Of the Publishing Persuasion: Recent Episodes
Melanie Schubert
A podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
We were so lucky to have Australian Literary BOSS Alex Adsett join us on the podcast this week đ¤Šđ @alexadsett â¨ď¸ Alex shared so many inspiring nuggets and industry tidbits with us!
We can't wait for you all to tune in to the episode.
But first, here's more about Alex:
Alex Adsett is a literary agent and publishing consultant with almost 30 years experience working in the publishing and bookselling industry. She has managed Alex Adsett Literary since 2008, and has helped thousands of authors review and negotiate their publishing deals. As an agent she represents more than 50 authors of all ages and genres, including Melissa Lucashenko, Dinuka McKenzie, Jodi McAlister, Christine Jackman, and many more. She regularly speaks on copyright and contracts around Australia, and is an alumni of the Australia Council Arts Leaders Program 2019.
About the Agency:
Alex Adsett Literary is an Australian literary agency, representing quality works of fiction and non-fiction for children, teens and adults. We also provide freelance consultancy services for Australian publishers and authors, including commercial review of publishing contracts.
You can find Alex on the agency website: https://alexadsett.com.au/
On instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexadsett/
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Bookstagram #Publishing #writing #bookish #alexadsettliterary #alexadsett #literaryagent
bookish #podcastsforwriters #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #bookish
Mommager queen đ our founding fatherđşđ¸ the podcast literally would not exist without this incredible womanđđ She's the heart and sinew of this community for us in so many ways, and much like her incredible new book THE QUINCE PROJECT Jessica Parra â @jessicatparraâ sprinkles bits of her fairy godmother magic wherever she goesđ§đ˝ââď¸â¨ď¸
We can't wait for you all to tune in to this magical episode. But first, here's more about THE Jessica Parra: As a lawyer and daughter of Guatemalan and Cuban bakers, Jessica Parra never objects to an extra slice of cake.
Sheâs a Los Angeles native who loves to write about Latinas with big hair (and even bigger dreams), complicated families, and the healing magic of acceptance. Sheâs the author of Rubi Ramosâs Recipe for Success and many unfinished first drafts about cats living their best livesâall nine of them. When she isnât drafting books you can find her sipping kombucha, cuddling with her kitties, or co-piloting the Millennium Falcon at Disneylandâs Galaxyâs Edge.
jessicaparra.com
Get your copy of THE QUINCE PROJECT: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/the-quince-project/
Add THE QUINCE PROJECT to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195791309-the-quince-project
â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #Bookstagramâ â #Publishingâ â #writingâ â #jessicaparraâ â #thequinceproject #yaromanceâ â #yabookstagramâ â #rubiramossrecipeforsuccessâ â #quinceaĂąeraâ #yabooksâ â #YANovelsâ â #disneyâ â #disneyfanâ â #youngadultbooksâ â #yalitâ â #latinxwritersâ â #yalitâ â #bookishâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ â #bookishâ
This week we are joined by the hilarious TJ Alexander who is a natural comedian @tjalexandernyc đĽłđ
So excited for you all to tune in, But first, here's more about TJ!
TJ Alexander is a critically acclaimed author who writes about queer love. Originally from Florida, they received their MA in writing and publishing from Emerson College in Boston. They live in New York City with their wife and various houseplants.https://tjalexander.com/#
ABOUT THE BOOK:A jaded bartender is wooed by a charmingly quirky couple in this fresh and sizzling polyamorous rom-com, set in the exclusive world of high-end cocktail bars.
As a bartender at Terror & Virtue, a swanky New York City cocktail lounge known for its romantic atmosphere and Insta-worthy drinks, Mel has witnessed plenty of disastrous dates. That, coupled with her own romantic life being in shambles, has Mel convinced love doesnât exist.
Everything changes when Bebe walks into the bar. Sheâs beautiful, funny, knows her whiskeysâand is happily married to her partner, Kade. Melâs resigned to forget the whole thing, but Bebe makes her a unique since she and Kade have an open marriage, sheâs interested in taking Mel on a date.
What starts as a fun romp turns into a burgeoning relationship, and soon Mel is trying all sorts of things sheâd been avoiding, from grand romantic gestures to steamy exploits. Mel even gets the self-confidence to enter a cocktail competition that would make her dream of opening her own bar a reality. In the chaotic whirl of all these new experiences, Mel realizes there might be a spark between her and Kade, too. As Bebe, Kade, and Mel explore their connections, Mel begins to think that real love might be more expansive than she ever thought possible.(from Goodreads)
Get your copy of TRIPLE SEC here: https://tjalexander.com/#books5
Add TRIPLE SEC to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199797973-triple-sec
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Bookstagram #Publishing #writing #tjalexander #triplesecbook #transbookstagram #transromance #transreads #nonbinarybooks #nonbinarypride #pridebooks #prideevents #podcastsforwriters #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying
What a fun and informative episode with the absolute BOSS that is THE Paula Gleeson â @paulagleesonauthorâ đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸ Paula has that big mommager energy we all love and need and is also a secret spider whisperer đˇđˇđˇđ¸đ¸ We cannot wait for you all to tune in! But first, here's more about Paula: Paula writes mysteries and thrillers for all ages, usually with multiple twists and complicated females at the helm. She is an award-winning filmmaker and nominated non-fiction writer. She lives just outside of Melbourne, Australia and is often found in her pjâs, drinking tea (wine), and watching horror movies snuggled between her doggo and a big cheese pizza. Her debut thriller, ORIGINAL TWIN, releases 1 June 2024.
â https://paulagleeson.com/â
Get your copy of ORIGINAL TWIN here: â https://paulagleeson.com/books/original-twin/â Add
ORIGINAL TWIN to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43436746.Paula_Gleeson
â â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #paulagleesonâ â #originaltwinâ â #Bookstagramâ â #Publishingâ â #writingâ â #aussieauthors â â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #authorsofigâ â #authorscommunityâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ â #2024debutâ â #debutâ â #debutauthorâ â #readingâ â #writingcommunityâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #readersofinstagramâ â #thrillerâ â #thrillerbooksâ
It's here!! Our episode with the amazing Eva Des Lauriers! @evadeslaurbooks Eva's debut YA Romance I WISH YOU WOULD is out TODAY!!! Happy debut day baby!!! Join us and let's all celebrate together!!
About I WISH YOU WOULD:
In this drama-filled love story, private confessions are scattered on the beach during a senior class overnight and explosive secrets threaten to tear everyone apart, including best friends (or maybe more?), Natalia and Ethan.
Itâs Senior Sunrise, the epic overnight at the beach that kicks off senior year. But for Natalia and Ethan, itâs the first time seeing each other after what happened at junior promâwhen they almost crossed the line from best friends to something more and ruined everything. After ghosting each other all summer, Natalia is desperate to pretend she doesnât care and Ethan is desperate to fix his mistake.
When the senior class carries out their tradition of writing private letters to themselvesâwhat they wish they would do this year if they were braverâNatalia pours her heart out. So does Ethan. So does everyone in their entire class. But in Nataliaâs panicked attempt to retrieve her heartfelt confession, the wind scatters seven of the notes across the beach. Now, Ethan and Natalia are forced to work together to find the lost letters before any secrets are revealedâespecially their own.
Seven private confessions. Seven time bombs loose for anyone to find. And one last chance before the sun rises for these two to fall in love.
https://www.evadeslauriers.com/
I WISH YOU WOULD here: https://www.evadeslauriers.com/books
I WISH YOU WOULD to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/179031684-i-wish-you-would
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #evadeslauriers #iwishyouwould #iwishyouwouldbook #Bookstagram #Publishing #writing #podcastsforwriters #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #yaromance #yaauthor #2024debut #youngadultbooks #yacontemporaryromance #ireadya #yalit #bookobsessed #youngadultfiction
We were so freaking lucky to have the beautiful, powerful human that is THE Arlene Abundis @arleneabundis as a guest on the pod đâ¨ď¸ We laughed, we cried, we went deep into our traumas and got vulnerable with each other as one only can with friends that are cut from the same cloth đđ
We cannot wait for you all to tune in! But first, here's more about Arlene:
Arlene Abundis is a Cuban American author whose work honors resilience through mental and emotional health. She has struggled with social anxiety and post-traumatic stress for over two decades.
A former preschool teacher, she lives nestled with her husband and three children between the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains in California. Gardens, library adventures with her kids, and pastelitos that drip guava jelly calm the swirling thoughts of her mind.
Arlene is represented by Monica Rodriguez at Context Literary.
Her debut INTO THE MIGHTY SEA is out with Harper Collins on June 4th 2024
About INTO THE MIGHTY SEA: When Marielâs emotions become a big sea of color, she must learn to sail through or get lost in the swells in Into the Mighty Sea by debut author Arlene Abundis and acclaimed illustrator Cynthia Alonso. Marielâs family is a big POP of color! But when her tĂos, tĂas, and cousins arrive for her hermanitoâs birthday party, their many besos, noises, and colors start to feel overwhelming. As Marielâs tears grow into an ocean, she paints a boat to stay afloat and dives into the mighty sea. When an island calls to her through the swells, she discovers sights, smells, and sounds on its shores that bring back memories of the people she loves the most to guide her back home. Beautifully illustrated and lyrically written, Into the Mighty Sea is about a girl with big emotions who learns that sometimes taking a step back can be exactly what you need.
https://www.arleneabundis.com/
You can find preorder links for INTO THE MIGHTY SEA here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/into-the-mighty-sea-arlene-abundis?variant=41106429050914
Add INTO THE MIGHTY SEA on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198530937-into-the-mighty-sea
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #arleneabundis #intothemightysea #Bookstagram #Publishing #writing
kidlit #childrensbooks #picturebook #middleschool @harperkids #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #picturebooks #mentalhealth #mentalhealthbooks #kidsbooks #kidsbookstagram #podcastersofinstagram #authorscommunity #womensupportingwomen #womenempoweringwomen #anxiety #latinxbooks #diversebooks #2024debuts #debut #picturebooks
IT'S THE EPISODE YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!!! A very spooky celebration with these three glorious Australians, Claire Low đ¨ Katya de BecerrađŚ and your very own cloaca queen, Melanie Schubertđ
This episode is everything. Laughter, tears, chaos. But most of all it's a celebration of the happy fact that these three Aussie icons all have stories coming out in the brand new Castle of Horror anthology Volume 11 REVENGE. Their stories are chilling, powerful and not to be missed !
We can't wait for you all to tune in! You can find the anthology here:
Get your copy of the anthology here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CZZHLG8D
Add the Anthology to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210919703-castle-of-horror-anthology-volume-11
And now, a bit about our authors!
Claire Engkaninan Low, or just Claire Low, is a Sydney-based visual artist and writer living on Cammeraygal land. Claire's work connects with themes of horror, sustainability and her identity as an Asian Australian. Her recent artwork All Monsters Are Real won the Reused/Recycled Materials Award in the 2023 Reimagine Art Prize. The same piece, a skateboard deck that imitates a Ming dynasty scroll, was a finalist for the 2023 National Emerging Art Prize â and is a finalist in the 2024 North Sydney Art Prize. Claire exhibits work alongside other artists of the Wet Paint Collective around Sydney's Inner West. Her most recent written work, a short story titled After I Found Her, features in Clan Destine Press' horror anthology This Fresh Hell. After I Found Her is shortlisted for an Australasian Shadows Award. This Fresh Hell is among the publisher's spec fic bestsellers â¨ď¸â¨ď¸
Find Claire on her website: https://www.clairelow.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairelow_/
Katya de Becerra writes atmospheric horror and mystery featuring determined characters, complicated families and enigmatic places. Critics called her debut What The Woods Keep âa thoughtful and compelling horror fantasyâ (The Bulletin) and âa narrative that will keep readers enthralledâ (Booklist), while her second novel Oasis earned a starred review from Booklist. Katya regularly publishes short fiction in anthologies and literary magazines. She is also co-editor of the bestselling anthology This Fresh Hell, which reimagines and subverts horror tropes in new and unexpected ways. As a child, Katya wanted to be an Egyptologist, but instead she earned a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and now works at a university, where she teaches and researches as well as supervises graduate students in Anthropology, Creative Writing and Education. Katya is a short version of her real name, which is very long and gets mispronounced a lot. Her third novel, When Ghosts Call Us Home, received two starred reviews, with Kirkus Reviews calling it âhaunting, intense, and eerily spookyâ and including it in its Best of 2023 list.
Katya's website: https://katyadebecerra.com/
Katya's IG: https://www.instagram.com/katyadebecerra/
Melanie Schubert is a Croatian Australian who writes about badass anxious characters who do it scared. She is a host and a creator of the writing podcast: Of the Publishing Persuasion, together with her wildly talented and hilarious co-host Angela Montoya. She has written multiple musical productions for the New Zealand performing arts company Gobsmacked for large scale stage productions. She lives with her biscuit of a husband and one highly opinionated French Bulldog in Melbourne Australia, but a piece of her heart is always in Japan đ
Melanie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/melanie_schubert_writer/
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Bookstagram #Publishing #writing #Clairelow #katyadebecerra #MelanieSchubert #castleofhorror #castleofhorrorvol11 #castlebridgemedia #podcasts #podcastsforwriters #aussieauthors #aussiesofinstagram #aussiehorror #horrorfan #horrorstories #horrortale #anthology #horroranthology #horrorbooks #horrorbookstagram
We were so honoured to chat today with the total legend that is Siang Lu â @sianglu_authorâ đ¤Šâand on the day of his new book release GHOST CITIES no less!!
Siang is such a wise, authentic, BIG MAGIC human. We can't wait for you all to tune in đĽł! But first, here's more about Siang!
Siang Lu is the author of Ghost Cities and The Whitewash, and the co-creator of The Beige Index. The Whitewash won the ABIA Audiobook of the Year in 2023 for its audio adaptation, which starred a large and diverse cast of fourteen actors. It also won the Glendower Award for an emerging writer at the Queensland Literary Awards and was shortlisted for a NSW Premierâs Literary Award. In 2023 he was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 Asian-Australians at the Asian-Australian Leadership Awards. Siang holds a Master of Letters from the University of Sydney and has written for film and television for Singapore's Beach House Pictures and Malaysia's Astro network. He is based in Brisbane, Australia, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
â www.siang-lu.com â â www.thebeigeindex.com
â
Interested in joining the Readathon Siang mentions in the episode? Join in and find all the details here: â https://chaptersforchange.org/the-challengeâ
Get your copy of GHOST CITIES here: â https://www.uqp.com.au/books/ghost-cities
â
Add GHOST CITIES to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210521474-ghost-cities
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #siangluâ â #ghostcitiesâ â #Bookstagramâ â #aussieauthorsâ â #Publishingâ â #writing #podcastsforwriters #newbook #newrelease #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #authortube #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #Publishing #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #querytrenches #podcastlife #bookstagram #bookishâ
We had the best time chatting with the social media QUEEN that is THE Breanne Randall â @houseofrandallâ this week on the podcast and what a big energy chat it was! đ¤Šâ¨ď¸
Breanne is a writer-gram legend! Her debut novel, The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic, was an instant New York Times Bestseller and USA Today Bestseller.
We can't wait for you all to tune in, but first, here's more about Breanne:
Breanne Randall is a freelance writer by trade and an author by vocation. She graduated with honors with degrees in English Literature, Psychology, and Religious Studies, and her articles have been published in national magazines such as Parents, Fit Pregnancy, Good Housekeeping, Family Circle et al. as well as regular contributions to sites such as Disney Family, SheKnows, Bustle, et al. A seasoned traveler, she imbues her stories with the magic and culture collected from the over forty countries sheâs visited.Breanne lives in the sleepy foothills of Northern California with her husband, two daughters, and a slew of farm animals. When sheâs not writing, you can find her wandering the property searching for fairy portals or serving elaborate stuffed animal tea parties.
â https://www.breannerandall.com/â
Get your copy of The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic here: â https://msha.ke/brerandallâ
Add The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/75532088â
â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #Publishingâ â #writingcommunityâ â #breannerandallâ â #theunfortunatesideeffectsofheartbreakandmagicâ â #Bookstagram â â #debutâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #writerspodcastâ â #bookpodcastâ â #podcastlifeâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #bookwormâ â #bookdragonâ â #writeradviceâ â #writinginspirationâ
IT'S HERE!!! Our episode with the ăăŁăĄăăăŁăăăäşş (super cool human) that is THE Ambika Nagino @a2vora đâ¨ď¸đââď¸ Ambika is the real deal as far as we're concerned! We were honoured to have a chance to chat with her about her amazing book SPIN OF FATE and her journey to publication!
