We have Nic Stone in our new episode, author of the incredibly powerful debut, "Dear Martin". Her new novel releases on October 17 and I am incredibly excited that we can reveal an excerpt from "Dear Martin" that’s exclusive to our 88 Cups of Tea community. To read the exclusive excerpt, click here!
In our conversation, you’ll learn what inspired the idea for Nic’s debut and what helped to shape the voice of her main character Justyce McAllister. She shares how to create emotional resonance in our work by being vulnerable and writing like a reader. We discuss the importance of having an honest and visionary editor on your team, the importance of diverse representation in the publishing industry, and how playing with the format of your book can help you cater to specific audiences.
We talk about the detrimental problems caused by systemic racism and we deep-dive into understanding that the root of anger can lead to compassion, and how to create change through self-reflection. We wrap up the interview chatting about Nic’s next novel that she is currently working on!
Say 'Hi' to Nic on Twitter! and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode by clicking here!
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. Fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!
---
Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!
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“I wasted time trying to find balance instead of just working with what I had.” -Nic Stone (Click to tweet)
“I have to do my art, I have to write, I have to do these things that keep me thriving and keep me going and keep me feeling alive.” -Nic Stone (Click to tweet)
“Write like a reader and read like a writer.” -Nic Stone (Click to tweet)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:
https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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In today’s new episode, we have a highly motivating roundup of interview clips from guests we’ve had on the show throughout the past two years. There’s so much that’s been going on around us, and an overwhelming amount of devastating news lately, and it’s honestly no surprise that there are many of us hitting a wall with our creativity. I’ve been keeping a close eye on our community and some of you have not been able to write lately, and several have been feeling stuck for quite some time now. So I went through some of your top favorite and most popular episodes to pull out highlights I found would be most helpful for you right now, and will hopefully give you a massive boost of inspiration.
In the roundup, you’ll be hearing clips from interviews with Jacqueline Woodson, Victoria V.E. Schwab, Rita Williams-Garcia, Jeff Zentner, Angie Thomas, and Leigh Bardugo, in that specific order. We talk about writing as a catharsis to push through grief, facing self-doubt, making time for writing, and learning to fall back in love with your writing.
I hope that after you listen to this episode, it feels like a warm tight hug for your soul and anytime you hit a rough spot again with your writing, I encourage you to re-listen to this episode to remind you that you are not alone.
Say 'Hi' to our featured authors on Twitter!
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!
---
Our website went through MAJOR changes. Check out our virtual headquarters by clicking here!
---
Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!
---
Click on the following links to be brought to each author’s full interview on 88 Cups of Tea:
In today’s new episode, we have award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder of the “Study” series.
In our conversation, you’ll learn what inspired the idea for Maria’s novel "Poison Study", the first book to kick off the Study series. We have a detailed look inside her research and writing process, and what her revision process is like. We discuss the importance of creating a story bible and keeping track of the details when writing a book series, and how to develop and maintain romantic relationships throughout.
You’ll learn how writing and critique groups create deadlines and provide support for your writing. And Maria shares advice on finding your voice as a mother and a writer, and how to create intentional writing time with a busy schedule.
Say 'Hi' to Maria on Facebook and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode by clicking here!
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!
---
Our website went through MAJOR changes. Check out our virtual headquarters by clicking here!
---
Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!
---
“Since I discover my story as I write, revision is a big part of it for me.” -Maria V. Snyder
“Getting support from other writers is really important.” -Maria V. Snyder
“My dream is not the destination, it’s the time.” -Maria V. Snyder
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:
https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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We have Ruta Sepetys on 88 Cups of Tea this week! Ruta is a New York Times bestseller and a Carnegie Medal winning crossover author whose critically acclaimed novels are read by both teens and adults. Ruta was awarded The Rockefeller Foundation’s prestigious Bellagio Center writing residency for her historical novel “Salt to the Sea”. The feature film adaptations of “Salt to the Sea” and her debut “Between Shades of Gray” are also on their way to theaters.
In our conversation, we talk about the real-life details that inspired “Salt to the Sea” and Ruta’s emotional process while writing the novel. We walk through a massive deep-dive of her research process, and she shares tips on interviewing techniques along with advice on how to respectfully approach people to interview for your own novels.
For our craft-focused listeners, you’re going to love our discussion about writing from multiple POVs and how to master each voice. Along that same topic, Ruta shares why it’s important for listeners to not shy away from writing dark and emotional POVs. We also touch on how she writes emotionally challenging characters.
Further into our conversation, we cover the role of rejection and how failure helps to set us up for future success, and how admitting your fears can help you move beyond them.
Say 'Hi' to Ruta on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode by clicking here!
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!
---
Our website went through MAJOR changes. Check out our virtual headquarters by clicking here!
---
Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!
https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
---
We're back with episode 101 and we have literary agent Barry Goldblatt, founder of Barry Goldblatt Literary, on 88 Cups of Tea today.
