The Hope Prose Podcast

Today’s episode of Hope Prose is for those that love romantic comedies, K-pop, K-drama, or maybe even none of those things and just want something fun to listen to on a long commute. No matter where you fall into those categories, Lily Chu is sure to have you laughing and running out to buy her latest book “The Comeback”. 

Her debut novel “The Stand-In”, released through Audible, is performed by Phillipa Soo and spent multiple weeks at number one in Audible Top Plus Listens. In print, “The Stand-In” was named Target’s Book Club Pick for May, an Amazon Book of the Month, and Apple Best Books of May. 

Her most recent novel “The Comeback” is available in print and as an Audible Original, also narrated by Phillipa Soo, and was named one of Audible’s Best of 2023.

Listen as they have a fun-filled discussion about all things The Comeback, her jump from steampunk romance to rom-com, how BTS and K-pop have helped her both creatively and emotionally, what it was like finding out THE Philipa Soo was going to narrate her novels, and her tricks to writing the most delicious slow-burn. 

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1 

Lily’s books can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: https://bookshop.org/a/56741/9781728242651 

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Karin Lin-Greenberg joins Alex and Tara to chat all things her debut novel You Are Here. Karin’s first story collection, Faulty Predictions, won the 2013 Flannery O'Connor Award in Short Fiction from the University of Georgia Press. Her second story collection, Vanished, won the 2021 Prairie Schooner Raz-Shumaker Book Prize in Fiction and was published by the University of Nebraska Press in 2022. You Are Here was published by Counterpoint Press in May 2023.

Listen for tips on finding magazines and journals to submit your short stories, what inspired You Are Here, writing interwoven narratives across multiple POVs, and so much more.

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes, resources, and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1 

Karin’s books can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: https://bookshop.org/a/56741/9781534497719

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In today’s episode of Hope Prose, Suzanne Park joins Alex and Tara to chat about her newest book The Do-Over.  Suzanne is a Korean American writer born and raised in Tennessee and in her former life as a stand-up comedian, she appeared on BET, was the winner of the Seattle Sierra Mist Comedy Competition, and was a semi-finalist in NBC's "Stand Up For Diversity" showcase. Her novels have been featured in “best of” lists in NPR, Popsugar, Real Simple, Country Living, Bustle, Buzzfeed, Marie Claire, Parade, Shondaland, and The Today Show.

Listen for a vibrant discussion on imposter syndrome, what sparked the idea for The Do-Over's premise, how her comedy career helped her fiction writing, releasing books during the pandemic vs. after, and why she would eat an entire jar of mayonnaise. 

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1 

Suzanne’s books can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: https://bookshop.org/a/56741/9781534497719

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In today’s episode of Hope Prose, Becky Dean drops by to chat about her newest book Picture-Perfect Boyfriend. Becky is the author of two young adult contemporary romances, Love & Other Great Expectations and (soon!) Picture-Perfect Boyfriend, plus the science fiction series Shades of Starlight written under the name B.L. Dean. 

She is a fan of adventures both real and fictional and when she’s not writing or traveling, she can be found drinking tea, watching science fiction shows, or quoting The Lord of the Rings. 

Listen as they discuss the winding road that is getting from draft to publication, her numerous book ideas, how her time traveling has influenced her writing, and what it’s been like getting ready to launch and launching four books in three months (!). 

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1 

Becky’s books can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: https://bookshop.org/a/56741/9781534497719

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In today’s episode of Hope Prose, author, podcaster, lawyer, and professor Jamie Chai Yun Liew sits down with Tara to discuss her debut novel Dandelion. Longlisted for the CBC Canada Reads 2023 and CBC's Best Canadian Fiction 2022 list, Dandelion is also the recipient of the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award, aka…she’s a pretty big deal. With roots in South East Asia, Jamie lives with her family in Ottawa, Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. 

Listen as they discuss how her work as a lawyer specializing in immigration and stateless people helped spark the idea for Dandelion, the importance of food in her storytelling, and the decision to use Chinese characters as chapter titles within her work.

