Write Or Die Podcast

This week, we answer listener questions and talk to DVPit alum and author of A RIVER OF ROYAL BLOOD, Amanda Joy about what it’s like going to auction & having a following on bookstagram before becoming an author !

Bio:

Amanda Joy’s unending love of fantasy and children’s literature was sparked when her father gifted her a set of the Chronicles of Narnia. Years later, her older brother gave her the Wheel of Time series, which went on to inspire her to create her own worlds. Amanda has an MFA in Writing for Children from The New School, and lives in Chicago with her dog Luna. Her debut novel A RIVER OF ROYAL BLOOD is out now.

Follow Amanda Joy:

Instagram | Twitter

https://www.amandajoywrites.com/

Podcast Mentions:

Beth Phelan https://twitter.com/beth_phelan

#DVPit http://www.dvpit.com/

Wheel of time Chronicles of Narnia

Mslexia link: www.exacteditions.com/mslexia

Use code WRITEORDIE20 at checkout for 20% off!

In this week’s episode Kat and Claribel talk about taking on IP projects versus working on your original ideas PLUS an interview with bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz where we chat about genre jumping, an editor lunch that led to a rejection and her new novel THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!

About Melissa:

Melissa de la Cruz is the #1 New York Times, #1 Publisher’s Weekly and #1 IndieBound bestselling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for readers of all ages. Her more than thirty books have also topped the USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times bestseller lists and have been published in over twenty countries.

In addition to her literary work, Melissa is the co-founder of YALLWEST, and the co-director of YALLFEST, two of the largest teen book festivals in the country. She is also on the Advisory Board of Facing History, which reaches five million school children nationwide with a curriculum devoted to teaching empathy and social justice. 

Melissa de la Cruz lives in West Hollywood, California with her husband and daughter.

Follow Melissa online:

website: melissa-delacruz.com

twitter: https://twitter.com/Melissadelacruz

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormelissadelacruz/

BUY THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

Podcast mentions:

Pubcrawl Podcast

Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Order GHOST SQUAD

Add FRIZZY on Goodreads

www.claribelortega.com

Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Order WICKED FOX!

Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)

Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads

www.katchowrites.com

Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram 

Write or Die Podcast Website

Join our WorDie community! 

This week Kat & Claribel talk to Axie Oh, the New Visions Award winning author of Rebel Seoul & Rogue Heart! Axie discusses submitting to the New Visions contest, MFA programs, and the experience of writing her own heritage into her novels! Plus lots of k-pop fangirling!

About Axie Oh: Axie Oh is a first generation Korean American, born in NYC and raised in New Jersey. She studied Korean history and creative writing as an undergrad at the University of California – San Diego and holds an MFA from Lesley University in Writing for Young People. Her passions include K-pop, anime, stationery supplies, and milk tea. She currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada with her puppy, Toro.

Podcast Mentions:

Rebel Seoul

Rogue Heart

Round table writers block party 

New Visions award

Lesley MFA in creative writing

Follow Axie online: Twitter | Instagram

www.axieoh.com

This week, Claribel and Kat talk about Frankfurt and what goes on at one of the most important events in the book world plus an interview with the legendary Ellen Oh where she dishes about writing creepy middle grade, social media, and her new book The Dragon Egg Princess.

About Ellen:

Ellen Oh is a former adjunct college instructor and lawyer with an insatiable curiosity for ancient Asian history. She loves martial arts films, K-pop, K-dramas, and cooking shows, and is a rabid fan of the Last Airbender and the Legend of Korra series. Ellen is the co-founder of We Need Diverse Books (WNDB), a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing diversity in children’s literature. She is the author of the middle grade novel The Spirit Hunters, Spirit Hunters: The Island of Monsters, and the YA fantasy trilogy The Prophecy Series. Originally from New York City, Ellen lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with her husband and three children and has yet to satisfy her quest for a decent bagel.