In our conversation, Barry shares how he transitioned from an 11-year career in the rights and contracts departments at various publishing houses to opening his own literary agency. Barry walks us through the elements of a story that attracts him to a novel for representation, his manuscript wish list, the categories he represents and what he’s actively seeking. We discuss Barry’s relationship with his clients, how he meets their needs, and how he guides their work to publication.
Further into our conversation, we get into the nitty gritty of the technicalities like how literary agents match authors and their manuscripts with editors and publishing houses, and what happens to a manuscript after it’s sold to an editor and publishing house. Barry also walks us through what exactly subsidiary rights are in the publishing world.
If you’re about to query a literary agent, you’re in luck because Barry covers the do’s and don’ts of a query letter.
Say 'Hi' to Barry on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in his episode over at his shownotes page by clicking here!
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Our website went through MAJOR changes. Check out our virtual headquarters by clicking here!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!
---
Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!
Oh..My..LAWD: It’s our 100th episode.
I can not believe how far we’ve come. Thank you all for helping me grow 88 Cups of Tea into the incredible community it is today.
We have a really fun mash-up of voice messages from our listeners and interviews with my loved ones.
I can’t wait for you all to hear from your fellow listener-friends. Thank you so much to Andrew Pryor, Jessica Lemmons, Sarah Suk, Tracy Badua, Jeanne Rodrigue, Melissa See, Jennifer Chen, Megan Lynch, and Kit Grant for taking the time to share their stories. They recorded such heartfelt and inspiring voice messages for our 100th episode and I was moved to tears. Their stories are incredible.
For the interviews, I asked Moonlynn and my best friends Micky Shiloah and Aimee Teegarden to hop on a recorded conversation so that listeners can learn more about me. These three specific people are my nearest and dearest who know me the best and they all bring so much happiness to my life. I’ve never shared so much about my personal life or behind-the-scenes about the podcast. I’ll be honest, I’m a little nervous because there’s so much of me in this episode, but I’m also excited to hear from you and learn what you resonated with or found most exciting.
In our conversations, we get into some serious real talk about what it’s like running the podcast, the pros and cons of producing our show, relationships, how I’m feeling about turning 30, and we made sure to get to our listener questions for this episode.
Thank you so much for getting us to episode 100 and for helping us reach 88 Cups of Tea’s 2nd birthday. I have so much love for you all!
Head over to the shownotes page for the time stamps of our interviews and listener-messages by clicking here!
Xo
Yin
PS. To see what Moonlynn, Micky and Aimee are up to, follow them on Instagram!
Moonlynn (click here)
Micky (click here)
Aimee (click here)
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To keep up with what Micky and Aimee are up to in the acting world, click on their IMDB pages:
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To check out the short film I wrote/directed (mentioned in this episode), click here! (FYI: It's a silent film)
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If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. And have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!
---
Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
---
Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!
Hena Khan is an award-winning picture book and middle grade author whose work includes an Islam-themed picture book for the Curious George books. Hena was tapped to write the first release of Simon & Schuster’s groundbreaking imprint Salaam Reads, where she wrote the highly acclaimed middle grade novel “Amina’s Voice”.
Hena and I discuss the inspiration behind “Amina’s Voice” and her universal story of self-acceptance and the acceptance of others. Hena walks us through how she introduces Islam to her young readers and we continue to talk about how important it is to have diverse representation in children’s literature.
Further into our conversation, Hena unpacks how she strengthens her character’s voice by knowing exactly what they want, and we touch on ways that writers can instill accountability to inspire a finished story. For those of you who are currently looking for writing groups to be a part of, Hena shares the specific characteristics of writing groups you should look out for when finding your perfect group.
Say 'Hi' to Hena on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here!
Happy listening!
Xo
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!
---
Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
---
Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!
---
“Stories have the power to change hearts and minds.” -Hena Khan (Click to tweet)
“We are not a monolith and one story can’t represent all of us.” -Hena Khan (Click to tweet)
“Having people say that these books…matters to them and it made a difference to them in some way is how I define success.” -Hena Khan (Click to tweet)
“I realized I couldn’t understand other people’s loss until I had experienced it myself.” -Hena Khan (Click to tweet)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:
Laura Atkins is an author, teacher and independent children’s book editor with over twenty years of editorial experience. She’s worked with publishing companies helping to produce winners of the Coretta Scott King Award and American Library Association Notable Book selections. I’m so excited to bring her on the show to discuss her passion about diversity and her work as a co-author of the children’s book "Fred Korematsu Speaks Up".
"Fred Korematsu Speaks Up" is the first book of the “Fighting for Justice” series which introduces young readers to real-life heroes and heroines of social progress. The story of Fred Korematsu’s fight against discrimination explores the life of one courageous person who made the United States a fairer place for all Americans, and it encourages all of us to speak up for justice.
