Elissa Sussman , author of STRAY and its sequel BURN , discusses the “f—k page” of her teen journal, how ‘guilty pleasure’ is a gross term, and what three things every writer needs. Elissa Sussman Show Notes RENT (musical) Archie comics Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin Roswell (TV show) X-Files (TV show) Battlestar Galactica (TV show) Star Trek (TV show) REDWALL by Brian Jacques DEALING WITH DRAGONS by Patricia C. Wrede 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (movie) Th...
Jan 27, 2016•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 63
Hear the lovely Kristen Kittscher , author of THE WIG IN THE WINDOW and THE TIARA ON THE TERRACE talk about getting kicked out of high school, writing characters who are getting all growed up, and visualizing our inner writer. Kristen Kittscher Show Notes Danielle Steele Mary Higgins Clark Ellen Emerson White , THE PRESIDENT'S DAUGHTER HELTER SKELTER by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry STUART LITTLE by E.B. White THE STAND by Stephen King WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams Au Revoir Les Enfants (mo...
Jan 14, 2016•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 62
The wondrous Amy Plum (author of the DIE FOR ME series, the AFTER THE END series, and DREAMFALL , due out in 2017) and Lenore Appelhans (author of the MEMORY CHRONICLES series) share stories of starting their literary careers writing letters, the false reality of social media, and psychopaths (real ones). Amy Plum & Lenore Appelhans Show Notes Vermont College of Fine Arts SCBWI J.R.R. Tolkien Madelein L’Engle, A WRINKLE IN TIME Robert A. Heinlein (SF writer) Isaac Asimov C.S. Lewis Ursula Le...
Dec 08, 2015•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 61
Pour a glass of wine to keep up with me and Kendare Blake , author of ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD , the Goddess War series , SLEEPWALK SOCIETY , and the forthcoming THREE DARK CROWNS (due out in 2016), as we talk about her training as a stock trader, screeds about Superman, and living with anxiety. Kendare Blake Show Notes Stephen King, On Writing Anne Rice , Prince Lestat Fear Street, Freeze Tag Silent Hill (video game) Supernatural (TV show)...
Dec 02, 2015•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 60
Pour a strong drink and leave your denim culottes at home for this conversation with Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan , who together make up blogging and writing duo the Fug Girls (of Go Fug Yourself )! We talk about how terrible the new X Files is going to be, hear behind the scenes stories about America’s Next Top Model, talk writing as a team, and ask the universe for an oral history of how Summer '07 was the best time Hollywood gossip ever. Fug Girls Show Notes Pamela Ribon Television Withou...
Nov 17, 2015•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 59
Get red lipstick and fill up a goblet to enjoy this chat, wherein Leigh Bardugo , New York Times best-selling author of The Grisha series and the newest book in that world, SIX OF CROWS , talks about being a childhood outsider, making rules for magic, and profesh makeup tips. Leigh Bardugo Show Notes Inside Out (film) DUNE by Frank Herbert Jacqueline Kerry , author of KUSHIEL'S DART Ava Dellaira Aziz Ansari and Eric Klineberg, MODERN ROMANCE NK Jemisin Writing with Color...
Nov 10, 2015•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 58
For the first First Draft Live event on October 30, Marie Lu (NYT best-selling author of the LEGEND trilogy, THE YOUNG ELITES and its sequel, THE ROSE SOCIETY ), Margaret Stohl (NYT best-selling co-author of the BEAUTIFUL CREATURES series, author of ICONS , IDOLS , and of Marvel's Black Widow's YA adaptation, FOREVER RED ), Anna Carey (author of the EVE trilogy, and YA thriller BLACKBIRD and its sequel DEADFALL ), and Kali Wallace (debut author of SHALLOW GRAVES , due out in January 2016!) got t...
