In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss the closing of Lupine Grove Literary and best practices for when your agent turns out to be toxic. NB: Next episode will be our FIFTIETH EPISODE! We will be doing ALL QUESTIONS, ALL THE TIME for this episode, so be sure to get them in before THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 at 6pm. Listen to the episode here. Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) Th...
Aug 01, 2018•1 hr 10 min
In this episode Jen and Bridget discuss art under The Circumstances, the relative futility of the high road, and comfort viewing. Quote: “the smoking rubble of what was once a functioning infrastructure” NB: We recorded this episode in Jen’s aunt’s apartment, and someone starts vacuuming in the apartment above at the 54-56 minute mark. Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) Yo...
Jul 01, 2018•1 hr 31 min
In this episode we discuss which hills to die on, the dangers of handshake deals, and our (least) favorite contract clauses, as well as general contract dos and don’ts. NB: We realized midway through the episode that we had supporters this week, so the thanks come at the end! Our apologies for the omission. NBB: We’re nearly at 50 episodes! Got ideas for what we could do for the big 5-0? Leave ‘em in the ask box or let us know on email! Listen to the episode here. Like the podcast? Support us by...
Jun 05, 2018•1 hr 13 min
In this episode Jen and Bridget discuss the differences between YA and adult, sex and violence, and Infinity War. Spoilers for Infinity War abound - see timestamp below if you want to avoid it. Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) You can also support us through a donation on ko-fi , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed In This Episode: RF Kuang ...
May 24, 2018•1 hr 17 min
In which Jen and Bridget discuss their Perfect Days, the nitty gritty of processes, and drink the eight dollarest bottle of wine. Listen to the episode here. Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) You can also support us through a donation on ko-fi , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed In This Episode: Anne Leonard – Moth & Spark Amazon | B&am...
May 02, 2018•1 hr 16 min
Jen & Bridget talk about the revision and editing process and the best way to get to “A Faster No.” Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) You can also support us through a donation on ko-fi , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: Mette Harrison – The Bishop’s Wife Amazon | B&N | IndieBound Allison Cherry, Lindsay Ribar, and...
Apr 12, 2018•1 hr 18 min
Jen and Bridget take you through the confusing and splendiferous world of taking a book on submission to editors. Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) You can also support us through a donation on ko-fi , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed In This Episode: The Work Conference March For Our Lives Chris Evans, a.k.a. Captain America, Comes Back D...
Mar 29, 2018•56 min•Ep. 43
Talkin’ bout description, having your characters do things, and the difficulties of imagination. Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) You can also support us through a donation on ko-fi , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Aphantasia definition Holly Black – White Cat Amazon | B&N | IndieBound Holly Black – Red Glove Amazon | B&N | Indiebound Hol...
Mar 07, 2018•53 min•Ep. 42
In which Jen and Bridget attempt to compare writing to being an olympic figure skater and fail, mostly because neither of them know anything about figure skating (and because they don’t want to talk about sexual harassment in publishing.) Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links ( on our website! Currently only Amazon, but B&N and IndieBound to follow.) You can also buy us a coffee and donate on ko-fi ....
Feb 23, 2018•48 min•Ep. 41
In which Jen and Bridget discuss professional jealousy, zero-sum agenting, and Jen’s feelings about the actor Adam Driver. NEWS: We are starting to share affiliate links for the books we discuss on the podcast. Currently Amazon is the only one set up, but as B&N and Indiebound come online we’ll b e adding those links to the post. Please consider purchasing a book through these links to support the podcast!
Feb 05, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 40
In this episode we discuss voice, point of view, the seasons of publishing, and answering how we’re doing in “Trump-Adjusted Terms,” and discover that Jen doesn’t know what to call the pluperfect tense (she calls it past-past).
Aug 03, 2017•46 min
“Ethan, you weird sweet goober.” Listen to the episode here. In this episode of the Shipping & Handling Book Club (#SHBookClub) we talk about Ethan of Athos by Lois McMaster Bujold . Check out Jo Walton’s discussion of the book, “Quest for Ovaries” on tor.com . Next up: Brothers in Arms!...