We can't wait for you all to tune in and hear all the amazing gems Ambika has to share. But first here's more about the author herself:
Ambika Vora-Nagino ćłé ĺŽçžĺ (writing as A. A. Vora) is an Indian Japanese author born in Mumbai and based in Tokyo. After receiving a bachelorâs in economics from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Cambridge, she worked in management consulting with a focus on digital transformation and healthcare. Outside work, she is a fervid Naruto fan who enjoys competitive PokĂŠmon battling with her husband, playing with her newborn, and going on runs with her spitz dog FĂŤanor.
Her epic YA Fantasy debut SPIN OF FATE comes out this May 7th!
https://www.a2vora.com/
Get your copy of SPIN OF FATE here: https://www.penguinteen.com/9780593617564/spin-of-fate/
Add SPIN OF FATE to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195888777-spin-of-fate
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â â #podcastâ â â â #writingâ â â â #Publishingâ â â â #booksâ â â â #Bookstagramâ â â â #bookishâ â #2024debuts #writingcommunity #SpinOfFate #aavora #ambikanagino #2024debuts #penguin #penguinteen #YAfantasy #bookstagram #debut #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #writerspodcast #bookpodcast #yabookshelf #podcast #podcastlife
We were so beyond lucky to have the glorious, starshine energy human that is THE Jill Tew join us for our 100th EPISODE OF THE PODCAST!!!! đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸
We've been wanting to have Jill on the show forever! She truly is a bright spot on here and we're pretty sure her debut novel, THE DIVIDING SKY is going to break the internet come October!!!
We canât wait for you all to tune inâ¨ď¸
But first, hereâs more about Jill!!
From a young age, Jill Tew was destined for speculative fiction nerddom. She grew up watching Farscape, Hercules, and The Tribe every week, and always had the latest copy of Animorphs tucked in her backpack. Now she writes the kinds of stories she loved as a kid, with characters she wanted to see more ofâ Black heroines asking big questions, saving the world, and occasionally falling in love along the way.
A recovering business school graduate, Jill enjoys belting showtunes on the way to Target and baking in her spare time. She is also a co-host ofâ â â Afronauts Podcastâ , which provides writing tips and community for Black aspiring speculative fiction writers. Jill lives in Atlanta with her family. She is represented by Jen Azantian of Azantian Literary Agency.
Her debut novel, THE DIVIDING SKY, comes out October 8, 2024 with Joy Revolution (an imprint of Penguin Random House).
Find her on X and Instagram at @jtewwrites, and TikTok at @jilltew.
Preorder your copy of THE DIVIDING SKY here: https://www.getunderlined.com/books/736783/the-dividing-sky-by-jill-tew/
Add THE DIVIDING SKY to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123192365-the-dividing-sky
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Publishing #writingcommunity #thedividingsky #jilltew #joyrevolution #2024debuts #yadystopian #yaromance #Bookstagram #dystopianbooks #podcastersofinstagram #podcastsforwriters #bookpodcast #writersofinstagram #writingadvice #podcast
We had the absolute pleasure of interviewing literary agent Queen THE Eva Scalzo đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸ â @evascalzo_slaâ of Speilberg Literary Agency â @speilburgliteraryâ â¨ď¸
Eva is so passionate about books and storytelling. We canât wait to share this episode with all of you soonđ¤¸ââď¸â¨ď¸
But first, hereâs more about Eva!
Eva Scalzo was born in New Jersey, but lived in Houston, Buenos Aires, San Juan, and Boston before settling down outside of Binghamton, New York. She has been reading romance since the fifth grade when she discovered the Sweet Valley High series. On inheriting her grandmotherâs collection of vintage Harlequin Romances, she set a goal to someday finish reading them all on top of her already massive TBR.Eva has a B.A. in the Humanities from the University of Puerto Rico and a M.A. in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College. Since graduating in 2002, she has spent her career in scholarly publishing, working for Houghton Mifflin, Blackwell Publishing, John Wiley & Sons, and Cornell University in a variety of roles.
She has been with â Speilburg Literaryâ since 2013, and started accepting clients in 2017. Eva is a member of the AALA and SCBWI.In Adult Fiction, Eva represents Romance (all subgenres but inspirational), Fantasy, and select Upmarket/Womenâs Fiction and Mystery/Thriller. She also represents all subgenres of Young Adult Fiction and select Middle Grade Fiction (literary and fantasy).
Before you hit submit on any queries please verify â her #MSWL. â
Eva's Webpage: â https://www.evascalzo.com/â â â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â #podcastâ â â â â â #writingâ â â â â â #Publishingâ â â â #evascalzoâ â #speilbergliterary â â pubpersuasionâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #newbookâ â #newreleaseâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #authortubeâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #authorsofigâ â #authorscommunityâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #Publishingâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ â #querytrenchesâ â #podcastlifeâ â #bookstagramâ â #bookishâ
We had an absolutely magical time interviewing the cosmic care queen herself THE đđđđValerie Tejedađđđđ â @valerietejedaâ đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸Valerie shared all about her publishing journey, the importance of self care and her personal practice of astrology. She even read our birth charts for us! Turns out this podcast duo is a match made in the starsđđđ
We can't wait for you all to tune in!!!
But first, here's more about Valerie:
Valerie Tejeda is a bestselling author of nonfiction and fiction books, an astrologer with a degree in psychology and certificates in astrology and music therapy, and the creator of the digital brand â Big Cosmic Energyâ .She is the writer and narrator of Self Care by the Signs, a â #1â Audible bestseller, a â #1â Amazon bestseller, an AP bestseller, and an Editor's Pick for Best of the Month, as well as Self Care by the Moon, an Audible Top 10 Listen and Editor's Pick for a 2021 favorite in self-development.In addition, she writes fiction novels with themes of self-discovery: the adult contemporary romance Good on Paper, a â #1â Amazon bestseller and B&N bestseller, published by Hachette's Headline Eternal in 2022, and the satirical young adult urban fantasy, Hollywood Witch Hunter, published by Bloomsbury in 2015.As a journalist, she wrote stories about well-being, astrology, and pop culture. Her bylines have appeared in publications such as Self Magazine, Vanity Fair, MTV, Teen Vogue, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, and more.Valerie loves iced coffee and asking people, "Whenâs your birthday?" when she first meets them.
Get a copy of COSMIC CARE here: â https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Care-Astrology-Self-Care-Empowerment/dp/1401974503â
Find Valerie on Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8549200.Valerie_Tejedaâ
Of the Publishing Persuasion is Hosted by: â @angelamontoya_authorâ đâ¨ď¸â @melanie_schubert_writerâ đ¨â¨ď¸
â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #Publishingâ â #writingcommunityâ â #cosmiccareâ â #valerietejedaâ â #astrologyâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #newbookâ â #newreleaseâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #authortubeâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #authorsofigâ â #authorscommunityâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #Publishingâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ â #querytrenchesâ â #podcastlifeâ â #bookstagramâ â #bookish
We had a gleefully riotous time interviewing the author goddess herself, THE Vera Valentineđ¤Šâ @veravalauthorâ 𤊠đâ¨ď¸, yes the author of THAT doorknob book đŞđŚđŤ
Vera is a legend to us here on Of the Publishing Persuasion, and she had so many interesting things to say about her publishing journey too.
We can't wait for you all to tune in to the episode. But first, here's more about Vera:
An unapologetic book-huffer and devourer-of-stories, Vera Valentine has carried on a torrid love affair with the written word for nearly all of her 41 years. Grown in the diner-laden wilds of the New Jersey Pine Barrens and transplanted to North Carolina, she lives with her husband, eight cats, and two dogs, most of whom are house trained. An avid fan of the Paranormal Why Choose / Polyam genre, she tossed her author hat into the ring in September of 2021 and never looked back. A cheerfully chaotic capybara, Vera can usually be found spending too much time on social media, chilling with fellow author friends, or scribbling down plot bunny ideas in her trusty paper sidekick, the Bad Idea Bookâ˘.
â https://www.valentineverse.com/â
Find Vera on Goodreads: â https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21809549.Vera_Valentineâ
Find Vera's Books here: â https://www.amazon.com/stores/Vera-Valentine/author/B09FRQ6V7Vâ â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #Publishingâ â #writingcommunityâ â #VeraValentineâ â #unhingedbookâ â #squeakbookâ â #spicybookstagram â â #thedoorbookâ â #dooroticaâ â #balloonshifterromanceâ â #Bookstagramâ â #smutbooksâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #podcastlifeâ â #bookishâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #VeraValentineSocialMediaâ â #AuthorVeraValentineâ â #Unhingedâ â #Squeakâ â #CarnalCryptids
We had the honour of interviewing the absolute BOSS agent that is THE Paige Terlip đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸ @pterlip of Andrea Brown Literary Agency @andreabrownlit â¨ď¸Paige gave us such direct, honest and authentic answers to all our questions!
Querying writers make sure you listen all the way to the end toođ đ !
We canât wait for you all to tune in. But first, hereâs more about Paige!
Paige has worked at ABLA since 2017. She comes to agenting with a background in marketing, design, and freelance editorial. Sheâs worked at Charlesbridge Publishing, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and a ranch in the Rockies. She has an MA in Children's Literature and an MFA in Writing for Children from Simmons University. If sheâs not reading, you'll find her practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, re-watching the Great British Baking Show, or hiking with her Husky-Shepherd mix.
Find Paige at at ABLA here: https://www.andreabrownlit.com/Team/paige-terlip
Paige's website: https://www.paigeterlip.com/index.html
â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â â #podcastâ â â â #writingâ â â â #Publishingâ â #literaryagent #paigeterlip #andreabrownliterary#podcastsforwriters #newbook #newrelease #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #authortube #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #Publishing #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #querytrenches #podcastlife #bookstagram #bookish #andreabrownliteraryagency
We were so lucky to have had AmĂŠlie Wen Zhao as a guest on the pod @ameliewenzhao đ¤Šđ¤Šđââď¸đââď¸ and have her share all her wise words with us. AmĂŠlie is a freaking queen as far as we are concerned!
We canât wait for you all to tune in đâ¨ď¸
But first, hereâs more about AmĂŠlie:
AmĂŠlie Wen ZhaoďźčľľéŻďźwas born in Paris and grew up in Beijing, where she spent her days reenacting tales of legendary heroes, ancient kingdoms, and lost magic at her grandmotherâs courtyard house. She attended college in the United States and now resides in New York City, working as a finance professional by day and fantasy author by night. In her spare time, she loves to travel with her family in China, where sheâs determined to walk the rivers and lakes of old just like the practitioners in her novels do.
AmĂŠlie is the New York Times bestselling author of the Song of Silver, Flame Like Night duology and the Blood Heir trilogy.
AmĂŠlie is represented by Peter Knapp of Park & Fine Literary & Media.
https://ameliezhao.com/
Find AmĂŠlie on Instagram here: www.instagram.com/ameliewenzhao/
Find AmĂŠlie's on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17649437.Am_lie_Wen_Zhao
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcasting
writingcommunity #Publishing #bookstagram #ameliewenzhao #podcasting #podcastlife #podcastersofinstagram #bookish #chinesefantasy #xianxia #songofsilverflamelikenight #darkstarburningashfallswhite #songofsilverflamelikenight #bloodheir #yafantasy #epicfantasy #chinesefantasy #fantasyromance #bookstagram #booklove #booknerd #bookworm
We love our OTPP discord family!! And we knew were were going to have an absolute blast chatting with the glorious human that is THE Kerrie Faye @kerriefayebooks , but she was even cooler in person and had the best stories to share đ¤Šđ
We canât wait for you all to tune in to her episode đâ¨ď¸
But first, hereâs more about Kerrie:
Kerrie Faye is a Gen X wife and mom who found her passion to write later in life. A graduate of Murray State University, she has a bachelorâs degree in Elementary Education. Raised in Western Kentucky, where her debut novel, DEAD GIRL, takes place, the author currently resides near the Rocky Mountain Flatirons in Colorado where there is far less humidity, but not nearly enough BBQ. Her debut novel, DEAD GIRL, will be published on February 26, 2024 by The Wild Rose Press.
Get your copy of DEAD GIRL here: https://linktr.ee/kerriefayebooks
Add DEAD GIRL to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199334506-dead-girl
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #writingcommunity #writing #Publishing #kerriefayebooks #bookstagram #podcastsforwriters #newrelease #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #authortube #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #2024debuts #bookstagram #youngadult #fantasy #paranormal #thriller #wildrosepress #wildrosepressauthor
We had way too much fun chatting with THE amazing, glorious human that is THE Gretchen Schreiber!! Gretchen has so many cool stories to share about publishing and just life in general! We can't wait for you all to tune in. But first, here's more about Gretchen:
Gretchen Schreiber grew up between the hills of Kansas and the hospitals of Minnesota, but now call the hills of Los Angeles home. After getting her MFA from USC Film School, she now works as a professional bookworm for Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoonâs media company. She is always down to run away to Disneyland or a bookstore.
ELLIE HAYCOCK IS TOTALLY NORMAL is her debut novel!
Get your copy here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250892164/elliehaycockistotallynormal
Add it to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127305899-ellie-haycock-is-totally-normal
You can find Gretchen here:
Gretchen's website: https://www.gretchenschreiberwrites.com/
Gretchen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gretch_schreiber/
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #writingcommunity #writing #Publishing
elliehaycockistotallynormal #GretchenSchreiber #hellosunshine #podcastsforwriters #newrelease #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #authortube #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #disabilityarts #diversereads #2024debuts
We are so beyond honoured and excited to have hosted the â Relit Anthology â launch event here on Of the Publishing Persuasion! Our chats with these absolutely incredible authors were everything!!! We're sharing the launch interview as an episode so you can hear our chat with some of the contributing authors including:
David Bowles:IG â @davidobowlesâ Website: â https://davidbowles.us/â
Saraciea J. Fennell: IG: â @sj_fennellâ Website: â https://bio.site/saracieafennellâ
Torrey Maldonado â @torreymaldonadoâ Website: â https://torreymaldonado.com/â
Amparo Ortiz â @amparo_ortizâ Website: â https://www.amparoortiz.com/â
NoNieqa Ramos â @nonieqa.ramosâ Website: â https://www.nonieqaramos.com/â
Monica Sanz â @authormonicasanzâ Website: â http://monicasanzbooks.com/â
Eric Smith â @ericsmithrocksâ Website: https://www.ericsmithrocks.com/â
Alexandra Villasante â @magpiewritesâ Website: https://alexandravillasante.com/â
And of course the amazing Relit Editor herself: THE Sandra Proudman đ¤Šâ¨ď¸ â @sandraproudmanâ Website: â https://www.sandraproudman.com/â
About RELIT:
Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories
These sixteen stories by award-winning and bestselling YA authors center a Latinx point of view in an empowering anthology that reimagines classics through fantasy, science fiction, and with a dash of magic, for fans of A PHOENIX FIRST MUST BURN and RECLAIM THE STARS In classic stories remixed, Latinx characters take center stage Pride and Prejudice is launched into outer space, Frankenstein is plunged into the depths of the ocean, and The Great Gatsby floats to an island off the coast of Costa Rica. A shape-shifter gives up her life to save the boy she loves from an evil bruja. La Ciguapa covets a little mermaidâs heart of gold. Two star-crossed teens fall in love while the planet burns around them. Whether characters fall in love, battle foes, or grow through grief, each story will empower readers to see themselves as the heroes of the stories that make our world.
Featuring original stories from:
Olivia Abtahi
David Bowles
Zoraida CĂłrdova
Saraciea J. Fennell
Raquel Vasquez Gilliland
Torrey Maldonado
Jasminne Mendez
Anna Meriano
Amparo Ortiz
Laura Pohl
Sandra Proudman
NoNieqa Ramos
Monica Sanz
Eric Smith
Ari Tison
Alexandra Villasant
(from www.harpercollins.com)
Get your copy of Relit here: â https://www.harpercollins.com/products/relit-sandra-proudman?variant=41056493502498â
Add Relit to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/150444510â
HAPPY DEBUT RELIT!!! đĽłđĽłđĽł â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #bookishâ â #bookstagramâ â #Publishingâ â #booksâ â #anthologyâ â #yaanthologyâ â #Retellingsâ â #latinxbooks
We had the absolute pleasure of interviewing literary agent queen, Melanie Figueroa â @wellmelsbellsâ đâ¨ď¸ Melanie is a light in the writing community and had so many inspiring things to say!!
