88 Cups of Tea

88 Cups of Tea

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88 Cups of Tea episodes

  • AMERIIE: Redefining Gray Areas & Delving Deeper To Make Room For Growth

    “I want the work to speak for itself.”-Ameriie (Click to tweet)

    We have Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, producer, and fiction writer Ameriie in this week’s brand new episode proudly brought to you by Gotham Writers! DRIVE, Ameriie’s newest EP, is named one of the best R&B albums of 2016 by Rolling Stone. She also has a highly anticipated villain-themed anthology featuring stories and essays from some of today’s most popular Young Adult authors and influential Booktubers set to publish in July 2017, a brilliant concept might I add. 

    In today’s episode, we dive into the fast-growing world of booktubers and its influence on young readers worldwide, why it’s crucial to push past our limits to grow as writers, we demystify morally gray areas, how she’s evolved as a singer-songwriter, and the tremendous amount of discipline she applies to her writing process and habits.

    XO,

    Yin

    PS. Did today’s episode help you in any way? Please share it with someone you think the episode can help!

    Your honest feedback helps to shape the show. Please leave a review about the podcast by clicking here. When prompted, either enter your iTunes info on your phone, or click ‘Launch Application’ on your computer. Once you’re at the 88 Cups of Tea iTunes page, click on the tab that says “Ratings and Reviews”.  Thank you for your time and for helping with the ranking of the show when leaving a review and rating!

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    You need people around you to help you grow and to become better. Then hopefully you can be that way for someone else too.” -Ameriie (Click to tweet)

     

    “If you’re a writer, you’re a writer because there is something inside of you that demands to be released.” -Ameriie (Click to tweet)

     

    “Each of us have our own stories and our own perspectives, and we all fit to make a whole.” -Ameriie (Click to tweet)

     

    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: 
    • The importance of crafting realistic human conditions in your stories

    • Ameriie’s writing process and habits that will inspire your own process
    • Ameriie walks us through the creative process of her anthology featuring some of today’s hottest YA authors and booktubers. Here’s a peek at some of the authors and booktubers: Renée Ahdieh, Soman Chainani, Susan Dennard, Sarah Enni, Marissa Meyer, Benjamin Alderson (Benjaminoftomes), Sasha Alsberg (abookutopia), Whitney Atkinson (WhittyNovels), Tina Burke (ChristinaReadsYA blog and TheLushables), Catriona Feeney (LittleBookOwl), and Christine Riccio (polandbananasBOOKS)
    • Why Ameriie chose the theme of ‘villains’ for her anthology
    • Why it’s important to surround yourself with people who will help you grow
    • Raising the bar for yourself and creating space for your writing to grow and improve
    • How Ameriie discovered the book-loving community on Youtube (Booktubers)
    • Ameriie’s querying process
    • A behind-the-scenes look at creating Ameriie’s newest E.P. “Drive”

     

    Learn More About Ameriie Ameriie is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, producer, and writer of fiction. The daughter of a Korean artist and an American military officer, she was born in Massachusetts, raised all over the world, and graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s in English. She began writing at the age of seven, stories of fairies and pirates and witches and phantoms. She lives mostly in her imagination, but also on Earth with her husband, her parents and sister, and about seven billion other people. She talks books and beauty on her YouTube channel Books Beauty Ameriie. And she is writing; always writing.

     

     

    Ameriie’s Recommended Books & Resources:

    Literary Rambles 

    Aeon Timeline

    Vicious by V.E. Schwab

    NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

    Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

    Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King

    Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

    Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

    The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

    The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

    The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

    The Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

    The Vegetarian by Han Kang

    On Writing by Stephen King

    Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field

    Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee

    Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke

    Books of Blood by Clive Barker

      Say ‘Hi!’ to Ameriie OFFICIAL WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE GOODREADS
    48 min
  • JOANNA VOLPE: New Leaf Literary & Media President and Literary Agent Discusses Entrepreneurialism, Leadership, Artist Representation
    If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance.

