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We have the a-w-e-s-o-m-e Jenny Han in today’s episode proudly brought to you by Vermont College of Fine Arts! Jenny is the New York Times bestselling author of teen and middle grade fiction, her most recent works titled To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.
We discuss the gravity of representing diversity and how the book covers in Jenny’s newest book series is creating change by shifting the perception of race and redefining the archetype of the ‘The All-American Girl’.
In the episode, we also uncover Jenny’s writing schedule and structure, and the inspiration behind To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. For fellow writers who are all about writing retreats, you’ll definitely want to pay attention to how Jenny hosts her own retreats and take notes so you can host your own!
Xo,
Yin
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“Authenticity is everything.” (Click to tweet)
“Any girl can be the every girl.” (Click to tweet)
“When you catch the perfect wave, you just have to ride it as far ashore as you can.” (Click to tweet)
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Why and how the book covers for the Lara Jean series is shifting the perception of race
Why it’s crucial to write with authenticity, especially when writing for a young adult audience
The inspiration behind TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE and the Lara Jean series
What it means when ‘any girl can be the every girl’
Jenny Han is a New York Times bestselling author of teen and middle grade fiction. Her books include The Summer I Turned Pretty series; Shug; the Burn for Burn trilogy, co-written with Siobhan Vivian; and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You. She is also the author of the chapter book Clara Lee and The Apple Pie Dream. A former children’s bookseller, she earned her MFA in creative writing at the New School.
Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True by Elizabeth Berg
“There was something about this book and the research, it really made me look at the world in a different way. I suppose it made me more aware of the darkness that a human being can hold, or the sadness, and I think that kind of broke me a small bit.” –Louise O’Neill (a conversation with '88 Cups of Tea' on writing her award-winning novel "Asking For It")
Named “the best YA fiction writer alive today” by The Guardian, we have a very special episode featuring the one-and-only Louise O’Neill. Louise is the award-winning author of two novels: Only Ever Yours, was a multiple award winner and the movie rights were bought by Killer Content. Her second novel, Asking For It, was a number 1 bestseller in her native Ireland and was named the overall book of the year at the 2015 Irish Book Awards.
In our conversation proudly brought to you by Gotham Writers, we discuss rape culture and how Asking For It is igniting a much needed discussion to create real change. (I know that after listening to Louise’s episode, you’ll be itching to get a copy if you haven’t already read it yet. We’re holding an amazing giveaway with contest instructions below.)
In the episode, we also uncover what the heavy research process was like for Louise’s second novel, why it’s crucial for writers to write their story the way it’s demanding to be told, authentically portraying characters and the world they live in, and a whole lot more goodies.
Our conversation filled my soul and is an absolute treat I’m thrilled to share with you. Get ready for a thoughtful and stimulating episode that will awaken you.
Xo,
Yin
PS. Did today’s episode help you in any way? Please share it with someone you think the episode can help!
Please leave a review about the podcast by clicking here. Your honest feedback helps to shape the show. Thank you for your time and for helping with the ranking of the show when leaving a review and rating!
“I don’t think you could write a book like this and do that sort of research and not be effected by it, and not be changed by it.” -Louise O’Neill
One lucky winner will receive a copy of Louise O’Neill’s “Asking For It” and a limited edition '88 Cups of Tea' mug! This is the FIRST time EVER that we're including a limited edition mug from our podcast!
To enter the giveaway contest (limited to entries within the U.S.):
The inspiration behind “Asking For It” and the research process
The much needed conversation about the root of rape culture and how to implement real change
How to authentically portray characters and the world they live in
Louise’s advice on preventing writer’s block
“If you start thinking about what your parents think, or what your teachers think, or what your friends will think, or what your ex-boyfriend will think, you’re never going to be honest. And I suppose for me, honesty is the most important aspect of writing.” -Louise O’Neill
Learn More About Louise O’Neill
Louise O’ Neill is from West Cork in Ireland. Her debut novel, Only Ever Yours, was a multiple award winner and the movie rights were bought by Killer Content. Her second novel, Asking For It, was a number 1 bestseller in her native Ireland and was named the overall book of the year at the 2015 Irish Book Awards.
