Of the Publishing Persuasion

We were in awe chatting with the wise, big magic human that is THE Tigest Girma @tigestgirma 🤩👑✨️!! It was just one of those writer therapy episodes and we can't wait for you all to tune in!

But first, here's more about Tigest!

Tigest Girma is an Ethiopian writer based in Melbourne, Australia. Her debut Immortal Dark is a #1 New York Times bestselling title and will be available in more than ten languages. After graduating with a Bachelor of Education, she splits her time between writing and teaching. Passionate about exploring East African characters and myths, her work weaves Black stories with the dark and fantastical. In her free time, she can be found rewatching her comfort shows where the villain gets the girl.

About IMMORTAL DARK
It began long before my time, but something has always hunted our family.
Orphaned heiress Kidan Adane grew up far from the arcane society she was born into, where human bloodlines gain power through vampire companionship. When her sister, June, disappears, Kidan is convinced a vampire stole her—the very vampire bound to their family, the cruel yet captivating Susenyos Sagad.
To find June, Kidan must infiltrate the elite Uxlay University—where students study to ensure peaceful coexistence between humans and vampires and inherit their family legacies. Kidan must survive living with Susenyos—even as he does everything he can to drive her away. It doesn’t matter that Susenyos’s wickedness speaks to Kidan’s own violent nature and tempts her to surrender to a life of darkness. She must find her sister and kill Susenyos at all costs.
When a murder mirroring June’s disappearance shakes Uxlay, Kidan sinks further into the ruthless underworld of vampires, risking her very soul. There she discovers a centuries-old threat—and June could be at the center of it. To save her sister, Kidan must bring Uxlay to its knees and either break free from the horrors of her own actions or embrace the dark entanglements of love—and the blood it requires.
https://tigestgirma.com/

IMMORTAL DARK here: https://tigestgirma.com/book/immortal-dark/https://tigestgirma.com/book/immortal-dark/

Add IMMORTAL DARK to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204593711-immortal-dark

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We had the best fun ever chatting with the warm, bright spark that is THE Steena Hernandez ⁠@steenahernandez⁠ on the show 🤩👑✨️

We can't wait for you all to tune in. But first here's more about Steena:

Steena Hernandez holds a BFA in theatre, music, and dance from Texas Tech University, and has performed with the Rent Broadway tour, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra as a vocalist, and the United Service Organization (USO) tour, and more. She now resides in San Antonio, Texas, with her family. She's a storyteller at heart, and when she's not writing or cooking, you can find her curled up in a cozy spot reading with her two children. 

⁠https://www.steenahernandez.com/⁠ 

Steena's debut picture book LUPITA'S BROWN BALLET SLIPPERS is out now.

About the book:

Everyone deserves to shine. Lupita's big ballet recital is approaching. The music is perfect. Her ballet moves are strong. But her peachy pink ballet slippers don't match her skin tone. Lupita searches for the right pair only to discover it will take hard work--and messy measures--in order for her shoes to dance with her. Inspired by the author's own experiences as a Latina dancer, Lupita's Brown Ballet Slippers is a charming story filled with determination. The final few spreads teach readers about the history of ballet slippers as well as the crucial changes the industry has seen for dancers of all races and ethnicities.

Get your copy here: ⁠https://www.steenahernandez.com/⁠

Add it to goodreads here: ⁠https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203120196-lupita-s-brown-ballet-slippers⁠ ⁠

#OfthePublishingPersuasion⁠ ⁠#podcast⁠ ⁠#writing⁠ ⁠#Publishing⁠  ⁠#LupitasBrownBalletSlippers⁠ ⁠#SteenaHernandez⁠ ⁠#2024debuts⁠ ⁠#2024debut⁠ ⁠#picturebook⁠ ⁠#ballet⁠ ⁠#newrelease⁠ ⁠#picturebook⁠ ⁠#dance⁠ ⁠#ballet⁠ ⁠#inclusion⁠ ⁠#book⁠ ⁠#read⁠ ⁠#debut⁠ ⁠#iloveballet⁠  ⁠#BalletBooks⁠ ⁠#BrownBalletShoes⁠ ⁠#DanceBook⁠ ⁠#BooksForKids⁠ ⁠#BooksForChildren⁠ ⁠#BalletSlippers⁠ ⁠#ChildrensBallet⁠ ⁠#KidlitIllustration⁠ ⁠#ChildrensBooks⁠ ⁠#ChildrensBooksOfInstagram⁠ ⁠#LatinxBooksForKids⁠ ⁠#LatinxAuthors⁠ ⁠#BeamingBooks⁠

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!! 🎃☠️ 🍬 🏚️ 👻 👺 💀⁠

Join us for an Adults only Halloween special as we discuss the spicy Halloween book: PLOWED BY THE PUMPKIN KING....You only have yourselves to blame for this 😂🎃👑💦

Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.

HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer

#OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #bookstagram #Publishing #extraspicy #halloween #halloweenbooks

We were absolutely blown away talking to the truly inspiring, passionate human that is THE Shifa Saltagi Safadi @muslimmommyblog 🤩👑✨️

We can not wait for you all to tune in!!

But first, here's more about Shifa:

Shifa Saltagi Safadi was born in Syria and immigrated to the US with her parents when she was a young girl. She is a bilingual Arabic/English speaker, and is very familiar with the challenges of learning English and navigating two languages.

Shifa is the author of National Book Award Finalist KAREEM BETWEEN (Putnam/Penguin Kids 2024), the AMINA BANANA chapter books (Putnam/Penguin Kids 2025), picture book THE GIFT OF EID (Holiday House 2025), and more coming!

She has previously three published picture books (SPELL IT LIKE SAMAR, HEAVEN AT MAMA’S FEET, and PEPPERONI, PITCHES, and OTHER PROBLEMS) with Muslim publisher Ruqaya’s Bookshelf.

https://shifasafadi.com/

About Shifa's latest book KAREEM BETWEEN:

This heartfelt coming-of-age novel in verse tells the powerful story of a seventh-grade Syrian American boy and his struggles, big and small, as he navigates middle school.
Seventh grade begins and Kareem’s fall should be off to a great start. But he’s already fumbled it.
His best friend moved away, he bungled his tryout for the football team, and because of his heritage, he was voluntold to show the new kid—a Syrian refugee with a thick and embarrassing accent—around school. Just when Kareem thinks his middle school life has imploded, the hot-shot QB promises to get Kareem another tryout for the squad. There’s a catch: to secure that chance, Kareem must do something he knows is wrong.
Then like a surprise blitz, Kareem’s mom returns to Syria to bring her aging parents out of a war zone and to the United States. But a new executive order prevents her from coming home. If Kareem could throw a penalty flag on the fouls of his school and home life, it would be for Unnecessary Roughness.
Kareem is stuck between. Between countries. Between friends, between football, between parents—and between right and wrong. It’s up to him to step up, find his confidence, and navigate the beauty and hope found somewhere in the middle.

Find Shifas books here: https://shifasafadi.com/books/

Add Shifas books to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203608470-kareem-between

#OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Publishing #writingcommunity #bookstagram 
#podcastsforwriters #writingpodcast #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying#kareembetween #middlegrade #kirkusreviews #kirkusstar #middlegrademarch #mgnovelinverse #versenovel #ramadanread #muslimauthor 

We fangirled SO hard getting to chat with THE Clare Osongco on the podcast recently @clareosongco 🤩👑✨️ Clare is such a wise, inspiring soul and her upcoming debut MIDNIGHTS WITH YOU is nothing short of a masterpiece. We cannot wait for you all to tune in!!!

But first, here's more about Clare:

Clare Osongco is a biracial Filipina American writer living in Los Angeles. Her debut novel, MIDNIGHTS WITH YOU, is coming out from Disney-Hyperion on Nov. 12, 2024. She enjoys mangos with bagoong, mechanical keyboard sounds, and writing super early in the morning when it's easier to pretend the rest of the world doesn't exist.

https://www.clareosongco.com/about

MIDNIGHTS WITH YOU

“Where were you thinking of going?”
“Nowhere.”
“Great,” he says lightly, putting the car in gear. “Then we’ll go there.”
Seventeen-year-old Deedee’s life is full of family ghosts and questions she can’t ask. She longs to escape her stifling home, but guilt holds her back—that, and the fact that her strict Filipino single mom won’t let her learn to drive. But one sleepless night leads Deedee down a road she never thought possible: secret driving lessons with the new boy next door, Jay, whose turbulent family life also keeps him up until sunrise.
As midnights stretch into days, Jay helps Deedee begin to unravel her past, and as shared secrets blossom into love, Deedee starts to imagine a life where happiness is possible. But the deeper she digs into the trauma that has shaped her, the more that trauma threatens to tear Deedee and Jay apart. Together, these two must decide if the pain they’ve both inherited has the power to choose their fate, or if they have the power to choose for themselves.
Coming Nov. 12, 2024 from Disney-Hyperion.

Order your copy of MIDNIGHTS WITH YOU here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746215/midnights-with-you-by-clare-osongco/

Add MIDNIGHTS WITH YOU to Goodreads here:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/109253821-midnights-with-you

#OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Publishing #writingcommunity #bookstagram #romancebooks #yaromance #booksofig #aapibooks  #yalit #midnightswithyou #ClareOsongco
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We were so lucky to chat with Aussie fantasy author star, THE Alicia Jasinska last week @aliciamja 🤩👑✨️

We can't wait for you all to tune in! 