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

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    Oh. Em. Freaking. Gee.

    What's with the eagerness?

    [Cue drumroll]

    We have our first-ever literary agent on the podcast proudly brought to you by Vermont College of Fine Arts! Not just any literary agent, but the President of New Leaf Literary & Media, one of the hottest and most sought after management and representation firms today. Joanna discovers and helps to shape the careers of talented and successful authors like Veronica Roth. For those who've gone MIA for the past several years, Veronica is the author of the DIVERGENT series, also an extremely successful Hollywood Blockbuster trilogy that Joanna's firm helped to shepherd into the world. FYI: You'll hear all about those specific details in Joanna's episode!

    Joanna and I dive right into the heart of why she's a literary agent and we dissect her leadership skills as an entrepreneurial badass. A special note to fellow writers, this episode is L-I-F-E. We discuss agent representation, what it takes to be the kind of author that stands out from the crowd, Joanna's ideal client, how she likes to creatively work with them, and crafting solid query letters (Joanna even shares examples of rare query letters that have made her fall head-over-heels).

    Get ready for an episode that'll blow your mind!

    XO,

    Yin

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    Say ‘Hi!’ to Joanna OFFICIAL WEBSITE TWITTER INSTAGRAM

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    “You’ll never work at your best capacity if you’re constantly fighting against your weaknesses.”

     

    New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. is a non-traditional, full service management and representation firm that will be with authors and illustrators before and beyond the sale. A few of the writers and illustrators they represent: Veronica Roth, Leigh Bardugo, David J. Peterson, Margot Lee Shetterly, Kody Keplinger, Kara Thomas, Gabby Rivera, Soman Chainani, Melanie Conklin, Victoria Aveyard, and Elizabeth Rose Stanton. 

     

    What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
    • Joanna’s entrepreneurial journey building a strong foundation for New Leaf Literary & Media 

    • How to lead your team to success by leaning into your strengths instead of fighting against your weaknesses

    • How Joanna creates an inspiring, passionate, and soul-filling work environment for her team of loyal agents and staff
    • What Joanna looks for in potential future clients

    • Examples of query letters that immediately caught Joanna’s attention
    • Why it’s crucial to craft a query letter that reaches the central conflict
    • How Joanna works creatively with her clients
    • Examples of long-term goals that Joanna’s ideal client would have
    Learn More About Joanna Volpe

    Joanna represents all brands of fiction from picture books to adult novels.  Her picture book taste is the most eclectic, ranging from sweet to fun to smart to quirky. For other fiction (both adult and children’s) she has an affinity for stories that have a darker element to them, whether they be horror, drama or comedy. She’s not the kind of reader that needs a romance in her novels, though she does appreciate a good one.

    On the non-fiction side her tastes are much more specific.  For children she looks for topics that captivate kids: biographies, animal-related stories, all sciences and history, etc. Joanna also has an affinity for morbid, weird or offbeat topics. In her adult non-fiction tastes she tends toward all things geek-related, foodie books, travel books, and general pop-culture and pop-science.

    43 min
  • MORGAN MATSON: Demystifying Your Writing Process & Building Characters

    “Everyone finds their own door.” -Morgan Matson (Click here to tweet)

    So excited to share today’s episode brought to you by Gotham Writers! Morgan Matson is the New York Times bestselling author of Since You’ve Been Gone, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour,Second Chance Summer, and her most recent book, The Unexpected Everything.

    Morgan received an MFA in Writing for Children from the New School and an MFA in Screenwriting from USC, so naturally, we dived into a juicy discussion about her experiences in grad school, and whether or not it plays a heavy role in a writer’s success. 

    Morgan’s episode is a writer’s dream: We dissect the step-by-step writing processfor The Unexpected Everything. And there’s lots and lots of talk about writers’ retreats, character building for character-driven stories, pushing past “road blocks”, pen-names, writing prompts, and more.

    Enjoy!

