Literary festivals are in a crisis moment right now. Funding is drying up, readers are tightening their budgets, and with new festivals and book cons popping up, the money that is still available is being spread thinner than ever. On today’s episode of Into the FOLD, Jael and Lin look at what goes on behind the scenes in planning a literary festival, how to organize and program with longevity in mind, and what you need to remember when interacting with other literary festivals in your niche or geographic area.Jael & Lin's Top 3 Tips for Lit Fest Organizers: 1. Make sure you’re programming with purpose, not just “because that’s how we’ve always done it.”2. If you’re starting a new festival, understand what your mission is and be open and honest about it.3. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other festivals and events about possible collaboration and joint learning opportunities.

If you have questions for Jael & Lin, submit them to ⁠[email protected]⁠ and we may answer them in a future episode!

If you've enjoyed this podcast and would like to support the work of the FOLD, please consider a donating at ⁠https://www.thefoldcanada.org/donate⁠.

Podcast Page: ⁠https://www.thefoldcanada.org/intothefold⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.thefoldcanada.org⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/the_fold⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/FestivalofLiteraryDiversity⁠

Jael and Lin pit literary festivals against book conventions, with this episode's guest, Melissa Saavedra, founder of Steamy Lit Con. We talk about the difference between literary festivals and book conventions, some of the challenges we face as organizers, and what lessons we can learn from each other.

About Melissa Saavedra

Melissa Saavedra (she/her) is the founder of Steamy Lit, a romance literary collective dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and celebrating self-love through storytelling. Melissa launched Steamy Lit in 2021 with the debut of The Steam Box, a romance book subscription box that has since gained a loyal following for its commitment to inclusivity and sexual empowerment. When she’s not curating must-read romances or running her bookstore, Melissa can be found enjoying tequila on the beach or spending time with her beloved dogs. (https://www.steamylit.com/about)

Jael, Lin, and Melissa's Top 3 Tips for Organizing Book Events:

1. Think of the reader experience, and draw from book con or lit fest models as appropriate.
2. Treat the authors with respect and care.
3. Don't just create events to fill time, craft an experience for everyone in attendance.

If you have questions for Jael & Lin, submit them to [email protected] and we may answer them in a future episode!

If you've enjoyed this podcast and would like to support the work of the FOLD, please consider a donating at https://www.thefoldcanada.org/donate.

Podcast Page: https://www.thefoldcanada.org/intothefold

Website: https://www.thefoldcanada.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_fold

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FestivalofLiteraryDiversity

When the world is on fire, reading sometimes feels like a luxury we can't afford. Jael and Lin can commiserate. They talk about mood reading, giving yourself permission to read what you want, and how authors can use reading to inform their writing.

Jael & Lin's Top 3 Tips for Mood Reading:

1. Don't be afraid to DNF if a book isn't working for you.
2. Explore different formats that fit your lifestyle.
3. Understand how your reading affects your writing.

If you have questions for Jael & Lin, submit them to [email protected] and we may answer them in a future episode!

If you've enjoyed this podcast and would like to support the work of the FOLD, please consider a donating at https://www.thefoldcanada.org/donate.

Podcast Page: https://www.thefoldcanada.org/intothefold
Website: https://www.thefoldcanada.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_fold
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FestivalofLiteraryDiversity

Jael and Lin are joined by literary agent CeCe Lyra to talk about writing to market. What is writing to market? Should you do it? How should you do it?

Cecilia “CeCe” Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates representing a range of fiction and nonfiction authors writing for the adult market. Born and raised bilingual and bicultural in Rio de Janeiro, CeCe is passionate about representing under and misrepresented voices.

She is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA) and a co-host of the podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, which has over four million downloads. A mixed-race Latina, CeCe is a proud member of Latinx in Publishing. She is also a recovering lawyer but asks that you do not hold that against her. (https://cecilialyra.com/)

Jael, Lin & CeCe's Top 3 Tips for Writing to Market:

1. Write what you love. Remember your goals and priorities.
2. Study what's selling in the market.
3. Read books like a writer.

If you have questions for Jael & Lin, submit them to [email protected] and we may answer them in a future episode!

If you've enjoyed this podcast and would like to support the work of the FOLD, please consider a donating at https://www.thefoldcanada.org/donate.

Podcast Page: https://www.thefoldcanada.org/intothefold
Website: https://www.thefoldcanada.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_fold
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FestivalofLiteraryDiversity

Jael and Lin are joined by queer romance author Alli Temple to talk about two popular fandoms: Taylor Swift and the K-pop group Stray Kids. We chat about creating a community of fans, presenting an authentic version of ourselves, and the power of merch.