We canât wait for you all to tune in to this episode đ¤¸ââď¸â¨ď¸But first, hereâs more about Melanie:
Melanie Figueroa is a literary agent at Root Literary with over a decade of experience in the book publishing industry and an active member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA). She earned an M.S. in Creative Writing and Book Publishing from Portland State University and a B.A. in English Rhetoric and Composition with a professional certification in Technical Writing from California State University, Long Beach.
Her career in publishing started as an editorial project manager and freelance editor, working with companies such as Disney/Pixar, Marvel, and Lucas. She joined Root Literary in 2018 as an agency coordinator and quickly transitioned into her current role as a literary agent. Melanieâs portfolio of representation spans across childrenâs literature and adult fiction.
Melanie was born and raised in Southern California in a multicultural, blended family, so she has a soft spot for books that speak to the nuances of relationships and identity. The unique blend of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that her role offers is what truly fuels her passion for the job. When she's not working, you can find her stress baking, watching something scary, or snuggling with her chocolate lab, Oakley.
â https://www.melaniefigueroa.com/â
Find Melanie at Root Literary here: â https://www.rootliterary.com/agentsâ
Melanie on Publishers Marketplace: â https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/melaniefigueroa/â
Melanie's Manuscript wish list: â https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/melanie-figueroa/
â â â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â â â â #podcastâ â â â â â #writingâ â â â â â #Publishingâ â â â #literaryagentâ â #MelanieFigueroaâ â #RootLiteraryâ â @rootliteraryâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #newbookâ â #newreleaseâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #authortubeâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #authorsofigâ â #authorscommunityâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #Publishingâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ â #querytrenchesâ â #podcastlifeâ â #bookstagramâ â #bookishâ
We had the absolute best time having â¨ď¸USA Today Bestselling author Emma R. Albanâ¨ď¸ on the show! â @eraofemmaâ đ¤Šđ¤Šâ¨ď¸ We can't wait for you all to tune in to the episode, but first, hereâs more about Emma:
Emma R. Alban writes Queer Historical Romance about finding yourself, falling in love, and making a loving world for you, your family, and your friends. She also writes TV Drama about all of the above, and sometimes vampires. Raised in the Hudson Valley, she now lives in Los Angeles, enjoying the eternal sunshine, ocean, and mountains. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found stress baking with the AC on full blast, skiing late into the spring, and reading anywhere thereâs somewhere to lean.
Her debut novel, DON'T WANT YOU LIKE A BEST FRIEND, released from Avon Books on January 9th, 2024 and hit the USA Today Bestsellers list just this week!! đĽłđĽłđĽłđĽł
Emma's Website: â https://www.emmaralban.com/â
Get your copy of DON'T WANT YOU LIKE A BEST FRIEND here: â https://linktr.ee/ERAlbanâ
Add DON'T WANT YOU LIKE A BEST FRIEND to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/127823335-don-t-want-you-like-a-best-friendâ â â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â â â â #podcastâ â â â â â #writingâ â â â â â #Publishingâ â â â â â #booksâ â â â â â #Bookstagramâ â â â â â #bookishâ â â #2024debutsâ â #romancebooksâ â #EmmaRAlbanâ â #historicalromanceâ â #historicalromancebooksâ â #dontwantyoulikeabestfriendâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #newreleaseâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #authortubeâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #authorsofigâ â #authorscommunityâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ
Our first episode of the new year is here!!! Today we're talking panic attacks, bad ass dragon books written by queens along with a bonus appearance by THE Sora Mittens Coleâand let's not forget Sora's owner. Our incredible guest, the absolutely ICONIC human that is THE Kamilah Cole @wordsiren!! We can't wait for you all to tune in! But first here's more about Kamilah:
Kamilah Cole is the pseudonym of a Jamaican-born, American-raised author. By day she works in publishing and by night she frantically types words she hopes to see in a book on shelves one day. In the past, sheâs also worked as a journalist and at a hotel, two jobs that give you amazing stories to tell at parties. You know, if she went to parties.
A graduate of New York University, Kamilah is currently based in the Tri-State Area, where sheâs usually playing Kingdom Hearts for the hundredth time, quoting early Spongebob Squarepants episodes, or crying her way through Zukoâs redemption arc in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
She is represented by Emily Forney at BookEnds Literary Agency.
https://www.kamilah-cole.com/
Order SO LET THEM BURN HERE: https://linktr.ee/kamilahcole
Add SO LET THEM BURN to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/145624962-so-let-them-burn
Our last episode for the year! Join us for a completely unhinged episode where we discuss door erotica, read skanky Christmas poems we wrote for the holiday season, and talk about our hopes and plans for 2024. (headphones advised as this episode contains more mature content than usual!)
To our dearest listeners! THANKYOU for joining us for another gloriously chaotic year of the podcast! We love you all!!
Here's the link to the epic article in Publishers Weekly mentioned in the episode!
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/93971-fall-2023-flying-starts-angela-montoya.html
Cloacas, Mermen, and the meaning of life, we talk about it all in this episode with our extra special guest, the absolute ICON that is Jason June! â @heyjasonjuneâ đ¤Šâ¨ď¸We can't wait for you all to tune in but first, here's more about Jason!
Jason June (it's a two-name first name, like Mary-Kate without the hyphen or the Olsen twin) is a bestselling author of young adult contemporary rom-coms that celebrate queer love and lust and chaotically gay shenanigans. His works include Jay's Gay Agenda, Riley Weaver Needs a Date to the Gaybutante Ball, and the instant New York Times bestseller Out of the Blue. When not writing, JJ zips about Dallas, Texas, with his husband and their Pomeranian, Pom Brokaw. JJ is a tried and true Laura Dern stan, and he is actively looking for an Andalite friend. Find out more about JJ and his books at
â heyjasonjune.com.â
Find Jason on Goodreads: â https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15906433.Jason_Juneâ
Buy Jason's books here: â https://www.heyjasonjune.com/books.htmlâ â â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â â â â #podcastâ â â â â â #writingâ â â â â â #Publishingâ â â â â â #booksâ â â â â â #Bookstagramâ â â â â â #bookishâ â â â #jasonjuneâ â #disneypublishingâ
We had the absolute honour of recording with Author, Filmmaker & Speaker THE Abigail Hing Wen @abigailhingwen đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸
We can't wait for you all to tune in to the episode! But first, here's more about Abigail:
Abigail Hing Wen works at the intersection of storytelling and technology. She is a New York Times Best Selling Author, woman-in-tech leader specializing in artificial intelligence, a filmmaker as well as a mother of two. She writes and speaks about tech, AI ethics, womenâs leadership, implicit bias, equity, and transforming culture.
Abigail penned the New York Times Best Selling and National Best Selling novel Loveboat, Taipei and companion novels, Loveboat Reunion and Loveboat Forever. She executive produced the film adaptation of the Paramount Plus original film, LOVE IN TAIPEI, based on Loveboat, Taipei and starring Ashley Liao (Hunger Games) as Ever Wong and Ross Butler (Shazam) as Rick Woo. She and her work have been profiled in Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, NBC News, Forbes, Fortune, Cosmopolitan, Bloomberg, Seventeen, Google Talk, People en Espanol, South China Morning Post and the World Journal, among others.
https://www.abigailhingwen.com/
Find links to buy Abigails books here: https://www.abigailhingwen.com/books/
Find links to Abigail on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9852936.Abigail_Hing_Wen
â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â â #podcastâ â â â #writingâ â â â #Publishingâ â â â #booksâ â â â #Bookstagramâ â â â #bookishâ â #LoveinTaipei #abigailhingwen #loveboattaipei #booktofilm #bookadaptation #movie #yaromcom #romcom #romanticcomedy #loveboatreunion #loveboatforever #movie #movies #aapi #booktok #movietok #writerspodcast #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #querytrenches #podcastlife
We're bacccck! Did you miss us? It's been a wild couple weeks with Angela's debut đ¤Šđ´ââ ď¸ But we have a few more fantastic guests lined up for you before the year's out! First up is our chat with the hilarious and wonderful human that is Elle Gonzalez Rose @ellegonzalezrose đ¤Šđ¤Šđ¤Š
We can't wait for you all to tune in. But first, here's more about Elle!
Elle Gonzalez Rose is a television producer from New York whoâs better at writing love stories about short, queer, Boricuas than she is at writing bios. Her dog thinks sheâs okay. She is the author of Caught in a Bad Fauxmance, 10 Things I Hate About Prom, and The Girl You Know. Elle, not the dog.
Preorder CAUGHT IN A BAD FAUXMANCE here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717619/caught-in-a-bad-fauxmance-by-elle-gonzalez-rose/
Add CAUGHT IN A BAD FAUXMANCE to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60645436-caught-in-a-bad-fauxmance
Preorder 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT PROM here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/727041/10-things-i-hate-about-prom-by-elle-gonzalez-rose/
Add 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT PROM to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/194969348-10-things-i-hate-about-prom
And most importantly, Find Smooth Yoda at the bottom of Elle's link tree here: https://linktr.ee/ellegonzalezrose
OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #Bookstagram #ellegonzalezrose #caughtinabadfauxmance #10thingsihateaboutprom #writing #Publishing #joyrevolution #2023debuts #podcastsforwriters #newbook #newrelease #writingcommunity #writingpodcast #writersofinstagram #Publishing #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #querying #querytrenches #podcastlife
THIS CHAT WAS EVERYTHING!!! We seriously could have yarned for days with the glorious soul that is Isabel IbanĚez, @isabelwriter09
đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸
We can't wait for you all to tune in. But first, here's more about Isabel:
Isabel IbaĂąez is the author of Together We Burn, Written in Starlight, and Woven in Moonlight (Page Street), a finalist for the William C. Morris Award, and is listed among Time Magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All Time. She was born in Boca Raton, Florida, and is the proud daughter of Bolivian immigrants. Isabel has a profound appreciation for history and traveling and loves hosting family and friends around the dinner table. She currently lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, with her husband, their adorable dog, and a serious collection of books. Say hi on social media at @IsabelWriter09.
Her latest book, WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS, is out now.
WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS is a USA Today, Indie, and #1 New York Times bestseller. Congratulations Isabel!!!
https://isabelibanez.com/
Get your copy of WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS here: https://read.macmillan.com/promo/wbwhattheriverknowssweeps
Add WHAT THE RIVER KNOWS to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/65213381-what-the-river-knows
So special having our podcast friends join in to celebrate our girl!!! THE Angela Montoya, Author of Sinner's Isle and my amazing, glorious, magical cohost of the pod! â @angelamontoya_authorâ đĽłđđ
She's a boss ass babe who grinds harder than anyone I know. And a true light in this industry! Happy Debut Angela !!!
We can't wait for you to tune in to this episode to help us celebrate! But first, here's more about the pirate queen herself đđ˝đ´ââ ď¸
Angela Montoya lives in Northern California with her family. She is the granddaughter of the celebrated activist and poet laureate Jose Montoya. When she isnât with her partner, two children, goats, chickens, and dogs, you can find Angela co-hosting the podcast, Of the Publishing Persuasion. Sinnerâs Isle is her debut novel.
https://www.angelamontoyawrites.com/
Get your copy of Sinner's Isle here: â https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714606/sinners-isle-by-angela-montoya/â
Add Sinner's Isle to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60197376â
â
SinnersIsleâ â #AngelaMontoyaâ â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #debutâ â #2023debutsâ â #yafantasyâ â #yafantasybooksâ â #fantasyromanceâ â #fantasyromancebooksâ â #YABookstagramâ â #Bookstagramâ â #YABooksâ â #debutauthorâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #bookishâ â #Latinxbooksâ â #bookloverâ â #writerâ â #publishingâ â #writingcommunityâ â #podcastsforwritersâ
We were absolutely honoured to chat with the wise, inspiring boss babe that is Isabel CaĂąas â @isabelcanas_â đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸ We can't wait for you all to tune in.
But first, here's more about Isabel: Isabel CaĂąas is a Mexican American speculative fiction writer. After having lived in Mexico, Scotland, Egypt, Turkey, and New York City, among other places, she has settled in the Pacific Northwest. She holds a doctorate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and writes fiction inspired by her research and her heritage.
â https://www.isabelcanas.comâ
Find Isabel's books here:â https://linktr.ee/isabelcanasâ
Find Isabel on Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19359055.Isabel_Ca_asâ
â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #Bookstagramâ â #writingâ â #Publishingâ â #VampiresofElNorteâ â #IsabelCanasâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #newbookâ â #newreleaseâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #Publishingâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ â #querytrenchesâ â #podcastlifeâ â #Latinxbooks â â #diversebooksâ â #latinxbooksâ â #readlatinxâ â #romancebooksâ â #horrorbooksâ
#thehacienda
Chatting with Mackenzie Reed â @mackenziemreedâ was like the biggest writer community hug đĽ°đĽ° We can't wait for you to tune in! But first, here's more about Mackenzie:
Mackenzie Reed is the author of young adult fiction, including her debut thriller The Rosewood Hunt. She cultivated her love of storytelling at Nazareth College, where she graduated with a BA in Communication and Media and shifted her focus from songwriting to novel writing. A native and resident of Rochester, New York, she loves going for brainstorming walks when the weather's behaving and spending time with her family. In the sparse moments she's not writing or daydreaming about her next book, she's usually winging her eyeliner and hunting for the best slice of pizza in town.
â www.mackenziemreed.comâ
Get your copy of THE ROSEWOOD HUNT here: â https://www.harpercollins.ca/9780063287600/the-rosewood-hunt/â
Add THE ROSEWOOD HUNT to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61369184-the-rosewood-hunt
â
â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #Bookstagramâ â #writingâ â #Publishingâ â #therosewoodhuntâ â #mackenziereedâ â #therosewoodhuntcoverrevealâ â #coverrevealâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #writerâ â #bookstagramâ â #yathrillerâ â #yamysteryâ â #bookcover â â #podcastsforwritersâ â #newbookâ â #newreleaseâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #authortubeâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ â #querytrenchesâ â #podcastlifeâ
We had the absolute honour of chatting with author superstar THE Rebecca Ross â @beccajrossâ đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸ We can't wait for you all to tune in to this episode so you can hear all the incredible advice and wisdom Rebecca had to share.
But First, here's more about Rebecca:
Rebecca Ross is the â #1â New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of fantasy books for teens and adults. She has written multiple highly acclaimed duologies, including LETTERS OF ENCHANTMENT, ELEMENTS OF CADENCE, and THE QUEENâS RISING as well as two standalone novels: DREAMS LIE BENEATH and SISTERS OF SWORD & SONG. When not writing, she can be found in her garden where she plants wildflowers and story ideas. She resides in Northeast Georgia with her husband and her dog.
â https://rebeccarossauthor.com/â
Find Rebecca on Goodreads: â https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14926516.Rebecca_Rossâ
Preorder her upcoming sequel RUTHLESS VOWS here: â Preorder link
â
â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #Bookstagramâ â #divinerivalsâ â #ruthlessvowsâ â #rebeccarossâ â #writingâ â #Publishingâ
â #podcastsforwritersâ â â â #writingcommunityâ â â â #writingpodcastâ â â #authorscommunityâ â â â #writersofinstagramâ â â â #writeradviceâ â â â #podcastsâ â â â #podcastersofinstagramâ â â â #yabookstagramâ â â â #historicfictionâ â #YABooks
Our interview with none other than the Australian spook queen herself, Katya de Becerra đťđ â @katyadebecerraâ , is here! Katya is a true inspiration in the writing community. We can't wait for you to tune in and hear all about her journey to where she is now.
But first, here's more about Katya:
Katya de Becerra writes atmospheric young adult horror featuring determined characters, complicated families and enigmatic places. Critics called her debut What The Woods Keep âa thoughtful and compelling horror fantasyâ (The Bulletin) and âa narrative that will keep readers enthralledâ (Booklist), while her second novel Oasis earned a starred review from Booklist. Katya regularly publishes short fiction in anthologies and literary magazines. She is also co-editor of the anthology This Fresh Hell, which reimagines and subverts horror tropes in new and unexpected ways. As a child, Katya wanted to be an Egyptologist, but instead she earned a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and now works at a university, where she teaches and researches as well as supervises graduate students in Anthropology, Creative Writing and Education. Katya is a short version of her real name, which is very long and gets mispronounced a lot. Her third novel, When Ghosts Call Us Home, is forthcoming in 2023.
