a writing community to inspire your craft and create accountability for yourself, how to gain the courage to claim yourself as a writer, and she shares her strategy on finding literary agents who are the perfect fit for your writing.

Say 'Hi' to Kate on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here!

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! 

---

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

“Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself as a writer.” -Kate Schatz (Click to tweet)

“Trust your intuition. Trust that you’re good at what you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing it.” -Kate Schatz (Click to tweet)

“I understand my process; it’s kind of messy. I just start writing and it takes shape at some point.” -Kate Schatz (Click to tweet)

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

• Kate walks us through the inspiration that led her to writing her books
• She shares what it’s like working with her illustrator Miriam Klein Stahl and having a collaborative relationship
• The importance of joining a writing community to inspire your craft and create accountability for yourself
• How to gain the courage to claim yourself as a writer
• How to find yourself again and own your identity in motherhood
• Kate’s strategy on finding literary agents who are the perfect fit for your writing

Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Publishers Weekly internationally bestselling author of many critically acclaimed novels. Her "Blue Bloods" series has sold over three million copies, and the "Witches of East End" series became an hour-long television drama on the Lifetime network.

I'm thrilled this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

In today’s episode, Melissa shares the inspiration behind her book "Alex and Eliza" and what the writing process was like. We also discuss her novel "Something in Between" which follows an overachieving Filipino high schooler who came to the U.S. when she was a child. Though not autobiographical in any way, we touch on how Melissa’s own move from the Philippines to the U.S. and her experiences with a complicated green card situation laid down the emotional foundation for her character’s voice.

Further into our conversation, we talk about why it’s important for writers to have a solid support system and good critique partners. For listeners working on a manuscript or entering the query trenches, you’ll definitely want to keep an ear out for her advice about dealing with rejections and recognizing when you’ve finished your novel.

Say 'Hi' to Melissa on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here!

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! 

---

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

“Send it out, get rejected, develop a tough skin, and keep on knocking on that door.” -Melissa de la Cruz (Click to tweet)

“It’s really important to teach kids…how to see people who are different as fully human as you are.” -Melissa de la Cruz (Click to tweet)

“When you make writing the sole purpose…you’re not paying attention to the life around you.” -Melissa de la Cruz (Click to tweet)

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

• Melissa’s experience moving to the U.S.
• Knowing when you’ve finished your novel
• Why having a support system is crucial for writers
• The importance of finding a good critique partner
• The inspiration and writing process behind “Alex and Eliza”
• Retelling classic stories
• Why it’s important to teach children how to be empathetic
• Querying advice: How to query literary agents with fearlessness

Zoraida Cordova is the author of "The Vicious Deep" trilogy, the "On the Verge" series, and the Brooklyn Brujas series. Her latest novel, "Labyrinth Lost", was a Tor.com Best Book of 2016 and an NPR Best Young Adult Book of 2016.“Labyrinth Lost” was also optioned for film by Paramount Studios.

I'm thrilled this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

In today’s episode, Zoraida walks us through the inspiration behind “Labyrinth Lost” and how she created the religion in the novel. She also shares how the editing journey for her novel inspired new story lines and stronger characters, and what it was like to land the movie deal.

Further into our conversation, we talk about the importance of surrounding yourself with honest people in the writing community who push you to do better.

For craft-focused listeners, we discuss how your own family structure can inspire world-building ideas, and why Zoraida doesn’t always rationalize the characters’ emotions.

Say 'Hi' to Zoraida on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here. And don't forget to follow her hiking journey on Instagram by clicking here!

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! 

---

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

“At the end of the day, the only thing I can control are the words that I put on the page.” -Zoraida Cordova (Click to tweet)

“When we talk about mirror images in media and in society, it’s really important to be able to see a reflection of part of yourself.” -Zoraida Cordova (Click to tweet)

“Read widely…It helps you figure out who you are as a writer and how you want to tell your stories.” -Zoraida Cordova (Click to tweet)

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE: 

• Landing a movie deal for “Labyrinth Lost”
• How your own family structure can inspire world-building ideas
• The importance of surrounding yourself with honest people in the writing community who push you to do better
• How the editing journey for “Labyrinth Lost” inspired new story lines and stronger characters
• The sources of inspiration Zoraida drew from to create the religion in “Labyrinth Lost”
• A look into Zoraida’s organized writing process
• The importance of giving your characters justice by not always rationalizing their emotions

Erin Chack is a senior editor at BuzzFeed and the author of “This Is Really Happening”, a profoundly transparent collection of essays written in a sharply observant voice that’s refreshingly candid. Erin describes her book as “an essay collection about the best, the worst, and the weirdest moments” of her life so far.