    Xo,

    Yin

    PS. Did today’s episode help you in any way? Please share it with someone you think the episode can help!

    Your honest feedback helps to shape the show. Please leave a review about the podcast by clicking here. When prompted, either enter your iTunes info on your phone, or click ‘Launch Application’ on your computer. Once you’re at the 88 Cups of Tea iTunes page, click on the tab that says “Ratings and Reviews”.  Thank you for your time and for helping with the ranking of the show when leaving a review and rating!

     

    “There’s a crack in the foundation. Go back and fix that before you keep building the house.”-Morgan Matson (Click here to tweet)

    “So much of writing is being in a quiet place with your brain and trying to focus it.” -Morgan Matson (Click here to tweet)

     

    What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
    • Morgan shares her experiences and thoughts about grad school, and if it’s necessary for the writer’s success

    • How writers’ retreats hold you accountable for your work
    • Why it’s crucial to receive notes about your writing from others and how it has specifically helped Morgan with her own writing success
    • All about pen-names and how Morgan uses her own- Katie Finn
    • The inspiration and research process behind The Unexpected Everything
    • How to avoid a “writers road block”  
    • The legalities of implementing emojis into a book
    • How Morgan builds her characters for her character-driven stories
    • Steps you can take to help further you with your writing
    • Writing prompts!

    “If you get stuck, just say what you’re feeling.”-Morgan Matson (Click here to tweet)

     

    Learn More About Morgan Matson

    Morgan Matson is the New York Times bestselling author of Since You’ve Been Gone, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, Second Chance Summer, and her most recent book, The Unexpected Everything. Morgan received an MFA in Writing for Children from the New School and an MFA in Screenwriting from USC. Her novel Second Chance Summer was awarded the California Book Award. She lives in Los Angeles with her dog Murphy.

    Morgan’s Recommended Books & Resources:

    On Writing by Stephen King

    Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg

    This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

    Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

    David Magee screenwriter of Life of Pi and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

    “The past is only the future with the lights on.” Quote found in the song “Baby Come On” by Plus 44

    Freedom Distraction-Free Software

    Say ‘Hi!’ to Morgan OFFICIAL WEBSITE TWITTER

     

    41 min
  • DEBBIE MACOMBER: Learning To Be The Writer & Challenging Ourselves To Grow

    “I had to learn to be the writer. The storytelling came naturally to me.”

    We have the lovely Debbie Macomber in today’s episode, proudly sponsored by Vermont College of Fine Arts! Debbie Macomber is a#1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. Debbie’s novels have spent over 950 weeks on the New York Times bestseller listwith ten of these novels hitting the number one spot!

    Debbie and I discuss the inspiration behind her newest book A Girl’s Guide to Moving On and her adult coloring book, The World of Debbie Macomber: Come Home To Color. We’re giving both of these books to one lucky winner!Contest instructions below.

    Debbie also walks us through her experience being on set of the first dramatic scripted Hallmark Channel TV series inspired by her Cedar Cove Series starringAndie MacDowell.

    For fellow writers, you’ll love the writing advice shared throughout the episode:Learn the five words Debbie uses to determine the success of her work,  apply the techniques Debbie uses to improve plotting, pacing, and character introductions, learn how to not let ego get in the way of your writing, and a whole lot more juicy writing and creativity tips!

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    GIVEAWAY CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS:

    1. Listen to the episode and find out the name of the librarian who gave Debbie the first book she ever read (this is a super fun surprise!)
    2. Tell me the name by reaching out to me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Be sure to tag me @88cupsoftea so I can find you.
    3. One lucky winner will receive a copy of A Girl’s Guide to Moving On and a copy of The World of Debbie Macomber: Come Home To Color. Have fun and good luck!

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    Did today’s episode help you in any way? Please share it with someone you think the episode can help!

    Please leave a review about the podcast by clicking here. Your honest feedback helps to shape the show. Thank you for your time and for helping with the ranking of the show when leaving a review and rating!