â https://katyadebecerra.com/
Get your copy of WHEN GHOSTS CALL US HOME here: â https://linktr.ee/katyadebecerraâ
Add WHEN GHOSTS CALL US HOME to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61085005-when-ghosts-call-us-home
â
â â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â â â â #podcastâ â â â â â #writingâ â â â â â #Publishingâ â â â â â #booksâ â â â â â #Bookstagramâ â #bookishâ â #katyadebecceraâ â #whenghostscallushomeâ â #horrorâ â #loveozya #podcastsforwritersâ â #newbookâ â #newreleaseâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #authortubeâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #authorsofigâ â #authorscommunityâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #horrorbooksâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #yabookstagramâ â #horrorbookstagramâ â #yahorrorâ â #YABookstagramâ
We had the absolute best time chatting with Leanne @schwartzwords ! She's such a wealth of knowledge in all things writerly. We can't wait for you to tune in!
But first, here's a bit more about Leanne!
Leanne Schwartz grew up in Davis, California, reading piles of books and acting in local theater productions. In high school she cemented her status as a massive nerd, running a local theater company, attending the California State Summer School for the Arts for creative writing, and taking three literature classes senior year. She has played Lady Macbeth, Lady Capulet, Clytemnestra, and Heraâperhaps one reason she writes such vengeful, murderous girls. Leanne completed her English degree and master's in education at UC Davis. When sheâs not teaching English and poetry, she can be found baking pizzelle, directing scenes for the student Shakespeare festival, and singing along to showtunes. She lives in San Diego with her family.
https://leanneschwartz.com/
Get your copy of A PRAYER FOR VENGEANCE: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-prayer-for-vengeance-leanne-schwartz/1142827270?ean=9781645678885
Add A PRAYER FOR VENGEANCE to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61245963-a-prayer-for-vengeance
â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â â #podcastâ â â â #writingâ â â â #Publishingâ â â â #booksâ â â â #Bookstagramâ â â â #bookishâ â #leanneschwartz #aprayerforvengeance
STOP EVERYTHING!! Our interview with THE Hannah V. Sawyerr is here!!! And just in time for the release of her highly anticipated YA â #MeTooâ novel in verse: ALL THE FIGHTING PARTS
Hannah V. Sawyerr was recognized as the Youth Poet Laureate of Baltimore in 2016. Her spoken word has been featured on the BBCâs World Have Your Say program, as well as the National Education Associationâs âDo You Hear Us?â campaign. Her written word has been included in Essence, gal-dem, and xoNecole. She holds a BA in English from Morgan State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. Sawyerr is an English professor at Loyola Marymount University and lives in Los Angeles, California. ALL THE FIGHTING PARTS is her debut novel.
â https://www.hannahsawyerr.com/
â
(Book blurb from Goodreads)
In the vein of Grown and The Poet X, (ALL THE FIGHTING PARTS is) a searing and defiant novel in verse about reclaiming agency after a sexual assault within the church community.
Sixteen-year-old Amina Conteh has always believed in using her tongue as her weaponâeven when it gets her into trouble. After cursing at a classmate, her father forces her to volunteer at their church with Pastor Johnson.
But Pastor Johnson isnât the holy man everyone thinks he is.
The same voice Amina uses to fight falls quiet the night she is sexually assaulted by Pastor Johnson. After that, her life starts to unravel: her father is frustrated that her grades are slipping, and her best friend and boyfriend donât understand why the once loud and proud girl is now quiet and distant. In a world that claims to support survivors, Amina wonders who will support her when her attacker is everyone's favorite community leader.
When Pastor Johnson is arrested for a different crime, the community is shaken and divided; some call him a monster and others defend him. But Amina is secretly relieved. She no longer has to speak because Pastor Johnson can't hurt her anymoreâor so she believes.
To regain her voice and sense of self, Amina must find the power to confront her abuserâin the courtroom and her heartâand learn to use all the fighting parts within her.
Get your copy here: â https://linktr.ee/hannsawyerrâ
Add it to Goodreads: â https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/98652414â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: â @angelamontoya_authorâ & Melanie Schubert: â @melanie_schubert_writerâ
â #podcastâ â #ALLTHEFIGHTINGPARTSâ â #hannahVSawyerrâ â #poetryâ â #novelinverseâ â #writingâ â #Publishingâ â #booksâ â #Bookstagramâ â #bookishâ â #IReadYAâ â #YABookstagramâ â #YABooksâ â #BookRecsâ â #HannahSawyerrâ â #metooâ â #yanovelinverseâ â #yabooksâ â #yabookstagramâ â #youngadultbooksâ â #yalitâ â #amuletbooksâ â #ireadyaâ â #poemsâ â #debutauthorâ â #2023debutâ â #pitchwars2020â â #pitchwars
Our chat with Page â @pagepowarsâ was everything!! Laughter, big feels, panic moments about not having hobbiesđ food for the writer soul! đŤ We can't wait for you to tune in!
But first, here's a bit more about Page: Page Powars was raised by his favorite gay-coded video game characters. They taught him how to soften his gaze at a homie, sacrifice his lifespan for a bro, and kill or kiss his definitely-just-a-pal. Now he writes stories with this wealth of knowledge. His books include The Borrow a Boyfriend Club and the forthcoming And They Were Roommates.
Page also helps with music soundtracks, sobs over The Untamed, and unfortunately plays Genshin Impact. Originally from Michigan, he lives in the New York City area.
â www.pagepowars.com
â
Order you copy of The Borrow a Boyfriend Club : â https://www.pagepowars.com/preorder-the-borrow-a-boyfriend-clubâ
Add The Borrow a Boyfriend Club to Goodreads : â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59594706-the-borrow-a-boyfriend-clubâ
â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #writingâ â #Publishingâ â #booksâ â #Bookstagramâ â #bookishâ â #pagepowarsâ â #theborrowaboyfriendclubâ â #amwritingyaâ â #Yafantasyâ â #YAâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingprocessâ â #writingâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #YABooksâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writersofigâ â #writerâ â #youngadultâ â #gayyaâ â #transyaâ â #queerbooksâ â #yalitâ â #bookstagramâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #lgbtyaâ â #lgbtbooksâ â #transreadathonâ â #theborrowaboyfriendclubâ â #transrightsreadathon
IT'S HERE!!!!! Our brand new episode with TOGETHER WE ROT Author Skyla Arndt!! We had a blast chatting with Skyla and can't wait for you to tune in! But first, here's a bit more about Skyla:
Skyla Arndt has always loved the creepy, crawly side of life. When she was younger, she thought that love might translate to hunting Bigfoot, but luckily for him, writing proved easier. Her debut novel, Together We Rot, is a YA horror about two estranged best friends who need to team up to confront an ancient evil in their neighboring woods. Connect with her at arndtskyla.com or â @arndtskylaâ on Instagram or Twitter. (Howling at the moon works, too.)
Skyla is represented by Claire Friedman at Inkwell Management and Katrina Escudero at Sugar23.
â https://arndtskyla.com/
Get your copy of TOGETHER WE ROT here: â https://www.penguinteen.com/9780593526279/together-we-rot/â
Add TOGETHER WE ROT on Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58712247-together-we-rotâ â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #writingâ â #Publishingâ â #booksâ â #Bookstagramâ â #bookishâ â #skylaarndtâ â #togetherwerot â â #yabooksâ â â â â #bookrecommendationsâ â â â â â â â #podcastsforwritersâ â â â â â â â #newbookâ â â â â â â â #newreleaseâ â â â â â â â #writingcommunityâ â â â â â â â #writingpodcastâ â â â â â â â #authortubeâ â â â â â â â #authorsofinstagramâ â â â â â â â â #bookishâ â â â â â â â #writersofinstagramâ â â â â â â â #writerspodcastâ â â â â â â â #writeradviceâ â â â â â â â #podcastingâ â â â â â â â #podcastsâ â â â â â â â #podcastersofinstagramâ â â â â â â â â â #queryingâ â â â â â â â â #womensupportingwomenâ â â â â â â â #womenempoweringwomenâ â #yabookclubâ â #youngadultbooksâ
Q: What do martial arts, chicken massacres and apocalyptic weddings have in common? A: They are all a part of our chat with author Candace Kade! â â @candace_kade_authorâ â đđĄđ¤ŠđŤ
We can't wait for you to listen to this episode! But first, here's a little bit more about Candace~!
Candace Kade is a recovering over-achiever who spends her time dreaming up stories typically involving tech, psychology, culture, and/or swords. Sheâs a certified Krav Maga assistant instructor and loves writing action-packed martial art scenes. A third culture kid, she considers Chengdu and Austin to be her homes.When sheâs not exploring new countries, she enjoys hiking in national parks, moving (again!), teaching her husband Mandarin, and keeping a baby human alive. She can be bribed with boba tea, fluffy puppies, and breakfast tacos.
â â https://candacekade.com/â
â â â
Get your copy of ENHANCED here: â https://www.amazon.com/Enhanced-Hybrid-Book-Candace-Kade-ebook/dp/B0BNWH9G28?ref_=ast_author_mpbâ
Add ENHANCED to Goodreads here: â â â â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62703144-enhancedâ
â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â â â #podcastâ â â â #writingâ â â â #Publishingâ â â â #booksâ â â â #Bookstagramâ â â â #bookishâ â â â #candacekadeâ â â â #enhancedbook â â â â #bookreviewâ â â â â â #bookrecommendationsâ â â â â â #podcastsforwritersâ â â â â â #newbookâ â â â â â #newreleaseâ â â â â â #writingcommunityâ â â â â â #writingpodcastâ â â â â â #authortubeâ â â â â â #authorsofinstagramâ â â â â â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â â â â â #bookishâ â â â â â #writersofinstagramâ â â â â â #writerspodcastâ â â â â â #writeradviceâ â â â â â #podcastingâ â â â â â #podcastsâ â â â â â #podcastersofinstagramâ â â â â â #Queryâ â â â â â #queryingâ â â â â â â #womensupportingwomenâ â â â â â #womenempoweringwomenâ
We had such an amazing time talking with our fellow â #PitchWarsâ 2020 class alum, THE Regina Black â @reginablackwritesâ đ¤ŠđđŤđ Regina Black is a former civil litigator, current law school administrator, and lifelong romance reader who has always been passionate about the depiction of Black women in popular culture. She currently resides in the southeastern United States with her husband and daughter. Her debut novel, THE ART OF SCANDAL, is out now!!!
Get your copy here: â https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/regina-black/the-art-of-scandal/9781538722770/?lens=grand-central-publishingâ
Add it to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58505444-the-art-of-scandalâ
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #writingâ â #Publishingâ â #booksâ â #Bookstagramâ â #bookishâ â #reginablackâ â #theartofscandalâ â #bookreviewâ â â â #bookrecommendationsâ â â â #podcastsforwritersâ â â â #newbookâ â â â #newreleaseâ â â â #writingcommunityâ â â â #writingpodcastâ â â â #authortubeâ â â â #authorsofinstagramâ â â â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â â â #bookishâ â â â #writersofinstagramâ â â â #writerspodcastâ â â â #writeradviceâ â â â #podcastingâ â â â #podcastsâ â â â #podcastersofinstagramâ â â â #Queryâ â â â #queryingâ â â â â #womensupportingwomenâ â â â #womenempoweringwomenâ
We had the absolute best time chatting with the glorious human that is J. Elle â @authorjelleâ đâ¨ď¸â¨ď¸ we laughed, we cried and we remembered why we love this beautiful passionate writing community of ours so freaking much đđ
Hereâs more about THE J. Elle: J. Elle is the New York Times, and indie, bestselling and award-winning author of multiple books including Against The Tide, an original prequel tie-in to The Little Mermaid live action film. Her debut duology, Wings of Ebony, dubbed âan incredible debutâ by NPR and best fantasy book by POPSUGAR, was a 2022 NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth and Teens, an Amazon Editorâs pick for Best Science Fiction and Fantasy, a Barnes and Noble YA Book Club Pick, a First Novelist Black Caucus American Library Association Honor Book and the recipient of a Kirkus starred review. Her forthcoming blockbuster fantasy romance trilogy, House of Marionne is being translated into nine languages across 5 continents. The former educator credits her nomadic lifestyle and humble inner-city beginnings as inspiration for her novels. When sheâs not writing, Elle can be found on the hunt for desserts without chocolate, drowning herself in regency romance reads and shows, and looking for any excuse to wear a tiara.
â https://www.authorjelle.com/
You can find J.Elle's books and more here: â https://linktr.ee/authorjelleâ
Preorder your copy of House of Marionne here: â https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/709860/house-of-marionne-by-j-elle/â â
OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #writingâ â #Publishingâ â #jelleâ â #houseofmarionne #bookreviewâ â #bookrecommendationsâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #newbookâ â #newreleaseâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #authortubeâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #bookishâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #writerspodcastâ â #writeradviceâ â #podcastingâ â #podcastsâ â #podcastersofinstagramâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ â â #womensupportingwomenâ â #womenempoweringwomenâ #bookstagramâ
We were so honored to have the wise, bright spark on the show that is artist & author superstar Riley Quinn â @rileyquinnartâ đ¤Šđâ¨ď¸
Riley is a true star with lots of industry nuggets of wisdom she so generously shared with us in our chats. AND she made that killer art you've all been seeing for Sinners Isleđąđąđ¤Šđ¤Š! We can't wait to share this episode with you all.
But first, hereâs more about THE Riley Quinn:
Riley is proud to be both an artist and an author. She's passionate about visual storytelling, a love that has called her from an early age to the art of animation. Her interest is primarily in concept development, with a focus on character design and storyboarding, though she also enjoys hand-drawn animation projects, and animates often in her free time. She is open to internship and job opportunities via email.
â www.rileyquinnart.comâ
You can find Riley here:
INSTAGRAM: â https://www.instagram.com/rileyquinnart/â
YOUTUBE: â https://www.youtube.com/@rileyquinnart
â â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcastâ â #rileyquinnâ â #artistâ â #writingâ â #Publishingâ â #podcastsforwritersâ â #artistsâ â #artistsoninstagramâ â #artâ â #illustrationâ â #artistsofinstagramâ â #ă¤ăŠăšăâ â #bookartâ â #characterdesignâ â #writingcommunityâ â #artsâ
We are so excited to share this episode featuring one of our Pub Persuasion Discord besties!
Kate Martin ( â @katemartinauthorâ ) is one of the kindest people around. Her books sound glorious and her journey to publication is absolutely inspiring. But first, a bit more about Kate:
Kate Martin is a stay at home mom by day, a dance teacher by night, and a writer every minute in between. Growing up on the side of a Connecticut mountain in the middle of nowhere wasn't much good for afterschool shenanigans with friends, but it was spectacular for building an over-active imagination. She spent her childhood weaving intricate plots--none of which were ever without fantastical elements. After getting her B.A. in Elementary Education, with a minor in Psychology, she found Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction Program, graduating with her M.A. in June '08, and again with her M.F.A. in June â13. She currently resides in a different part of the Connecticut countryside with her husband, two daughters, and food-obsessed cat. Her latest book, The Fallen, is an epic fantasy out with OutlandEntertainment June 20th, and is the second in the Mysts and Labrynths trilogy.
Get your copy of THE FALLEN here: â https://msha.ke/soullessâ
Add THE FALLEN to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126515783-the-fallenâ â
writerssupportingwritersâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #indieauthorâ â #indieauthorsofinstagramâ â #thewritingcommunityâ â #thefallenâ â #bookreleaseâ â #newbookalertâ â #thesoullessâ â #epicfantasyâ â #fantasyseriesâ â #fantasybooksâ â #ebookâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #authorâ â #amreadingâ
We had the absolute honor of getting to chat with debut author, Jackie Khaliliehâ â @jackiekhaliliehâ đđźđđźđđź
Jackie had us laughing, crying, and nodding our heads throughout the entire show. And weâre sure you will be too!
But first, hereâs a bit more about Jackie:
JACKIE KHALILIEH is a Palestinian-Canadian writer with a love of nineties pop culture, Dad jokes, and warm and fuzzy romance. Like many autistic females, she received her diagnosis as an adult. She is passionate about positive representation within her writing. She currently resides just outside Toronto, Canada with her husband and two daughters, complaining nightly about having to cook dinner. Something More is her debut YA novel.
â https://www.jackiekhalilieh.com/
â
Get your copy of SOMETHING MORE here: â https://www.jackiekhalilieh.com/buy-something-moreâ
Add SOMETHING MORE to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60901487-something-more
â â #debutauthorâ â #debutauthorsâ â #writerssupportingwritersâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #yaauthors #yabookâ â #tbrâ â #yabooksofinstagramâ â #coverrevealâ â #yacoverrevealâ â #actuallyautisticâ â #arabbooksâ â #arabauthorsâ â #yaromanceâ â #bookstagramâ â #2023debutsâ â #preorderâ #yabookstagramâ â #yabooksâ â #somethingmoreâ â #yaromanceâ â #yacontemporaryâ â #2023debutsâ â #autisticcharacterâ â #palestinianbooksâ â #actuallyautisticâ â #autisticgirlâ
autisticbooks
Weâve got another AMAZING interview coming your way!