Nov 03, 2015•1 hr 1 min
Join me and Samantha Mabry , debut author of A FIERCE AND SUBTLE POISON *, in Dallas discussing JFK assassination conspiracy theories, grandmothers warnings about witches, and being close but not too close to dangerous things. *Note: In the show, Sam refers to A FIERCE AND SUBTLE poison by its earlier title, LEAVES. Samantha Mabry Show Notes LIBRA by Don Delillo Annie Dillard Jo Ann Beard Susan Orlean HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS by Isabelle Alende Louise Erdrich Salman Rushdie Gabriel Garcia Marquez De...
Oct 20, 2015•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 57
Join me in chatting with Stephanie Kuehnert , author of BALLADS OF SUBURBIA and I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE and a forthcoming memoir of her teen years. We talk about promises made to cats, heart cities, and Riot Grrl. Stephanie Kuehnert Show Notes Richard Hugo House Story Studio (Chicago, IL) The Replacements Laura Ingalls Wilder Riot Grrl Girl Power! by Hillary Carlip Stephanie’s essays on Rookie Sleater-Kinney Francesca Lia Block Joe Meno, HAIRSTYLES OF THE DAMNED Susie X, illiustrator The Wri...
Oct 13, 2015•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 56
Amy Lukavics , debut author of YA horror DAUGHTERS UNTO DEVILS , talks about the appeal of truly scary stories, creepy kids, the tiny details that can drive an entire story, and “candy bar” scenes. Amy Lukavics Show Notes Kirsten Hubbard PAINT IT BLACK by Janet Fitch GOOSEBUMPS , FEAR STREET , R.L. Stine FULL DARK, NO STARS Stephen King IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS by Cat Winters (listen to her First Draft interview ) BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by April Tucholke Katy Perry “ Californ...
Sep 29, 2015•43 min•Ep. 55
Talking to Aaron Hartzler , author of WHAT WE SAW (out Sept. 22!) and RAPTURE PRACTICE , about YA memoir, desert hippies, and taking others off the hook for your happiness. Aaron Hartzler Show Notes Teen Read Week Ellen Hopkins Nicky Weinstock DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY by Erik Larson MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL by John Berendt The New Yorker: The Lessons of Steubenville ; Life After Steubenville ; Trial by Twitter Dan Savage Josh Sundquist WE SHOULD HANG OUT SOMETIME: EMBARRASSINGLY, A...
Sep 22, 2015•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 54
Do you know the difference between a blacksmith and a ferrier? Mackenzi Lee , debut author of THIS MONSTROUS THING (out Sept. 22!), does! Learn about that, Mary Shelley, and so much more in our Harvard Square conversation! Mackenzi Lee Show Notes The Coop in Harvard Square Pirates of the Caribbean (movie) THE STRANGER by Albert Camus The War of the Roses Avi, author of THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE , and CRISPIN: THE CORSS OF LEAD Richard Peck, A LONG WAY FROM CHICAGO THE GOOSE GIRL by...
Sep 15, 2015•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 53
Nicola Yoon , debut author of EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING , talks about her secret foosball skills, the mix tape that won her husband over, and the 4 AM fish that turned her book into an unusual story. Nicola Yoon Show Notes Nicola Yoon’s one-sentence story on The Butter by Roxanne Gay Life is Strange (video game) Final Fantasy (video game) ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins Wendy Wunder , THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES Charlotte Huang FOR THE RECORD The Fearless 15ers SCBWI Brandy Colbert Ve...
Sep 08, 2015•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 52
Take a siesta with fast-talking goofball C. Alexander London , author of new middle grade series THE WILD ONES , talk diverse sci-fi with smooth-talker Alex London, and even get a glimpse of the elusive non-fiction writer Charles London in the first interview with a built-in drinking game! Also: adorable dog noises. C Alexander London Show Notes IT by Stephen King REDWALL by Brian Jacques Refugees International Anna Freud child psychologist Robert Coles child psychiatrist at Harvard THE LITTLE P...
Aug 20, 2015•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 51
In which I refer to the trajectory of the life of Adi Alsaid , author of LET’S GET LOST and NEVER, ALWAYS, SOMETIMES as his “plot line,” we discuss the power of imaginary places, and he answers my hundreds of questions about being trilingual. Enjoy! Adi Alsaid Show Notes ABC Children’s Institute ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Stephen King Kurt Vonnegut Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson Emilia Rhodes with Alloy Entertainment Katie McGarry She’s All That (movie) Meg Woli...