In today’s episode, Laura walks us through the world-building of her children’s book, and how she and her co-author Stan Yogi used a focus group to help them craft their novel for their intended audience. We continue to discuss the importance of a detailed research process to accurately represent history, and how Laura and Stan used multiple storytelling techniques to make all the of the information more accessible for the young readers. We also talk about the responsibility the publishing industry has to diversify representation in the literary world.
Say 'Hi' to Laura on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here!
Happy listening!
Xo
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers. Can't wait to meet you!
---
Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
---
Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!
---
“We want to have this be a window that people can come through and then feel like they have the tools to dig deeper and go further.” -Laura Atkins (Click to tweet)
“I tend to think structurally as if I was closing my eyes and seeing a landscape and then seeing shapes emerge.” -Laura Atkins (Click to tweet)
“What I am looking for right now is self-belief and confidence as a writer and a creator.” -Laura Atkins (Click to tweet)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:
Laurin Mayeno is the author of “One of a Kind, Like Me/ Unico Como Yo”, a bilingual children’s book inspired by her own experiences with her son and her community activism. In “One of a Kind Like Me”, a young boy fights gender stereotypes by dressing up as a princess for the school parade. Laurin’s book is breaking ground as one of few bilingual, multicultural children’s books about gender diversity, and its inspired much-needed conversation about gender diversity with educators, families, and children.
Laurin's episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby'. I just borrowed audiobooks through "Libby" last week and it's been AH-mazing. For those of you who are new to it, "Libby" is a brand new reading app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!
In today’s episode, we dive deeper into Laurin’s relationship with her son Danny, and how he’s shown her a world where love is not limited by gender. Laurin has tirelessly dedicated her time to working with organizations, schools, and families to create spaces where gender-diverse young people and their families can thrive. Today’s conversation is a really special one for me as I hope all parents of LGBTQ children will be as supportive and loving as Laurin is today. Especially in light of the news yesterday, Laurin’s work and contributions are needed now more than ever.
Further into our conversation, we discuss why it’s beneficial for writers to work with a writing coach and how a writing coach helped to shape Laurin’s story. Laurin walks us through her process of being a first-time writer where we cover how to publish, the learning curves she had to go through, and how to market your book. And we also touch on self-publishing versus traditional publishing.
Say 'Hi' to Laurin on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here!
Happy listening!
Xo
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things! You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to have a clear profile picture of yourself. If not, send over links to either your Twitter or Instagram. And also fill out the 3 questions that pop up as soon as you join. To protect our group's safe space, these steps help us weed out any spam/fake profiles/creepers.
---
Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
---
“Learn and keep learning. It’s not a process that ends, it’s a process that continues.” -Laurin Mayeno (Click to tweet)
“People have immense capacity to go through challenging times and learn and grow if they’re given the opportunity.” -Laurin Mayeno (Click to tweet)
“Society has some learning and growth to do.” -Laurin Mayeno (Click to tweet)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:
Kate Schatz is the New York Times-bestselling author of "Rad American Women A-Z" and "Rad Women Worldwide". Her books introduce readers to a list of powerful female role models and change-makers. From activists and artists, to scientists and rock stars, Kate highlights brave women who’ve impacted and altered our history for the better. I am so grateful for books like these.
Kate's episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby'. I just borrowed audiobooks through "Libby" last week and it's been AH-mazing. For those of you who are new to it, "Libby" is a brand new reading app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!
In addition to delving into detail about the inspiration that led her to writing her books, we discuss her collaborative relationship with the illustrator of her books, Miriam Klein Stahl. Kate also walks us through what the heavy research process was like, and which of the women’s stories surprised her most during the research phase.
Further into our conversation, Kate gives really solid and helpful advice on rediscovering yourself and owning your identity in motherhood. We continued to discuss the importance of joining a writing community to inspire your craft and create accountability for yourself, how to gain the courage to claim yourself as a writer, and she shares her strategy on finding literary agents who are the perfect fit for your writing.
Say 'Hi' to Kate on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here!
Happy listening!
Xo
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
---
Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
---
“Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself as a writer.” -Kate Schatz (Click to tweet)
“Trust your intuition. Trust that you’re good at what you do, otherwise you wouldn’t be doing it.” -Kate Schatz (Click to tweet)
“I understand my process; it’s kind of messy. I just start writing and it takes shape at some point.” -Kate Schatz (Click to tweet)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:
Zoraida Cordova is the author of "The Vicious Deep" trilogy, the "On the Verge" series, and the Brooklyn Brujas series. Her latest novel, "Labyrinth Lost", was a Tor.com Best Book of 2016 and an NPR Best Young Adult Book of 2016.“Labyrinth Lost” was also optioned for film by Paramount Studios.
I'm thrilled this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for FREE. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!
In today’s episode, Zoraida walks us through the inspiration behind “Labyrinth Lost” and how she created the religion in the novel. She also shares how the editing journey for her novel inspired new story lines and stronger characters, and what it was like to land the movie deal.
Further into our conversation, we talk about the importance of surrounding yourself with honest people in the writing community who push you to do better.