Our special guest was none other than Cecilia Vinesse, author of THE GIRL NEXT DOOR. â @ceciliavinesseâ
Cecilia was an absolute joy to talk to and we had the very best time learning about her publishing journey.
We know you will too!!!A bit more about Cecilia:
Cecilia Vinesse is the author of three YA rom-coms, all of which involve copious amounts of yearning and coffee. She was born in France but grew up between Tokyo, Japan and Greenville, South Carolina. Her obsession with Nora Ephron movies led her to New York City where she attended Barnard College and then worked in childrenâs book marketing, all while living in an apartment furnished mostly by stacks of novels. From there, she headed to Scotland to earn her master's degree in creative writing at the University of St Andrews, and now she lives in England, where she splits her time writing in a sky-blue office, daydreaming in libraries, and holding horror movie marathons with her fiancĂŠe Rachel and their pup named Malfi. THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is her latest novel about fake homecoming dates, swimming pool kisses, and a very chaotic, extremely bisexual love square.
â https://www.ceciliavinesse.com/
â
Order your copy of THE GIRL NEXT DOOR here: â https://www.ceciliavinesse.com/the-girl-next-doorâ
Add THE GIRL NEXT DOOR to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62292417-the-girl-next-doorâ â
writerssupportingwritersâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #authorsofinstagram â â #YABooksâ â #RomComBooksâ â #CeciliaVinesseâ â #TheGirlNextDoor2023â â #QueerBookstagramâ â #Bookstagramâ â #RomanceBooksâ â #ReadWithPrideâ â #SapphicBooksâ â #BisexualBooksâ â #BiRomanceâ â #CozyReadsâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #lgbtqâ
This week we had the absolute pleasure of talking to literary associate and debut author Sandra Proudman.
Sandra Proudman (she/her/ella) is a Mexican American author of unabashed Latinx stories and a literary associate at â â Gallt & Zacker Literary Agencyâ â . When not busily immersed in all things publishing, you can find her spending time with her amazing husband and adorable toddler, catching up on all her shows, and taking care of her vegetable garden. She is the author of the YA fantasy, SalvaciĂłn, which is out fall 2024 from Wednesday Books and the editor of the Latinx anthology RELIT: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories, which is being published by Inkyard Press and releases on February 6th, 2024. Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok â â @SandraProudmanâ â .
â https://www.sandraproudman.com/â â
You can add SalvaciĂłn to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/63250291
â
Preorder RELIT here: â https://www.harpercollins.com/products/relit-sandra-proudman?variant=41056493502498
â
latinxauthorsâ â #latinxauthorâ â #latinaauthorsâ â #writerssupportingwritersâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #literaryagentâ â #amqueryingâ â #querytipsâ â #literaryagentâ â #publishingâ â #queryâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #writetipâ â #querytipâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writerscommunityâ â #agentâ â #askagentâ â #amwritingâ â #getpublishedâ â #pubtipâ â #amrevisingâ â #literaryagentâ â #literaryagentsâ â #literaryagencyâ
We were so honored to have New York Times bestselling author and publishing super star Nicola Yoon on the show.
We chatted with Nicola about her amazing books, the craft of writing, and the new imprint she is the co-publisher of called Joy Revolution. â @joyrevbooksâ Which just so happens to be publishing â Sinnerâs Isleâ by our very own â Angela Montoyaâ .
Get ready, friends! This episode is coming in hot!
But first, hereâs more about THE Nicola Yoon:
The Official Version
Nicola Yoon is the â #1â New York Times bestselling author of â Instructions for Dancingâ , â Everything, Everythingâ , â The Sun Is Also a Star,â and a co-author of â Blackout.â She is a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book recipient, a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner and the first Black woman to hit â #1â on the New York Times Young Adult bestseller list. â Two of her novels have been made into major motion picturesâ . Sheâs also the co-publisher of â Joy Revolutionâ , a Random House young adult imprint dedicated to love stories starring people of color. She grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, the novelist â David Yoonâ , and their daughter.
The Unofficial Version
I believe in love. Really, truly.
I'm kind of a hopeless romantic.
In a former life I made jewelry. You can see some of it here.
I love Karoake, but I cannot sing. I. Am. The. Worst. My song of choice is âMaking Love out of Nothing at allâ by Air Supply, because AIR SUPPLY.
My husband makes custom notebooks. They are pretty popular.
I hand write my first drafts.
I was (am and always will be) a late bloomer.
In a former life I was French. I could live entirely on wine & cheese.
Or maybe Korean because I could live on Kimchi & Galbi too.
â https://www.nicolayoon.com/â
You can find Nicola here:
Twitter: â https://twitter.com/NicolaYoonâ
Instagram: â https://www.instagram.com/nicolayoon/â
â #joyrevolutionâ â #joyrevolutionbooksâ â #yabooksofinstagramâ â #yabookclubâ â #yaromancebooksâ â #yabookstagrammers â â #everythingeverythingâ â #thesunisalsoastarâ â #instructionsfordancing â â #nicolayoon â â #booksâ â #booksbooksbooksâ â #bookwormâ â #bookstagramâ
Watch out world! Our Mommager and queen Jessica Parra (â @jessicatparraâ ) has finally returned to the show and you donât want to miss out. Not only does she have an AMAZING YA contemporary coming out TODAY, but sheâs hot, smart, and an all around baddie.
We love us some Jessica Parra on Of the Publishing Persuasion and so will you!
But first, hereâs 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. Sheâs a Los Angeles native who loves to write about Latinas with big hair (and even bigger dreams), complicated families, cats living their best lives (all nine of them), and the healing magic of acceptance. When she isnât drafting books you can find her sipping kombucha, cuddling with her kitties, or co-piloting the Millennium Falcon at Disneylandâs Galaxyâs Edge. Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success is her first book.
â https://www.jessicaparra.com/â Get ready, folks!
Get your copy of Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success here: â https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250862525/rubiramossrecipeforsuccessâ
Add Rubi Ramos's Recipe for Success to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61885111-rubi-ramos-s-recipe-for-successâ â
yaauthorâ â #yaauthorsâ â #latinxauthorsâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #writerssupportingwritersâ â #authorsofigâ â #yaauthorsâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #yabooksâ â #rubiramossrecipeforsuccessâ â #yaromcomâ â #bookstagramâ â #2023debutsâ â #bookishâ â #tbrâ â #lasmusasâ â #latinxâ â #authorâ â #Wednesdaybooksâ â #fantasyâ â #yafantasyâ â #readersofinstagramâ â #weneeddiversebooksâ â #latinaâ â #authorlifeâ â #readersâ â #yaâ â #contemporaryâ â #fantasyâ â #jessicaparraâ
We had a fabulous time speaking with debut author and all around badass, Danielle Parker on the show.
IG: â @novelsshewroteâ
Danielleâs book YOU BET YOUR HEART comes out soon, but thereâs still time to preorder! But first, hereâs 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, Danielleâs talent was helping reluctant readers find their favorite books. When sheâs not writing, sheâs at the park with her young son. Danielle, her partner, and their toddler now live in the Pacific North West where she is always thinking about dessert. Thanks for joining us, Danielle!
â https://danielleparkerbooks.com/
â
Preorder YOU BET YOUR HEART here: â https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707746/you-bet-your-heart-by-danielle-parker/ â
Add YOU BET YOUR HEART to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/62562943
â
â #yacontemporaryâ â #yaromancebooksâ â #yaauthorsâ â #yaauthorsofinstagramâ â #writerssupportingwritersâ â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â #debutâ â #YouBetYourHeartReleaseâ â #booktalkâ â #authorlife â â #debutauthorâ â #bookstagramâ â #yabooksâ â #danielleparkerâ â #academicrivalstoloversâ â #yabooksâ â #yabookstagramâ â #joyrevolutionâ â #joyrevolutionbooksâ
We had the best time chatting with debut author, Claire Forrest. Weâve titled her the âquote queenâ because she had so many inspirational things to say. Claireâs amazing book WHERE YOU SEE YOURSELF hits the shelves TODAY!!! Ahhhhhh!!!!
Congratulations Claire!
Get your copy here: â â https://www.claireforrest.com/where-you-see-yourselfâ â
Hereâs 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. Where You See Yourself is based on her lived experience as a wheelchair user who has cerebral palsy. As an undergraduate at Grinnell College, she was a consultant for the Disability Services and Admissions offices, working directly to address the concerns of incoming college students with disabilities and their families.She lives in Minneapolis, where when sheâs not writing, she spends her time swimming and planning where to travel next. Find out more about her on Instagram and Twitter at â â @claire4estâ â
.â â https://www.claireforrest.comâ â
Add WHERE YOU SEE YOURSELF to Goodreads here: â â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60759255-where-you-see-yourselfâ â â â â
â
debutauthorâ â â â #writerssupportingwritersâ â â â #authorssupportingauthorsâ â â â #debutauthorsâ â â â #yacontemporaryâ â â â #yanovelsâ â â â #bookishâ â â â #writerinspirationâ â â â #writinginspirationâ â â â #WhereYouSeeYourselfâ â â â #Bookstagramâ â â â #IreadYAâ â â â #TBRâ â â â #NewBookâ â â â #DebutAuthorâ â â â #DisabilityRepresentationâ â â â #YoungAdultBooksâ â â â #YAbooksâ
We had the best time chatting with debut author and friend of the show, Maya Ameyaw. â @mayaameyawâ
We canât wait for you to hear all the amazing things she had to say. Mayaâs debut novel WHEN IT ALL SYNCS UP will be available June 6, 2023. So you still have time to preorder!
But first, hereâs 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 arts writing group facilitator. In her free time she interviews writers about their journeys toward publication for her blog and YouTube channel .Maya has edited several mental health themed anthologies for youth and adults with funding from the Toronto Arts Council. A deleted excerpt of her upcoming novel is featured in the anthology Brilliance Is The Clothing I Wear (Dundurn Press.) Her contemporary YA debut When It All Syncs Up has been awarded grants by the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts. She is represented by Lesley Sabga and Julie Gwinn of The Seymour Agency.
â https://mayaameyaw.comâ
Preorder WHEN IT ALL SYNCS UP here: â https://msha.ke/mayaameyawâ
Add WHEN IT ALL SYNCS UP to Goodreads here: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59689787-when-it-all-synchs-upâ
You can find Maya here:
Twitter: â https://twitter.com/MayaAmeyawâ
Instagram: â https://www.instagram.com/mayaameyaw/â
WhenItAllSyncsUpâ â #WIASUâ â #CanadianBooksâ â #CanadianPublishingâ â #CanadianBookstagramâ â #YaBookâ â #YABookstagramâ â #BalletBooksâ â #YaLitâ â #2023Debuts â â #WeNeedDiverseBooksâ
We had a blast chatting with debut author, Camri Kohler. â @camhasgramâ
Camri is a true light and joy in the writing community, AND her book is out TODAY!!!â(April 18th!!!)
Get your copy of PEACHY here : â https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLR6TSXX?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_NVQGRX7MCZT4SKW3WFBXâ
Add PEACHY to Goodreads: â https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59573222-peachyâ
Now hereâs 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 up to the grid city, Salt Lake. Camri earned her Bachelorâs degree in English from the University of Utah before completing her Masters of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Camri is an archivist at PBS Utah and spends her free time with her partner, her dogs, or her tomatoes. She is a mess of unresolved issues, which are the primary inspiration for her writing.Her debut novel, PEACHY, is under contract with Lake Country Pressâas are upcoming sequels PARED and BURIEDâand will release 4.18.23.Camriâs most recent standalone horror novel, REAP WHAT YOU SEW is represented by Helen Lane at the Booker Albert Literary Agency and is on submission!She is currently working on a Ghost Ship Whodunnit and reclaiming werewolves for the horror genre.
â https://camrikohler.comâ
You can Find Camri here:
Twitter: â https://twitter.com/CamriKohlerâ
Instagram: â https://www.instagram.com/camhasgram/â
TikTok: â https://www.tiktok.com/@camrikohler?lang=enâ
â #horrorwriterâ â #horrorwritersâ â #writerssupportingwritersâ â #authorsofinstagramâ â #debutauthorâ â #debutauthorsâ â #authorscommunityâ â #OfthePublishingPersuasionâ â #podcast â â #podcastsforwritersâ â #writingcommunityâ â #writingpodcastâ â #writersofinstagramâ â #Publishingâ â #Queryâ â #queryingâ â #querytrenchesâ â #podcastâ â #podcastlifeâ â #bookstagramâ â #peachyâ â #peachybookâ â #peachycamrikohlerâ â #camrikohlerbooksâ â #camrikohlerâ â #bookrecommendationsâ
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. đ¤Š
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 the Maps Changed, Danielleâs bestselling middle-grade novel, was a 2021 Childrenâs Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Notable Book, and released in North America in 2022 with HarperCollins. Her first solo YA novel The Monster of Her Age released in 2021, and won in the Young Adult category of the 2022 Indie Book Awards.
Danielle is also teaching Fiction & Young Adult Writing in the Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT University.
https://daniellebinks.com
You can also find Danielle here:Goodreads
TikTok
literaryagent #literaryagents #loveozya #Publishing #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #Query #amquerying #querytrenches #podcast #podcastlife #aussieauthor #bookstagram #loveozmg
Our guest today, Ari Tison is one of those rare and magical souls, who we just know youâll 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 ReLit Anthology of classic retellings with a Latine lens with Harper Collins.
Her poems and short works have been published in Yellow Medicine Review, The Under Review, Rock & Sling, and POETRY's first ever edition for children.
She was the winner of the 2018 Vaunda Micheaux Nelson award for a BIPOC writer with Lerner Publishing. She is on faculty at Hamline's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults Program.
https://www.aritison.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Saints-Household-Ari-Tison/dp/0374389497
SAINTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD
writerssociety #writerssupportingwriters #authorssupportingauthors #saintsofthehousehold #yawritersofinstagram #yaauthors #yaauthorsofinstagram #aritison #indigenousauthor #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #yanovel #yabooks #yaversenovel
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 Literature winning poetry collection Drowning in the Floating World (Press 53, 2020) and childrenâs novels, most recently Good Different (Scholastic, 2023). Find her online at https://www.megedenbooks.com/ or on Twitter at @ConfusedNarwhal.
You can order GOOD DIFFERENT here: https://linktr.ee/medenauthor
Add GOOD DIFFERENT to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59023007-selah-s-guide-to-normal?ref=bk_bet_out
middlegradebooks #novelinverse #2023debuts #Gooddifferent #MegEdenKuyatt #scholasticpress #mentalhealth #middlegrade #actuallyautistic #neurodivergent #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writer #writing #bookstagram #bookish
We had an amazing time chatting with the one and only, Nisha Sharma đ đ (@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)
Hereâs 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 Jaiâs Recipe for Romance, The Singh Family Trilogy and the If Shakespeare was an Auntie series. Her books have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly and more. She lives in Pennsylvania with her Alaskan husband, her cat Lizzie Bennett and her dog Nancey Drew. You can find her online at Nisha-sharma.com or on TikTok and Instagram @nishawrites
thekarmamap #yabookstagram #bookstagram #book #books #bookish #datingdrdil #thekarmamap
authorsofinstagram #authorcommunity #authorssupportingauthors #writersofinstagram #writersofig #writercommunity #writerinspiration
We found a kindred spirit in writer and literary agent, Monica Rodriguez (@loveleemonicaa ).
Get ready for an uplifting and magical show.