But first here's more about Alicia:
Alicia Jasinska is a fantasy writer hailing from Sydney, Australia. A library technician by day, she spends her nights writing and hanging upside down from the aerial hoop.
She is the author of THE DARK TIDE, THE MIDNIGHT GIRLS, and the newly released: THIS FATAL KISS.

About THIS FATAL KISS:

Cursed to haunt the river running through the magical spa town where she drowned, Gisela is a water nymph who dreams of returning to the living world and the family she left behind. All it takes to regain her humanity is a kiss from a mortal…but everyone sees her as a monster.
And then there’s Kazik, the brooding, interfering, spirit-hunting grandson of a local witch. He’s determined to rid the world of unholy creatures like Gisela. After Kazik botches Gisela’s exorcism, she strikes up a deal. She won’t tell the other spirits that he’s losing his magic, if he agrees to play matchmaker and helps her get a kiss.
But Gisela’s plan goes awry when Kazik also falls for the devilishly handsome young man that she sets her heart on –someone who could be linked to Gisela’s troubled past.

Find Alicia's books here: https://aliciajasinska.com/books/

Add Alicia's books to Goodreads

here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19071443.Alicia_Jasinska

#OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Publishing #writingcommunity #bookstagram #thisfatalkiss #thedarktide #themidnightgirls #aliciajasinska #yafantasy #loveozya#podcastsforwriters #writingpodcast #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #fantasybook #romantasy #cozyfantasy #queerbooks #lgbtbooks #polybooks #romancebooks #aussieauthor #youngadultbooks

We had the most wonderfully inspiring chat with none other than the Author of the Sunday Times instant Bestseller THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC Author THE Megan Scott!! ⁠@meganscott_writer⁠ 🤩👑✨️

Megan shared so many wonderful writing tips with us and we can't wait for you all to tune in!

But first here's more about Megan:

Megan Scott is the Sunday Times Bestselling author from the North West of England. Her first novel for young adults, THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC, is out now beginning the EMPYREAL trilogy. Full of romance, mythology and the supernatural, keep an eye on her Instagram or sign up to the newsletter to stay up to date. She studied Art History and Classical Civilisation at St. Andrews University and earned a distinction on her Masters of Research exploring depictions of myth in nineteenth century art. Both of which still inspire her novels. She is currently working on her next books. When she’s not writing or on Pinterest, she’s trying to read as much as her nana, paint something she doesn’t want to ceremoniously burn in the garden, and soak up all the Irish family history she can.

 ⁠https://www.meganscottwriter.com/⁠

Her debut Novel THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC is out now!!

About THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC

Nicole Palmer has needed to study the supernatural art in a local Cornish manor for years. Encoded in it is the last message from her mother on how to stay safe from The Wake—the organization that governs all supernaturals. As an Empyreal, Nicole has the ability to hunt and kill dangerous creatures, making her invaluable. But if her power was ever triggered, they would find her, use her, and then kill her.
Like they did her mother.
Securing an undergraduate research role to study the collection, Nicole discovers her greatest enemy—one of The Wake’s Empyreals. Kyan McCarter is their best hunter, stationed at the manor to track and kill a deadly creature, but when they realise a painting’s been stolen by his prey, Nicole and Kyan are forced to work together to find it.
As the creature threatens to expose Nicole’s power, her tenuous alliance with Kyan threatens her heart. If Kyan finds out what she is, he’ll hunt her next—or risk execution. No one disobeys The Wake and survives. Especially not when the art they’re seeking holds the key to a conspiracy that could get them both killed, and change the lives of creatures, and humans, forever.
SERPENT AND DOVE meets A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, in this luxurious, forbidden romance.

Get your copy of THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC here: ⁠https://shorturl.at/O7WfF⁠

Add THE TEMPTATION OF MAGIC to Goodreads here: ⁠https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206009960-the-temptation-of-magic⁠⁠

#OfthePublishingPersuasion⁠ ⁠#podcast⁠ ⁠#Publishing⁠ ⁠#writingcommunity⁠ ⁠#bookstagram⁠ ⁠#meganscott⁠ ⁠#thetemptationofmagic⁠ ⁠#podcastsforwriters⁠ ⁠#writingpodcast⁠ ⁠#authorsofinstagram⁠ ⁠#authorssupportingauthors⁠ ⁠#authorsofig⁠ ⁠#authorscommunity⁠ ⁠#writersofinstagram⁠ ⁠#writerspodcast⁠ ⁠#writeradvice⁠ ⁠#podcasting⁠ ⁠#podcasts⁠ ⁠#podcastersofinstagram⁠ ⁠#Query⁠ ⁠#querying⁠ ⁠#bestsellerlist⁠ ⁠#paranormalromance⁠ ⁠#fantasybook⁠ ⁠#sundaytimesbestseller⁠

We were so lucky to get to chat with the absolute QUEEN that is Hayley Dennings @pagesofhayley 🤩👑✨ today we're talking Arcane, we're talking murderous sapphic vamps and all things of the publishing persuasion.

