In this episode, Sarah and Emily sit down with a traditionally published middle-grade author who has made it their mission to provide representation for Arab characters in children's literature. George Jreije discusses the inspiration behind their stories and how they incorporate their own experiences into their writing to create authentic and relatable characters without boxing them in.

As a marketing extraordinaire, George delves into the importance of not letting your identity define your art but also to ensure nuanced representation to impact diverse readers. Our guest will share their insights on the state of representation in publishing and its pigeon-holing and how it's crucial for young readers to see themselves in the characters they read about.

Additionally, we'll discuss the hustle that goes into marketing a book and getting it into the hands of readers. George will share their experience working with their publisher and successfully taking control of their book's promotion through social media and other avenues.

We'll also discuss the challenges of navigating the publishing industry as a debut author and the importance of persistence. This episode is a must-listen for writers and readers alike who are passionate about representation in literature and the dedication it takes to market a book successfully to get in the hands of reader outside of traditional avenues.

Mentions

George Jreije

• Website
• Instagram
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• TikTok

Elixir Writing Retreats

American Library Association

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• Shad Hadid and the Alchemists of Alexandria by George Jreije
• Shad Hadid and the Forbidden Alchemies by George Jreije
• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started.

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

In this episode, Sarah and Emily interview an editor of Wednesday Books, Mara Delgado Sanchez, to dive into the exciting and complex world of publishing. We explore the career of an editor at one of the most prestigious YA publishing houses in the world, Macmillan Wednesday Books. We'll go behind-the-scenes to learn about the day-to-day tasks, challenges, and rewards of working in the publishing industry.

Our guest will share insights into how they select manuscripts, the editing process, the collaboration with authors to bring their books to life, how books go to auction, and the marketing and positioning tasks of an editor. We'll also discuss the different genres that they work with, from Young Adult to Adult, and how they stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry.

Furthermore, we'll learn about the importance of networking and marketing relationships within the industry, from agents to booksellers, and how those relationships contribute to the success of a book.

Finally, we'll get a glimpse into the future of publishing and how the industry is evolving to meet the changing demands of readers. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in publishing their book or pursuing a career in the industry as an editor.

Mentions

Mara Delgado Sanchez

• Manuscript Wish List
• Twitter

Macmillan

St. Martin's Press

Wednesday Books

Fierce Reads

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J Maas
• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started.

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Paige Terlip, agent* at Andrea Brown Literary Agency chats to Sarah and Emily about her transition to agenting; her strategies for sales, advice to new agents, the importance of agent mentorship, and the idea author-agent relationship. (Please excuse Sarah's audio quality in this one!)

This episode is ideal for upcoming writers and agents. Not only do we ask Paige about strategies in book sales but she described her process in agenting in the post-Covid era which has helped her clients especially BIPOC authors. We go into marketing and what authors can expect from publishers and how to advocate for themselves.

Paige represents all categories of children’s books from picture books to young adult, as well as select adult fiction, including thrillers/psychological suspense, fantasy/sci-fi, horror, upmarket fiction, romance, and mysteries. Regardless of genre, she is seeking inclusive, intersectional voices and gorgeous line-level writing with emotionally compelling narratives.

We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did recording it!

*Note at the time of recording Paige was an associate agent but is now promoted to full agent at Andrea Brown Agency

Paige Terlip

• Instagram
• Website
• Andrea Brown Literary Agency

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana
   

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started.

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Liselle Sambury, author and Booktuber, chats to Emily and Sarah about her publishing journey, her advice for new authors and battling the expectations of social media; her inspiration behind launching a fabulous author YouTube channel.

Listen in if you’d love to learn about how she uses YouTube and social media to complement her writing; her tips for new emerging Booktubers and authors, and longevity in the industry. This is a must listen for writers in any stage of their career!

Links

Liselle Sambury

• Website
• YouTube Channel
• 25 Things I’ve Learned After a Year of Publication
• Instagram
• Twitter

RevPit

The Knight Agency

Alexa Donne YouTube Channel

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
• Blood like Fate by Liselle Sambury
• Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started.

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Emily and Sarah interview the amazing G. Willow Wilson - co-creator of Ms. Marvel, award winning fantasy author and comic book writer. G. Willow Wilson chats to us about the challenges of being a Muslim comic book author, how Ms. Marvel came to be, including the tv adaptation, and being a fantasy writer writing about non western characters and worlds. Sarah and Emily chat with her about the challenges of writing your marginalization and the issues of marketing based on your identity, and the challenges of writing as a Muslim author and comic book writer in a post 9/11 world.

Links

G. Willow Wilson

• Website
• Newsletter
• Instagram
• Twitter

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana
• The Bird King by G. Willow Wilson
• Ms Marvel by G. Willow Wilson
• Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
• House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started.

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Kristin Dwyer chats to Emily and Sarah about her incredible publishing journey, her tips for building a strong writer community, and what happens when supply chain issues throw off your release date! Kristin gives us a no nonsense look at the misconceptions about publishing, those pesky subjective bestseller lists and inspires us to focus on the love of story in order to achieve longevity.
 