     

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    “We have to be challenged to grow.”

     

    “I’m here to tell a story.”

     

    What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
    • The first book Debbie read was handed to her by a young librarian from her hometown (AND YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHO IT IS!)

    • A technique Debbie uses for her own writings that can help youimprove plotting, pacing, character introductions and much more

    • How implementing reader feedback has opened doors to even greater success for Debbie

    • Five words that can help you decided if your story ideas will be a hit amongst your readers
    • Why it’s crucial to not let your ego get in the way of your writing and how that positive mindset has attributed to Debbie’s tremendous success
    • Debbie’s experience on the set of her Cedar Cover series starring Andie MacDowell
    Learn More About Debbie Macomber

    Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 950 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Ten of these novels hit the number one spot.

    In 2016, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publications include A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, Sweet Tomorrows, and Twelve Days of Christmas and an adult coloring book, The World of Debbie Macomber: Come Home To Color. In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published two bestselling cookbooks, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

    Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and five have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Serieswhich the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

    Macomber owns two businesses in Port Orchard, WA, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove Series. These include the Victorian Rose Tea Room, featured in the Cedar Cove Series, and A Good Yarn Shop, introduced in her popularBlossom Street novels. They are located on the Village Square campus, which also serves as Debbie’s corporate headquarters.

    She and her husband, Wayne, serve on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, and she is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington and winter in Florida.

    Debbie’s Recommended Books & Resources:

    The Wolf and the Dove by Kathleene E. Woodwiss

    The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty

    The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck 

    Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh

    The Bible

    Making Faces by Amy Harmon 

    Say ‘Hi!’ to Debbie OFFICIAL WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER

     

    46 min
  • DAVID J. PETERSON: A Career In Creating Languages

    “As language creators, when you meet other language creators for the first time, it’s both exciting that you have people to talk about this with, and super disappointing because you realize you’re not unique.” –David J. Peterson 

    Today's episode is proudly brought to you by Gotham Writers.

    David J. Peterson is a conlanger who’s created languages for HBO’s Game of Thrones, Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World, MTV’s The Shannara Chronicles, and the CW’s The 100. David is also the author of his newest book, The Art of Language Invention, where readers can learn technical how-to’s and advice about inventing their own languages.  

    We have a special giveaway contest for this episode. Game of Thrones fans, you’ll love this! Three lucky winners will receive a signed copy of David’s book Living Language Dothraki and a limited edition 88 Cups of Tea mug! Look out for the instructions below. 

    In our conversation, we get super technical about how David builds and constructs languages, the evolution of languages, why Arabic is David’s favorite language he’s learned, and we (of course) take a closer look at the Dothraki and Valyrian languages he invented for Game of Thrones.

    Say 'Hi' to David on Twitter!

    “Everybody at every point in their life should have some sort of a language project on the side that they’re just trying to learn.” - David J. Peterson

     

    INSTRUCTIONS FOR GIVEAWAY CONTEST
    1. What did you love most about David’s episode?
    2. Share it on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Be sure to tag @88cupsoftea and include #88cupsoftea so we can find your contest entry!
    3. Have fun and good luck!

    DEADLINE: Wednesday, June 8th at 9pm EST (6pm PST) 

     

     

    What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
    • David’s path that led him to become a linguist

    • Why Arabic is David’s favorite language he learned and David gives usexamples of how the language is constructed 
    • We dive into detail about how David’s hobby as a language creator led him to having a career as a professional language creator for TV shows like GAME OF THRONES
    • Why language creators have been widely ridiculed and how David’s career in crafting languages is specifically helping to create a shift in perception
    • David walks us through the incredibly meticulous amount of work that goes into building a language 
    • David explains why the verbal system is the most difficult, yet the most crucial, step in creating a language
    • How David’s book THE ART OF LANGUAGE INVENTION willhelp with language building

    • How to easily learn the beginnings of new languages through memorization and practice

