Liara Tamani , debut author of CALLING MY NAME , on getting out of the cycle of ruthless academic achievement to find her passion, shedding old belief systems, fighting against the guilt and shame instilled in girls at very young ages, and the importance of numbers to her creative life. Liara Tamani Show Notes The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Girlfriends (TV show) Courtney Summers (listen to her First Draft episode here or read the transcript ) The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Maud Ma...
Oct 31, 2017•53 min•Ep. 114
Anna-Marie McLemore , author of THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS , which was a finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award, and WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS , which was long-listed for the National Book Award in Young People’s Literature and was a Stonewall Honor Book. This month, Anna-Marie released her newest novel WILD BEAUTY . She talks about funerals as a place to reinforce collective memories, waiting for that glowing laptop to let you know it’s time to write a novel, and writing a gender nonconforming...
Oct 24, 2017•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 113
Leigh Bardugo , New York Times bestselling author of the SHADOW AND BONE series, spinoff duology SIX OF CROWS and CROOKED KINGDOM , and THE LANGUAGE OF THORNS , a series of short stories set in that world. She’s also a bestseller for WONDER WOMAN: WARBRINGER . Leigh talks about writing a character who shares her disability, talking some truths about Wonder Woman’s creator, writing a walking talking teenaged apocalypse, how going to an all girls’ school gave her a little insight into Themyscira. ...
Oct 16, 2017•53 min•Ep. 112
Answering listener questions, book recommendations from Sarah Enni , Veronica Roth , and Maurene Goo , and writing advice from Susan Dennard ! Special Episode - Fall 2017 - Show Notes Susan Dennard , New York Times bestselling author of the Truthwitch series and the Something Strange and Deadly series Sign up for the Misfits & Daydreamers newsletter here ! Because You Love to Hate Me edited by Ameriie Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo Uprooted by N...
Oct 13, 2017•39 min
Robin Benway , author of National Book Award for Young People’s Literature finalist Far From the Tree —as well as Audrey, Wait! and Emmy & Oliver , among others—returns to the podcast this week to talk about wondering if she was still an author, having Big Feelings about publishing careers, and gets in a sweet feminist rant. Robin Benway Show Notes The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory Susan Dennard , author of the NYTimes best-selling Truthwitch series, as well as the Something Strange and D...
Oct 12, 2017•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 111
Dan Santat , Caldecott Award-winning author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend , talks about his newest picture book, After the Fall , an immigrant kid learning about Santa Claus, writing books that reveal other people’s stories, how much anxiety sucks, and the different ways he is interpreting Asian identity in his work. Dan Santat Show Notes Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore Kirsten Hubbard Connie Hsu (editor at Roaring Brook; read an interview with Connie and...
Oct 06, 2017•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 110
Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin , New York Times best-selling co-authors of I Hate Everyone But You , talk about the dangers of walking and reading, differentiating character from author, what REALLY makes readers uncomfortable, and writing a friendship rom-com. Gaby Dunn & Allison Raskin Show Notes Modern Tarot by Michelle Tea The Waterboy (movie) Carrie by Stephen King " The Price of Nice Nails ," the New York Times feature story about nail salons Robert Rodriguez (director and producer) Quen...
Sep 26, 2017•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 109
Marie Lu , New York Times bestselling author of the LEGEND and the YOUNG ELITES series, talks about her newest book, WARCROSS as well as BATMAN: NIGHTWALKER and the forthcoming KINGDOM OF BACK . Marie chats about the lag between the eternal optimism of tech and moral questioning of its powers, how writing about evil characters was almost too much for her, and the responsibility of writing a real woman’s story. Marie Lu 2.0 Show Notes Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke Marie Lu’s first First D...
Sep 19, 2017•40 min•Ep. 108
Emily Ziff Griffin , debut author of LIGHT YEARS , talks about her childhood dream of being a dancing lawyer, gifs and art semiotics, the unquantifiable fairy dust that makes some art transcend, and how teenagers experience time differently. Emily Ziff Griffin Show Notes Phillip Seymour Hoffman The Angelika Film Center The Creative Fire by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, including her thoughts on creativity and the myth of Persephone Frozen (movie) Moana (movie) Wonder Woman (movie) Study about emoj...
Sep 12, 2017•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 107
Sabaa Tahir , NY Times bestselling author of the An Ember in the Ashes series , shares spooky happenings in the desert hometown, waxes poetic about good journalistic writing, and talks giving suffering children a happy ending in her books, being an eight-year overnight success, and writing books in elbows of time. Sabaa Tahir Show Notes The Shannara series by Terry Brooks Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey Ansel Adams (photographer) Stranger Things (TV show) Seven Daughters and Seven Suns b...
