Literaticast

I'm joined by Suzanna Hermans, from Oblong Books & Music in New York's Hudson Valley. She talks about how she curates the selection at Oblong -- what prompts an "auto-buy" from her -- and when books get returned. We also touch on some hot topics: Does a scandal from an author prompt exclusion from the bookstore shelves? And just how terrible IS Henry Higgins from MY FAIR LADY? (#theworst). Plus, great book recommendations, and current obsessions!

It's a jam-packed double episode featuring two authors whose YA books are polar opposites... except for the fact that they are both TERRIFIC... and they both have the same release date! Amy Spalding is on hand to discuss her new rom-com THE SUMMER OF JORDI PEREZ (AND THE BEST BURGER IN LOS ANGELES), and also to do a deep dive into the hamburger-based culinary traditions of L.A. Justina Ireland joins me to talk about her blood-spattered alt-historical novel DREAD NATION, Mark Twain, and how to kill a man with a grass trimmer. Never say we don't teach you anything on the Literaticast!

Every year in Spring, children's agents descend on a small city in Italy for the largest international children's-only book fair in the world. But it's not all gelato-nomming and prosecco-swilling! I give a crash course in what translation rights even are, and then superagent Kathleen Ortiz from New Leaf Literary joins me to talk about what exactly goes on at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. (Though, off the record, if you want to talk to me about gelato, I do also have a lot of opinions on that subject.) Plus, we talk about some upcoming titles in self-promotion corner, and as always, share our current obsessions.

YA author Saundra Mitchell joins me to chat about her new anthology, ALL OUT: THE NO-LONGER SECRET STORIES OF QUEER TEENS THROUGHOUT THE AGES. ALL OUT is stuffed chock-full of genre-spanning queer historical stories, and Saundra talks about not only the making of this book, but also different ways to approach anthologies. Also: we talk about how YA publishing has changed in the past ten years, what's up with writing under pseudonyms, what the deal is with #ownvoices, how to know if you are writing YA or adult, and how to juggle writing and promoting your books while holding down a day job. Plus, what we're obsessed with this week.

Brilliant and opinionated Lisa von Drasek joins me to talk about Kerlan Collection, the Caldecott and Newbery Awards, and much more. Lisa tries not to get roped into my shenanigans of wildly speculating about award outcomes, and only partially succeeds. And, we share a passion for a certain upcoming book about zombies. PS: I almost definitely said the date of the ALA Youth Media Awards announcements incorrectly on the podcast, or forgot to say it at all. If you want to attend the press conference or view the livestream, the correct date is MONDAY, FEB 12, at 8am Mountain Time. Link to the livestream in the show notes, and I'll be tweeting about it on the morning of!

Superagent Molly Ker Hawn, head of the U.K. office of The Bent Agency, joins me for a proper chinwag about the U.K. vs U.S. book market. Along the way, we answer some listener questions, including: What does one look for in a newer agent? How does one work with an editor? What if one wants to write in multiple categories/genres? Plus, we talk about upcoming new books, complain about the monarchy, gab about ghosts, and more!

I spoke to four amazing children's booksellers across the country and got their top picks for holiday giving. Obviously this is for AFTER you've already bought all my client's books ;-) I hope you find some new favorites on this list, and I hope all my listeners have a wonderful holiday season full of warmth and light... and BOOKS!

I sit down with editor Kendra Levin, who is also a life-coach for writers, to talk NaNoWriMo, among other things. She uses the Hero's Journey as not just a craft tool, but a process tool, and gives us a big dose of inspiration for the writer's life. (NaNoInspo that should be useful all the year round!) Along the way, I tell my secret NaNoWriMo confession. Kendra also helps me answer some listener publishing questions, and we talk about Fancy French People and the Librarian of Congress.

I chat with Scholastic/Graphix editor Cassandra Pelham Fulton about how graphic novels are created from the editorial POV... and then with creator Nilah Magruder about her road to comics success. It's a double episode - and DOUBLE the fun!

This week's show is jammed full of goodies. I explore the topic of Authenticity, then talk with guest author and self-marketing guru Jess Keating about Platform Development (what even IS that?!?), social media best practices, how to buddy up to librarians and booksellers, how to add value for educators, and so much more. Then Jess regales us with some wild animal facts (both the animals AND the facts are wild!), and we get into talking about Jess's new book SHARK LADY, as well as a handful of Non-Jess nonfiction picture books. Plus, as always, we talk about what we are currently obsessed with - in this case, a grownup book, and a hashtag!