    • The differences between the low and high Valyrian language created for GAME OF THRONES
    • David unpacks the evolution of languages
    • What exactly is a ‘Conlang Community’?
    • Did you know that J. R. R. Tolkien was a language creator before he wrote his high-fantasy books like The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit? (ME NEITHER!) Learn why he’s held in the highest regard in the conlang community
    Learn More About David J. Peterson

    David J. Peterson is a conlanger and author. He’s created languages for HBO’sGame of Thrones, Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World, MTV’s The Shannara Chronicles, and the CW’s The 100. He’s also the author of Living Language Dothraki, and Penguin Books’ The Art of Language Invention.

    David’s Recommended Books & Resources:

    Conlang.org

    Index of Linguistic Articles

    The Art of Language Invention YouTube channel

    The Evolution of Grammar by Joan Bybee and Revere Perkins

    Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariost

    Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev

    Say ‘Hi!’ to David OFFICIAL WEBSITE TWITTER
    56 min
  • JENNY HAN: Redefining The Archetype of the ‘The All-American Girl’ and Hosting Your Own Writers’ Retreat
    If you’d love to keep 88 Cups of Tea going strong, please consider supporting us through our Patreon membership. We added EARLY ACCESS TO INTERVIEWS for our Super Storyteller patrons in the $8.88 tier. Your kind support at any of our tiers is so helpful. A heartfelt thank you in advance.

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

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    We have the a-w-e-s-o-m-e Jenny Han in today’s episode proudly brought to you by Vermont College of Fine Arts! Jenny is the New York Times bestselling author of teen and middle grade fiction, her most recent works titled To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.

    We discuss the gravity of representing diversity and how the book covers in Jenny’s newest book series is creating change by shifting the perception of race and redefining the archetype of the ‘The All-American Girl’. 

    In the episode, we also uncover Jenny’s writing schedule and structure, and the inspiration behind To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. For fellow writers who are all about writing retreats, you’ll definitely want to pay attention to how Jenny hosts her own retreats and take notes so you can host your own!

    Xo,

    Yin

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    “Authenticity is everything.” (Click to tweet)

    “Any girl can be the every girl.” (Click to tweet)

    “When you catch the perfect wave, you just have to ride it as far ashore as you can.” (Click to tweet)

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    'PS. I STILL LOVE YOU' is the charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller 'TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE', we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.     “When you don’t get to see yourself, deep inside, you get this perception that your story is not as important, or that you don’t deserve to be the hero of your own story.” -Jenny Han  

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    WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:
    • Why and how the book covers for the Lara Jean series is shifting the perception of race 

    • Why it’s crucial to write with authenticity, especially when writing for a young adult audience

    • The inspiration behind TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE and the Lara Jean series

    • What it means when ‘any girl can be the every girl’

    • How Jenny creates and leads her own writers’ retreats and how you can lead your own too
    • We unpack Jenny’s writing schedule and structure

     

    Learn More About Jenny Han

    Jenny Han is a New York Times bestselling author of teen and middle grade fiction. Her books include The Summer I Turned Pretty series; Shug; the Burn for Burn trilogy, co-written with Siobhan Vivian; and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You. She is also the author of the chapter book Clara Lee and The Apple Pie Dream. A former children’s bookseller, she earned her MFA in creative writing at the New School.

    Jenny’s Recommended Books & Resources:

    Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True by Elizabeth Berg

    Say ‘Hi!’ to Jenny OFFICIAL WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER
    26 min
  • LOUISE O’NEILL: Disrupting Rape Culture With Real Change & Writing Your Story The Way It’s Demanding To Be Told

    “There was something about this book and the research, it really made me look at the world in a different way. I suppose it made me more aware of the darkness that a human being can hold, or the sadness, and I think that kind of broke me a small bit.” –Louise O’Neill (a conversation with '88 Cups of Tea' on writing her award-winning novel "Asking For It")

    Named “the best YA fiction writer alive today” by The Guardian, we have a very special episode featuring the one-and-only Louise O’Neill. Louise is the award-winning author of two novels:  Only Ever Yours, was a multiple award winner and the movie rights were bought by Killer Content. Her second novel, Asking For It, was a number 1 bestseller in her native Ireland and was named the overall book of the year at the 2015 Irish Book Awards.