Aug 13, 2015•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 50
Little did I know when I met up with Brandy Colbert , author of POINTE and LITTLE AND LION , due out 2017, that I was meeting my future roommate and one of my best writing buddies. She's the cat's pajamas, and I hope you enjoy our convo as much as I did! Brandy Colbert Show Notes Sweet Valley High Clueless (movie) NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Verla Kay's Blue Boards CRACKED UP TO BE by Courtney Summers LIVING DEAD GIRL by Elizabeth Scott Center Stage (movie) Brandy’s post on Nova Ren...
Aug 04, 2015•59 min•Ep. 49
Drink 'em if you got 'em: Join me and Sarah McCarry (aka The Rejectionist), author of ALL OUR PRETTY SONGS , DIRTY WINGS , and the third book in the trilogy, ABOUT A GIRL , as we talk about mosh pits, the gift of anonymity, and waiting for the end of the world in a temperate rain forest. HEADS UP -- this interview has significant background noise, so I'm providing a transcript of our entire conversation (even more than appears in the audio episode)! Sarah McCarry Show Notes HARRIET THE SPY by Lo...
Jul 28, 2015•56 min•Ep. 48
Nina LaCour , author of Morris Award nominated HOLD STILL , THE DISENCHANTMENTS , and EVERYTHING LEADS TO YOU , is a freaking delight. Join us as we discuss west coast travels, novels springing from one beautiful sentence, and Nina’s story about a school visit that makes me cry every time I hear it. Nina LaCour Show Notes John Green LOOKING FOR ALASKA SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson FAT KID RULES THE WORLD by K.L. Going THE FIRST PART LAST by Angela Johnson FOREVER by Judy Blume Zoetrope All Stor...
Jul 22, 2015•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 47
Apply SPF 70 and get into the shade with me and John Corey Whaley , author of Printz and Morris award-winning WHERE THINGS COME BACK and National Book Award finalist for NOGGIN , while we talk about vague endings in teenage stories, the magic of librarians, and when books just don’t work. John Corey Whaley Show Notes Printz Award Morris Award Jessica Love , and her First Draft interview THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky THE CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger ALLEGIANT by Veroni...
Jun 30, 2015•51 min•Ep. 46
Imagine you’re watching a sherbet-colored sunset in the Hollywood hills while enjoying avocado toast with Anna Carey , author of the EVE trilogy and DEADFALL , the sequel to BLACKBIRD , out now! Anna Carey Show Notes Lorrie Moore Aimee Bender Nicole Krauss Amanda Davis Lisa Papademetriou The Sackett Street Writer's Workshops Julia Fierro 826NYC & the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store Michael Cunningham Etsy print of It Doesn’t Have to be Perfect, it Just Has to Exist, by Gemma Flack THE UNBEAR...
Jun 24, 2015•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 45
Find a spot to sit in the sun and enjoy my conversation with the lovely Robin Benway , author of AUDREY, WAIT! , THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY & JUNE , the ALSO KNOWN AS series, and EMMY AND OLIVER , out now! Robin Benway Show Notes Rob Roberge , author and teacher at UCLA extension Book Soup in West Hollywood, CA David Leviathan THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER by Stephen Chbosky My So-Called Life (TV Show) Freaks and Geeks (TV Show) Rachel Cohn , author of...
Jun 16, 2015•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 44
Holy Harry Potter superfans, it’s Adam Silvera ! He calls himself tall for no reason, but I think the reason is he is solidly 6 foot something worth of awesome. Grab a comfy chair and enjoy my delightful chat with the debut author of MORE HAPPY THAN NOT about his self-made MFA, reppin’ the Bronx, and the theme of choice in all our lives. Adam Silvera Show Notes Charmed (TV show) Supernatural (TV show) SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater Brooks Sherman , Adam’s agent Hannah Ferguson , literary age...
