Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays, feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. So make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/ so you don't miss out on the next takeover!

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Diggin the books you're discovering from our podcast episodes? You'll love learning about Lamar Giles and his debut novel NOT SO PURE AND SIMPLE. Be sure to tune into Lamar's interview segment that's proudly brought to you by Epic Reads at the top of this episode and be inspired by his advice on reaching your writing goals!

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Want to discover how to manage strict deadlines or how to best ask for an extension? How about a plotting technique that'll help you build strong character arcs? Or all the ways a writing retreat can help you reach your writing goals? We talk about it all and much more with Grace Lin.

Grace is a NY Times bestselling author and illustrator who won the Newbery Honor for her book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Her other award-winning books include When the Sea Turned to Silver, Starry River of the Sky, The Year of the Dog, and her upcoming novel Mulan: Before the Sword!

Grace and I kick off the conversation with how she found her passion for writing and illustrating children's books and the steps she took to turn her dream into a thriving career. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look into her TEDx talk where she highlights the significance of multicultural literature on personal identity and development. She shares an exciting snapshot of her upcoming novel Mulan: Before the Sword that sets the stage for Disney's upcoming live-action movie Mulan. We then dive into her research process and how she managed the book's tight deadline, all while giving us crucial advice on how to juggle deadlines all while staying true to your story. We then discuss plotting strong character arcs, why writing retreats are crucial to Grace's livelihood as a writer, and you'll be happy to hear that we also touch on finances in this conversation.

Please say 'Hi' to Grace on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/pacylin

Head over to Grace's shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/grace-lin ‎to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. And be sure to catch her Instagram story takeover by heading over to Instagram.com/88cupsoftea!