Listen to YA superstar Sara Zarr (whose newest novel, GEM & DIXIE, is out now!) talk about the first time she encountered "smart" as an epithet, getting career advice from Chris Crutcher, and very nearly giving up on writing altogether.

Sara Zarr Show Notes

This Creative Life, Sara's podcast series

Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

Beverly Cleary

Marilyn Sachs

The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Judy Blume

We Need Diverse Books internship program

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Chris Crutcher

National Book Award

The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

Imposter Syndrome

This Creative Life with Scott Derrickson

This Creative Life with Gayle Forman

This Creative Life with Sarah Dessen

Kevin Bacon (actor)

A Simple Plan (movie)

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

My LATFoB panel

YALLWEST

BookCon!