We can't wait for you all to tune in. But first, here's more about Hayley ✨️

Hayley Dennings is a recent graduate from Loyola Marymount University, where she double majored in English and French with a concentration in diversity and inclusion. Hayley loves stories centered on queer female characters and dedicates her writing to actively resisting misogynoir. She currently resides in the Bay Area, working as an editorial and marketing associate for Fable. When Hayley is not working, she is spending time with her dogs, reading, painting, and baking.

https://hayleydennings.com/

Her debut Novel THIS RAVENOUS FATE is out now!! 

About THIS RAVENOUS FATE :

The first book in a decadent fantasy duology set in Jazz Age Harlem, where at night the dance halls come to life—and death waits in the dark.
It's 1926 and reapers, the once-human vampires with a terrifying affliction, are on the rise in New York. But the Saint family's thriving reaper-hunting enterprise holds reign over the city, giving them more power than even the organized criminals who run the nightclubs. Eighteen year-old Elise Saint, home after five years in Paris, is the reluctant heir to the empire. Only one thing weighs heavier on Elise's mind than her family obligations: the knowledge that the Harlem reapers want her dead.

Layla Quinn is a young reaper haunted by her past. Though reapers have existed in America for three centuries, created by New World atrocities and cruel experiments, Layla became one just five years ago. The night she was turned, she lost her parents, the protection of the Saints, and her humanity, and she'll never forget how Elise Saint betrayed her.

But some reapers are inexplicably turning part human again, leaving a wake of mysterious and brutal killings. When Layla is framed for one of these attacks, the Saint patriarch offers her a deal she can't refuse: to work with Elise to investigate how these murders might be linked to shocking rumors of a reaper cure. Once close friends, now bitter enemies, Elise and Layla explore the city's underworld, confronting their intense feelings for one another and uncovering the sinister truths about a growing threat to reapers and humans alike.

Get your copy of THIS RAVENOUS FATE here: https://hayleydennings.com/books-1

Add THIS RAVENOUS FATE to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200174131-this-ravenous-fate

#OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Publishing #writingcommunity #hayleydennings #thisravenousfate #bookstagram#Fantasy #Vampires #queerreads #LGBT #sapphicbook #writersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #bookrecs#HistoricalFiction #YoungAdult #podcastsforwriters #writingpodcast #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying

We had such a great, big energy chat with the legend that is THE Byron Graves!! @makwa_giniw 🤩🥳💫💫 We can't wait for you all to tune in!🕺✨️ But first here's a bit more about Byron!

Byron Graves is Ojibwe and was born and raised on the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, where he played high school basketball. When he isn't writing, he can be found playing retro video games, spending time with his family, or cheering on his beloved Minnesota Timberwolves. Rez Ball is his debut novel.

Get your copy of REZ BALL here: ⁠https://www.harpercollins.com/products/rez-ball-byron-graves?variant=41468066136098

Add REZ BALL to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71490642-rez-ball

💫✨️
#OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Publishing #writingcommunity #rezball #ByronGraves #youngadult #basketballbook #podcastsforwriters  #writingpodcast #authortube #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #querytrenches #podcastlife #bookstagram #bookish #basketball #yabooks

We had the best chat with the beautiful soul that is THE Amanda Carbonell!! @amandacarbonell25 🤩💖💫

Amanda is a  Junior Literary Agent @belcastroagency, Shes also an  author, a Freelance Editor/Owner of Editing Tales and and an agent sibling to your friendly Australian cohost Melanie 🤩✨️We can't wait for you all to tune in!

But first here's a bit more about Amanda!

Amanda Carbonell’s passion for all things scary came at the age of five thanks to her mother for introducing her to Buffy. Soon after, her world became consumed by books. While receiving her bachelor’s and distinction in Journalism from Western Connecticut State University, Amanda interned with ArtHouse Literary before interning with CMA, Inc. She went on to agent-apprentice with Belcastro Literary Agency before being promoted to junior agent. When she is not reading through queries and building her client list, you can find her writing Latinx stories within the paranormal/speculative genres with her agent. She is a New York native living with her husband, son, and two dogs who loves watching reruns of Gilmore Girls, Jersey Shore, and Real Housewives.

Find Amanda's Editing Services here: https://editingtales.com/services/

Find Amanda's MSWL here: https://www.amandacarbonell.com/agent-page

You can also find her here on her agency website: https://www.belcastroagency.com/submit-a-story/

#OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Publishing #writingcommunity #podcastsforwriters #newbook #newrelease #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #authortube #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #Publishing #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #querytrenches #podcastlife #bookstagram #bookish