For craft-focused listeners, we discuss how your own family structure can inspire world-building ideas, and why Zoraida doesn’t always rationalize the characters’ emotions.
Say 'Hi' to Zoraida on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here. And don't forget to follow her hiking journey on Instagram by clicking here!
Happy listening!
Xo
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
---
If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
---
Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
---
Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
---
“At the end of the day, the only thing I can control are the words that I put on the page.” -Zoraida Cordova (Click to tweet)
“When we talk about mirror images in media and in society, it’s really important to be able to see a reflection of part of yourself.” -Zoraida Cordova (Click to tweet)
“Read widely…It helps you figure out who you are as a writer and how you want to tell your stories.” -Zoraida Cordova (Click to tweet)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN TODAY'S EPISODE:
Erin Chack is a senior editor at BuzzFeed and the author of “This Is Really Happening”, a profoundly transparent collection of essays written in a sharply observant voice that’s refreshingly candid. Erin describes her book as “an essay collection about the best, the worst, and the weirdest moments” of her life so far.
I'm thrilled this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for free. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!
We kick off our discussion today by talking about how Erin uses comedy to point out the realities of life. She also shares the story of a life-changing email that paved the way to writing her memoir.
Further into our conversation, we unpack why it’s crucial for memoir writers to write with honesty and confidence, and how to prevent self-doubt from holding you back in telling your story. We also talk about the steps Erin took to hone her craft of writing.
I am so excited for you to hear this episode. Erin is one of those down-to-earth, effortlessly funny, and honest peeps you immediately want to become fast friends with after meeting for the first time. I can’t wait for you to form a new friend-crush after hearing her episode.
Say 'Hi' to Erin on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here! :)
Happy listening!
Xo
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
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Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
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“My biggest mistake was ever thinking that my stories aren’t worth telling.” -Erin Chack (Click to Tweet)
“Just start writing because there is no reason to not just dive right in.” -Erin Chack (Click to Tweet)
“It’s about the journey and the way that people can relate to the story.” -Erin Chack (Click to Tweet)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM TODAY'S EPISODE:
https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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We have Kiersten White with us this week, the New York Times bestselling author of “And I Darken”, a series that has been compared to Game of Thrones for the YA community. Kiersten and I recorded our conversation late November last year and I couldn’t be more thrilled to finally publish her episode the same month her highly anticipated sequel “Now I Rise” is releasing.
I'm SO excited to share that this episode is proudly sponsored by 'Libby', a brand new app lovingly developed by Overdrive (a company I've been a fan of for 6 years). Overdrive's vision and mission is to enlighten the world by reading, a vision that also aligns closely with my core beliefs. 'Libby' was designed for readers to discover and borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your library for free. Be sure to click here to learn more and download the app to your phone or tablet!
In our conversation today, Kiersten shares the story behind the title “And I Darken”, and walks us through the historical research process for her series. For those of you who love discussions about the craft of writing, you’re going to love our discussion about creating memorable characters. Kiersten goes into detail about crafting a page-turner novel with multi-layered characters, and how to create authentic characters by channeling your inner feelings. We dig even deeper and talk about how understanding your characters’ motivations will help your readers understand your characters’ decisions.
We also discuss how to overcome rejection, and how to grow from it and make it work for you, rather than against you. We unpack the value a strong editor can bring to your manuscript, and the influential ways a writing partner can help strengthen your craft. You’ll even hear tips and advice on finding the writing partner suited for you.
Say 'Hi' to Kiersten on Twitter and check out the books/resources mentioned in her episode over at her shownotes page by clicking here! :)
Happy listening!
Xo
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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Meet fellow members in our community and check in about your WIP, and join in on other bookish talks and 88 Cups of Tea related things. You can really feel the love and support in our Facebook community. You also get the opportunity to submit your questions for upcoming guests on the show. Click here to join our private Facebook group!
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Would you love to support our show with some 88 Cups of Tea swag? Grab our limited edition mug (signed by yours truly) here!
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“Never give your readers a reason to put the book down.” -Kiersten White (Click to tweet)
“Even when I’m not writing I’m thinking about writing.” -Kiersten White (Click to tweet)
“Writing is all moving parts. You can have the exact same goal accomplished in forty different ways.” -Kiersten White (Click to tweet)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM KIERSTEN'S EPISODE:
https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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We have Pete Knapp, Emily Sweet, and Andrea Mai from Park Literary & Media on the show today! This is the very first time we’ve had an interview that features more than one guest at a time. Just imagine what it's like having four people chatting in an interview without any visual cues (our recording was very similar to a phone interview)-- I have to say, it turned about pretty awesome and incredibly informative.
In our conversation brought to you by Sun Basket, we cover how Park Literary & Media works creatively to promote their clients’ brands in new and exciting ways. Pete, Emily, and Andrea give us examples of their roles and responsibilities in the agency and share what they love most about their positions in the publishing world.
