The super-savvy, super-smart author Renée Watson (her most recent young adult novel, PIECING ME TOGETHER , is out now!) and founder of the I, Too Arts Collective , talks taking herself seriously as a writer from a young age, creative therapy for young people, and finding people who are about something. Renée Watson Show Notes An article about Mulugeta Seraw , an Ethiopian student killed by three neo-Nazis in Portland. Richard Scarry's Bedtime Stories Judy Blume BEEZUS AND RAMONA by Beverly Clear...
Feb 21, 2017•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 88
Let’s break it down with Sarah Jae-Jones , debut author of WINTERSONG , podcaster at large with the PubCrawl Podcast , and former editor at St. Martin’s Press, as she talks about learning to write to avoid Korean school, the possible titles for her memoir on publishing, evil threshold magic, and the not-entirely-nice ways that publishing surprised her. Sarah Jae-Jones Show Notes Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Kongji and Patzzi Pride and Prejudice (BBC miniseries) Goosebumps by R.L. Stin...
Feb 14, 2017•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 87
The delightful Rhoda Belleza , debut author of EMPRESS OF A THOUSAND SKIES , on being a slow reader, hating dress codes, working with teens to develop professional skills, and magical trolls who hide things in your house. Rhoda Belleza Show Notes My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (TV show) Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls The Babysitters Club by Anne M Martin Gwen Stefani Sanctuary Art Center in Seattle Ray Bradbury Planned Parenthood ( donate here! ) Susan G. Komen Foundation AOL MapQuest YWCA Mex...
Feb 10, 2017•48 min•Ep. 86
Hello from Veronica Roth’s tour in support of her new book, Carve the Mark ! Veronica invited me to go with her on tour as emcee, and we take a break after one of our shows to talk about entering an alternate dimension in the Atlanta airport, amazing bookstore dogs, and when we first learned the power of language. Veronica Roth minisode Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth How Did This Get Made Mary Todd Lincoln’s instagram Colson Whitehead Zadie Smith “ Depression Beard ” from Supernatural Binti by ...
Jan 25, 2017•15 min
Author of the DIVERGENT series Veronica Roth - whose new book, CARVE THE MARK , is out Jan. 17 - returns to the podcast to update me on what she’s been up to since her last episode, giving her story ideas code names, why she’s obsessed with iron grates over windows, and why she decided her next novel should be set in space. Veronica Roth Show Notes Listen to her previous First Draft interview here ! FOUR , the collection of Divergent short stories The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling " Inertia ," Ve...
Jan 10, 2017•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 85
Join me as I talk to D.J. MacHale , author of dozens of middle grade novels , including THE CURSE OF THE BOGGIN , first book in his new series THE LIBRARY, out now! DJ also created and wrote the Nickelodeon series ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? He talks about writing and starring in a 90-minute original Marx Brothers movie, outlining 10 books in a week, and taking critique from his mother. DJ MacHale Show Notes BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA by Katherine Paterson Dr Seuss Dr. No Alfred Hitchcock’s scary shor...
Jan 03, 2017•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 84
Hear Sona Charaipotra , co-author of TINY PRETTY THINGS and SHINY BROKEN PIECES and co-founder of CAKE Literary , talks about her Halloween welcome to the U.S., being married to your greatest accountability partner, and fostering mentorship. Sona Charaipotra Show Notes Bollywood The Partition of India The Babysitter’s Club by Anne M. Martin The Vampire Diaries (TV show) Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Dhonielle Clayton (listen to her First Draft intervie...
Dec 06, 2016•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 83
Hear Amie Kaufman , New York Times best-selling co-author of the STARBOUND trilogy and the ILLUMINAE series , talk shipwrecks and her favorite sound, how science fiction is fantasy for the real world, using "shenanigans ensue" as a plotting device, and my new favorite thing: the “shut up and take my money” list. Amie Kaufman show notes THIS SHATTERED WORLD by Amie and Meagan Spooner (listen to her First Draft interview here ) Enid Blyton THE BOXCAR CHILDREN by Gertrude Chandler Warner THE BABY S...