Follow Ellen online: Tumblr | Instagram | Website

Buy Ellen’s books

Podcast Mentions:

CCBC 2017 Multicultural Statistics: http://ccblogc.blogspot.com/2018/02/ccbc-2017-multicultural-statistics.html

THE DIVERSITY GAP IN CHILDREN’S BOOK PUBLISHING, 2018: https://blog.leeandlow.com/2018/05/10/the-diversity-gap-in-childrens-book-publishing-2018/

“When you’re used to privilege, Equality feels like oppression.” (uncredited, https://quoteinvestigator.com/2016/10/24/privilege/)

https://www.harpercollins.com/9780062091093/prophecy/

Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Order GHOST SQUAD

Add FRIZZY on Goodreads

www.claribelortega.com

Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Order WICKED FOX!

Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)

Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads

www.katchowrites.com

Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram 

Write or Die Podcast Website

Join our WorDie community! 

This week, we talk about hyping yourself at book events and conferences and interview NYT Bestselling author, Kerri Maniscalco about her new book Kingdom of the Wicked, serial killers and being a murderino!

About Kerri:

Kerri Maniscalco grew up in a semi-haunted house outside NYC where her fascination with gothic settings began. In her spare time she reads everything she can get her hands on, cooks all kinds of food with her family and friends, and drinks entirely too much tea while discussing life’s finer points with her cats.

She is the #1 NYT and USA Today bestselling author of the Stalking Jack the Ripper series and the forthcoming Kingdom of the Wicked.

Podcast Mentions:

Ryan LaSala

Justin A. Reynolds

Catacombe dei Cappuccini

Follow Kerri online: website|Twitter |Instagram

Buy her books!

Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Order GHOST SQUAD

Add FRIZZY on Goodreads

www.claribelortega.com

Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Order WICKED FOX!

Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)

Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads

www.katchowrites.com

Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram 

Write or Die Podcast Website

Join our WorDie community! 

This week we talk about the agent author relationship plus an interview with author of The Devouring Gray, Christine Lynn Herman where she dishes about The Sims, her publishing & Pitch Wars journey and how she got through one of the darkest times in her life.

About Christine:

Born in New York City but raised around the world, Christine Lynn Herman subscribes to the firm philosophy that home is where her books are. ​Her debut YA novel, THE DEVOURING GRAY, was an Indies Introduce and Indie Next Top Ten Pick. It is available now from Disney-Hyperion (US) and Titan Books (UK), with a sequel to follow in 2020.

Follow Christine online: Twitter | Instagram | Website

Buy The Devouring Gray!

Podcast Mentions:

Pitchwars – https://pitchwars.org/

Pitmad – https://pitchwars.org/pitmad/

https://www.powells.com/post/original-essays/into-the-gray

Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Order GHOST SQUAD

Add FRIZZY on Goodreads

www.claribelortega.com

Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Order WICKED FOX!

Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)

Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads

www.katchowrites.com

Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram 

Write or Die Podcast Website

Join our WorDie community! 

This week, Claribel and Kat talk all about being on submission and the dangers of judging authors based on their perceived standing in the publishing world. PLUS we talk to THE LEIGH BARDUGO about her publishing journey, the new Shadow and Bone series, interacting with fandom and her new adult book, Ninth House!

About Leigh:

Leigh Bardugo is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of fantasy novels and the creator of the Grishaverse. With over three million copies sold worldwide, her Grishaverse spans the Shadow and Bone Trilogy, the Six of Crows Duology, The Language of Thorns, and King of Scars—with more to come. Her short stories can be found in multiple anthologies, including The Best of Tor.com and the Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy. Her other works include Wonder Woman: Warbringer and the forthcoming Ninth House.

Leigh was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Southern California, and graduated from Yale University. These days she lives and writes in Los Angeles. For information on new releases and appearances, sign up for Leigh’s newsletter.

Pick up Ninth House!

