Authors & Audiences

Chris Cander's latest novel, A GRACIOUS NEIGHBOR, was released in July 2022. She is the USA Today bestselling author of THE WEIGHT OF A PIANO, which was named an Indie Next Great Read in both hardcover and paperback and which the New York Times called, "immense, intense and imaginative,” WHISPER HOLLOW, also named an Indie Next Great Read, and 11 STORIES, named by Kirkus as one of the best books of 2013 and winner of the Independent Publisher Book Awards for fiction. She also wrote the children’s picture book THE WORD BURGLAR, and the Audible Originals “Eddies” and “Grieving Conversations.”  Cander’s fiction has been published in twelve languages. A former fitness competitor and model, she currently holds a 4th dan in taekwondo and is a certified women’s defensive tactics instructor. She lives in Houston with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.chriscander.com.

In this episode she talks to host, Caroline Leech, about her new novel, A Gracious Neighbor, about the risks of setting it in the neighborhood she lives in, and about conquering stage fright.

To find out more about Chris, visit her website, or follow her on Instagram.

To buy her latest book, A GRACIOUS NEIGHBOR, or any of her other books, please consider buying it from from Brazos Bookstore which has partnered with Chris on all her book launches and many other other events, or from any independent bookstore near you, or from Brazos Bookstore for in person pickup or delivery by mail.

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In today's episode, Caroline digs deeper into what community means to writers, following her conversation last week with fellow 2017 Debut, Tiffany D Jackson.

In it, she talks about the importance of her own writing communities as a way of helping you identify where you can find your own. These include:

Eleri Grace - author of the WW2 Romance Clubmobile Girls series, and Caroline's writing buddy

Nikki Loftin - middle grade author who showed Caroline what writing conferences are really about

Writing workshops in Houston:

• Inprint Houston
• Grackle & Grackle
• Writespace

Membership organizations:

• SCBWI Houston and SCBWI Austin - Caroline's local chapters of the international membership organization, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
• Writers League of Texas

Writing challenges

• Jami Attenburg’s #1000words of summer
• Julie Duffy’s StoryADay
• NaNoWriMo -  National Novel Writing Month every November

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Tiffany D. Jackson is the NYT Bestselling, award-winning author of YA novels Monday’s Not Coming, Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, Grown, White Smoke, Santa in The City, The Weight of Blood, and co-author of Blackout. A Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winner and the NAACP Image Award-nominee, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is currently splitting her time between the borough she loves and the south, most likely multitasking.

In this Bonus episode featuring the A&A Q&A, Tiffany talks about the first book she ever bought herself (yes, it was a horror story), her first audiobooks, and her preference for cupcakes.

To find out more about Tiffany, visit her website, or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter.

To buy her latest book, THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD, or any of her other books, please consider buying it from from Kindred Stories, the Black-owned bookstore which organized the tour event in Houston where Tiffany and I met up again for the first time since our debut year, or from any black-owned bookstore near you, or order online for delivery by mail.

Tiffany mentions how much she loves Lamar Giles's new book, The Getaway, and you can order that book from Lamar's website.

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Tiffany D. Jackson is the NYT Bestselling, award-winning author of YA novels Monday’s Not Coming, Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, Grown, White Smoke, Santa in The City, The Weight of Blood, and co-author of Blackout. A Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winner and the NAACP Image Award-nominee, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is currently splitting her time between the borough she loves and the south, most likely multitasking.

In this episode she talks to host, Caroline Leech, about community, confidence being a member of the 5am Writing Club for so many years.

To find out more about Tiffany, visit her website, or follow her on Facebook, Instagram TikTok, or Twitter.

To buy her latest book, THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD, or any of her other books, please consider buying it from from Kindred Stories which organized the tour event in Houston where Tiffany and I met up again for the first time since our debut year, or from any black-owned bookstore near you, or order online for delivery by mail.

WHITEOUT, Tiffany's collaboration with Dhonielle Clayton, Angie Thomas, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon will be released on November 8th, and is available now for pre-order at your local indie bookstore

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Music by Oleg Kirilkov - #We StandWithUkraine

In this opening episode of Authors & Audiences, Caroline Leech, introduces her plans for the podcast over the coming week, and takes listeners back to basics by asking three simple but important questions.

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Music by Oleg Kirilkov - #We StandWithUkraine

This is the trailer for the new podcast, Authors & Audiences. Podcaster, YA author and presentation coach, Caroline Leech, introduces her plans for the podcast, which will include interviews with authors and other publishing and media professionals, as well as deep-digging into the sort of topics which help authors present themselves in public without fear.

The first episode will go live in October, but in the meantime, make sure you don't miss any episode by following on social media:

Instagram - www.instagram.com/authorsandaudiences
Facebook - www.facebook.com/AuthorsAndAudiences
Twitter - @AuthsAndAudsPod

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Music by Oleg Kirilkov - #We StandWithUkraine