Nov 29, 2016•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 82
Some past and future First Draft interviewees share their stories about voting, how their characters would vote, love of stickers, and one story of a jujutsu-master suffragette! Special Election Podcast Show Notes Morgan Matson , author of THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING , AMY AND ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR , and more (listen to her First Draft interview here ) Elana K. Arnold , author of INFANDOUS , FAR FROM FAIR , the forthcoming WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF , and more (listen to her First Draft interview here )...
Nov 08, 2016•30 min
Join me and Josephine Angelini , author of the STARCROSSED trilogy, and the WORLDWALKER series (the finale, WITCH’S PYRE , is out now!), as we talk about houses burning down, trading a diary for writing fiction, and how long you can avoid the reality that you are meant to write. Josephine Angelini Show Notes MISTS OF AVALON by Marion Zimmer Bradley Details on the sexual assault allegations against Bradley by her daughter Anne McCaffrey DRAGON RIDERS OF PERN DARKOVER series by Marion Zimmer Bradl...
Nov 02, 2016•51 min•Ep. 81
Join me and Ransom Riggs , New York Times best-selling author of MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN - which was recently released as a major motion picture - and the new selection of short stories, TALES OF THE PECULIAR , as we talk about living side by side with the past, making friends with the neighbor kids, and the freedom of having no expectations. Ransom Riggs Show Notes Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. L...
Oct 26, 2016•48 min•Ep. 80
Join Tahereh Mafi, New York Times best-selling author of FURTHERMORE (out now!) and the SHATTER ME series, as we discuss childhoods full of new starts and goodbyes, the ways contemporary books can feel like fantasy, and writing 5,000 words every single day for two years (!). Tahereh Mafi Show Notes Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling Judy Blume Absolute Write forums Kami Garcia Julie Strauss-Gabel...
Oct 18, 2016•56 min•Ep. 79
Hear Zan Romanoff , whose brilliant debut novel A SONG TO TAKE THE WORLD APART is out now, talk about using her Yale diploma to ward off Hanson haters, generational trauma, the terrifying power of puberty, and her follow-up novel, GRACE AND THE FEVER (May 2017)! Zan Romanoff show notes Kate Hart (listen to her First Draft episode here ) The Iowa Review The Babysitter’s Club by Anne M. Martin Anne McCaffrey Frank McCourt Winnie-the-Pooh Hanson, “ Mmmbop ” Dawson’s Creek (TV series) Brenna Yovanof...
Sep 22, 2016•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 78
Leila Howland , author of NANTUCKET BLUE , THE FORGET-ME-NOT SUMMER , and its sequel THE BRIGHTEST STARS OF SUMMER (and the forthcoming HELLO, SUNSHINE , due out next summer!), talks writing hiatus, learning structure from screenwriting, and finding inspiration in well-intentioned missteps. Leila Howland Show Notes STUART LITTLE by E.B. White A LITTLE PRINCESS and THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson Burnett HEIDI by Johanna Spyri THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. Tolkien THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth G...
Aug 09, 2016•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 77
Join me and Jenny Han , New York Times best-selling author of the TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE series and the SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY series, among other things, about reading in the bathtub, how food is political, intense first love, and mixing friendship and money by co-writing with your best friend. Jenny Han Show Notes DEAR MR HENSHAW by Beverly Cleary BEEZUS AND RAMONA by Beverly Cleary HATCHET by Gary Paulsen THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C. S. Lewis THE MIXED UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. F...
Jul 26, 2016•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 76
Hang with me and Dhonielle Clayton , co-author of TINY PRETTY THINGS and its sequel, SHINY BROKEN PIECES (out now!), as well as author of forthcoming series THE BELLES (spring ’17). She talks about weekly childhood trips to the bookstore, being a writing n00b, accidentally getting a boarding school job, and writing to arrested development. And don't forget to take the First Draft Podcast listener survey ! Dhonielle Clayton Show Notes X Men THE PAHNTOM TOLLBOOTH by Norton Juster Virginia Hamilton...
