Watch out world! Our Mommager and queen Jessica Parra ( @jessicatparra ) has finally returned to the show and you don’t want to miss out. Not only does she have an AMAZING YA contemporary coming out TODAY, but she’s hot, smart, and an all around baddie. We love us some Jessica Parra on Of the Publishing Persuasion and so will you! But first, here’s a bit more about our queen: As a lawyer and daughter of Guatemalan and Cuban bakers, Jessica Parra never objects to an extra slice of cake. She’s a...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 15 min
We had a fabulous time speaking with debut author and all around badass, Danielle Parker on the show. IG: @novelsshewrote Danielle’s book YOU BET YOUR HEART comes out soon, but there’s still time to preorder! But first, here’s a bit more about THE Danielle Parker:Danielle Parker is a young adult author from California. Danielle holds degrees from U.C.L.A. and U.C. Berkeley. A high school English teacher for a decade, Danielle’s talent was helping reluctant readers find their favorite books. Wh...
May 10, 2023•1 hr 14 min
We had the best time chatting with debut author, Claire Forrest. We’ve titled her the “quote queen” because she had so many inspirational things to say. Claire’s amazing book WHERE YOU SEE YOURSELF hits the shelves TODAY!!! Ahhhhhh!!!! Congratulations Claire! Get your copy here: https://www.claireforrest.com/where-you-see-yourself Here’s a bit more about Claire Forrest: Claire Forrest is a novelist and essayist who holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University...
May 02, 2023•1 hr 16 min
We had the best time chatting with debut author and friend of the show, Maya Ameyaw. @mayaameyaw We can’t wait for you to hear all the amazing things she had to say. Maya’s debut novel WHEN IT ALL SYNCS UP will be available June 6, 2023. So you still have time to preorder! But first, here’s a bit more about Maya Ameyaw: Maya Ameyaw was born and raised in Toronto by family of voracious readers in a cozy little house bursting with books. A former bookseller, she currently works as a community ar...
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 37 min
We had a blast chatting with debut author, Camri Kohler. @camhasgram Camri is a true light and joy in the writing community, AND her book is out TODAY!!!—(April 18th!!!) Get your copy of PEACHY here : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLR6TSXX?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_NVQGRX7MCZT4SKW3WFBX Add PEACHY to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59573222-peachy Now here’s a bit more about Camri Kohler:Raised by a welder and a Jack Mormon in the small town of Wallsburg, Camri Kohler worked her way...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr
We had a glorious time speaking with Australian author and literally agent, Danielle Binks. @dbinks Danielle has a wealth of knowledge on writing, the publishing world, and fanfic. 🤩 Danielle Binks is a Melbourne-based writer and literary agent with Jacinta di Mase Management . In 2017, she edited and contributed to Begin, End, Begin, an anthology of new Australian young adult writing inspired by the #LoveOzYA movement, which won the ABIA Book of the Year for Older Children (Ages 13+). The Year...
Apr 12, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Our guest today, Ari Tison is one of those rare and magical souls, who we just know you’ll love. Thank you for joining us, @aritisonwrites A bit more about Ari: Ari is a Bribri (Indigenous Costa Rican) American and African descended poet and the author of YA hybrid poetry & prose novel Saints of the Household (2023) and another YA (2024) with FSG/Macmillan. She is a contributor in Our Shadows Have Claws a YA folklore and horror Latine anthology with Algonquin Young Readers and forthcoming in...
Apr 05, 2023•1 hr 17 min
We had the absolute pleasure of interviewing the talented, Meg Eden Kuyatt on the show! @meden_author Meg is the author of GOOD DIFFERENT. An extraordinary novel-in-verse for fans of Starfish and A Kind of Spark about a neurodivergent girl who comes to understand and celebrate her difference. But first, a bit more about THE Meg Eden Kuyatt: Meg Eden is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and teaches creative writing at Anne Arundel Community College. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literatu...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr 14 min
We had an amazing time chatting with the one and only, Nisha Sharma 👑 🌟 ( @nishawrites )!!! Nisha had so many fantastic things to say and her latest book THE KARMA MAP sounds wonderful. Get your copy now! ( buy THE KARMA MAP here ) Here’s a bit more about Nisha Sharma: Nisha Sharma is the critically acclaimed author of YA and adult contemporary romances including My So-Called Bollywood Life , Radha and Jai’s Recipe for Romance, The Singh Family Trilogy and the If Shakespeare was an Auntie seri...
Mar 17, 2023•51 min
We found a kindred spirit in writer and literary agent, Monica Rodriguez ( @loveleemonicaa ). Get ready for an uplifting and magical show. Here’s a bit more about Monica: I’m Monica. I am the creator of @findalovelylife and @findalovelybook As the Director of Brand Management at Context Literary Agency , I use my marketing experience to help authors promote themselves and their books. In addition to my Brand Management role, I am also a Junior Agent! As a writer, I contribute to online outlets a...