Aug 03, 2017•24 min
In this episode, Bridget and Jen speak to a whole crowd of awesome folks at the 2017 Nebula Awards Weekend, held in June in Pittsburgh, PA. “Come eat things with us, because you are also people.” Guests include: Barry Goldblatt, literary agent Jeffe Kennedy, author of the Twelve Kingdoms series Carrie Ann DiRisio, author & founder of Brooding YA Hero K.M. Szpara, author, “Small Change over Long Periods” Anna Zabo/Ann Kopchik, author, TAKEOVER series Tracy Townsend, author, THE NINE and JANE ...
Jul 20, 2017•1 hr
The all-singing, all-dancing, all-questions episode of Shipping & Handling. We discuss sensitivity readers, “write what you know,” revision, pitching novels in “dead” genres, and much, much more. ANNOUNCMENT 1: We will be doing another query critique episode! Please email your query (your query ONLY) to shippingandhandlingpodcast@gmail.com by Friday, May 19th if you would like it to be considered for the episode. -we will not be able to critique every query we receive -we will omit personal ...
Apr 28, 2017•1 hr 27 min
In this episode we discuss Cetaganda by Lois McMaster Bujold. Mild spoilers about THE RAVEN BOYS by Maggie Stiefvater also contained therein. (I know.) For next time, we’re reading Ethan of Athos ! You can listen to the episode here.
Apr 28, 2017•32 min
Bridget & Jen read THE VOR GAME by Lois McMaster Bujold as part of the Vorkosigan Saga #shbookclub!
Apr 04, 2017•22 min
In this episode we discuss the merits and drawbacks of Having A Plan as a writer. Quote of the episode: Jen: “I wonder what my thing is [that I dislike], besides characters being happy.”
Mar 30, 2017•55 min
In this episode we discuss social media-ing while anxious, the current political climate, amazing rumors, and That Book Deal.
Jan 24, 2017•1 hr 16 min
Well, some shit’s happened. In this episode, recorded December 5, 2016, Bridget and Jen discuss Recent Events, election-related depression, cheer-up media, and listicles.
Dec 31, 2016•40 min
Notes for this episode: We realized midway through recording the regular episode that Bridget’s mic was turned around, so if she sound tinny that’s why.
Dec 31, 2016•21 min
In this episode (recorded before the election, ahahah) Bridget and Jen discuss the basics of vetting agents, critique partners, and career moves.
Nov 21, 2016•1 hr 8 min
In this episode, Bridget snd Jen discuss the thinning boundaries between fans and creators, when your ship becomes a hassle, and what to do if you meet an editor out in the wild. We also wrap up our discussion of Maggie Stiefvater's THE RAVEN CYCLE.
Nov 07, 2016•43 min
This episode is 90% shrieking “CORDELIA!!!” and 10% feudal nonsense. TW for abortion, child murder, ableism. You can listen to the episode here. The next book in the series is THE WARRIOR’S APPRENTICE !
Aug 15, 2016•40 min
SPOILERS FOR THE RAVEN CYCLE FROM 17:57 ONWARD “Magic! History! Fast Cars! Crushing Poverty! Gayness!” In which Jen and Bridget talk about Maggie Stiefvater’s four-book YA series THE RAVEN CYCLE.
Aug 09, 2016•59 min
In this episode we talk to special guest Mika Kasuga, Associate Editor at Random House, about nonfiction, what platform actually means, and more! Favorite quotes from this episode: “You can’t make eye contact with a woman, they’ll bite you.” “The Secret Passageway is a Metaphor!”
Jul 26, 2016•1 hr 9 min
In which Bridget and Jen basically just doodle little hearts that say ARAL + CORDELIA 4 EVA
Jun 30, 2016•21 min
In which Jen, Bridget, and special guest Connor Goldsmith of Fuse Literary talk Captain America: Civil War, romance novelist pseudonyms, and the Best Vegas Story of All Time.
Jun 16, 2016•2 hr 14 min
In which Bridget & Jen talk about Falling Free, the first (chronological) volume in Lois McMaster Bujold's long-running Vorkosigan saga. Covered in this episode are such topics as how weird it is to have four arms instead of two, the relative radness of a harpsichord in space, and whether or not engineering jokes are funny.
May 13, 2016•34 min
In this episode, Bridget and Jen ask each other Why Do You Read That? regarding middle grade and romance and are terrified for a good five minutes by a creature that may or may not be coming to attack.
May 13, 2016•54 min
In this episode Jen recounts magical tales of her travel to the nation’s silliest city, the insanity of RT, and the details of the Shipping & Handling Book Club, plus much more!
May 04, 2016•1 hr 6 min