For listeners who are in the middle of querying, or will be querying very soon, they share what they hope to find in a query letter and the first pages of the manuscript. You’ll also learn why it’s crucial to clarify the core of your story in your query letter.
I’m so excited for you to learn from this episode.
Happy listening!
Xo
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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Join our private Facebook group by clicking here!
Click here to head directly to Pete, Emily, and Andrea's shownotes page!
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“Always focus on the craft because the reality is if you keep improving your craft and continue writing your stories, you will get published.” -Pete Knapp
“You can’t understate how important the book is. If you have a really good book, then none of the other stuff is going to matter.” -Emily Sweet
“There are a lot of great ideas and everyone has great intentions but in terms of actually making it happen, the devil is in the details.” -Andrea Mai
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https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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I’m thrilled to share this week’s new episode featuring Victoria “V.E.” Schwab, the #1 NYT bestselling author of 12 books. Most of you know Victoria from The Shades of Magic series where an Entertainment Weekly article describes her writing as “addictive and immersive.”
Click here for Victoria's shownotes page! A quick heads up, this episode has adult language.
In Victoria’s episode proudly brought to you by BookCon, we cover a whole lot about life and non-writing related topics including sexuality, tea, the fear of speaking, serial killers, etiquette camp, and S-Town.This magnificent being is queen.
A bit more about what we cover over in the writing related avenue: We discuss why it’s crucial to create as few parameters as you can around your writing, and how working with a flexible schedule and freeing yourself from a strict writing place helps with productivity.
Victoria breaks down how she’s able to read 100 books a year and you’ll be able to apply her tips to your own habits to up your reading game. We touch on reading different genres and styles of writing and how that helps to strengthen your writing.
For my craft-focused listeners, this episode is a d-r-e-a-m. We unpack the differences in writing multiple genres, writing morally ambiguous characters, discovering the voices of your characters, and writing multiple points of views.
Say "Hi" to Victoria on Twitter by clicking here.
Happy listening!
Xo
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support. You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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Don't forget to join our private Facebook group :)
If you like behind-the-scenes stuff, check out our Instagram stories where you can see snippets of our podcasting world.
We have Sandhya Menon with us this week! A refreshing new voice in young adult fiction, her debut, "When Dimple Met Rishi", is a charming romantic comedy that celebrates first love, and at the core, explores one’s own independence and voice in the world. Click here for Sandhya's shownotes page!
As you’ll learn in our conversation, Sandhya moved from India when she was 15 years old and she shares how she adapted to her new surroundings in America, and how she was able to draw from those experiences for her book. Sandhya shares in detail how the idea of “When Dimple Met Rishi” was originally pitched to her by her editor.
Sandhya walks us through how indie publishing brought the world of traditional publishing to her, and how her agent discovered her. You’ll also learn how Youtube and Pinterest played critical roles in Sandhya’s research for the setting of her book. We also discuss arranged marriages and what it was like for us to date when we were growing up. This is a really fun episode and I’m so excited for you to hear it.
Say "Hi" to Sandhya on Twitter by clicking here.
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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“OWN voice is people. We’re not a monolith. There are so many different experiences.” -Sandhya Menon (Click to Tweet)
“It was a conscious and constant dialogue that I had to have with myself and just say ‘Hey, just do your best and let it go’.” -Sandhya Menon (Click to Tweet)
“We contain multitudes just like the people who have been getting those stories. It’s okay for us to not have ‘the issue’ book.” -Sandhya Menon (Click to Tweet)
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Click here to get your limited edition 88 Cups of Tea mug!
Don't forget to join our private Facebook group :)
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https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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We have the legendary Jerry Spinelli of the Newbery Medal winning “Maniac Magee”, and the Newbery Honor winner “Wringer” on the show with us this week. Jerry is the New York Times bestselling author of over 30 novels including “Stargirl”, a Publishers Weekly 'Best Book of the Year'. "Stargirl" is also being adapted into a movie directed by Catherine Hardwicke from the films “Thirteen” and “Twilight”.
In describing Jerry’s writing, The New York Times says, “No writer guides his young characters, and his readers, past these pitfalls and challenges and toward their futures with more compassion.”
In Jerry’s episode proudly brought to you by Sun Basket, we jump right into his childhood stories that paved the way to his journey as an author, and we touch back on the experience that led Jerry to realizing he could make a career out of writing. We dive a little deeper to discuss how he created a writing life that involved a full-time job and raising a family.
Further into Jerry’s episode, he brings us behind the scenes in writing “Maniac Magee”. He also shares the inspiration behind his newest book, “The Warden’s Daughter” and the important differences between writing “for” the audience and writing “about” the audience.
Jerry shares his take on writing honest stories for your readers and how to craft authentic voices for your characters. He also walks us through his loose writing structure and shares tips on financially supporting yourself as a writer that works with your lifestyle. If you’ve been feeling stuck with your writing lately, look out for the part where Jerry explains what the “miserable middle” is, and his advice on coping with those moments and why it’s crucial to not give authority to writers’ block. For listeners who are about to send off query letters to literary agents, you’ll want to pay special attention to Jerry’s querying tips and why writing short query letters will help to show that you’re an effective writer.