    In our conversation proudly brought to you by Gotham Writers, we discuss rape culture and how Asking For It is igniting a much needed discussion to create real change.  (I know that after listening to Louise’s episode, you’ll be itching to get a copy if you haven’t already read it yet. We’re holding an amazing giveaway with contest instructions below.)

    In the episode, we also uncover what the heavy research process was like for Louise’s second novel, why it’s crucial for writers to write their story the way it’s demanding to be told, authentically portraying characters and the world they live in, and a whole lot more goodies.

    Our conversation filled my soul and is an absolute treat I’m thrilled to share with you. Get ready for a thoughtful and stimulating episode that will awaken you.

    Xo,

    Yin

    PS. Did today’s episode help you in any way? Please share it with someone you think the episode can help!

    Please leave a review about the podcast by clicking here. Your honest feedback helps to shape the show. Thank you for your time and for helping with the ranking of the show when leaving a review and rating!

     

    “I don’t think you could write a book like this and do that sort of research and not be effected by it, and not be changed by it.” -Louise O’Neill

    BOOK GIVEAWAY CONTEST INSTRUCTIONS!

    One lucky winner will receive a copy of Louise O’Neill’s “Asking For It” and a limited edition '88 Cups of Tea' mug! This is the FIRST time EVER that we're including a limited edition mug from our podcast! 

    To enter the giveaway contest (limited to entries within the U.S.):

    1. Listen carefully to Louise’s episode.
    2. Pick one sentence and fill in the blank:
      • “No one is ever asking for it because we all deserve _____”
      • “We need to talk about rape and consent because _____”
      • “To stop victim-blaming and slut-shaming, we need to _____”
    3. Tag @88cupsoftea with your entry on either Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Be sure to include #88cupsoftea #askingforit
    4. In your same post, tag a friend and encourage them to fill in the blank with their own thoughts.
    5. Deadline for the contest is Wednesday, May 25th at 6pm EST (3pm PST).
    6. Good luck!
      What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
    • The inspiration behind “Asking For It” and the research process

    • The much needed conversation about the root of rape culture and how to implement real change

    • How to authentically portray characters and the world they live in

    • Louise’s advice on preventing writer’s block 

    • We unpack why honesty is the most important aspect of your writing
    • Creativity is about making mistakes and how that benefits you and your work
     

    “If you start thinking about what your parents think, or what your teachers think, or what your friends will think, or what your ex-boyfriend will think, you’re never going to be honest. And I suppose for me, honesty is the most important aspect of writing.” -Louise O’Neill

     

    Learn More About Louise O’Neill

    Louise O’ Neill is from West Cork in Ireland. Her debut novel, Only Ever Yours, was a multiple award winner and the movie rights were bought by Killer Content. Her second novel, Asking For It, was a number 1 bestseller in her native Ireland and was named the overall book of the year at the 2015 Irish Book Awards.

    Louise’s Recommended Books & Resources:

    The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass

    Shrill by Lindy West

    Say ‘Hi!’ to Louise OFFICIAL WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER
    36 min
  • EVELYN SKYE: Author of Highly Anticipated Debut Novel "THE CROWN'S GAME" on Facing Difficult Choices & Choosing 'Something Bigger'

    Hey Storyteller Tribe! Super excited that Vermont College of Fine Arts and 88 Cups of Tea teamed up to bring you today's episode! We have young adult author Evelyn Skye discussing the writing process of her debut novel “The Crown’s Game”. Teen Vogue says it’s one of the 13 Best Young Adult Novels coming out in 2016 and Barnes and Noble says it’s the “Most anticipated Young Adult Fantasy Novels of this year”.