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1 

Jamie’s books can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: https://bookshop.org/a/56741/9781534497719

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In today’s BONUS episode of Hope Prose, Emilie (AKA E.A. Hendryx) sits down with Alex to talk about her YA fantasy/sci-fi novel Suspended in the Stars and her experience crowdfunding it. When she’s not reading, writing, or working in her Etsy shop, she loves long walks in the woods and listening to music. 

Listen as they discuss the pros and cons of crowdfunding a novel, the differences between self-publishing a novel and crowdfunding it, why she decided to write sci-fi with magical elements, and her experience as a ghostwriter and how it prepared her for her career.

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1 

Guests books can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: https://bookshop.org/a/56741/9781534497719

→ To support Emilie’s Kickstarter, check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/eahendryx/suspended-in-the-stars?ref=2ncraq

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In today’s episode of Hope Prose, acclaimed author Mary Adkins sits down with Tara and Alex to talk about her latest novel Palm Beach, and her book coaching program The Book Incubator. A former lawyer turned book coach and writer, Mary is a graduate of Duke University and Yale Law School. Her books have been published in 13 countries, and her essays and reporting have appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more.

Listen as they have a robust discussion about why she left her corporate New York City law firm in order to dedicate her life to her secret dream of becoming a writer, the social-economical differences between the upper and lower class, moms being represented in fiction, and all about her Book Incubator course for beginning to advanced writers. 

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1 

Mary’s books can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: https://bookshop.org/a/56741/9781534497719

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In today’s episode, Candace Kade stops by the studio to talk about her debut novel Enhanced, a YA with a futuristic take on the traditional dystopian-eques plot. 

Candace is a recovering over-achiever who spends her time dreaming up stories typically involving tech, psychology, culture, and/or swords. Candace Kade is a certified Krav Maga assistant instructor and loves writing action-packed martial art scenes. A third culture kid, she considers Chengdu and Austin to be her homes. 

Listen in as we chat about how the first book in the Hybrid series came to be, how her Krav Maga training has helped her in writing action scenes, how a mugging gave her inspiration, and why family and belonging are themes throughout the book and close to her heart. 

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1

Candace’s book can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: 
https://bookshop.org/shop/thehopeprosepod

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In today’s episode, Dallas Woodburn drops in to talk with Alex and Tara about her YA novel Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life, and her recent collection of short stories How to Make Paper When the World is Ending.

Dallas Woodburn is an award-winning writer of fiction, nonfiction, and plays. She’s an in-demand book coach; and host of the Thriving Authors Podcast. Her debut YA novel, The Best Week That Never Happened, was the Grand Prize Winner of the Dante Rossetti Book Award for Young Adult Fiction. Her short stories and essays have appeared in many publications, including more than two dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul series books.

Listen in as they chat about the inspiration behind Thanks, Carissa, For Ruining My Life, how short stories have helped shape her writing journey and her experience with writing in different genres. 

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1

Dallas’s books  can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: 
https://bookshop.org/shop/thehopeprosepod

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In today’s episode, Daniel Aleman drops by to talk with Alex and Tara about his newest novel Brighter Than the Sun (releasing March, 21st, 2023) about a teen girl shouldering impossibly large responsibilities and ultimately learning that she doesn’t have to do it alone. Daniel is the award-winning author of Indivisible, his debut novel. While born and raised in Mexico City, he currently makes the Toronto area home where he is passionate about books, dogs, and coffee.

Listen as they chat about the important message of Brighter Than the Sun, racism, the need for community, and the ups and downs of his journey to becoming an award-winning author.  

Enjoy! 

Due to character limitations, please find a full version of our show notes and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1

Daniel’s books  can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or online from the Hope Prose Podcast bookshop.org store (benefiting indie bookstores) at: 
https://bookshop.org/shop/thehopeprosepod

The Hope Prose Podcast's Instagram
Alex's Instagram
Tara's Instagram