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:
Melissa de la Cruz is the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Publishers Weekly internationally bestselling author of many critically acclaimed novels. Her "Blue Bloods" series has sold over three million copies, and the "Witches of East End" series became an hour-long television drama on the Lifetime network.
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, Melissa shares the inspiration behind her book "Alex and Eliza" and what the writing process was like. We also discuss her novel "Something in Between" which follows an overachieving Filipino high schooler who came to the U.S. when she was a child. Though not autobiographical in any way, we touch on how Melissa’s own move from the Philippines to the U.S. and her experiences with a complicated green card situation laid down the emotional foundation for her character’s voice.
Further into our conversation, we talk about why it’s important for writers to have a solid support system and good critique partners. For listeners working on a manuscript or entering the query trenches, you’ll definitely want to keep an ear out for her advice about dealing with rejections and recognizing when you’ve finished your novel.
Say 'Hi' to Melissa 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!
---
“Send it out, get rejected, develop a tough skin, and keep on knocking on that door.” -Melissa de la Cruz (Click to tweet)
“It’s really important to teach kids…how to see people who are different as fully human as you are.” -Melissa de la Cruz (Click to tweet)
“When you make writing the sole purpose…you’re not paying attention to the life around you.” -Melissa de la Cruz (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!
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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!
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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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“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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Nina LaCour is the author of the William C. Morris Honor Book, “Hold Still”. Los Angeles Times perfectly describes her writing in which they write, “LaCour has a knack for capturing the unique intensity of teenage characters discovering love, sex and intense friendship for the first time while also giving them talents and interests that make moving into adulthood look cool.” In describing her newest novel, “We Are Okay”, New York Times said her latest book is, “Short, poetic and gorgeously written…The world LaCour creates is fragile but profoundly humane.”
In our conversation proudly brought to you by Sun Basket and 'Libby', Nina shares the personal experiences that inspired “We Are Okay”, and how she weaved her experiences with tragedy into her novel “Hold Still”. We discuss why it’s important to immerse yourself in diverse communities, and how to spark inspiration and motivation for your writing by reading short stories.
We cover the importance of brevity in your story and how subplots may distract your readers from the main ideas. For craft-related topics, we talk about writing strong character relationships, writing about grief, and how to write a captivating ending that remains ambiguous. Nina also shares her personal experience querying literary agents the traditional way.
Say 'Hi' to Nina 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!
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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Emily Barr began her career as a journalist at the The Guardian before backpacking for a column assignment which inspired the concept for her first novel Backpack, which then went on to become a New York Times bestseller. After her debut hit, she has written 11 more books for adults and we have her on the show today to discuss her experiences writing her young adult debut The One Memory of Flora Banks, listed as Entertainment Weekly’s Most Anticipated YA Novel of the Year.
In her episode proudly brought to you by BookCon, she shares her experiences working as a journalist for The Guardian writing a column in the sports section before she transitioned into writing novels. We go into detail about her YA debut novel “The One Memory of Flora Banks” and how Norway inspired the setting of her story. We also discuss the research process behind anterograde amnesia and how Emily weaved that into her character’s story.
Further into her episode, we also discuss important non-writing related topics like what it’s like being middle-aged and having to take care of both your children and your parents. And what it truly means to live in the moment.
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!
Click here to head over to Emily's shownotes page!
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“You made that happen, so it wasn’t really luck.” -Emily Barr (Click to tweet)
“If you do something enough, you get better at it.” -Emily Barr (Click to tweet)
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Y'all. The 88th episode has arrived. Dun dun DUN!
Today’s milestone episode is proudly sponsored by Sun Basket and BookCon. It features eight incredible listeners from our 88 Cups of Tea community. I remember when I first launched this podcast, the 88th episode seemed so far fetched. I can’t believe the day is finally here.
Thank you all for getting us to the 88th episode, without listeners like you who tune in to kick it with us each week, we would not have made it this far. The selection process for this episode was incredibly difficult. We had a flood of listeners submitting applications that averaged 40 minutes to complete. There was a lot that I threw at you and I’m blown away by your thoughtful and lengthy responses.
All of the guests you’re going to hear from today have been long-time listeners and are a huge part of our community. They have all been so active, engaged, and vocal in our community. It was so nice to talk to each of them and getting to hear their voices for the first time!
