First-person Present Tense is often hated, but why? In this episode we chat about the reasons many dislike it, but also the ways it can be useful. We share excerpts from our writing that illustrate possible ways to tackle some common pitfalls of this tense/POV combo, as well.

 

CORRECTION: Toward the end of the podcast while discussing Howl's Moving Castle, Avery incorrectly refers to Sophie as the middle child instead of the eldest. Sorry, that drink was a strong one, whoops.

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Books mentioned in this episode:

Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCourt

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, by V.E. Schwab

Feed, by Aveda Vice

Skin, by Aveda Vice

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

The Seven-½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, by Stuart Turton

The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins

Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel

Dune, by Frank Herbert

Howl's Moving Castle, by Dianna Wynne Jones

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Drinks from this Episode:

Matcha Elderflower Last Word

¾ ounce gin

¾ ounce green chartreuse Liqueur

¾ ounce ​maraschino liqueur

¼ ounce elderflower liqueur

¾ ounce lime juice

1 tsp matcha powder

Mix all in a shaker with ice

Shake well

Strain into a coupe glass or Nick and Nora glass

 

Greatest CEO In The World

1½  ounce Lagavulin 16 Year Scotch

1½ ounce Avery’s Magical Maple Cherry w/ Cinnamon shrubs

1 sugar cube

1 peel of lemon

3 dashes Angostura bitters

1 wedge of orange

1 splash club soda

Drip 3 dashes of Angostura bitters on a sugar cube, in a glass

Put a thin wedge of orange, a lemon peel, and a maraschino cherry in the bottom of glass, and muddle the fruit.

Pour Lagavulin on muddled fruit.

Pour in Cherry shrubs.

Put a handful of ice in a whiskey glass, stir, and finish with a dash of club soda.

 

Maple-Cherry Shrub Recipe:

1½ cups dark sweet cherries (frozen ok)

1 tsp cinnamon

½ cup maple syrup

½ cup granulated sugar

⅔ cup red wine vinegar

Mix cherries, cinnamon, maple syrup, and sugar in a glass bowl or tupperware container and cover. Leave in refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days, checking and stirring once a day, until the sugar has pulled the juice from the cherries and there's a good amount of liquid.

Strain juice through a mesh strainer and remove cherries. (These can be pureed into a jam for toast and will last at least a few days in the fridge, if you'd like to save them.)

Add vinegar to the juice and stir well. There may still be some stray sugar granules at this stage, but these will dissolve eventually.

Pour into a sterilized glass bottle or jar and refrigerate. Will keep for 3-4 months if refrigerated. The flavor will change slightly for about the first week, but then will stabilize.