For a list of Jerry's recommended resources, we have them listed out on his shownotes page. Just click here!
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support. You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
Ann Brashares is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series, which has sold over 8.7 million copies. Booklist hailed Ann’s newest book "The Whole Thing Together" as “quintessential Brashares”, it’s a story that explores fractured families, first love, and loss.
Click here to go directly to Ann's shownotes page where we list the resources mentioned in her episode.
In Ann’s episode, we jump right into the inspiration behind “The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants” and how she made the transition from the original "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" to "Sisterhood Everlasting". Ann also shares the inspiration behind her newest book and we discuss how she explores the emotional complexities of her characters.
We discover how reading became a refuge for Ann throughout her childhood and how she now finds time to write with a busy family schedule. We also get into the fundamentals of writing challenging and personal scenes in your stories and why it’s so important to surround yourself with trustworthy accountability partners. Ann shares tips about joining a book club and how to approach it in a way that specifically helps to improve your craft at writing.
For listeners working on query letters, Ann walks us through how being personal and specific in your query letter can attract literary agents.
Click here to say "Hi" to Ann!
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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“In order to get going, I just need to write.” -Ann Brashares (Click to tweet!)
“You really just have to liberate yourself to try things, take risks, and write really badly sometimes if necessary.” -Ann Brashares (Click to tweet!)
“I was a reader certainly before I was a writer and I just loved getting involved in stories” -Ann Brashares (Click to tweet!)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE:
Click here to go directly to Ann's shownotes page where we list the resources mentioned in her episode.
https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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Content note: Hey listeners, as a heads up, this episode contains discussions about sexual violence. If you're not in the right head space for those kinds of conversations you can always come back to this episode later or skip it all together.
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Kami Garcia is a #1 New York Times-bestselling and Bram Stoker nominated author, and the co-author of the "Beautiful Creatures" and "Dangerous Creatures" novels. Her solo series, the "Legion", includes the instant New York Times bestseller "Unbreakable" and its sequel, "Unmarked". Click here to visit Kami's shownotes page where she lists a tremendous list of helpful resources!
In today’s episode proudly brought to you by Sun Basket, we learn what drew Kami to write in the YA and Romance genre and the inspiration behind her novel "The Lovely Reckless". We discuss the inner workings of writing for a fandom and all about Kami’s experience writing "The X-Files Origins" book. We also discuss Kami’s work as a teacher for 17 years and uncover the inequalities in the public school system and she shares advice that will help create change.
She talks about why we’re responsible for speaking up and stepping in to help one another, and how the YA community’s support of diversity creates new normals. We also touch on the underlying theme of fitting in and embracing your differences throughout all of her novels.
For our craft-focused writers, Kami walks us through writing POV characters with authenticity and why it’s crucial to understand your characters’ past when you’re crafting dynamic villains in your story. Kami shares powerful advice on creating solid query letters and how to effectively pitch your book to literary agents.
Say "Hi" to Kami on Twitter!
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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If you'd love to support our show and rock your Limited Edition 88 Cups of Tea mug (signed by yours truly), click here for more info. Thank you so much in advance for showing your love and supporting our show!
If you're looking to feel right at home with a close-knit group of encouraging and supportive writers, join our private Facebook group by clicking here. We have weekly check-ins about our creative work, book recs, and live Facebook videos of unboxing book packages. We also share previews of upcoming episodes and you can submit listener-questions for upcoming interviews.
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“I think that the key is to write either what you know or you have access to.” -Kami Garcia (Click to tweet)
“Books give us the chance to be other people and go other places.” -Kami Garcia (Click to tweet)
“The willingness to stand up for other people and speak out when something is wrong is very prevalent in the YA community.” -Kami Garcia (Click to tweet)
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM TODAY'S EPISODE:
LEARN MORE ABOUT KAMI GARCIA:
I’m delighted to have Irena Brignull on the show! Irena is a renowned screenwriter and novelist. She wrote the Oscar nominated movie, "The Boxtrolls", starring Ben Kingsley, Elle Fanning and Simon Pegg. Irena was nominated for Best Screenplay for "The Boxtrolls" at the Annie Awards. Her adaptation of "The Little Prince" was directed by Mark Osborne and stars Jeff Bridges, Rachel McAdams, and Marion Cotillard. Earlier in her career, Irena was a Script Executive at the BBC and then Head of Development at Dogstar Films where she was the script editor on hit films including "Shakespeare in Love" to name a few. She recently debuted "The Hawkweed Prophecy", a novel about identity, friendship, and romance.
Click here to go directly to Irena's shownotes page that lists all of his awesome recommended resources.
