Welcome to Season 3 of Book Lounge by Libby! We’re kicking things off with a celebration of debut authors; the moment when years of writing, revising, and hoping finally turn into a book on shelves. 

Joe is joined by Casey Scieszka, Katie Bernet, and Leia Ham to talk about what it really takes to publish a first novel. From early drafts and rejections to finding an agent, navigating edits, and seeing their books in the world for the first time, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the debut experience. 

They also dive into the emotional side of publishing: imposter syndrome, creative pressure, and the surreal moment of becoming a “published author.” Whether you’re an aspiring writer or just love discovering new voices, this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at where every author’s journey begins. 

Make sure you’re following the show so you don’t miss our next episode where we give you debut recommendations! 

Looking for the video version of our show? Check out the Libby App YouTube channel! 

Who’s in this episode:  

Casey Scieszka - website 

The Fountain 

Katie Bernet - website 

Beth is Dead 

Leia Ham - website 

The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia 

Time stamps: 

00:00:00 Title 

00:00:23 Updates for Season 3

00:02:26 Intro

00:10:13 Sharing your book with the world

00:28:15 Getting into book two

00:42:17 What do you want most for your first release?

00:48:35 Does being a published author feel different?

00:52:04 Lightning Round

00:59:43 Farewell to our debut guests

01:00:10 Outro

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season! 

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog! 

We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!  

Want to reach out? Send an email to [email protected]. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: http://plotthreadsshop.com/booklounge!

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