    This is yet another episode PACKED with discussions about the business side of writing and writing tips that are truly actionable.  

     

    We chat a bunch about:

    Resources Evelyn used to become a self-taught author

    -How a writing community can significantly help improve your writing.

    -Literary agents

    -Query letters

    -Marketing for authors

     

    So if you’re working on your own novel right now, you’ll really benefit from Evelyn’s episode!

    Let me know your thoughts about today's episode over on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram :)

     

    “It takes time and effort. If you have a dream and keep pursuing it, it will happen.”-Evelyn Skye (Click here to tweet this quote!)

     

    “You have to do things that are genuine to you.” -Evelyn Skye (Click here to tweet this quote!)

     

    “It’s important to live your life. You can’t just live in this fictional world, otherwise you have nothing to bring to it.” -Evelyn Skye (Click here to tweet this quote!)

     

    CLICK HERE TO GO TO EVELYN'S SHOWNOTES PAGE.

     

    What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
    • How Evelyn taught herself how to write novels with self-taught writing books

    • How to find a community of critiquing  partners to help you improve your writing
    • What inspired Evelyn to write “The Crown’s Game” and how shedeveloped the characters

    • How to find agents and editors who understand and support your vision of your story
    • How Evelyn used online resources to learn how to write query letters

    • Why it’s crucial to set the rules of your “world” you created throughout the story

    • Why it’s important to be genuine when marketing your book   
    About ‘THE CROWN’S GAME’

    Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air.

    They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.

    And so he initiated the Crown’s Game, a duel of magical skill—and the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.

    Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for a chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?

    For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.

    And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love… or be killed himself.

    As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear—the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.

    Learn More About Evelyn Skye

    Evelyn Skye is the author of THE CROWN’S GAME (HarperCollins / Balzer+Bray 2016) and its sequel (2017). She has a B.A. in Russian literature & history from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

    She is also a YA event host at Kepler’s Books and the ringleader of YA Lunch Break, a popular Bay Area book club. When she’s not writing, Evelyn can be found chasing after her daughter on the playground or sitting on the couch, immersed in a good book and eating way too many cookies. She is repped by Brianne Johnson of Writers House.

    CLICK HERE TO GO TO EVELYN'S SHOWNOTES PAGE.

     

    Say ‘Hi!’ to Evelyn OFFICIAL WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM
    58 min
  • JESSICA BRODY: Rituals That Remove Creative Blocks & Writing From a Positive Headspace

    Today's episode is proudly sponsored by Gotham Writers! 

    We have author Jessica Brody on the show with us today!  Jessica's written and published multiple books in various genres, two of her Young Adult novels were acquired for feature film adaptations being made by producers who produced 'Vampire Academy', 'Life of Pi', and 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

    I'm super excited to share today's episode with you because it's fully focused on the technicalities of writing, the kinds of writing programs and softwares that work the best for writers, how marketing and social media impacts the sales of books and the engagement of your readers, very specific writing rituals that help get writers out of a block, and so much more!

    “Writing from a negative space never really results in anything good.”

     

    “Writing is all about habit, routine, and forward momentum.”

     

    What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
    • Jessica’s writing process and how she applies ‘Save The Cat’ screen writing method

    • Writing rituals that push you through creative blocks

    • Writing from a positive headspace

    • Finding ways to get your potential readers to interact with your story

    • Interactive marketing ideas that will get your audience engaged in your story  in new and exciting ways
    • How to approach your teen audience on social media and using social media to expand your audience
    Learn More About Jessica Brody

    Jessica Brody is the author of several popular books for teens, including Unforgotten, Unremembered, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, and The Karma Club, as well as two adult novels. She splits her time between California and Colorado.