Mar 10, 2023•1 hr 2 min
We were lucky enough to sit down with our dear friend, María José Fitzgerald— @mariajosewrites ♥️♥️♥️ Maria is the author of soon-to-be released MG novel TURTLES OF THE MIDNIGHT MOON . Our interview with her was nothing short of magical in that way a chat with only true kindred spirits can be. But first, here’s a bit more about Maria: María José is a writer of children’s books. Her favorite stories usually include animals, friendships, family, and magic. She grew up snorkeling and hiking in he...
Mar 05, 2023•53 min
We had a wonderful time chatting with debut author, Tran Thanh Tran! Their novel SHE IS A HAUNTING is absolutely amazing…and so is Trang! Here’s a bit more about Trang Thanh Tran: Trang Thanh Tran is a Vietnamese American writer telling all stories scary, otherworldly, and emotional. Trang grew up in a big family in Philadelphia but now calls the South home. They’re an alum of the Writing Barn’s Rainbow Weekend and Tin House’s YA Fiction Workshop. When not writing, they’re busy trying new food a...
Feb 23, 2023•1 hr 9 min
We had a wonderful time chatting with debut author, Edward Underhill ( @edwardunderhill ). Edward was such a joy to speak with and had so many amazing things to say!!! We can’t wait for y’all to tune in! A bit more Edward: Edward Underhill is an author and a composer who grew up in Wisconsin. He began playing the cello at age five, started writing stories not long after that, and began seriously composing in his teens. He studied music composition in college at the Oberlin Conservatory (while wr...
Feb 16, 2023•1 hr 4 min
We had so much fun speaking with Literary agent and podcast host, Renee Nyen of KT Literary. It was inspiring getting to look behind the scenes of literary agent life, talking about The Last of Us, and learning just how awesome KT Literary truly is. A bit about Renee: Renee Nyen, Agent: (Pronouns: She/Her, Salutation: Ms.) Several years in the editorial department at Random House’s Colorado division provided Renee with the opportunity to work with bestselling and debut authors alike. After leavi...
Feb 11, 2023•46 min
We had a magical time speaking with debut author and Pitchwars 2020 classmate, Lyssa Mia Smith @lsmittywrites !!! Lyssa always has the most encouraging and insightful things to say. And her debut novel REVELLE sounds AMAZING!!!!! We cannot wait for you to tune into this episode! A bit more about Lyssa Mia Smith: Lyssa Mia Smith is an author of romantic fantasies and a fan of all things magical and heart-wrenching. She has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an expertise in adolescent trauma. A l...
Feb 06, 2023•56 min
We were delighted to get to chat with author and Rising Action Publishing Co. CEO, Alexandria Brown. She had so much to say about publishing, first chapters, and querying! Thank you for joining us, @alexandriab_11 Check out Rising Action Publishing Co. here: @risingactionpublishingco A bit more about Alexandria: Alexandria Brown | CEO Alex has ten years of experience in marketing and creative writing. Alex has a Bachelor’s in Communications with a major in Public Relations, a Master of Fine Arts...
Feb 01, 2023•59 min
We had the best time interviewing Jenna Miller. We laughed, we cried, and all things in between. A bit about Jenna: Jenna Miller (she/her) writes Young Adult books about fat, queer, nerdy girls who deserve to be seen and have their voices heard. When she’s not obsessing over words, she can be found making charcuterie boards, befriending people online, cross stitching, or adventuring in the Minneapolis area. Jenna’s debut novel, OUT OF CHARACTER , will be published February 7, 2023 by Quill Tree ...
Jan 24, 2023•1 hr 8 min
We're baaaackkk!!! Our first episode of 2023 is one for the history books. We had so much fun chatting with our dear friend, Kyla Zhao. Kyla’s AMAZING book, THE FRAUD SQUAD, is OUT NOW!!! A bit more about Kyla Zhao: Born and raised in Singapore, Kyla Zhao graduated in 2021 from Stanford University with an MA in Communications (Media Studies) and BA in Psychology. Right now, she works in marketing at a tech company in Silicon Valley, California. Besides novel-writing, Kyla has an extensive magazi...
Jan 17, 2023•1 hr 13 min
We are saying goodbye to 2022 with a bang! Isabel Sterling ( @isa_sterling ) was the perfect guest to celebrate the end of the year with. Mostly because she made us so excited for all that is to come in the new year! You don’t want to miss this episode or anything that Isabel has to say about being a debut author, book two struggles, and burnout. A bit more about Isabel Sterling: (www.isabelsterling.com) Isabel Sterling is a master coach, foster mom, and host of The Author Burnout Cure Podcast. ...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 16 min
We had so much fun chatting with THE Jenny L. Howe ! Jenny had so many amazing things to say about the winding journey to publication and she’s absolutely hilarious. A bit more about Jenny L. Howe: Jenny L. Howe first started scribbling stories into black-and-white composition notebooks with neon pink pens when she was in junior high and never really stopped. In college, she decided to turn her love of books into a career by pursuing a Ph.D. in literature, where she spent the next few years stud...