Hereâs a bit more about Monica:
Iâm 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 and Iâm currently revising my debut novel. When Iâm not writing, Iâm daydreaming about my next adventure or finding new ways to be creative. I have a dog named Jude and I read for sport.
https://loveleemonicaa.com
You can find Monica's Manuscript wish list here: https://www.manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/monica-rodriguez/
literaryagent #authorsofinstagram #authorscommunity #writerscommunity #writerssupportingwriters #writersofig #writerinspiration #authorinterview #authorinspiration #literaryagent #querying #OfthePublishingPersuasion #podcast #writing #writersofinstagram
We were lucky enough to sit down with our dear friend, MarĂa JosĂŠ Fitzgeraldâ @mariajosewrites âĽď¸âĽď¸âĽď¸
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, hereâs a bit more about Maria:
MariĚa JoseĚ is a writer of childrenâs books. Her favorite stories usually include animals, friendships, family, and magic. She grew up snorkeling and hiking in her homeland of Honduras, where nature and culture nourished her soul. Her debut novel, Turtles of the Midnight Moon, will be published by Knopf in the Spring of 2023. When sheâs not writing, you can find her teaching, reading, walking her dogs, relaxing on the couch with her family, or maybe out on a mountain bike ride. She is represented by Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties.
https://mariajosefitzgerald.com/
Preorder here: TURTLES OF THE MIDNIGHT MOON
Add Turtles of the Midnight Moon to Goodreads here: Turtles of the Midnight Moon on Goodreads
latinxwriters #latinxkidlit #weneeddiversebooks #middlegradebooks #writerssupportingwriters #authorssupportingauthors #writersofinstagram #2023debuts #debutauthor #ofthepublishingpersuasion #podcast #writing #WritingCommunity #publishing #querying
bookstagram
It was our absolute honour to chat with literary agent queen, THE Rena Rossner.Â
Rena is an absolute boss in the industry and has so many fantastic insights to share.
A bit more about Rena:
Rena Rossner hails from Miami Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University's Writing Seminars program, Trinity College, Dublin, and she holds a MA in history from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Her debut novel, The Sisters of the Winter Wood, was listed as "One of the 100 Best Books" of the year by Publisher's Weekly. She currently lives in Israel, where she works as a Literary Agent at The Deborah Harris Agency. Her grandparents and great grandparents immigrated to the USA from Hungary, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova - their stories, together with her love of Jewish mythology and fantasy, inspire her work.
You can find Rena on Instagram: @renarossner
And at The Deborah Harris Agency: www.thedeborahharrisagency.com/profile
or at her website: https://renarossner.weebly.com/
We had a wonderful time chatting with debut author, Tran Thanh Tran! Their novel SHE IS A HAUNTING is absolutely amazingâŚand so is Trang!
Hereâs 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. Theyâre an alum of the Writing Barnâs Rainbow Weekend and Tin Houseâs YA Fiction Workshop. When not writing, theyâre busy trying new food and watching too many zombie movies. Their Gothic horror debut SHE IS A HAUNTING is forthcoming from Bloomsbury in Winter 2023. You can find them on Twitter under @nvtran.
And on instagram @nvtran_
They are represented by Katelyn Detweiler at Jill Grinberg Literary Management, and Mary Pender at United Talent Agency for film/TV.
https://trangthanhtran.com
Preorder SHE IS A HAUNTING here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/she-is-a-haunting-trang-thanh-tran/18530035?ean=9781547610815
Add SHE IS A HAUNTING to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784841-she-is-a-haunting
yahorror #yahorrorbooks #2023debuts #debutauthor #authorssupportingauthors #writerssupportingwriters #writingcommunity #authorsofinstagram #2023Debuts #SheIsaHaunting #horrorbooks #yabooks #queerbooks #bipocbooks #bookstagram
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 canât wait for yâall 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 writing ghost stories for a campus magazine) and received a masters in film music composition from NYU.
He now lives in California with his partner and a talkative black cat, where he writes music (frequently for cartoons) and novels (frequently for teens). Most recently he wrote music for KID COSMIC (Netflix) with Andy Bean. His debut young adult novel, ALWAYS THE ALMOST, has earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly and was named a Kidsâ Indie Next Pick. It releases from Wednesday Books/Macmillan on February 14, 2023.
As a queer trans man, he is passionate about representation both on the screen and on the page.
https://www.edward-underhill.com/
ALWAYS THE ALMOST is out now!!!
Order your copy of ALWAYS THE ALMOST
Add ALWAYS THE ALMOST to Goodreads
debutauthor #writerssupportingwriters #authorssupportingauthors #writersofinstagram #debutauthors #alwaysthealmost #wednesdaybooks #transbooks #yabookstagram #bookbirthday #bookstagram #diversifyyourbookshelf #queerbooks #lgbtbooks
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 Houseâs Colorado division provided Renee with the opportunity to work with bestselling and debut authors alike. After leaving Random House, she came to kt literary in early 2013. She currently runs the kt literary podcast and our Instagram feed, and also loves digging into manuscripts and helping the author shape the best story possible. Though this is great for her profession, it tends to frustrate people watching movies with her. With a penchant for depressing hipster music and an abiding love for a good adventure story, Renee is always looking for book recommendations. Even if that means creeping on people reading in public. Which she does frequently. She makes her home in Arizona with her husband and their three children.
https://ktliterary.com
Other places you can find Renee:
Instagram: @reneenyen
Twitter: @Renee_Nyen
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
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 lifelong New Yorker, she lives on Long Island with her partner and their two young children, who keep her busy hunting for insects against her will. Revelle is her debut novel.
https://www.lyssamiasmith.com
Preorder REVELLE here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/revelle-lyssa-mia-smith
Add REVELLE to Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59580983-revelle
podcastsforwriters #podcast #OfthePublishingPersuasion
writingcommunity #writingpodcast #authortube #authorsofinstagram #authorssupportingauthors #authorsofig #authorscommunity #writersofinstagram #writerspodcast #writeradvice #podcasting #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #pitchwarsalum #Pitchwars #pitchwars2020 #podcast #podcastlife #bookstagram #revellebook #lyssamiasmith
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 Bachelorâs in Communications with a major in Public Relations, a Master of Fine Arts - Creative Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, and is a Creative Writing Ph.D. Candidate currently at the University of Gloucestershire. She has two traditionally published nonfiction books. Sheâs a member of the Womenâs Fiction Writers Association. Alexâs primary role is acquisitions and marketing as well as working with sub-agents on subsidiary rights.
https://www.risingactionpublishingco.com/team
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 sheâs not obsessing over words, she can be found making charcuterie boards, befriending people online, cross stitching, or adventuring in the Minneapolis area. Jennaâs debut novel, OUT OF CHARACTER, will be published February 7, 2023 by Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins). She is represented by Mike Whatnall at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
http://jennamillerwrites.com
Make sure to preorder Jenna Millerâs (@jmillwrites ) amazing book, OUT OF CHARACTER, now!!!
Book Blurb (from Goodreads)
If you asked seventeen-year-old Cass Williams to describe herself, sheâd happily tell you sheâs fat, queer, and obsessed with the Tide Wars books. What she wonât tell youâor anyone in her lifeâis that sheâs part of an online Tide Wars roleplay community. Sure, itâs nerdy as hell, but when sheâs behind the screen writing scenes as Captain Aresha, she doesnât have to think about her mother who walked out or how unexpectedly stressful it is dating resident cool girl Taylor Cooper.
But secretly retreating to her online life is starting to catch up with Cass. For one, no one in her real life knows her secret roleplay addiction is the reason her grades have taken a big hit. Also? Cass has started catching feelings for Rowan Davies, her internet bestieâŚand Taylor might be catching on.
As Cassâs lies continue to build, so does her anxiety. Roleplaying used to be the one place she could escape to, but this double life and offline-online love triangle have only made things worse. Cass must decide what to doâbe honest and risk losing her safe space or keep it a secret and put everything else on the line.
Preorder OUT OF CHARACTER here !!
debutauthor #debutauthors #2023debutauthor #authorssupportingauthors #writerssociety #writerssupportingwriters #writerscommunity #writerfriendschallenge #authorgram #authorgram #yabooks #queer #fatpositive #lgbtq #sapphic #lesbian #queerbooks #YAlit #LGBTQreads
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. Kylaâs 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 magazine editorial portfolio. Previously, she was a fashion and lifestyle writer at Vogue Singapore. She has also written for the Singapore editions of Harper's Bazaar and Tatler, covered the Asian Television Awards, and interviewed personalities such as singer Nathan Sykes.
Above all else, Kyla hopes to champion Asian representation in her works and write the characters of color that she rarely got to read about when she was young.
https://kylazhao.com
THE FRAUD SQUAD is out now! ORDER HERE: https://kylazhao.com/the-fraud-squad/
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61319611-the-fraud-squad?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=RBBOMIWo3L&rank=1
authorssupportingauthors #writerssupportingwriters #debutauthor #debutauthors #2023debutauthor #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #authorlife #authorsofig
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 donât 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. An alumna of Purchase College and Syracuse University, Isabel spent several years working in higher education and LGBTQ non-profits. When she's not writing or coaching, Isabel can be found crocheting projects sheâll never finish, completing crosswords with her spouse, and chasing her toddler. She lives with her family in Central New York, where the winters are frigid, the summers are too hot, and autumn is perfect. Isabel is the author of These Witches Donât Burn, This Coven Wonât Break, and The Coldest Touch.
https://www.isabelsterling.com/
You can find Isabel's podcast here: The Author Burnout Cure
Learn more about her author coaching here: Author Coaching with Isabel
And here's the free PDF mentioned in the podcast: Creative Flow Free PDF
authorssupportingauthors #authorsofinstagram #authorburnout #burnout #authorcommunity #authorlife #authorstruggles #writerssupportingwriters #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writerscommunity #debutauthor #debutauthors
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 sheâs 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 studying bizarre and entertaining medieval romances. Now, as a professor, she teaches courses in college writing, literature, and childrenâs media. When sheâs not writing and teaching, Jenny spends her time buried under puzzle pieces, cross-stitching her favorite characters, and taking too many pictures of her rescue dogs, Tucker and Dale. The Make-Up Test is her debut novel.
https://jennylhowe.com
You can find Jenny on Instagram : @jennylhowe
Order your copy of THE MAKE-UP TEST here: THE MAKE-UP TEST order link
Add THE MAKE-UP TEST to Goodreads: THE MAKE-UP TEST on Goodreads
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
fatrep #fatpositive #fatrepresentation #plussizebooks #plussize #fatgirlsinfiction #romance #romcom #secondchanceromance #academicrivalstolovers #books #bookstagram
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 Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60751788
Order a copy here: ORDER PRIDE AND PROTEST
BOOK BLURB (from Goodreads)
A woman goes head-to-head with the CEO of a corporation threatening to destroy her neighborhood in this fresh and modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice by debut author Nikki Payne.
Liza B.--the only DJ who gives a jam--wants to take her neighborhood back from the soulless property developer dropping unaffordable condos on every street corner in DC. But her planned protest at a corporate event takes a turn after she mistakes the smoldering-hot CEO for the waitstaff. When they go toe-to-toe, the sparks fly--but her impossible-to-ignore family thwarts her every move. Liza wants Dorsey Fitzgerald out of her hood, but she'll settle for getting him out of her head.
At first, Dorsey writes off Liza Bennett as more interested in performing outrage than acting on it. As the adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white family, he's always felt a bit out of place and knows a fraud when he sees one. But when Liza's protest results in a viral meme, their lives are turned upside down, and Dorsey comes to realize this irresistible revolutionary is the most real woman he's ever met.
You can find Nikki here on
Instagram: @nikkipaynebooks
Twitter: @NikkiPayneBooks
writerssupportingwriters #2022debuts #2022debutauthors #debutauthor #authorssupportingauthors #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writingcommunity #prideandprotest #weneeddiverseromance #weneeddiversebooks
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 Shiley Graduate Theatre Program, and her MFA in dramatic writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. An award-winning playwright and actor, Adams has called New York City home for the last decade. Jackal is her first novel.
https://www.erineadams.com
You can find Erin on Instagram here: @iameeadams
Twitter: @IAmEEAdams
Order your copy of Jackal here: ORDER JACKAL
Add Jackal to Goodreads: JACKAL ON GOODREADS
JACKAL BLURB (From Goodreads)
A young Black girl goes missing in the woods outside her white Rust Belt town. But sheâs not the firstâand she may not be the last. . . .
Itâs watching.
Liz Rocher is coming home . . . reluctantly. As a Black woman, Liz doesnât exactly have fond memories of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a predominantly white town. But her best friend is getting married, so she braces herself for a weekend of awkward and passive-aggressive reunions. Liz has grown, though; she can handle whatever awaits her. But on the day of the wedding, somewhere between dancing and dessert, the brideâs daughter, Caroline, goes missingâand the only thing left behind is a piece of white fabric covered in blood.
Itâs taking.
As a frantic search begins, with the police combing the trees for Caroline, Liz is the only one who notices a pattern: a summer night. A missing girl. A party in the woods. Sheâs seen this before. Keisha Woodson, the only other Black girl in school, walked into the woods with a mysterious man and was later found with her chest cavity ripped open and her heart missing. Liz shudders at the thought that it could have been her, and now, with Caroline missing, it canât be a coincidence. As Liz starts to dig through the townâs history, she uncovers a horrifying secret about the place she once called home. Children have been going missing in these woods for years. All of them Black. All of them girls.
Itâs your turn.
With the evil in the forest creeping closer, Liz knows what she must do: find Caroline, or be entirely consumed by the darkness.
debutauthor #debuts #authorlife #weneeddiversebooks #22debuts #thrillerbooks #horrorbooks #Jackalbook #ErinEAdams
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. đ (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 book, so the fact that she gets to make it her career is still surreal. She graduated from Cornell and has held various positions at Penguin Random House, Dorchester, Simon and Schuster, and Writers House literary agency. She's done everything from foreign rights to editorial to marketing to operations, which gave her a bird's-eye view of how all the departments worked together to bring books to life. Somewhere in between all that (and little sleep), Linda received her MFA in creative writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She counts herself lucky to work with amazing colleagues and clients who inspire her in both the childrenâs and adult categories.
www.galltzacker.com
Other places you can find Linda:
Manuscript Wishlist
You can also book Linda for query or manuscript feedback here: Manuscript Academy Bookings with Linda
Linda on Twitter
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
We were so happy to have THE Margie Fustonâ @margiefuston back on the show! Sheâs one of the best humans and authors on the planet.
Make sure to buy her AMAZING debut Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things. And donât forget to preorder her sophomore book CRUEL ILLUSIONS. You wonât 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 and literature and a masterâs in creative writing. Now sheâs back in the woods and spends all her time wrangling a herd of cats and helping her nephews hunt ghosts, pond monsters, and mermaids. Sheâs the author of VAMPIRES, HEARTS & OTHER DEAD THINGS (out now) and CRUEL ILLUSIONS (September 2022).
Margiefuston.com
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
cruelillusions #yafantasy #vampirebook #yabooks #margiefuston #vampires #vampiresheartsandotherdeadthings
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 such as USAToday.com, NPR Radio, EntertainmentWeekly.com, RedbookMagazine.com, Girlâs Life Magazine, and BroadwayWorld.com. Her first novel has been optioned for film by Dreamstreet and Lonetree Entertainment. She is a self-professed Wonder Woman Wannabe who lives in Ohio with her husband and two superhero-obsessed teenage sons.
Lorie is the author of the upcoming Disney Villain series, Happily Never After, featuring legendary villains such as; Ursula/Vanessa, Gaston, Yzma, Captain Hook, and the Evil Queen. Each book is a glimpse into the villainâs origins and their experiences of first love.
You can purchase the first book in the series here on Book Depository :https://www.bookdepository.com/Vanessa-Disney-Villains-Happily-Never-After-1-LORIE-LANGDON/9781761205286
http://www.lorielangdon.com/
Find Lorie on Instagram here: @lorielangdon_author
And on Twitter: @LorieLangdon
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Disney #DisneyVillains #YABooks #Doonseries #disneyvillain #disnerds #disneyvillainbooks #disney #OliviaTwist #gilthollow #disneyvillainfans #thelittlemermaid #ursula #ursulavanessa #lovestory #romance #ya #HappilyNeverAfterseries
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 Convention Center in Tampa, Florida.
Strategic partnerships include local independent bookstore Oxford Exchange, the Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative, and the Hillsborough Public School system.
This event is forged from the belief that a love of books helps build empathy, diversity, and community in the next generation, all set against the backdrop of a vibrant vacation destination.
Authors can immerse themselves in an inclusive, thriving literary community.
Students will learn directly from inspirational authors with writing workshops and discussions.
Educators get unique access to author led sessions for professional development points.
Readers will find amazing access to their favorite writers, through panels, author meet and greets, book signings, talks, and keynote speeches.
For more information contact info@yabythebay.org
Founder's Story Sorboni Banerjee and Dominique Richardson are young adult authors and co-founders of YA by the Bay. As a television news anchor reporting stories that impact the community, Sorboni knows first-hand, the impact of storytelling as a connecting force. Reading YA was quite literally Dominiqueâs lifeline when the magic of compelling stories helped her overcome her battle with depression. They both believe whole-heartedly in the restorative, inspirational power of books.