I'm thrilled this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for free. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

We kick off our discussion today by talking about how Erin uses comedy to point out the realities of life. She also shares the story of a life-changing email that paved the way to writing her memoir.

Further into our conversation, we unpack why it’s crucial for memoir writers to write with honesty and confidence, and how to prevent self-doubt from holding you back in telling your story. We also talk about the steps Erin took to hone her craft of writing.

I am so excited for you to hear this episode. Erin is one of those down-to-earth, effortlessly funny, and honest peeps you immediately want to become fast friends with after meeting for the first time. I can’t wait for you to form a new friend-crush after hearing her episode.

Say 'Hi' to Erin on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here! :) 

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! 

PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

“My biggest mistake was ever thinking that my stories aren’t worth telling.” -Erin Chack (Click to Tweet)

“Just start writing because there is no reason to not just dive right in.” -Erin Chack (Click to Tweet)

“It’s about the journey and the way that people can relate to the story.” -Erin Chack (Click to Tweet)

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM TODAY'S EPISODE: 

• How Erin uses comedy to talk about the realities of life
• The steps Erin took to hone her writing craft
• Why honesty and confidence are vital characteristics to have as a memoir writer
• How to prevent self-doubt from holding you back in telling your story
• How to truthfully write about loved ones while also writing about them in a positive light

https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea

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Nina LaCour is the author of the William C. Morris Honor Book, “Hold Still”. Los Angeles Times perfectly describes her writing in which they write, “LaCour has a knack for capturing the unique intensity of teenage characters discovering love, sex and intense friendship for the first time while also giving them talents and interests that make moving into adulthood look cool.” In describing her newest novel, “We Are Okay”, New York Times said her latest book is, “Short, poetic and gorgeously written…The world LaCour creates is fragile but profoundly humane.”

In our conversation proudly brought to you by Sun Basket and 'Libby', Nina shares the personal experiences that inspired “We Are Okay”, and how she weaved her experiences with tragedy into her novel “Hold Still”. We discuss why it’s important to immerse yourself in diverse communities, and how to spark inspiration and motivation for your writing by reading short stories.

We cover the importance of brevity in your story and how subplots may distract your readers from the main ideas. For craft-related topics, we talk about writing strong character relationships, writing about grief, and how to write a captivating ending that remains ambiguous. Nina also shares her personal experience querying literary agents the traditional way.

Say 'Hi' to Nina on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here! :) 

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! 

PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea

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We have Kiersten White with us this week, the New York Times bestselling author of “And I Darken”, a series that has been compared to Game of Thrones for the YA community. Kiersten and I recorded our conversation late November last year and I couldn’t be more thrilled to finally publish her episode the same month her highly anticipated sequel “Now I Rise” is releasing. 

I'm SO excited to share that this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for free. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!

In our conversation today, Kiersten shares the story behind the title “And I Darken”, and walks us through the historical research process for her series. For those of you who love discussions about the craft of writing, you’re going to love our discussion about creating memorable characters. Kiersten goes into detail about crafting a page-turner novel with multi-layered characters, and how to create authentic characters by channeling your inner feelings. We dig even deeper and talk about how understanding your characters’ motivations will help your readers understand your characters’ decisions.

We also discuss how to overcome rejection, and how to grow from it and make it work for you, rather than against you. We unpack the value a strong editor can bring to your manuscript, and the influential ways a writing partner can help strengthen your craft. You’ll even hear tips and advice on finding the writing partner suited for you.

Say 'Hi' to Kiersten on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here! :) 

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! 

PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

---

Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group! 

---

Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!