Louise’s Recommended Books & Resources:
The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass
Shrill by Lindy West
Say ‘Hi!’ to Louise
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Hey Storyteller Tribe! Super excited that Vermont College of Fine Arts and 88 Cups of Tea teamed up to bring you today's episode! We have young adult author Evelyn Skye discussing the writing process of her debut novel “The Crown’s Game”. Teen Vogue says it’s one of the 13 Best Young Adult Novels coming out in 2016 and Barnes and Noble says it’s the “Most anticipated Young Adult Fantasy Novels of this year”.
This is yet another episode PACKED with discussions about the business side of writing and writing tips that are truly actionable.
We chat a bunch about:
Resources Evelyn used to become a self-taught author
-How a writing community can significantly help improve your writing.
-Literary agents
-Query letters
-Marketing for authors
So if you’re working on your own novel right now, you’ll really benefit from Evelyn’s episode!
Let me know your thoughts about today's episode over on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram :)
“It takes time and effort. If you have a dream and keep pursuing it, it will happen.”-Evelyn Skye (Click here to tweet this quote!)
“You have to do things that are genuine to you.” -Evelyn Skye (Click here to tweet this quote!)
“It’s important to live your life. You can’t just live in this fictional world, otherwise you have nothing to bring to it.” -Evelyn Skye (Click here to tweet this quote!)
CLICK HERE TO GO TO EVELYN'S SHOWNOTES PAGE.
How Evelyn taught herself how to write novels with self-taught writing books
What inspired Evelyn to write “The Crown’s Game” and how shedeveloped the characters
How Evelyn used online resources to learn how to write query letters
Why it’s crucial to set the rules of your “world” you created throughout the story
Vika Andreyeva can summon the snow and turn ash into gold. Nikolai Karimov can see through walls and conjure bridges out of thin air.
They are enchanters—the only two in Russia—and with the Ottoman Empire and the Kazakhs threatening, the tsar needs a powerful enchanter by his side.
And so he initiated the Crown’s Game, a duel of magical skill—and the greatest test an enchanter will ever know. The victor becomes the Imperial Enchanter and the tsar’s most respected adviser. The defeated is sentenced to death.
Raised on tiny Ovchinin Island her whole life, Vika is eager for a chance to show off her talent in the grand capital of Saint Petersburg. But can she kill another enchanter—even when his magic calls to her like nothing else ever has?
For Nikolai, an orphan, the Crown’s Game is the chance of a lifetime. But his deadly opponent is a force to be reckoned with—beautiful, whip smart, imaginative—and he can’t stop thinking about her.
And when Pasha, Nikolai’s best friend and heir to the throne, also starts to fall for the mysterious enchantress, Nikolai must defeat the girl they both love… or be killed himself.
As long-buried secrets emerge, threatening the future of the empire, it becomes dangerously clear—the Crown’s Game is not one to lose.
Evelyn Skye is the author of THE CROWN’S GAME (HarperCollins / Balzer+Bray 2016) and its sequel (2017). She has a B.A. in Russian literature & history from Stanford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
She is also a YA event host at Kepler’s Books and the ringleader of YA Lunch Break, a popular Bay Area book club. When she’s not writing, Evelyn can be found chasing after her daughter on the playground or sitting on the couch, immersed in a good book and eating way too many cookies. She is repped by Brianne Johnson of Writers House.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO EVELYN'S SHOWNOTES PAGE.
Today's episode is proudly sponsored by Gotham Writers!
We have author Jessica Brody on the show with us today! Jessica's written and published multiple books in various genres, two of her Young Adult novels were acquired for feature film adaptations being made by producers who produced 'Vampire Academy', 'Life of Pi', and 'Slumdog Millionaire'.
I'm super excited to share today's episode with you because it's fully focused on the technicalities of writing, the kinds of writing programs and softwares that work the best for writers, how marketing and social media impacts the sales of books and the engagement of your readers, very specific writing rituals that help get writers out of a block, and so much more!
“Writing from a negative space never really results in anything good.”
“Writing is all about habit, routine, and forward momentum.”
Jessica’s writing process and how she applies ‘Save The Cat’ screen writing method
Writing rituals that push you through creative blocks
Writing from a positive headspace
Finding ways to get your potential readers to interact with your story
Jessica Brody is the author of several popular books for teens, including Unforgotten, Unremembered, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, and The Karma Club, as well
as two adult novels. She splits her time between California and Colorado.
Jessica Brody’s Writing Class on Udemy – 88 Cups of Tea listeners get 50% off of her course by clicking here!
Save The Cat by Blake Snyder
Freedom App
Evernote
Udemy
SCBWI
Women’s Writers of America