Follow Leigh online : Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Podcast Mentions:

Ghostober Episode 4: S. Jae-Jones & Who Are You Romancing?

Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Order GHOST SQUAD

Add FRIZZY on Goodreads

www.claribelortega.com

Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Order WICKED FOX!

Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)

Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads

www.katchowrites.com

Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram 

Write or Die Podcast Website

Join our WorDie community! 

This week we talk about Twitter burn out, finding balance with social media and interview adult military Sci-Fi author Michael Mammay who drags Claribel’s first drafts and talks about starting your writing career after a whole other career!

About Michael:

Michael Mammay is a science fiction writer. He is a retired army officer and a graduate of the United States Military Academy. He has a master’s degree in military history, and he currently teaches American literature. He is a veteran of Desert Storm, Somalia, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His debut novel, Planetside came out in July, 2018, and was selected as a Library Journal best book of 2018. The audio book, narrated by RC Bray, was nominated for an Audie award. The sequel, Spaceside, hit the shelves on August 27th, 2019. Michael lives with his wife in Georgia.

Follow Michael Online:

Twitter | Website 

Podcast Mentions:

@blondewithab00k | Follow her on Youtube! 

Sample Will for Intellectual Property

Dan Koboldt 

Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Order GHOST SQUAD

Add FRIZZY on Goodreads

www.claribelortega.com

Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Order WICKED FOX!

Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)

Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads

www.katchowrites.com

Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram 

Write or Die Podcast Website

Join our WorDie community! 

This week Kat breaks down her debut experience and we talk to literary agent Jim McCarthy who takes us on a day in the life of a literary agent and answers your questions!

About Jim:

Jim McCarthy interned for Dystel, Goderich & Bourret while studying urban design at New York University. Upon graduating, Jim realized he would much rather continue working with books than make the jump (as he had originally intended) to the field of city planning. Eighteen years later, he remains at DG&B as a VP and agent. As an avid fiction reader, his interests encompass both literary and commercial works in the adult, young adult, and middle grade categories. He is particularly interested in literary fiction, underrepresented voices, fantasy, mysteries, romance, anything unusual or unexpected, and any book that makes him cry or laugh out loud. In addition to fiction he is also interested in narrative nonfiction whether it be memoir, historical, science, pop culture, or just a darn good polemic.

Submissions Guidelines 

Follow Jim on Twitter 

Mentions:

The Beautiful by Renée Ahdieh

Jenny Han 

Swati Teerdhala 

Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Order GHOST SQUAD

Add FRIZZY on Goodreads

www.claribelortega.com

Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Order WICKED FOX!

Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)

Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads

www.katchowrites.com

Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram 

Write or Die Podcast Website

Join our WorDie community! 

In this week’s episode we talk publishing trends with former scout and current editor Rebecca Kuss, plus trusting the timing of your own writing journey.

About Rebecca:

A lover of hush puppies, Claudia Kishi, and Nora Ephron movies, Rebecca Kuss was born to a Korean mother and Jewish father in the heart of the south. She attended the University of Wisconsin, where her parents thought she was pre-med, but where she actually spent the majority of her time getting lost in the library stacks. She has a master’s degree in children’s and young adult literature from the University of Pennsylvania, where her research focused on race and representation and her thesis was an in-depth exploration of the publishing industry’s #ownvoices movement. Previously the Co-Director of children’s book scouting with Maria B Campbell Associates, Rebecca now champions diverse and marginalized voices as an Associate Editor and the Director of Recruitment & Acquisitions with Glasstown Entertainment, an all-female creative development and production company.

Follow Rebecca online: Twitter

Podcast mentions:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Laini Taylor 

@LifeinFiction

Victoria Aveyard

Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Order GHOST SQUAD

Add FRIZZY on Goodreads

www.claribelortega.com

Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok

Order WICKED FOX!

Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)

Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads

www.katchowrites.com

Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram 

Write or Die Podcast Website

Join our WorDie community!