    Jessica’s Recommended Books & Resources:

    Jessica Brody’s Writing Class on Udemy – 88 Cups of Tea listeners get 50% off of her course by clicking here! Save The Cat by Blake Snyder Freedom App Evernote Udemy SCBWI Women’s Writers of America

    Say ‘Hi!’ to Jessica OFFICIAL WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER

     

    54 min
  • KARIN SLAUGHTER: #1 Internationally Bestselling Author Discusses Her Writing Process for Her Newest Book 'PRETTY GIRLS' & Why It's Crucial for Writers to Define 'Success' for Themselves

    Hey Storytellers! Vermont

    College of Fine Arts and I are so thrilled to inspire you
    with today's AWESOME new episode! We have #1
    internationally bestselling author Karin
    Slaughter on the show! Karin is one of the
    world’s most popular and acclaimed storytellers with over
    32 MILLION copies sold around the world.

    Karin unpacks her writing process, shares

    how she transitioned from Renaissance poetry to writing
    crime novels, her thoughts on writing
    workshops, and we dive into the thought processes
    and technicalities behind her newest book ‘PRETTY GIRLS’.  Novelists,
    crime writers, and loyal fans of psychological
    thrillers—YOU'LL LOVE THIS EPISODE!

    If today's episode helps you in any way, please

    share it with someone you think it can
    also help or inspire!

    Please leave a review about the podcast by clicking

    here. Your honest feedback helps to shape the show.
    Thank you for your time and for helping with the
    ranking of the show when leaving a
    review and rating!

    If you'd like to stay up to date on our latest episodes,

    updates, and giveaways, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter :)

    “I want to have some sense that there is such thing as

    survival.” -Karin Slaughter (Click
    here to tweet)

     

    “You’re going to be a published writer some day, you just have

    to find your right story.”

    -Karin Slaughter (Click here to

    tweet)

     

     

    “What does ‘successful’ mean to you?” -Karin Slaughter (Click here to

    tweet)

    ***

    ABOUT ‘PRETTY GIRLS’

    With PRETTY GIRLS, #1 internationally

    bestselling author, Karin Slaughter, dazzles with an explosive and
    chilling standalone psychological thriller. Delving into a buried
    history of dangerous secrets, cold vengeance, and forbidden truths,
    estranged sisters must come together to search, finally, for the
    horrifying details about two harrowing tragedies, perpetrated
    twenty years apart, that devastated their bond and even their
    attempts to lead separate lives.

    Powerful, poignant, and utterly gripping, PRETTY GIRLS boasts Slaughter’s

    masterfully created, three-dimensional characters, who wrestle with
    genuine moral dilemmas and the parameters of their own humanity.
    Here, once again, Slaughter crafts wildly unpredictable plotting
    that cast light into the darkest corners of our lives, and
    challenges the very boundaries of suspense fiction, as she perfects
    all the tricks and tropes of the genre. This is a haunting and
    viscerally unforgettable thriller from one of the finest suspense
    writers working today, and her most riveting novel yet.

    ***

    What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
    • The inspiration behind the story of ‘Pretty

      Girls’

    • Advice on character development
    • The importance of having distinct voices for

      the characters and how to develop
      them

    • How Karin balances light and dark themes
    • throughout her books and the importance of having that balance
    • Why you need to understand if writing

      workshops are the right fit for you

    • How to define ‘success’ for

      yourself

    • Why it’s beneficial to have a strong grasp of your own
    • writing method and finding out what works
      best for you
       
      Learn More About Karin Slaughter

      A #1 internationally bestselling author, Karin

      Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular and acclaimed
      storytellers. Published in 33 languages, with more than 32 million
      copies sold across the globe, her fifteen novels include the Grant
      County and Will Trent books, as well as the Edgar-nominated
      Cop Town and her first psychological
      thriller, Pretty Girls. A native of Georgia, Karin
      Slaughter currently lives in Atlanta.

       

      Karin’s Recommended Books & Resources:

      Flannery O’Connor Short

      Stories 

      Say ‘Hi!’ to Karin
      OFFICIAL WEBSITE
      FACEBOOK
      33 min

    About 88 Cups of Tea

    From the publisher's feed

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