In today’s episode, we discuss Irena’s career as a screenwriter and her experiences writing and adapting The Boxtrolls and The Little Prince. We also discuss what it’s like to be a female screenwriter in a male-dominated industry, and Irena shares advice for women discovering their voice and authority in their own profession.
We unpack the inspiration behind "The Hawkweed Prophecy" and what it’s like to transition between screenwriting and novel writing. For our craft-focused writers, Irena walks us through how to find inspiration for character traits, how to overcome writing difficult scenes, how to validate and grow your story ideas, and how to build balanced characters to create authentic and genuine relationships in your story.
Say "Hi" to Irena on Twitter!
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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“The more you write the more you find your voice.” -Irena Brignull (Click to tweet)
"It’s a great thing to be able to go back and have the chance to make it better." -Irena Brignull (Click to tweet)
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Click here to grab your Limited Edition & signed 88 Cups of Tea mug! Thank you in advance for your love and support for our show!
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM IRENA'S EPISODE:
https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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I’m so excited to have Jeff Zentner on the show! Jeff is the William C. Morris award-winning author of his debut novel “The Serpent King”. His debut was also selected as a New York Times notable book, and an Amazon Best Book of the year. Both Buzzfeed and Mashable named “The Serpent King” as one of the Best YA books of 2016! Click here to go directly to Jeff's shownotes page that lists all of his awesome recommended resources.
His second novel, “Goodbye Days” was recently released to rave reviews. Time magazine selected “Goodbye Days” as one of the five new books that guide young readers through hardships and struggles with lessons in resilience and hope.
In today’s episode, we dive right into the inspiration behind “The Serpent King” and “Goodbye Days”. Jeff walks us through his thought process while writing authentic voices for his characters. We dive even further into step-by-step advice on building strong characters and improving character development.
Jeff shares tips on approaching difficult scenes that challenge readers, and how to write about grief in fiction. We also discuss how storytelling inspires empathy and why it’s necessary for writers to carve out protected time for their writing.
Happy listening!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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"Write what fascinates you, and write who you love." -Jeff Zentner (Click to tweet)
"You can be creative around the edges of a normal life." -Jeff Zentner (Click to tweet)
"You’ve got to commit to getting words on the page and you have to commit to finishing what you started." -Jeff Zentner (Click to tweet)
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Click here to grab your Limited Edition & signed 88 Cups of Tea mug! Thank you in advance for your love and support for our show!
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What you'll learn from Jeff's episode:
Jeff Zentner is the acclaimed author of The Serpent King. In addition to writing, he is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who has recorded with Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, and Debbie Harry. “Goodbye Days” is his love letter to the city of Nashville and the talented people who populate it. He lives in Nashville with his wife and son.
https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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Angie Thomas is the author of “The Hate U Give” which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. I'm so excited to have her on the show today! If you haven’t yet, make sure to grab a copy for yourself. I love this book. The movie is also currently in development and is being produced by Fox 2000 and Temple Hill, the same team that produced “The Fault in Our Stars” and the “Maze Runner” franchise. Click here to go directly to Angie's shownotes page that lists out the amazing resources she recommends.
In today’s episode, we discuss the importance of raising diverse voices in the literary world. Angie walks us through the inspiration behind her novel and how music, hip hop, and Tupac played an influential role throughout her writing process.
Angie shares her experiences as a debut author and how creating an online presence will help you build genuine relationships within the writing community. For our craft-focused listeners, Angie shares advice on how to build strong characters for your stories, why research must be a priority to craft authentic diverse characters, and how to craft a successful query letter. Click here to say 'Hi' to Angie on Twitter!
You don’t want to miss out on this episode!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. These specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
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I’m excited to share that we’re in the middle of setting up an online shop for 88 Cups of Tea! We’re working hard at making sure that whatever we offer will add tremendous value to your storytelling process. We’re also going to have some fun 88 Cups of Tea swag available in our online shop. But for now, we set up a temporary Paypal link for those of you who’d love to support our show and rock your 88 Cups of Tea swag. To grab your Limited Edition 88 Cups of Tea mug (signed by yours truly), click here! Thank you in advance for supporting our show!
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“Being disciplined but also not being hard on yourself and finding balance of the two is key to hitting your writing goals.” -Angie Thomas (click to tweet)
“If we want more diverse books, we need more diverse authors.” -Angie Thomas (click to tweet)
“It’s going to get overwhelming but knowing that there are people who’ve been through it and who survived it helps a whole lot.” -Angie Thomas (click to tweet)
“As long as you surround yourself and connect with people and reach out to people, you won’t be alone.” -Angie Thomas (click to tweet)
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Click here to go directly to Angie's shownotes page for more details and info about her episode, including a list of her recommended resources!
Lilliam Rivera is the debut author of "The Education of Margot Sanchez" and she was recently named a 2017 Face to Watch by the LA Times. Click here to go directly to Lilliam's shownotes page!