Nov 24, 2022•1 hr 5 min
We had the BEST time chatting with debut author, Nikki Payne. Her energy is CONTAGIOUS! And her book sounds absolutely perfect. A bit more about Nikki: By day, Nichole Carelock, is a curious anthropologist, asking the right questions to deliver better government. By night, she's Nikki Payne, dreaming of ways to subvert canon literature. She works at Facebook as a qualitative researcher and has a PhD in cultural anthropology. https://www.nikkipaynebooks.com Add Nikki's debut PRIDE AND PROTEST to ...
Nov 15, 2022•1 hr 3 min
We had the absolute honor of interviewing author, actor, and playwright, Erin E. Adams on Of the Publishing Persuasion. Her debut novel, JACKAL, has published with high praise, and we can see why. It is absolutely fantastic. Just like Erin herself. A bit more about Erin E. Adams: Erin E. Adams is a first-generation Haitian American writer and theatre artist. She received her BA with honors in literary arts from Brown University, her MFA in acting from The Old Globe and University of San Diego Sh...
Nov 11, 2022•1 hr 4 min
We were so honored to chat with star literary agent, Linda Camacho from Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. Linda represents some of our favorite writers, so it would only make sense that she is as amazing as they are. Her love for her clients and their books is palpable. And there might even be a special treat for our listeners from Linda herself in this episode. 😉 (Offer only valid until end of this year (2022) ) A bit more about Linda Camacho : Linda was always a fan of escaping into a good ...
Nov 04, 2022•56 min
We were so happy to have THE Margie Fuston— @margiefuston back on the show! She’s one of the best humans and authors on the planet. Make sure to buy her AMAZING debut Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things . And don’t forget to preorder her sophomore book CRUEL ILLUSIONS . You won’t regret it. A bit more about Margie Fuston: Margie Fuston grew up in the woods of California where she made up fantasy worlds that always involved unicorns. In college, she earned undergraduate degrees in business a...
Oct 29, 2022•44 min
So honored to have THE Lorie Langdon on the podcast! Lorie has BOOKS! And the passion she has for the stories she creates shines through her every word during this interview. A bit more about Lorie: Lorie Langdon is an Amazon bestselling author of six YA novels, including the Doon series, Gilt Hollow, and Olivia Twist, which received a starred review from Booklist Magazine and is being sold in Target Stores across the nation. She is an international speaker who has been featured on media outlets...
Oct 20, 2022•1 hr 3 min
We had an absolute blast recording today with Dominique Richardson and Sorboni Banerjee, cofounders of YA by the Bay a non-profit YA book festival. Domnique and Sorboni are just magical. We can't wait for YA by the Bay to be up and running, because anything these two touch will turn to gold!! About The Festival YA BY THE BAY is a non-profit 501c3 literacy movement bringing young adult authors, students, teachers, and readers together in a dynamic two-day book festival at the stunning waterfront ...
Oct 11, 2022•56 min
We were honored to have middle grade author George Jreije ( @bygeorgejreije ) on the podcast this week. George had so many amazing things to share about his writing journey and the art of being a “pantser.” A bit more about George: George is the Lebanese-American author of SHAD HADID AND THE ALCHEMISTS OF ALEXANDRIA, a forthcoming children's fantasy novel with HarperCollins. He has also written short stories published in collaboration with UNICEF. When not writing, George enjoys trying tasty Ara...
Oct 04, 2022•1 hr 1 min
We had the absolute honor of speaking with associate editor, Ruqayyah Daud , at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Not only is she an amazing editor with a passion for books, but she’s an awesome person too! A bit more about Ruqayyah: I am an associate editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers working on/looking to acquire picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels. I previously interned at MCPG's Swoon Reads imprint and Simon and Schuster's Aladdin and Simon Pulse imprints. I...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr
We had a wonderful time chatting with author-illustrator, Sher Rill Ng ( @sherrill.ng ). Her STUNNING art speaks for itself and the stories she creates are POWERFUL. A bit more about Sher Rill Ng: https://sherrillng.com/ Sher Rill Ng is a Woi Wurrung/Melbourne-based digital illustrator. She designed and illustrated for SaaS companies before releasing her first author-illustrated picture book Our Little Inventor (2019 Allen & Unwin). Her work includes middle grade book covers for The Twelve b...
Sep 14, 2022•57 min
We were honored to have author and all around baddie, Amparo Ortiz ( @amparo_ortiz ), on the show this week!!! Not only is she a fantastic writer, she’s a fantastic human too! If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe to our channel wherever you listen so you don’t miss out on this hilariously fun episode. A bit more about Amparo: Amparo Ortiz is the author of BLAZEWRATH GAMES and DRAGONBLOOD RING. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and currently lives on the island’s northeastern coast...
Sep 08, 2022•57 min