Links

• Kristin Dwyer
  • Website
  • Instagram
     
• Casey McQuiston
• Adrienne Young
• Isabel Ibanez
• Stephanie Garber
• Suzanne Park
• Rachel Solomon
• Taj McCoy
• V.E. Schwab
• Adalyn Grace
• Victoria Aveyard's TikTok
• Akshaya Raman
• Emily Wibberley
• YALLFest
• Epic Reads
• Romance Writers of America
• Writing With The Soul

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore
 

• Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer
• Caraval by Stephanie Garber
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
• I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
• Seoulmates by Susan Lee
• All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace
• They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started.

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

In this episode, Sarah and Emily interview the popular Booktuber and Bookgrammer Jananie K. Velu! Jananie talks to us about her journey launching her YouTube channel and how she has dedicated her work to advocating for diverse, engaging and punching books that leave an impact in today’s world. Not only do we ask her about strategies in book marketing but she goes into detail about her jobs in the publishing industry that helped inform her need to advocate for marginalized authors. Examples of questions we asked included, what marketing plans to use with your publishing team? What to ask your demand from you team? The differences between BIPOC marketing and other authors?

We also ask her about her favorite marketing strategies that she has learned from her experiences working for publishers as well as running her popular YouTube and Instagram. Next we discuss how she has monetized book blogging and the unique opportunities that have arose as a result such as her Netflix collaboration and Lilly Singh Book Club partnerships. We also discuss ways authors can implement social media in their marketing and ways to do so in an organic way, using examples of Tik Tok.

Links

• Jananie K. Velu
  • YouTube Channel - this story ain't over
  • Website
• Lilly Singh's Book Club
• Victoria Aveyard's TikTok
• Sabaa Tahir's TikTok
• Netflix Book Club
• Alex Aster's TikTok
• Books with Chloe
• My Name is Marines
• Story for Coffee
   

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel
• The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• Colleen Hoover's Backlist
• Babel by R.F. Kuang
• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started. 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

We are thrilled to share this week’s new episode featuring Jo Volpe, the agent extraordinaire and founder of the powerhouse New Leaf Literary Agency, home to some of the most beloved authors spanning multiple genres. In this episode, we cover the journey of founding New Leaf, the day-to-day management of an entire agency, and even non-writing related topics including her background in teaching.

We immediately resonated with Jo’s entrepreneurial hustle. Then we got into the crux of the episode which encompassed managing author careers, from splashy Netflix deals, to sub strategies, and she even gives a peek into New Leaf’s unique collaboration with their authors on marketing campaigns.  

Let us know your thoughts about today’s conversation on Instagram or Patreon! 

We discuss the nature of good author-agent relations and what to look for. Then we get into querying. She breaks down author careers and longevity. This episode was full of gems. We left this recording reeling from the sheer amount of information that she gave! This is a must listen!

Links

• Joanna Volpe - New Leaf Literary
• Susan Dennard's Newsletter - Misfits & Daydreamers
   

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• Divergent by Veronica Roth
• The Witchlands Series by Susan Dennard
• The Luminaries by Susan Dennard
• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started.

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

In this episode, Sarah and Emily interview the number 1 New York Times Bestselling author, Judy I. Lin. Judy talks to us about her experience launching her debut young adult novel and its sequel in under a year, the unique magic system in her YA Fantasy novel (based on tea!) and her love for commissioning art as a way to boost her marketing efforts. We also discuss the power of using folklore to expand your world-building and infuse your novel with culture and richness.

Links

• Judy I. Lin
  • A Magic Steeped in Poison
  • A Venom Dark and Sweet
• Pitch Wars
• Ruby 18 Tea
• Fierce Reads

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• Bitterthorn by Kat Dunn
• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started. Even just a sentence is perfect!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Welcome to the first episode of On the Write Track podcast! In this episode Sarah and Emily interview each other, give you an overview of their writing journeys, and you get to find out more about why they started the podcast and the types of questions they will be asking of their future guests. There's some fun fast round questions in there too!

Links

• Emily Varga
  • Add "For She is Wrath" on Goodreads
• Sarah M. Rana
  • Pre-order Hope Ablaze 
• PitchWars
• PitMad

Books Mentioned - We strongly encourage that listeners purchase these titles from their favorite indie bookstore

• A Venom Dark and Sweet by Judy I Lin
• The Empress by Gigi Griffis
• Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
• These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong
• The Bone Shard Emperor by Andrea Stewart
• The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart
• The Wicked Unseen by Gigi Griffis
• Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
• Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
• For She is Wrath by Emily Varga
• Hope Ablaze by Sarah Mughal Rana

Thank you so much for listening to the very first episode of On the Write Track! Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! It really helps the podcast, especially since we're just getting started. 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Come back every second Thursday for a brand new episode of On the Write Track Pod. Make sure you hit the follow button to get notified, and like and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen! Sign up to our Patreon where you can receive exclusive perks, some for as little as the cost of a coffee!

Did you enjoy the episode? Please leave us a review! 

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!

Follow the podcast @OntheWriteTrackPodcast on Instagram. Also connect with Sarah and Emily on Instagram or TikTok!