Clear Eyes, Full Shelves - Podcast

Episode #33

Simon & Schuster: Should readers boycott this publisher for signing a neo-nazi?

Episode #32: Talking Girls & Sports with Sarah & Laura

Laura and Sarah talk about the porttrayals of girls in sports--and also Lurlene McDaniel. Apologies for the funky audio, the episode was a victim of Sarah's MacBook's logic board meltdown.

Episode #31: Chatting Books & Libraries with Molly Wetta

Episode #30 -

Laura & Sarah follow up on two previous episode's feedback and also dig into the role of publishing and readers in transforming the bookish landscape.

Episode 29: Talking Diversity & Cultural Appropriation with Nafiza, Part 2

In this two-part podcast series we dig into issues related to cultural appropriate and diversity in publishing.

Episode #28 - Talking Diversity & Cultural Appropriation with Nafiza, Part 1

In this two-part podcast series we dig into issues related to cultural appropriate and diversity in publishing.

Episode 27: Hug It Out

Sarah & Laura kick off season three of the Clear Eyes, Full Shelves podcast with a discussion about families in books, television shows and movies we watched during our hiatus.

Episode 26: Talking with Courtney Summers About Everything, Part 3

We're joined by author and renowned Jensen Ackles jawline scholar Courtney Summers for the final installment of our three-part discussion about just about everything. The episode primarily features television, including The Walking Dead, Friday Night Lights, the romance genre and the perfection of Justin Timberlake's videos.

Episode 25: Talking with Courtney Summers About Everything, Part 2

We continue our discussion with author Courtney Summers, including digging into her Supernatural obsession.

Episode 24: Talking with Courtney Summers About Everything

In the first of a multi-part discussion with author Courtney Summers, we chat about writing and reading characters experiencing trauma, Days of Our Lives, Rihanna, Dawson's Creek and more.

Episode 23: Genre Fiction, Lit-Fic & Romance... Oh My!

Sarah & Laura discuss the way self-appointed gatekeepers talk about genre fiction and "literary" fiction and how genre fiction can be a powerful lens through which the "human condition" can be explored.

Episode 22: Celebrating Verse Novels (& Friday Night Lights) with Author Lisa Schroeder

Author Lisa Schroeder joins us to chat about writing and reading verse novels, her new book, The Bridge from Me to You, and, of course, Friday Night Lights.

Episode 21: On Love, Instant and Triangular

Sarah and Laura chat about the phenomenon of love at first sight (aka "instalove") and why it works or doesn't work for particular stories. Then, they tackle the sticky subject of love triangles and defend a few great ones for the metaphorical prowess.

Episode 20: Diversifying the Shelves (Part 2)

This is the second part our discussion of diversifying our bookshelves with Author Sarah Ockler and Racquel of the blog The Book Barbies. In this part we discuss specific book recommdations and resources for finding "diverse reads."

Episode 19: Diversifying the Shelves (Part 1) with Guests Author Sarah Ockler & Blogger Racquel

In part one of our conversation with author Sarah Ockler & blogger Racquel (The Book Barbies), we chat about the language of diversity, what authors can do to create nuanced, authentic characters and about the disconnect between the world we live & media portrays.

Episode 18: Author Elizabeth Scott on Heartbeat, Angry Girls, Reader Response & the Awesomeness of Courtney Summers

Elizabeth Scott, author of 12 novels for teens including the brand-new Heartbeat from Harlequin Teen, joins us on the podcast for a discussion about her novels, writing angry girls, reader response and the awesomeness of Courtney Summers' books.

Episode 17: Battleship & Beyond - The Art of "Terribletastic"

Laura and Sarah discuss their love of the movie Battleship, what makes a "terribletastic" movie (or book or TV show) versus what's truly terrible. Be sure to visit cleareyesfullshelves.com for links and more discussed in this episode.

Episode 16: Writing & Reading Parents & Family with Author Amy Spalding

We talk with author Amy Spalding about her new book, Ink is Thicker Than Water, and about reading and writing fictional families.

Episode 15: Great (Reading) Expectations

Laura and Sarah discuss the dialogue around series endings and reader response and reaction. Do the authors' intentions play a role in your reading experience? Do you care what the author means for you to get out of a work? Are you still mad about the ending of Lost?

Episode 14: What's Love Got to Do with It? YA & Romance with Author Robin Benway

We chat with the author of Audrey, Wait!, Also Known As and other novels for teens, Robin Benway, about the role romance plays in teen fiction.

Episode 13: Technology, Introversion + "Nostalgia Lit"

It's just Sarah and Laura in this episode of the Clear Eyes, Full Shelves podcast. In this episode, we discuss the intersetion of technology, introversion and the way as a society we embrace certain types of social interactions over others--and the notion of "nostalia lit."

Episode 12: Author Mindi Scott on Personal Agency, Vince Howard... and ZOMBIES! (Part 2)

Part two of the Clear Eyes, Full Shelves Podcast featuring special guest author Mindi Scott (FREEFALL, LIVE THROUGH THIS). In this half of our discussion, we continue talking about the concept of personal agency in fiction and also delve into the subjects of Vince Howard & zombies!

Episode 11: Personal Agency in Fiction with Author Mindi Scott (Part 1)

We chat with author Mindi Scott (FREEFALL, LIVE THROUGH THIS) about personal agency narratives in fiction. This is part one of our conversation. Part 2 will be posted soon!

Episode 10 - CEFS Chats with THE Amy Spalding

We chat with author Amy Spalding about writing for teens, our expectations of characters, the challenges of teen girls, and Zooey Deschanel. Among other things.

Episode 9: YA, Adult Readers + Audience with Author Trish Doller

​Something Like Normal and Where the Stars Still Shine author Trish Doller joins us to discuss the complicated issue of the influence of adult readers on teen fiction. How do the two audiences read differently? Do adults see teen characters through a different lens than teen readers? We also talk about some of our favorite misunderstood YA characters and why their stories resonate with teens.

Episode 8: Fictional Families with The Book Barbies

We're joined by guests Racquel and Sharon from The Book Barbies to discuss our favorite portrayals of family in fiction.

Episode 7: New Adult Fiction - Industry Perspectives

I'm talking to three smart ladies with first-hand experience with the publishing side of New Adult: Suzie Townsend, agent with New Leaf Literary & Media; Cora Carmack, author; and Lisa Desrochers, author (scroll down for their complete bios). We discuss the breakneck pace of NA's emergence, the future for NA, common criticisms of the genre/category and recommendations for readers wanting to test the New Adult waters.

Episode 6: The Lady BFF-ship Ideal

My post about the depiction of best-friendships resulted in a some really great conversation, so Laura and I decided to continue it in the next episode of the Clear Eyes, Full Shelves podcast.

Episode 5: Retellings, Fan Fiction + Inspirations, Oh My!

Laura and Sarah discuss retellings: the nuance in the spectrum of retellings, iconic/foundational texts, where fan fiction fits into all this and even the notion of character homages we see a lot in fiction, particularly YA. In this edition of the Clear Eyes, Full Shelves Podcast, we layout some of these big questions, and what we really hope will come of the episode is further discussion of the complexities of the notion of originality and works inspired by other works.

Episode 4: Verse Novels FTW

On this episode of the Clear Eyes, Full Shelves podcast, Sarah & Laura kickoff Novel in Verse Week with a discussion of what makes verse novels special, the best verse novels for newbies and the verse novels on their must-read lists.