---

 “Never give your readers a reason to put the book down.” -Kiersten White (Click to tweet)

“Even when I’m not writing I’m thinking about writing.” -Kiersten White (Click to tweet)

“Writing is all moving parts. You can have the exact same goal accomplished in forty different ways.” -Kiersten White (Click to tweet)

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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM KIERSTEN'S EPISODE: 

• The value a strong editor can bring to your manuscript
• The story behind the title of Kiersten’s novel  “And I Darken”
• How to craft memorable characters in your stories
• How to write a page-turner with multi-layered characters
• Kiersten walks us through the historical research process for her series
• How to create authentic characters by channeling your inner feelings
• How understanding your characters’ motivations will help your readers understand your characters’ decisions
• The influential ways a writing partner can help strengthen your craft
• Tips on finding your writing partner
• How to deal with rejection and grow from it, and make it work for rather than against you

https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea

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We have Pete Knapp, Emily Sweet, and Andrea Mai from Park Literary & Media on the show today! This is the very first time we’ve had an interview that features more than one guest at a time. Just imagine what it's like having four people chatting in an interview without any visual cues (our recording was very similar to a phone interview)-- I have to say, it turned about pretty awesome and incredibly informative.

In our conversation brought to you by Sun Basket, we cover how Park Literary & Media works creatively to promote their clients’ brands in new and exciting ways. Pete, Emily, and Andrea give us examples of their roles and responsibilities in the agency and share what they love most about their positions in the publishing world.

For listeners who are in the middle of querying, or will be querying very soon, they share what they hope to find in a query letter and the first pages of the manuscript. You’ll also learn why it’s crucial to clarify the core of your story in your query letter.

I’m so excited for you to learn from this episode.

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word! 

PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!

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Join our private Facebook group by clicking here!

Click here to head directly to Pete, Emily, and Andrea's shownotes page!

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“Always focus on the craft because the reality is if you keep improving your craft and continue writing your stories, you will get published.” -Pete Knapp

“You can’t understate how important the book is. If you have a really good book, then none of the other stuff is going to matter.” -Emily Sweet

“There are a lot of great ideas and everyone has great intentions but in terms of actually making it happen, the devil is in the details.” -Andrea Mai

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• How Park Literary and Media works creatively to promote their clients’ brands in new and exciting ways
• How Park Literary and Media successfully promotes their up-and-coming clients to retailers
• Why having a website or an online presence is not necessary for publication when you have an outstanding book
• Learn what Pete, Emily, and Andrea’s favorite things are about their positions in the publishing world
• A day-to-day look into their roles and responsibilities at the company
• How their different roles merge together to create successful publications and promotions for their clients
• Fun ways Park and Literary and Media discovers unique opportunities to to extended their clients’ brands
• How books serve as communication outlets between authors and their fans
• Why Pete chases authors who are not only skilled at writing but are constantly trying to improve their craft
• What Pete hopes to find in a query letter and the first pages of the manuscript
• The importance of clarifying the core of your story in your query letter
• Why it’s crucial to share the same vision with your literary agent about the direction of your career

Emily Barr began her career as a journalist at the The Guardian before backpacking for a column assignment which inspired the concept for her first novel Backpack, which then went on to become a New York Times bestseller. After her debut hit, she has written 11 more books for adults and we have her on the show today to discuss her experiences writing her young adult debut The One Memory of Flora Banks, listed as Entertainment Weekly’s Most Anticipated YA Novel of the Year.

In her episode proudly brought to you by BookCon, she shares her experiences working as a journalist for The Guardian writing a column in the sports section before she transitioned into writing novels. We go into detail about her YA debut novel “The One Memory of Flora Banks” and how Norway inspired the setting of her story. We also discuss the research process behind anterograde amnesia and how Emily weaved that into her character’s story.

Further into her episode, we also discuss important non-writing related topics like what it’s like being middle-aged and having to take care of both your children and your parents. And what it truly means to live in the moment.

Happy listening!

Xo

Yin

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“You made that happen, so it wasn’t really luck.” -Emily Barr (Click to tweet)

“If you do something enough, you get better at it.” -Emily Barr (Click to tweet)

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• How Svalbard, Norway inspired the setting of her story and you’ll learn something fun about polar bears!
• We go into detail about her YA debut, “The One Memory of Flora Banks”
• The research process behind anterograde amnesia and how Emily weaved that into her character’s story
• Her experiences working as a journalist for The Guardian writing a column in the sports section and how she transitioned into writing novels
• How her father’s profession in film studies and love for writing books about them helped to shape the beginnings of Emily’s interest in writing
• You’ll learn how Emily used to try and convince her three children to write
• How Emily’s partner, also a writer, has positive impact on her writing
• Being middle age, taking care of older parents but still taking care of kids younger generation
• Enjoying and living in the moment  
• The supportive and encouraging community in the YA world