Sep 06, 2017•52 min•Ep. 106
Jeramey Kraatz , author of middle grade series The Cloak Society and Space Runners , on how superhero cartoons got him into reading, writing hamster stories as birthday presents, the difference between middle grade and young adult, and being more productive with a full-time job. Jeramey Kraatz Show Notes Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes X Men (cartoon TV series) Batman (cartoon TV series) The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs Understanding Co...
Aug 15, 2017•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 105
Lauren Strasnick , author of 16 Ways to Break a Heart (out now!) and Then You Were Gone , Nothing Like You , and Her and Me and You , talks about gift wrapping her young adults books out of embarrassment, admitting to being “so deeply lazy,” envying actors, and writers as gremlins. Lauren Strasnick Show Notes Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block Deenie by Judy Blume Forever... by Judy Blume Beverly Cleary Norma Klein Christopher Pike The Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal Flowers in the A...
Aug 02, 2017•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 104
Catch up with Kara Thomas , author of Little Monsters (out July 25!), The Darkest Corners , and the Prep School Confidential series about leaning in to a dark personal place with her writing, solving the mystery of Law & Order in the last five minutes, the exploitation of “dramatic re-enactments,” and when stories evade our best-laid plans. Kara Thomas Show Notes Prep School Confidential series by Kara Taylor (now Kara Thomas) Paradise Lost (documentary) Disappeared (TV series) Serial (podca...
Jul 26, 2017•55 min•Ep. 103
Danielle Paige, New York Times best-selling author of the Dorothy Must Die and Stealing Snow series, on writing scripts for her Barbies, how the OJ trial cost her a career in soaps, and longing for rom-coms. Danielle Paige Show Notes Paper magazine Matt Bomer (actor) Paul Wesley (actor) Hayden Panetierre (actor) Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin One Tree Hill (TV show) Shonda Rhimes Grey’s Anatomy (TV show) Scandal (TV s...
Jul 11, 2017•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 102
Sara Goodman , editorial director for Wednesday Books , a new imprint from St. Martin’s Press featuring crossover, coming-of-age stories. She talks about finding a career in publishing in spite of herself, getting up at 5 a.m. to read, and the never-ending hunt for voice. Sara Goodman Show Notes Peter Halley (artist) Stephen King George R. R. Martin Judy Blume Beverly Cleary Anne Rice Joan Didion Christopher Schelling (agent with Selectric Artists) Augusten Burroughs Jennifer Enderlin Courtney S...
Jun 27, 2017•52 min•Ep. 101
A lovely conversation with Jennifer E. Smith , author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight , The Geography of You and Me , and Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between , and her most recent novel, Windfall . She talks about the teacher who made all the difference, and some key questions, like: are we all always writing the same story? And can you be an optimist and believe in fate? Jennifer E Smith Show Notes Lauren Graham Mary Higgins Clark John Grisham The Babysitters’ Club b...
Jun 21, 2017•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 100
More lightning-round interviews with authors at the Los Angeles Festival of Books, BookExpo America, and BookCon festivals, including: Brandy Colbert; David Connis; Dhonielle Clayton; E. Katherine Kottaras; Holly Black; Jennifer E. Smith; Jessica Morgan; Kiersten White; Karuna Riazi; Laini Taylor; Maggie Stiefvater; Maurene Goo; Morgan Matson; Nic Stone; Renee Ahdieh; Robin Benway; Samantha Mabry; Soman Chainani; Susan Dennard; Victoria Aveyard; and Zan Romanoff. LATFoB/BEA/BookCon Minisode Show...
Jun 14, 2017•36 min
Maurene Goo , author of I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE (out today!) on putting being an author on hold, writing the food tour of Los Angeles, and the 30-minute sprints that saved her deadline. Maurene Goo 2.0 Show Notes Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation (TV show) The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar by Roald Dahl Save the Cat by Blake Snyder Since You Asked by Maurene Goo Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV show) Renee Ahdieh (listen to her First Draft interview here ) Stephanie Kuehn (listen to h...
May 30, 2017•58 min•Ep. 99
Kayla Olson , debut author of THE SANDCASTLE EMPIRE , out June 6, on writing secret songs in middle school, hearing the rhythm of books, words as a puzzle, writing to the same thunderstorm for years and years, and the closest she ever came to quitting. Kayla Olson Show Notes Sara Zarr’s episode of First Draft The Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin Full House (TV show) Fuller House (TV show) Patty Griffin (musician) Sandra McCraken (musician) NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) MyWriteClub.c...
May 23, 2017•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 98
Sandhya Menon , debut author of WHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI (out May 30 and available for pre-order now !) talks up libraries that run on guilt, candy bar scenes, and what to do when you hit a major slump. Sandhya Menon Show Notes Lilliam Rivera (listen to her First Draft interview here , and get the transcript here ) The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Ruebén Martinez , winner of the LA Times Festival of Books' 2017 Innovator Award "Candy Bar Scenes" idea by Holly Lisle Jenny Han ( listen to her ...
