88 Cups of Tea

R.J. PALACIO: #1 NYT Bestselling Author of ‘WONDER’ On Choosing Kindness & Creating Characters That Enhance Your Story


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Today's episode is proudly sponsored by GOTHAM WRITERS! I'm so excited to partner with them as they've spent over 20 years building an incredible writing community that offers sought-after writing classes in NYC and online. To learn more about why they have an amazing reputation within the writers' community, click here!

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We're doing a SPECIAL GIVEAWAY to 3 lucky winners for today's episode! Read below for more details!

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Hey Storyteller Tribe, I’m SO beyond honored to feature R.J. Palacio on today’s episode! R.J. is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of WONDERa middle-grade novel that sold over a million copies in just 18 months.

Entertainment Weekly says “Palacio has written a crackling page-turner filled with characters you can’t help but root for.”

R.J.’s book is now being adapted into a movie by LionsGate. According to The Wrap, Jacob Tremblay, the young star in “Room”, a movie nominated for best picture during the Oscars, is in talks to star in “Wonder”. It’s also mentioned that the studio has its sights set on Julia Roberts to play the main character’s mom.

In today’s episode, R.J. and I discuss a whole lot about “Wonder”, what it means to choose kind, and we dive into invaluable writing advice. It’s an honest and inspiring discussion that everyone will benefit from listening!

XO,

Yin

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“We’ve all known, most of us at least, what it’s like to feel like the outsider.” Click to tweet!

 

“Always remember to be grateful because that’s what authors should always be, is grateful.” Click to tweet!

 

“We deal with what we get.” Click to tweet!

 

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SPECIAL GIVEAWAY CONTEST ANNOUNCMENT!
We’re doing a special giveaway to 3 lucky winners! We have a signed copy of 3 different books by R.J. Palacio: WONDER, AUGGIE & ME, and 365 DAYS OF WONDER.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY CONTEST: 

  1. Listen carefully to R.J.’s episode and pick your favorite quote.
  2. Post your favorite quote from the interview on your Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
  3. Be sure to tag @88CUPSOFTEA and include #88cupsoftea in your post so I can find you! If you have a private account, remember to temporarily unblock it so that I can see your entry. 
  4. Deadline for the contest is Wednesday, April 27th at 3pm EST (12pm PST).
  5. The lucky winners will win one of R.J’s autographed books!
  6.  

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    About ‘WONDER’

    August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

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    What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
      • What it means to be kind and why we should choose ‘kind’ over being ‘right’ 

      • The importance of creating a writing routine and committing to it

      • How to create characters using inspiration from the people in your own life
      • How to include multiple points of views from different characters that will enhance the main character’s story

      • R.J.’s journey as a storyteller and her transition into being a full-time author

        Learn More About R.J. Palacio

        R. J. Palacio is the author of Wonder. She lives in New York City with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.

        R.J.’s Recommended Books & Resources:

        The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
        Leo Tolstoy 
        The House of Asterion by Jorge Luis Borges
        Blaise Pascal
        Thomas Mann
        Heinrich Boll

        Say ‘Hi!’ to R.J.
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