At a conference together, they noted a missing piece. Sure, it was exciting having authors there to meet their fans⌠but what if there was a way to teach kids how to use the messages from these talented writers as motivation for what is possible? What if there was a way to take a YA conference to the next level by using it to teach leadership?
Seated separately on the plane on the way back, they each texted each other the same exact thing before phones went off for the flight. We should host a conference! In TAMPA! And then had to sit alone with the exciting thought going off like fireworks for three hours.
YA by the Bay was born, from a desire to make sure authorsâ words reach the kids who need them. To make sure students realize, knowing how to craft a story, helps you craft the story of your life. To make sure everyone feels welcome, included, and heard. To make sure everyone knowsâyour voice matters.
(from https://yabythebay.org/about/)
Want to keep up with YA by the Bay news? Follow along here: YA by the Bay on Instagram and here: YA by the Bay on Twitter
Looking for Dom and Sorboni?
Domnique on Instagram
Domnique on Twitter
Sorboni on Instagram
Sorboni on Twitter
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 âpantser.â
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 Arabic pastries, messing with new yoga poses, and mentoring other writers.
(https://www.georgejreije.com)
You can get your copy of SHAD HADID AND THE ALCHEMISTS OF ALEXANDRIA here
George is represented by Jen Azantian at Azantian Literary Agency.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
mgauthors #mgfantasy #writerssupportingwriters #authorssupportingauthors #debutauthor #2022debutauthor #weneeddiversebooks #weneeddiverseauthors #authorsofinstagram
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 sheâs 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 am currently pursuing my M.S. in Publishing from Pace University.
My favorite books almost always feature compelling and complex characters who linger in my mind after reading. I enjoy everything from realistic contemporary books to gripping fantasies that sweep you away.
Thanks for joining us, @daudrs We know our listeners will LOVE hearing all you have to say.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
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 by Cindy Lin, The Rogues by Lian Tanner and Winnie Zeng Unleashes a Legend by Katie Zhao.
Our Little Inventor has been adapted into a children's opera, composed by Emma Jayakumar and presented by the West Australian Opera, which will premiere in October 2022.
Sher Rill is represented by Danielle Binks @dbinks at Jacinta di Mase Management
For any book project enquiries please contact Danielle @JacintaDiMase.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
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, sheâs a fantastic human too!
If you havenât already, make sure to subscribe to our channel wherever you listen so you donât 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 islandâs northeastern coast. Sheâs published short story comics in MARVELâS VOICES: COMUNIDADES #1 and in the Eisner-award winning PUERTO RICO STRONG. Sheâs also co-editor of the upcoming OUR SHADOWS HAVE CLAWS, a young adult horror anthology featuring myths and monsters from Latin America. When she's not writing, she teaches ESL as a college professor and watches a lot of Kpop videos. Learn more about her projects at www.amparoortiz.com
You can preorder her upcoming YA Fantasy: Last Sunrise in Eterna here.
You can find Amparo here on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
We had a magical time chatting with author and educator Melissa Pyrch on the podcast this week!
She is the kind of teacher and mentor we all needed in high school! We cannot wait to read her debut, BEYOND THE BELL.
A bit more about Melissa:
Melissa Pyrch has been teaching high school English in New York state for over two decades. While motivating her seniors to pursue their wildest dreams, Melissa Pyrch made a promise that she would never ask them to do anything she wasnât willing to do herself. In that challenge, her social media account on Instagram @Pyrchgetspublished was born. She wrote Beyond the Bell and proved to her students that, with hard work, anything is possible.
After graduating from SUNY Cortland with a teaching certificate and a slew of sorority sisters, she landed her first teaching job. As her career evolved, she taught electives like Mass Media and Society, Poetry, Beyond the Classics, and Public Speaking. She earned a masterâs degree in creative writing from Manhattanville College and was named Westchester Countyâs Cheerleading Coach of the Year. Pyrch earned an additional masterâs in communication arts from The College of New Rochelle where she won several academic scholarships and graduated with honors.
A highlight of her career is helping students craft college essays that reflect their truths. This experience opened her eyes to understanding the simple key to connecting with teens. Her approach: listen, acknowledge their challenges, and push them out of their comfort zones so they can fly.
As an author, teacher, mom of three boys, and wife to a Yonkers Fire Captain, Melissa Pyrch gets to live her biggest dream every day when the bell rings.
Stop by Instagram @pyrchgetspublished or visit www.melissapyrch.com for updates and to join the fun.
Order BEYOND THE BELL here.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
Find us on Instagram: @pubpersuasion
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
We had an absolutely wonderful time speaking with the author of BIG CHICAS DONâT CRY, Annette Chavez Macias đ
Hereâs a bit more about our special guest, Annette:
Annette Chavez Macias writes stories about love, family and following your dreams. She is proud of her Mexican-American heritage, culture and traditions. All of which can be found within the pages of her books. For those readers wanting even more love stories and guaranteed happily ever afters, Annette also writes romance under the pen name Sabrina Sol. A Southern California native, Annette lives just outside Los Angeles with her husband, three children and four dogs.
authorannette.com
Her incredible book Big Chicas Donât Cry comes out September 1st! You can preorder it here. And Add it to Goodreads here.
Annette can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Such an emotional, full circle moment coming back to interview our dear friend Courtney from our Pitch Wars class of 2020!
Courtney is just one of the most beautiful souls you'll ever meet and her book is a true joy-filled delight.
We love the characters and story Courtney created so much, we couldn't resist dressing up as the main characters on the cover to surprise her for our interview.
A bit more about Courtney:
Courtney Kae (she/they) writes the sweet and steamy happily ever afters that give her queer little heart great joy. She lives in Southern California with her husband, child, and thoroughly spoiled cats. Some of her favorite things include: family movie nights, breakfast for every meal, devouring romance books, and attempting to keep her succulents alive. Courtney's debut novel, IN THE EVENT OF LOVE, will release on August 30th, 2022 with Kensington and Headline Eternal, and the sequel, IN THE CASE OF HEARTBREAK, will follow on April 25, 2023. She can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok at @court_kae.
courtneykaebooks.com
We CANNOT WAIT for her book IN THE EVENT OF LOVE to come out into the world (you can pre-order it here)
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
We had the very best time chatting with the sweet and spooky Australian queen, Katya de Becerra !!! Katya has such a joyful presence and had a ton of amazing things to say about writing and publishing.
A bit more about Katya de Becerra:
Katya de Becerra is the author of genre-bending, critically acclaimed speculative novels, What The Woods Keep and Oasis. Her next book, When Ghosts Call Us Home, is forthcoming in 2023 with Page Street. Her short fiction appeared or is forthcoming in various anthologies and literary magazines. She is currently co-editing a curated horror anthology This Fresh Hell (Clan Destine Press, 2023) which reimagines old horror tropes in new and unexpected ways. Katya has a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Melbourne; for the past ten years sheâs been working in academia as an educator and researcher.
Katya is represented by Rena Rossner of The Deborah Harris Agency
You can find Katya's books here: https://linktr.ee/katyadebecerra
Add her upcoming book, When Ghosts Call Us Home, to Goodreads now!Â
Today we chat with the absolute legend that is Eric Smith @ericsmithrocks
A powerhouse literary agent and author extraordinaire, Eric Smith is a rockstar in the publishing world and an all round amazing human.
A bit more about Eric:
(https://www.ericsmithrocks.com)
Eric Smith is a Young Adult author and literary agent with P.S. Literary living in Philadelphia.
His latest book, Jagged Little Pill: The Novel, a collaboration with Alanis Morissette, Academy award-winner Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard, is an adaptation of the Grammy and Tony award winning musical.
His recent books include You Can Go Your Own Way (Inkyard Press) and the acclaimed anthology Battle of the Bands (Candlewick), co-edited with award-winning author Lauren Gibaldi. Itâs currently being adapted for film by Playground Entertainment.
His novel Donât Read the Comments was a YALSA 2021 Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. The paperback is out now.
He has short stories and essays in the anthologies Color Outside the Lines by Sangu Mandanna (Soho Teen), Body Talk by Kelly Jensen (Algonquin), Allies by Dana Alison Levy and Shakirah Bourne (DK), All Signs Point to Yes by Candice Montgomery, cara davis-araux, and Adrianne Russell (Inkyard), and Adoptee to Adoptee by Nicole Chung and Shannon Gibney (Harper).
His other books include the IndieBound bestseller The Geekâs Guide to Dating (Quirk), Inked (Bloomsbury), the anthology Welcome Home (Flux), and contemporary fantasy novel The Girl and the Grove (Flux).
His writing is represented by Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary.
We had a truly magical time chatting with YA author, Susan Lee. Her joyful spirit is infectious and we CANNOT WAIT for her book SEOULMATES to hit the market! (Preorder Seoulmates)
A bit more about Susan Lee:
Susan Lee has had a lifetime of careers, from bartender to network engineer to HR executive at some of todayâs most successful companies. But one thing has always been clear throughout: she was born to be a storyteller. And she has channeled her myriad of experiences into her writing of lighthearted, quirky novels about the oftentimes hilarious human condition. And love. Always love. She currently lives in Southern California (fighting her inner New Yorker from breaking free too often) with a pack of three feisty chihuahuas and a too-hearty obsession with K-pop and K-dramas.
(https://susanleewrites.com)
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
We had a WONDERFUL time chatting with associate literary agent, Ameerah Holliday today! She is fun, funny, and beautifully genuine. Anyone would be lucky to have her as their agent.
A bit more about Ameerah:
(https://www.serendipitylit.com)
Ameerah Holliday is a dancer and self-proclaimed poetess from San Diego, California. She received her Bachelor's degree in English Literature from San Diego State University. Holliday is a former editorial assistant intern for Poetry International and currently serves as editorial director for the San Diego Poetry Annual and editor for Kids! San Diego Poetry Annual.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoya_author & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
OfthePublishingPersuasion
podcast
Today's guest is the absolute hero that is Laekan Zea Kemp. Laekan had so many amazing and profound things to say about her experience with both indie and traditional publishing, writer journey and mental health.
A bit more about Laekan:
Laekan Zea Kemp is a writer living in Austin, Texas. Her debut novel, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER & SWEET was a 2022 Pura BelprĂŠ Honor Recipient. In addition to writing sheâs also the creator and host of the Author Pep Talks podcast, as well as a contributor to theLas Musas podcast. She has three objectives when it comes to storytelling: to make people laugh, cry, and crave Mexican food. Her work celebrates Chicane grit, resilience, creativity, and joy while exploring themes of identity and mental health.
(http://www.laekanzeakemp.com)
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
OfthePublishingPersuasion
podcast
Fan-girling forever about our interview today with THE Alexa Donne. Alexa has played a pivotal role in so many writerâs lives, including our own. She had so many valuable nuggets of knowledge to share with us. We canât wait for you all to hear what she has to say!
A bit more about Alexa Donne: (https://alexadonne.com)
Alexa Donne is the author of young adult thrillers The Ivies and the forthcoming Pretty Dead Queens, both published by Crown/Random House. A graduate of Boston University, she works in TV marketing and has done pro bono college admissions mentoring since 2014. A true INFJ, in her âfreeâ time she mentors with WriteGirl, runs the Author Mentor Match program, and manages one of the most popular writing advice channels on YouTube. She lives in Los Angeles and you can find her in most places @alexadonne. Alexa is represented by Elana Roth-Parker of Laura Dail Literary Agency.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
What an honour, a pleasure, an absolute JOY chatting with author Ryan La Sala @theryanlasala today!
Ryan is a dynamic force in the writing world and an all around amazing human being. Make sure to preorder his latest book THE HONEYS now!
More about Ryan La Sala:
(https://www.ryanlasala.com)
Ryan La Sala writes about surreal things happening to queer people.
Ryan resides in New York City, but only physically. Escapist to the core, he spends most of his time in the astral planes and only takes up corporeal form for special occasions, like brunch and to watch anime (which is banned on the astral planes).
Ryan is the author behind the riotously imaginative Reverie, and the brilliantly constructed Be Dazzled. He has been featured in Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Tor.com, and one time Shangela from RuPaulâs Drag Race called him cute. Right in the middle of the road downtown! So. Pretty big deal all around, yes?
His next book, The Honeys, will be publish with Scholastic on August 16, 2022.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Today we have the incredible Emily Thiede @ektwrites as our guest on the show! We had so much fun chatting with Emily who is just so full of wisdom and insights about all the highs and lows of this wild writer life.
Emily is the author of soon-to-be released YA fantasy, THIS VICIOUS GRACE. (add it to Goodreads here)
A bit more about Emily:
(http://ekthiede.com)
EMILY THIEDE is the author of This Vicious Grace. A former public school teacher, Emily teaches creative writing and serves on the board for Writer House, a local writing nonprofit, and co-hosts the Basic Pitches podcast. An alumnus of PitchWars and Author Mentor Match, she loves mentoring aspiring authors, fostering kittens, and getting lost in the woods near her home in central Virginia.
Emily spent the first half of her life in New Jersey and the rest in Virginia, so she talks fast but knows how to use âbless your heartâ effectively. After a childhood reading in trees and dreaming of riding dragons, she loves to write stories with high stakes, lots of heart, âthatâs what she saidâ humor, and characters who cope with impending doom by bickering and bantering with friends and foe alike.
Emily is represented by Chelsea Eberly at the Greenhouse Literary Agency
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
We had an absolute BLAST chatting with CALCULATED author Nova McBee !!! She is pure magic and had so many exciting things to say in our interview. We literally could have chatted with her for hours.
A bit more about Nova:
(Novamcbee.com)
Nova McBee is an avid traveler and culture nerd who has lived and worked in Europe, the Middle East and Asia for half her life. She speaks multiple languages, including Mandarin, and lived in China for more than a decade. She thrives on complex plots, adventure, making cross-cultural connections and coffee. She currently resides in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband and three children.
~ My literary works are represented by Amy Jameson of A + B Works.
~ Calculated is currently in development to become a major motion picture. Emmy Award winning screenwriter, Ann Peacock, especially known for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, will adapt Calculated for the screen. Calculatedâs film rights belong to One Door Studios. *Sequels have also been optioned. Please sign up for my newsletter for updates.
~ Iâm the founder of the YA reader & writer blog â The Spinning Pen @thespinningpen
~ Iâve been both a PitchWars Mentor and Mentee.
~ Words are powerfulâthey move across borders, slip under skin, make us kind and brave. Words change lives.
You can find Nova on Instagram: @nova_mcbee_author and Twitter @nova_mcbee
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Such an honour to chat today with the absolute LEGEND that is Literary Agent Brent Taylor!
Brent represents so many amazing authors, and has such wonderful insight into all things publishing and just life in general.
Hereâs a bit more about Brent from btaylorbooks.com:
I am a senior literary agent and subsidiary rights manager at Triada US.
Triada US was founded in 2004 by Dr. Uwe Stender. Since then, the agency has built a list of high quality fiction and non-fiction for readers of all ages.
After years of interning in trade book publishing, I joined Triada US in 2014 to assist Uwe Stender while building my own list of fiction and non-fiction for readers aged 0-18. I was promoted to associate agent in November 2015, to agent in April 2017, and to senior agent in October 2020. In 2019, I was named a PW Star Watch Honoree. I am incredibly proud of my listâmy clientsâ books have won major awards, collected starred reviews, and hit the bestseller lists. In addition to my role as an agent, I manage the agency's subsidiary rights, licensing audiobook and foreign rights to our titles around the world and attending international rights fairs.
I describe my reading tastes as upmarket: I'm passionate about books for young readers that are extremely well-written, robust with emotion, and appeal to a wide, commercial audience.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between. HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Of the Publishing Persuasion Episode #22 with the absolutely INCREDIBLE Jennifer Azantian!!!đ Jennifer is a FORCE in the literary world and agent to some of our favorite people and past guests of the show! Listen to the full episode for a very special offer just for our listeners!! You definitely won't want to miss it!!!
A bit more about Jennifer:
Jennifer Azantian established Azantian Literary in 2014 and focuses primarily on fiction across genres for mg, YA, and adult readers. She represents bestselling and award-winning writers, and is always on the lookout for new talent. Prior to ALA, Jennifer was at the Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency followed by a stint with the Paul Levine Literary Agency. Before publishing, she earned her B.S. in clinical and developmental psychology from UCSD where she was an executive editor for the Triton Psychology Report. She brings to her clients a passion for literature born of a writer's heart, an editorial eye honed from reviewing thousands of projects, and the connections to help bring wonderful books to life.