In today’s episode proudly brought to you by VCFA's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, we dive right into the heartwarming inspiration that influenced Lilliam’s book and her experiences growing up in NY. For my craft-driven writers, you’re going to LOVE Lilliam’s advice and craft tips on building complex characters and how writing a character study will help you make decisions in your novel that are true to your character.
Lilliam walks us through writing emotionally heavy scenes, and how to capture universal ideas in your story while representing underappreciated voices.
We unpack Lilliam’s experience with the PEN Center Emerging Voices Fellowship and the kinds of resources it provides writers, and we go even further to discuss how writers can financially support their writing with grants and fellowships.
We also discuss how to write query letters and where to find writing mentors. Listeners, if you’re working on your own manuscripts or are approaching literary agents for representation, you especially do not want to miss Lilliam’s episode!
Xo,
Yin
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“I don’t believe in writer’s block. I believe that there’s always something you write.” -Lilliam Rivera (click to tweet)
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https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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I’m thrilled to have Justina Ireland on the show today! Justina is the author of Vengeance Bound and Promise of Shadows. You can find her on Twitter here and you can access her shownotes page with all of her recommended books and resources linked up here!
In today’s episode proudly brought to you by VCFA's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, we discuss why it’s crucial for us to grow and change as people, and why it’s worthwhile to say the things that are most important to us and to share it with others so they know they’re not alone.
I’m really looking forward for you to hear our conversation about handling the overwhelm of the political climate and Justina’s advice on powerful and productive ways of decompressing.
Now, more than ever, we need more diversity in books and the media; Justina walks us through the important steps writers need to take to create diverse characters that break away from institutional stereotypes.
We dive into how to approach difficult scenes that are closest to our own feelings or experiences, and we unpack why it’s difficult to get through them in the first place, and how to conquer those specific scenes. Justina also walks us through manageable steps you can take to accomplish your writing goals, and the important criteria for your literary agent submission.
You don’t want to miss out on Justina’s valuable advice!
Xo,
Yin
PS. Do you know anyone who would love our conversation? Please share this episode to help spread the word!
PPS. If you enjoyed this episode, I’d really love your support in growing our community by subscribing to us on iTunes, and leaving a rating and review. Those specific steps help to increase our visibility on iTunes which really helps new listeners discover us. A huge heartfelt thank you for your time and support! You can click here to go directly to our iTunes page!
https://www.patreon.com/88cupsoftea
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Joanna Volpe is a literary agent and the president of New Leaf Literary & Media, one of the hottest and most sought after management and representation firms today. Joanna discovers and helps to shape the careers of talented and successful authors like Veronica Roth. For those who've gone MIA for the past several years, Veronica is the author of the DIVERGENT series, also an extremely successful Hollywood Blockbuster trilogy that Joanna's firm helped to shepherd into the world. FYI: You'll hear all about those specific details in Joanna's episode!
Joanna and I dive right into the heart of why she's a literary agent and we dissect her leadership skills as an entrepreneurial badass. A special note to fellow writers, this episode is L-I-F-E. We discuss agent representation, what it takes to be the kind of author that stands out from the crowd, Joanna's ideal client, how she likes to creatively work with them, and crafting solid query letters (Joanna even shares examples of rare query letters that have made her fall head-over-heels).
Get ready for an episode that'll blow your mind!
XO,
Yin
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“You’ll never work at your best capacity if you’re constantly fighting against your weaknesses.” -Joanna Volpe [Click to tweet]
“Just keep writing. Get your butt in the seat and keep going.” -Joanna Volpe [Click to tweet]
“Keep reading. You’re not going to be able to be a good writer unless you know what good writing looks like.” -Joanna Volpe [Click to tweet]
“It gets me really excited for people to do things that excite them.” -Joanna Volpe [Click to tweet]
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New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. is a non-traditional, full service management and representation firm that will be with authors and illustrators before and beyond the sale. A few of the writers and illustrators they represent: Veronica Roth, Leigh Bardugo, David J. Peterson, Margot Lee Shetterly, Kody Keplinger, Kara Thomas, Gabby Rivera, Soman Chainani, Melanie Conklin, Victoria Aveyard, and Elizabeth Rose Stanton.
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Joanna’s entrepreneurial journey building a strong foundation for New Leaf Literary & Media
How to lead your team to success by leaning into your strengths instead of fighting against your weaknesses
What Joanna looks for in potential future clients
Joanna represents all brands of fiction from picture books to adult novels. Her picture book taste is the most eclectic, ranging from sweet to fun to smart to quirky. For other fiction (both adult and children’s) she has an affinity for stories that have a darker element to them, whether they be horror, drama or comedy. She’s not the kind of reader that needs a romance in her novels, though she does appreciate a good one.
On the non-fiction side her tastes are much more specific. For children she looks for topics that captivate kids: biographies, animal-related stories, all sciences and history, etc. Joanna also has an affinity for morbid, weird or offbeat topics. In her adult non-fiction tastes she tends toward all things geek-related, foodie books, travel books, and general pop-culture and pop-science.