Alli Temple is an indie author with 18 queer fantasy and romance titles published since 2018. She thrives on chaos, feelings, writing on instinct, and talking to anyone who will listen about kpop, kdramas, and her adorable pack of rescue pets. She lives with her very patient husband in Etobicoke. (allisontemplebooks.com)

Jael, Lin & Alli's Top 3 Tips for Marketing (lessons from fandoms):

1. Build a relationship with readers.
2. Have a clear goal for each marketing activity.
3. Define your author persona.

If you have questions for Jael & Lin, submit them to [email protected] and we may answer them in a future episode!

If you've enjoyed this podcast and would like to support the work of the FOLD, please consider a donating at https://www.thefoldcanada.org/donate.

Podcast Page: https://www.thefoldcanada.org/intothefold
Website: https://www.thefoldcanada.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_fold
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FestivalofLiteraryDiversity

Welcome to Season 2 of Into the FOLD! This season Jael Richardson and Hudson Lin are back with honest conversations about the book and publishing industry.

In episode 1, Jael & Lin tackle the truth behind author marketing--authors have to do it themselves. They both share their "welcome to publishing" moments and explore some of the differences between trad and indie publishing.

Into the FOLD's new Ask Me Anything segment answers questions submitted by listeners about marketing.

1. Now that Twitter is useless where should writers be?
2. How do you come up with social media content?
3. How do I market my book after it's launch period?
4. Should I hire a freelance publicist for my next book?

Jael & Lin's Top 3 Tips for Marketing:

1. Have a high res headshot and bios of varying lengths.
2. Have a website and a way for people to contact you.
3. Develop a system to reuse content from readers.

If you've enjoyed this podcast and would like to support the work of the FOLD, please consider a donating at https://www.thefoldcanada.org/donate.

Podcast Page: https://www.thefoldcanada.org/intothefold
Website: https://www.thefoldcanada.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_fold
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FestivalofLiteraryDiversity

One month after the 10th annual Festival of Literary Diversity, Jael and Lin reconvene to debrief about how it went. Our favourite moments, some behind the scenes drama, and what we're looking forward to in the future. Shop FOLD Apparel: ⁠https://fold-apparel.myshopify.com/Podcast Page: ⁠thefoldcanada.org/intothefold⁠Website: ⁠thefoldcanada.org⁠Instagram: ⁠@the_fold⁠Facebook: ⁠@FestivalOfLiteraryDiversity⁠X: ⁠@TheFOLD_

As we get closer to the 10th annual Festival of Literary Diversity, the FOLD team talks about what we're excited about, what we're nervous about, and how we're managing our mental health.The 2025 Festival of Literary Diversity runs from April 27 - May 4, 2025. Virtual events take place from April 27-30. In-person events take place from May 1-4 in downtown Brampton, ON. For virtual festival passes, visit fold2025.vfairs.comFor in-person festival passes and tickets, visit fold2025.eventbrite.caShop FOLD Apparel: ⁠fold-apparel.myshopify.com/Podcast Page: ⁠TheFoldCanada.org/IntoTheFold⁠Website: ⁠TheFoldCanada.org⁠Instagram: ⁠@the_fold⁠Facebook: ⁠@FestivalOfLiteraryDiversity⁠X: ⁠@TheFOLD_

Episode 5 of Into the FOLD is all about virtual versus in-person events. One silver lining of the global pandemic is the shift into virtual programming, and the FOLD is committed to continuing offering virtual events. Watch this episode to learn why virtual programming is so important to the mission of the FOLD.Ardo Omer, the FOLD's Kids Program Coordinator, joins Jael and Lin to talk about the unique opportunities virtual events can present to students and kidlit authors.Ardo's Top Shelf Books:- River Mumma by Zalika Reid-Benta- Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline- Babel by R.F. Kuang

Shop FOLD Apparel: https://fold-apparel.myshopify.com/Podcast Page: ⁠TheFoldCanada.org/IntoTheFold⁠Website: ⁠TheFoldCanada.org⁠Instagram: ⁠@the_fold⁠Facebook: ⁠@FestivalOfLiteraryDiversity⁠X: ⁠@TheFOLD_

In episode 4 of Into the FOLD, Jael and Lin dive into finances! Learn about the nitty gritty of financing a literary festival in Canada, including some uncomfortable truths about money.

Sam Clarke, the FOLD's Volunteer and Audience Engagement Coordinator, joins Jael and Lin with helpful tips for other arts organizations looking for funding.

Sam's Top Shelf Books:

• Sunshine Nails by Mai Nguyen
• Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie by Jackie Lau
• Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu

Podcast Page: ⁠TheFoldCanada.org/IntoTheFold⁠

Website: ⁠TheFoldCanada.org⁠

Instagram: ⁠@the_fold⁠

Facebook: ⁠@FestivalOfLiteraryDiversity⁠

X: ⁠@TheFOLD_