Our special Of the Publishing Persuasion listener link to query Jennifer Azantian is: https://querymanager.com/query/AzantianLiterary/pubpersuasion
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between. HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
We are so excited to chat with marketing coach and just all round beautiful human, Danielle Wilkinson đ Today we're talking reels, social media trends and Instagram engagement.
Danielle is a YA writer and a Marketing Coach For Writers & Authors. She is a round 9 Author Mentor Match mentee and blogger for @weneeddiversebooks đâ¨
She runs a 3-week Instagram Bootcamp Coaching Program (check it out at https://instagrambootcamp.my.canva.site/ )
You can find Danielle on Instagram: @daniellethewriter.co
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between. HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
OfthePublishingPersuasion
So honoured to have literary agent Larissa Melo Pienkowski as our guest today on the podcast! Larissa is a literary agent at Jill Grinberg Literary Management with a list of talented authors in various genres, including our girl Angela đ
A bit more about our guest:
Larissa Melo Pienkowski grew up outside of Boston and attended Simmons University, where she earned her degree in Social Work and Sociology, performed poetry competitively and recreationally, and edited a number of literary magazines. Larissa later went on to receive her MA in Publishing and Writing from Emerson College, where she worked with the likes of Beacon Press and Barefoot Books before becoming the assistant publisher of an independent feminist press. She joined JGLM as an agent in 2020 and represents a wide range of adult and childrenâs fiction and nonfiction, with a deep-rooted passion for championing the stories of authors from historically excluded backgrounds. The daughter of Brazilian and Polish immigrants, Larissa speaks Portuguese and Spanish. She lives in Philadelphia with her fiancĂŠe and very fluffy husky, Olaf, and when she isnât curled up with a good book or traveling the world, she can be found in her ceramics studio.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond.
The ups, the downs and everything in between. HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Welcome to our cheer squad session! These episodes are (supposed to be) shorter, (but we got carried away today đ¤Ł) with just the two of us catching up and talking all things writing and publishing. We're basically just checking in and cheering each other on, on our writing journeys and hopefully cheering all of you on too!
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Every now and then you meet someone who feels instantly like an old friend! Which is exactly how we felt in our interview with the absolutely wonderful, warm and wise, Sara Hashem.
A bit about Sara:
Sara Hashem is an American-Egyptian writer from Southern California, where she spent many sunny days holed up indoors with a book. Saraâs love for fantasy and magical realms emerged during the two years her family lived in Egypt. When she isnât busy naming stray cats in her neighborhood after her favorite authors, Sara can be found buried under coffee-ringed notebooks. She is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor degree as well as the perfect banana bread recipe.
Sara's debut novel, THE JASAD HEIR, releases in 2023. You can find her on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok @shashemwrites
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
A short bonus episode where we chat all about the struggle of querying and the perseverance of writers.Â
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Y'all are not even ready for this AMAZING interview with WITCHLINGS author Claribel Ortega. Claribel is a total BOSS in the writing community and has so many wise and insightful things to say about the publishing journey.
Make sure to preorder WITCHLINGS now! (out April 5th!!) by @scholasticinc đ¸ and don't forget to take the Witchlings quiz to find out what Coven you are in!
WITCHLINGS COVEN QUIZ
A bit more about Claribel:
(www.claribelortega.com)
New York Times Bestselling and award-winning author, CLARIBEL A. ORTEGA is a former reporter who writes middle-grade and young adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she's not busy turning her obsession with eighties pop culture, magic, and video games into books, sheâs co-hosting her podcast Bad Author Book Club and helping authors navigate publishing with her consulting business GIFGRRL. Claribel is a Marvel contributor and has been featured on Buzzfeed, Bustle, Good Morning America and Deadline.
Claribelâs debut middle grade novel GHOST SQUAD is out now from Scholastic and is being made into a feature film. Her forthcoming books include Witchlings (Scholastic) and the graphic novel Frizzy (First Second.) You can find her on Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok and on her website at claribelortega.com.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
So excited to share this episode with THE Emily J. Taylor. Debut author of HOTEL MAGNIFIQUEđđ(April â22 @penguinteen). Emily is one to watch. Her book sounds absolutely incredible. Magic, a travelling Hotel, sign us up!!! đ¤Šđ¤Šđ¤Š
A bit about Emily: (from Goodreads)
Emily was born and raised in California and has since refused to stay put. She's lived in four states and two continents, all of which have conveniently given her an endless amount of story fodder. She currently works as a creative director in Minneapolis, where she spends the long winters dreaming up glittering worlds to spin into dark tales.
You can find Emily on Twitter @emilycanwrite and Instagram @emilycanwrite
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Absolutely over the moon to share this incredible episode with #LoveOzYA Fantasy Queen THE Astrid Scholte đ¤Šđ¤Šđ¤ŠđŚđş Astrid has so many amazing things to say about publishing, the hardships of querying, her books, and Disney!
A bit about Astrid: (www.astridscholte.com)
Astrid Scholte was raised on a diet of Spielberg, Lucas and Disney, and knew she wanted to be surrounded by all things fantastical from a young age. Sheâs spent the last fifteen years working in film, animation and television as both an artist and manager. Career highlights include working on James Cameronâs Avatar, Steven Spielbergâs The Adventures of Tintin and Disney's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her fiancĂŠ and two cats, Lilo and Mickey.
Her debut YA novel, Four Dead Queens, was an international bestseller and award winner. âHer second novel, The Vanishing Deep, was released on the 3rd of March 2020. Her latest release, LEAGUE OF LIARS is available now! â
You can find Astrid posting about books, cats and Disney on Twitter @AstridScholte and Instagram @AstridScholte
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
We are THRILLED to talk with our next guest today! Zoraida CoĚrdova is a FORCE in the publishing world. And sheâs one of Angelaâs personal idols. đ
More about Zoraida:
(Zoraidacordova.com)
Zoraida CĂłrdova is the acclaimed author of more than two dozen novels and short stories, including the Brooklyn Brujas series, Star Wars: Galaxyâs Edge: A Crash of Fate, and The Inheritance of OrquĂdea Divina. In addition to writing novels, she serves on the board of We Need Diverse Books, and is the co-editor of the bestselling anthology Vampires Never Get Old, as well as the cohost of the writing podcast, Deadline City. She writes romance novels as Zoey Castile. Zoraida was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and calls New York City home. When sheâs not working, sheâs roaming the world in search of magical stories. For more information, visit her at zoraidacordova.com.
You can find Zoraida on Instagram: @zoraidasolo
and on twitter: @zlikeinzorro
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites
& Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Happy Listening and don't forget to subscribe!
THRILLED to have Tobias Madden author of ANYTHING BUT FINE, on the show! Our little, theatre-loving hearts had a blast chatting all about his amazing book and exciting career.
A bit more about Tobias: (www.tobiasmadden.net) Tobias is an author and editor from Sydney, Australia. His debut young adult fiction novel, ANYTHING BUT FINE, is out now in Australia and New Zealand (Penguin Teen), and coming to the US March 29, 2022 (Page Street YA). His second YA novel, TAKE A BOW, NOAH MITCHELL, is coming to Aus/NZ in 2022 and the US in 2023. â Originally from Ballarat, Tobias worked for ten years as a performer, touring Australia and New Zealand with musicals such as Mary Poppins, CATS, Singin' in the Rain, and Guys and Dolls. In 2019, he edited and published UNDERDOG, the first #LoveOzYA short story anthology for previously unpublished Aussie young adult fiction writers. Also in 2019, he wrote the cabaret show Siblingship, which played to sold out audiences in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. Tobias is a passionate member of the #LoveOzYA and LGBTQ+ communities, and currently works in publishing as a Senior Marketing Executive.
You can find Tobias on instagram: @tobias_madden and on twitter: @tobias_madden Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Happy Listening and don't forget to subscribe!
Today's guest is Lyssa Mia Smith, author of REVELLE!⨠A YA fantasy pitched as a âmagical Moulin Rouge in the Prohibition eraâ by Harper Collins/Blazer&Bray (early 2023).
Aside from just being an especially wonderful human, Lyssa's writer journey and industry knowledge are so raw and insightful, talking to her felt like writer therapy, a master class and food for the creative soul.
Some more about Lyssa: (Lyssamiasmith.com) Lyssa Mia Smith writes stories with magic and kissing for young adult and crossover adult readers. She was selected for Pitch Wars twice (2018, 2020) for speculative stories with romantic twists, and is thrilled to be giving back to the organization that helped turn many of her dreams into reality by serving as a 2021 mentor. She is the winner of the YARWA Rosemary Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction (2019). When sheâs not writing (or staying up far too late reading), sheâs eating all the best bagels in New York with her partner and their two young children.
You can find Lyssa on instagram: @lsmittywrites
and on twitter: @LSmittyWrites
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites
Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
This week's guest on Of the Publishing Persuasion is none other than my incredible co-host, THE Angela Montoya!!!! Talking all about that INCREDIBLE BOOK DEAL NEWS!!!
Angela Montoya is a Round 5 Author-Mentor Match mentee and was selected to be a mentee in Pitch Wars 2020. She is the granddaughter of the celebrated activist and poet laureate Jose Montoya and lives in Northern California with her family. She is represented by Larissa Melo Pienkowski at Jill Grinberg Literary Management
Her đđ¤Šdebut novelđ¤Šđ is SINNERS ISLE (expected publication fall 2023) with Joy Revolution of Penguin Random House.
SINNERâS ISLE, is a dual-POV Latinx YA fantasy romance, bought at auction in a two-book deal and pitched as Pirates of the Caribbean meets Serpent & Dove, in which a powerful witch being held captive on a remote island will do anything to escape it before the Offeringâa week-long fiesta for the wealthy to engage with Majestics like herâincluding blackmailing an infamous, charming pirate who washes up on shore.
You can find Angela on:
Instagram: @angelamontoyawrites
Twitter: @montoyasangel
TikTok: @angelamontoyawrites
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: đANGELA MONTOYAđ: @angelamontoyawrites
and Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Today we talk to author Liselle Sambury about her incredible journey to publication, problematic books, and that time she cried over Pitch Wars.
Liselle is the author of BLOOD LIKE MAGIC, BLOOD LIKE FATE (Available August 2022), and BUTCHERBIRDS (Spring 2023).
A bit more about THE Liselle Sambury (from lisellesambury.ca): Liselle Sambury is a Trinidadian-Canadian author who grew up in Toronto, Ontario, and her brand of writing can be described as âmessy Black girls in fantasy situations.â In her free time, she shares helpful tips for upcoming writers and details of her publishing journey through a YouTube channel dedicated to helping demystify the sometimes complicated business of being an author. Sheâs represented by Kristy Hunter at The Knight Agency.
You can find Liselle on Instagram: @lisellesambury And on Twitter: @LiselleSambury
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites & Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Today we chat with the total QUEEN that is Hannah Sawyerr đ¤Šđ
A little more about Hannah: (HannahSawyerr.com)
Hannah V. Sawyerr is a Sierra Leonean-American writer with a passion for people and poetry. Her debut novel, CALL HIM BY NAME, told through court transcripts, journal entries, and poetry is forthcoming from Abrams/Amulet in Fall 2023. For Hannah's literary and community involvement, she was recognized as the 2016 Youth Poet Laureate of Baltimore, an honor awarded by DewMore Baltimore, the Baltimore Mayor's Office, Urban Word NYC, and Enoch Pratt Libraries. For her original poem âFor Girls Growing Into Their Hipsâ, she was awarded a National Medal in the NAACP Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) in the category of poetry. Her spoken word has been featured on the British Broadcasting Channel's (BBC) "World Have Your Say" program, as well as the National Education Association's "Do You Hear Us" Campaign for her original poem âA Salone Manâs Refuge.â Her written word has been featured in several publications such as ROOKIE, Sesi Mag, Theories of HER and more. Currently, she is A 2021 Pitch Wars mentor and is earning her M.F.A. in Creative Writing at The New School.
She is represented by Joanna Volpe and Jordan Hill of New Leaf Literary.
You can find Hannah on Instagram: @hannsawyerr
And on Twitter: @HannSawyerr
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites
& Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Today we chat with the creative genius that is Aty Behsam.
Aty is an Iranian/Persian writer, artist, translator, editor, TEDx speaker, and Pitch Wars 2021 mentor. She is a full-time writing mentor currently working on multiple story projects including a fantasy YA novel, a historical fantasy manga, and a sci-fi comic. Â
She is talented beyond belief and a genuinely amazing person! We chatted about art, manga, and her current project (which sounds FANTASTIC). Â
You can find Aty on here: @aty_s_behsamÂ
And on Twitter: @ASBehsamÂ
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between. Â
HOSTED BY: Â Â Â Â
Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites Â
& Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Today we chat with the incredible human that is Kyla Zhao about Pitch Wars, adulting and Kyla's epic book THE FRAUD SQUAD (@penguinrandomhouse, Jan â23 â add it on Goodreadsâ¨) Born and raised in Singapore, Kyla Jiayi Zhao graduated in 2021 from Stanford University with an MA in Communications (Media Studies) and BA in Psychology. This year, she was a fashion and lifestyle writer at Vogue Singapore. While she still does freelance writing for Vogue, her day job is marketing at a tech company in Silicon Valley Besides novel-writing, Kylaâs editorial portfolio includes bylines in the Singapore editions of Harperâs Bazaar and Tatler, covering the Asian Television Awards, and interviewing personalities such as singer Nathan Sykes. (Source: kylazhao.com)
You can find Kyla on IG: @kylajzhao
And on Twitter: @kylazingaround
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between. HOSTED BY:
Angela Montoya: @angelamontoyawrites
& Melanie Schubert: @melanie_schubert_writer
Today we talk with Pitch Wars Mentor and Debut Author: Margie Fuston
Margie is the Author of the all new YA: VAMPIRES, HEARTS & OTHER DEAD THINGS !!OUT NOW!!
Margie lives in California but dreams of being in New Orleans, eating thin-cut, fried catfish or a muffuletta for every meal. (Followed by beignets for dessert of course.) She has an MA in Creative Writing. Her poetry has appeared in Writerâs Digest, Gargoyle, and Late Peaches: An Anthology of Sacramento Poets, among others. She does a little bit of everything to make a living, but she mostly flips houses to support her very spoiled cats. When sheâs not working, writing, or wrangling cats, sheâs getting lost in the forest, wandering the beach, or curling up on the couch to watch The Vampire Diaries one more time.
Margie is represented by Rebecca Podos of Rees Literary Agency. (Bio credit: margiefuston.com)â¨
You can find her here: https://www.instagram.com/margiefuston/
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: https://www.instagram.com/angelamontoyawrites/
& Melanie Schubert: https://www.instagram.com/melanie_schubert_writer/
**Today we talk with dreamy, steamy romance author, THE Courtney Kae.
Courtney writes the sweet and steamy happily ever afters she wants to see in the world. She lives in Southern California with her husband, child, and thoroughly spoiled Shiba Inu. Some of her favorite things include: family movie nights, breakfast for every meal, devouring romance books, and attempting to keep her succulents alive. Courtney Kae's debut novel, IN THE EVENT OF LOVE, will release in fall 2022 with Kensington and Headline Eternal.
She can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @court_kae****.
(All information can be found at https://www.courtneykaebooks.com/**)
Courtney is represented by Claire Friedman of InkWell Management.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Angela Montoya: https://www.instagram.com/angelamontoyawrites/
& Melanie Schubert: https://www.instagram.com/melanie_schubert_writer/
Today we talk with up-and-coming YA contemporary writer, Jessica Parra.
Jessica is a @lasmusasbooks hermana and @pitchwars 2020 mentee. Sheâs a lawyer and mother of a small horde of adorable animals. In her free time, you might catch her doing Pilates, writing amazing stories featuring #latinx characters, or piloting the Millennium Falcon at Disneylandâs Galaxyâs Edge. â¨
Jessica is represented by Jennifer Azantian of Azantian Literary.
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.
HOSTED BY: Â Â Angela Montoya: https://www.instagram.com/angelamontoyawrites/
& Melanie Schubert: https://www.instagram.com/melanie_schubert_writer/
So what is Pitch Wars? And what's it really like getting in? Â Today we talk about the rollercoaster journey that is Pitch Wars and our best tips and tricks to get in...and please, oh please, can we talk about Cats? Â
Of the Publishing Persuasion is a podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between. Â
HOSTED BY: Â Â Angela Montoya: https://www.instagram.com/angelamontoyawrites/
& Melanie Schubert: https://www.instagram.com/melanie_schubert_writer/
A podcast for writers at all stages, shedding light on the journey to publication and beyond. The ups, the downs and everything in between.