Jul 19, 2016•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 75
Grab a beer with me and Lance Rubin , author of DENTON LITTLE’S DEATHDATE and its sequel, DENTON LITTLE’S STILL NOT DEAD (Feb. ’17!) while we talk improvising teen dramas, the importance of establishing reader expectations, and the ephemeral nature of art. Lance Rubin Show Notes HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOON by Frank Asch PEE WEE SCOUTS Judy Delton MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN by Bruce Coville Louis Sachar THE STINKY CHEESE MAN by Jon Sciezka Beverly Cleary Judy Blume JURASSIC PARK by Michael Crichton Dick Fran...
Jun 21, 2016•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 74
Join me and Lindsey Klingele , debut author of THE MARKED GIRL , as we discuss magical forests, being in the room where stories happen, and our favorite portals. Lindsey Klingele Show Notes First Draft Live 2 , with Lindsey THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE by C.S. Lewis Amie Kaufman Ann M. Martin Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV show) Veronica Mars x (TV Show) X-Men (comic) Philip Roth That article about watching Vinyl instead of Game of Thrones , written by Jeffrey Sconce, an associate profess...
Jun 14, 2016•59 min•Ep. 73
Pretend to be an adult with Julie Buxbaum ,New York Times best-selling author of TELL ME THREE THINGS , THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE , and AFTER YOU , who chats with me about gathering at the AMPM market, creating myths about yourself, and writing parent hate mail (to your own parents). Julie Buxbaum show notes Laurence H. Tribe , Harvard Law professor Elaine Koster , literary agent THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini Lauren Groff's quote about balancing work and motherhood (from The New Yorker)...
Jun 08, 2016•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 62
A mashup of lightning-round interviews conducted at the YALLWEST festival with Susane Colasanti , Kody Keplinger , Alexandra Bracken , Kiersten White , Gwenda Bond , Adi Alsaid , Margot Wood , Stephanie Kuehn , Jessica Spotswood , Brendan Reichs , Robin Benway , Ellen Oh , Amy Tintera , Maurene Goo , Marie Lu , Victoria Aveyard , Erin Bowman and Seth Fishman . YALLWEST 2016 episode show notes The LATFoB First Draft show Alexandra Bracken, THE DARKEST MINDS , PASSENGER , A NEW HOPE: THE PRINCESS,...
May 30, 2016•53 min
Morgan Matson , New York Times best-selling author of THE UNEXPECTED EVERYTHING , AMY & ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR and SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE , among others, on reading on the bathroom floor, death defying road trips, and being forced to think of book ideas because Twitter is down. Morgan Matson Show Notes Vroman’s bookstore Christopher Pike Judy Blume R.L. Stine FEAR STREET SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS by Ann Brashares THE PRINCESS DIARIES by Meg Cabot WRITING DOWN THE BONES by Natalie Goldbe...
May 25, 2016•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 71
Lightning round questions with some of the fantastic authors I came across at the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, including Susan Dennard, Ransom Riggs, M.A. Larson, Tahereh Mafi, Maggie Hall, Danielle Paige, Victoria Aveyard, Kara Thomas, Maurene Goo, and Julie Buxbaum! Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Roundup Show Notes Susan Dennard , author of the SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY series and TRUTHWITCH Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica (TV show) Mal from Firefly (TV show) BLOOD RE...
Apr 19, 2016•33 min
Hang out with kittens, wild parrots, and Maurene Goo , author of SINCE YOU ASKED and a forthcoming K-Drama romcom , due out in 2017! We talk about writing fan fiction of her own life, letting teen girls be silly, and not being able to deny being an L.A. girl. Maurene Goo Show Notes Elvis Costello THE GOOD EARTH by Pearl S. Buck THE BABYSITTER’S CLUB books by Ann M. Martin Mary Higgins Clark V. C. Andrews Charles Dickens Robin Benway (listen to her First Draft interview here ) Felicity (TV show) ...
Apr 12, 2016•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 70
This episode is the audio equivalent of a spray tan! Join me and Jessi Kirby , author of THINGS WE KNOW BY HEART , GOLDEN , IN HONOR , and MOONGLASS , as we discuss human hearts, the lasting impact of inspiring teachers, and what actual IRL teens are reading. Jessi Kirby Show Notes FRECKLE JUICE , TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING by Judy Blume Herman Hesse SIDDHARTHA , NARCISSUS AND GOLDMUND NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA by Robert K. Massie Robin Benway (listen to her First Draft interview here ) THE AW...
Mar 29, 2016•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 69
Victoria Schwab (also known as V. E. Schwab), New York Times bestselling author of A GATHERING OF SHADOWS , VICIOUS , THE ARCHIVED , and more!, talks about the slippery nature of memory, book-writing amnesia, why editorial letters should be more like stacked Oreos, and feeding the fanfic trolls. Victoria Schwab Show Notes Kristin Kittscher (hear her First Draft interview here ) Harpeth Hall Robert Ludlum, THE BOURNE IDENTITY Kelly Link, GET IN TROUBLE Victoria’s sticker system Susanna Clarke JON...
Mar 22, 2016•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 68
Talking to Elana K. Arnold (author of FAR FROM FAIR , out now!, as well as INFANDOUS and THE QUESTION OF MIRACLES ) about literal and metaphysical skin suits, sex on the page, whether we write FOR teens or ABOUT teens, and middle grade as a happy place. Elana K. Arnold Show Notes Cheryl Strayed , “ The Love of My Life ,” TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS Sarah MCarry (listen to her First Draft interview here ) Madonna Cyndi Lauper ROOM (and the movie ) Mark Childress CRAZY IN ALABAMA Thelma & Louise (mo...
Mar 16, 2016•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 67
The prolific and amazing A.R.Kahler , author of SHADES OF DARKNESS (out now!) among many many other things, sits for what is my favorite interview because I got to say, “Where was the circus?” Alex Kahler Show Notes Neil Gaiman Phillip Pullman The Aerial Angels Dollhouse (TV show) by Joss Whedon 47 North Kirsten Hubbard You Must Remember This (Charles Manson podcast) WITCH EYES by Scott Tracy C. Alexander London ’s First Draft podcast...
Mar 08, 2016•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 66
First Draft Live Show Notes Victoria Aveyard RED QUEEN , GLASS SWORD Elissa Sussman , STRAY , BURN Lindsey Klingele , THE MARKED GIRL Maurene Goo , SINCE YOU ASKED Kirsten Hubbard , RACE THE NIGHT , WATCH THE SKY , WANDERLOVE , LIKE MANDARIN Skylight Books Isaac Asimov ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine The Legand of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time DEALING WITH DRAGONS by Patricia C. Wrede Alexandra Bracken A NEW HOPE: THE PRINCESS, THE SCOUNDREL, AND THE FARM BOY Joseph Campbell THE HERO WITH A TH...
Mar 01, 2016•1 hr
Isabel Quintero, Morris Award winner for GABI, A GIRL IN PIECES, talks getting in trouble for reading in the dark, the final straw that took her away from teaching high school, and when a life crisis almost made her into a pastry chef. Isabel Quintero Show Notes Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish e e cummings “anyhow lived in a pretty how town” Michele Serros William Carlos Williams Walt Whitman Pablo Neruda John Steinbeck M. Night Shyamalan FAT KID RULES THE WORLD by K.L. Going OF THE DUST by Karen...
Feb 16, 2016•52 min•Ep. 65
Ava Dellaira , author of LOVE LETTERS TO THE DEAD , talks writing a book from a great title, hibernating with poetry in Iowa, and we enjoy a little bit of Greek pop music for spice. Ava Dellaira Leigh Bardugo called Ava “deep as a well” in her First Draft interview Nirvana (band) Lisa Loeb, “ Sandalwood ,” “ Stay ,” The Counting Crows, “ Anna Begins ” U2, “ One ” Stephen Chbosky, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER River Phoenix (actor) Jennifer Egan...
Feb 02, 2016•57 min•Ep. 64