Jun 09, 2015•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 43
Settle in somewhere quiet and contemplate the beauty around you with Hilary T Smith , author of WILD AWAKE and A SENSE OF THE INFINITE , out May 19! Hilary T Smith Show Notes WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE : EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT BIPOLAR BUT WERE TOO FREAKED OUT TO ASK Hilary’s guest post on YA Highway about how to be a nomad DUNE by Frank Herbert...
May 14, 2015•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 42
Petite in stature, big in life experience and YA book feels, join me and Corey Ann Haydu , author of OCD LOVE STORY , LIFE BY COMMITTEE , and MAKING PRETTY , out May 12, as we talk acting, traveling, loneliness, and the shifting, shifty concept of “work.” Corey Ann Haydu Show Notes Sylvia Plath Corey’s essay on loneliness SAVVY by Ingrid Law LITTLE BROTHER by Cory Doctorow RULES FOR STEALING STARS , Corey's new middle grade book, due out September 2015 Susan Van Metre , teacher at the New School...
May 08, 2015•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 41
Get your taste buds ready for a walk through a farmer’s market, and a kitchen-based adventure with Kristin Halbrook , author of NOBODY BUT US and EVERY LAST PROMISE (out now!). Kristin Halbrook Show Notes TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer BALLADS OF SUBURBIA by Stephanie Kuehnert Bechdel Test HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta HOW TO WRITE THE BREAK OUT NOVEL by Donald Maass...
Apr 23, 2015•56 min•Ep. 40
Join me and Erin Bowman , author of the TAKEN trilogy—the final book, FORGED , is out now!—and the forthcoming VENGEANCE ROAD as we talk imposter syndrome, the lasting impact of Harry Potter, and how the Internet made living in the woods way less lonely. Erin Bowman Show Notes Gibson’s bookstore REWORK (book about startups) by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson Pub Rants , Kristin Nelson’s agency website Nathan Brantford Caroline Richmond Sara Crowe Sarah J. Maas Susan Dennard Pub(lishing)...
Apr 16, 2015•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 39
Get yourself a Big Gulp of caffeine and sit back as Amy Spalding , author of THE REECE MALCOLM LIST , INK IS THICKER THAN WATER , and KISSING TED CALLAHAN (AND OTHER GUYS) , out April 7, talks discovering voice, diving into experiences that scare you, and how soon her books will let you travel every neighborhood in LA without leaving the couch. Amy Spalding Show Notes THE PRINCESS DIARIES by Meg Cabot Lois Lowry Studio City tattoo ( Mike Erwin ) NICK AND NORA’S INFINITE PLAYLIST by Rachel Cohn a...
Apr 07, 2015•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 38
Join me as I chat with Amy Tintera , author of REBOOT and REBEL , and the forthcoming RUINED series (due out Summer 2016!), about how screenplays are more than just dialogue, living in every time zone in the U.S., and embarking on new starts. Amy Tintera Show Notes Garden State (movie) DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor Nathan Bransford , QueryShark , Absolute Write SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass CINDER by Marissa Meyer DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth SHADOW AND BONE b...
Mar 31, 2015•58 min•Ep. 37
Grab a Fiji water and a pillow mint and imagine you’re in a Boston hotel room with me and Veronica Roth , author New York Times bestselling DIVERGENT series, as we talk about writing being the way grown-ups get to play pretend, embracing critique, and marveling at people who think first drafts are fun.
Mar 18, 2015•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 36
Join me and Jessica Love, author of PUSH GIRL and the forthcoming IN REAL LIFE, as we hang with her dogs on a sun-soaked southern California balcony to talk pen pals, world travels, and hear what slang the kids are using these days. Jessica Love Show Notes Brand New “ Sic Transit Gloria ” the inspiration for her first NaNo book Punchline (band) “ Ghostie ,” “ Universe ” Blue of Colors (band) “ Your Face ” THIS LULLABY by Sarah Dessen Spalding University STORY by Robert McFee THE ART OF FICTION b...
Mar 13, 2015•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 35