May 16, 2017•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 97
Renée Ahdieh , New York Times best-selling author of The Wrath and the Dawn series, and whose new series kicks off with the release of Flame in the Mist , out May 16, joins me to talk about straddling two worlds poorly, finding the music in language, fearless internet personas, id books, and publishing as a ‘pride-swallowing siege.’ (Plus, a cameo from Sarah Nicole Lemon , author of Done Dirt Cheap !) Renee Ahdieh Show Notes Explosions in the Sky Sheherazade Op. 35 , a symphonic suite composed b...
May 09, 2017•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 96
Courtney Summers - author of SOME GIRLS ARE , CRACKED UP TO BE , ALL THE RAGE , and more - breaks down getting published with her spite novel, consistently wanting it all, writing a book that fits around a feeling, and never really moving on from her books. Courtney Summers Show Notes YALLFEST Archie comics The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch YALLWEST The Babysitter’s Club by Ann M. Martin Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews She’s All That (movie) “ Right About Now ” by Fatboy Slim Competen...
Apr 25, 2017•1 hr•Ep. 95
Join me for a second go-round with Margaret Stohl , New York Times best-selling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series and the YA adaptations of Marvel's Black Widow, whose most recent novel, Royce Rolls , is out now! We discuss writing this book as a joke, the Kardashians as a delivery system, the reverse-outlining method, and overcoming inherited ways of thinking. Margaret Stohl 2.0 Show Notes “ Los Angeles I’m Yours ” by The Decemberists The Kardashians new Zelda, Breath of the Wild Nint...
Apr 18, 2017•59 min•Ep. 94
Listen to YA superstar Sara Zarr (whose newest novel, GEM & DIXIE , is out now!) talk about the first time she encountered “smart” as an epithet, getting career advice from Chris Crutcher , and very nearly giving up on writing altogether. Sara Zarr Show Notes This Creative Life , Sara’s podcast series Ring of Endless Light by Madeleine L'Engle Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien Beverly...
Apr 11, 2017•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 93
Hang with me and YouTube star , actress , and debut author Arden Rose ( ALMOST ADULTING is out now!) about the sometimes insidious nature of the beauty industry, things we wish we could tell our younger selves, the scourge of tribalism, and more! Arden Rose Show Notes Let’s Learn Japanese (TV show) Dr. Seuss Redwall by Brian Jacques J.R.R. Tolkien The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis Eragon by Christopher Paolini TED talk with former member of the Westboro Baptist , Megan Phelps-Roper " The Mo...
Apr 04, 2017•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 92
Kayla Cagan , whose debut novel PIPER PERISH is out now, on fighting the green monster, the ultimatum that led to her first book deal, and how she wrote a book one day at a time (30 minutes a day). Kayla Cagan Show Notes Eugene O’Neill Leave it to Beaver (TV show) Dukes of Hazard (TV show) Choose Your Own Adventure Sweet Valley High The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy The Emperor's New Clothes The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams Stephen F Austin State University Samu...
Mar 30, 2017•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 91
The 100th episode of the First Draft podcast—wow!! Several of the amazing authors who attended the North Texas Teen Book Festival answer lightning-round questions from listeners! Continue to support the podcast and help it grow by subscribing on iTunes (and leaving a rating or review!), following it on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram , signing up for the newsletter , and spreading the word about First Draft using the hashtag #TryPod ! Thank you so, so, so much for listening <3 North Texas ...
Mar 21, 2017•23 min
Get a hot weather beverage and relax on a porch with me and Sarah Nicole Lemon , whose debut novel DONE DIRT CHEAP (out now!) talks about being a 14-year-old high school junior, writing books in secret, motorcycle clubs, and Appalachian female revenge. Sarah Nicole Lemon Show Notes The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Bill Gothard Barbara Poelle (literary agent) Holly Root (literary agent) Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Sons of Anarchy (TV show) YA...
Mar 14, 2017•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 90
A special co-episode with Sara from Adventures in YA where we talk about the podcasting process. Sara and I discuss our equipment, software, workflow, and promo processes, and touch a bit on feeling like we’re shouting into the void, and also tips for moderating at book festivals and other events. Adventures in Podcasting Show Notes Adventures in YA Sara Kristin Treviño The North Texas Teen Book Festival #TryPod Adventures with Words (podcast) Kate and Rob's off-shoot British YA show (podcast) M...
Mar 08, 2017•1 hr 20 min
Lilliam Rivera (whose debut young adult novel THE EDUCATION OF MARGOT SANCHEZ, is out now!) shares her first memories of walking to the library, talks about interning at Rolling Stone, the theatricality of funerals, and who wear masks (and why). Lilliam Rivera Show Notes UCLA Extension Gabriel Garcia Marquez Toni Morrison DROWN by Junot Diaz Ana Castillo Sandra María Esteves The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz “Between Going and Staying” by Lilliam Rivera ( an interview with Lilli...
Feb 28, 2017•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 89