I hope you have a fun time learning about your fellow tribe members in today’s episode! You’ll learn about how much you have in common with each other. We’re all going through similar paths where you can see it’s quite natural for us to be empathetic of each other’s struggles, and for us to celebrate each other’s accomplishments as if they’re our own, no matter how big or small.
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 loving community over in our private facebook group by clicking here!
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“Writing gave me my own identity, it gave me something outside of my family, something for me.” -Tia Bearden
“Part of our conflict drove my desire to write a very honest portrayal, I wanted a voice out there that discussed this cultural gap in a very raw way that other people could relate to.” -Gloria Chao
“You have to put in the work to get better and its something that you will constantly get better at for the rest of your life.” -Tara Creel
“It has always been my job to tell stories that are not my own and to try and do them justice and to be respectful even when there are people or perspectives that I either don’t necessarily agree with or know that I can’t fully understand.” -Amanda Connolly
“I put so much into my character’s life that’s from my own.” -Kristy Mauna
"This book is a love letter to my imagination." -Megan LaCroix
“What I really do try to do is that even if I’m not actively writing usable words down for the story that day, that I’m thinking of the story. So I’ll open up the document. If I’m not inspired to write, I’ll go and find a scene that I love and I’ll just read it.” -Kat Cho
“When I come home from work and I’m tired, I don’t feel like writing half the time and I sit down and make myself do it. It’s like going to the gym when you haven’t gone in a long time.” -Alyssa Colman
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Megan LaCroix is a reader, a writer, a lover of the outdoors, and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She loves lush books with literary slants and hooky voices, and is currently revising a young adult fantasy that was chosen to participate in Pitch Wars 2016. Megan lives in Virginia with her handsome husband and their two adventurous daughters. You can visit her website and stop by her Twitter.
Kat Cho used to hide books under the bathroom sink and then sneak in there to read after bedtime. Her parents pretended not to know. This helped when she decided to write a dinosaur time-travel novel at the tender age of nine. Sadly, that book was not published. She loves anything that encourages nerding out, including reading, blogging, K-dramas, K-pop and anime. Currently, Kat writes YA sci-fi and fantasy and is represented by Beth Phelan at the Bent Agency. You can find her here and on Twitter.
Alyssa Colman holds a double degree in English and Theatre from Wake Forest University. As a playwright, she was a winner of the 2013 ESPA new play competition at Primary Stages in New York and was a semi-finalist at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center National Playwrights Conference. When she’s not writing, Alyssa loves reading every book she can get her hands on, baking bread from scratch, and hiking with her husband. You can find her on Twitter.
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.
Jack Cheng’s debut novel “See You in the Cosmos”. earned high praises from the likes of Entertainment Weekly and The Wall Street Journal, describing his book as “stellar” and “life-embracing”.
An Entertainment Weekly article describes Jack as an author with a knack for creating unique characters that stay with the reader long after the story has moved on. I’m thrilled to finally share Jack’s episode as we jump right into the nitty gritty about developing themes in your stories from the relationships and experiences in your own life.
Click here to go directly to Jack's shownotes page where we list the resources mentioned in his episode.
We discuss how a country-wide road trip led Jack to self-discovery, and how that eye-opening experience inspired the story idea for “See You in the Cosmos”. Further into our conversation, we explore why being understanding about the people around us helps to create the groundwork for our stories.
Before writing his traditionally published debut novel, Jack successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund his self-published book called “These Days”. We go into detail about his Kickstarter journey and the community that showed up to support his writing dream. We also talk about his background as an entrepreneur and what the transition was like from self-publishing to traditional publishing.
We unpack the importance of following your passions first and making sense of it all later. For listeners working on query letters to send out to literary agents, Jack shares his take on writing a successful letter by being honest, kind, and gracious. He also shares his advice on making money as a writer, and how journaling helps you reach your writing goals the way it did for him.
Click here to say "Hi" to Jack!
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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“I try to follow my passions and afterwards try to make sense of it and try to make meaning out of it.” -Jack Cheng (Click to tweet)
“One of the most important things is to have that writing practice, and I find that sometimes, when I haven’t written in awhile, how I’ll get going is I’ll just try to journal.” -Jack Cheng
“I turned to the novel as a way to reflect and in some cases just like vent about the things that were frustrating me about my day-to-day work.” -Jack Cheng
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WHAT YOU'LL LEARN FROM THIS 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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“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: