Write Or Die Podcast
By Claribel A. Ortega & Kat Cho
Write Or Die PodcastJul 14, 2018
Bonus Episode: The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
Get The Honeys, by Ryan La Sala!
Come chat with us on the BABC discord: https://discord.gg/Mhw92TUdMG
Buy our books:
Witchlings (and join the Witchlings discord!)
Follow Us on Social Media:
S4 E24: Write or Die & FINAL_Final_Episode_Really.doc
THANK YOU to all of our WorDies! We love you!
Kat & Claribel say goodbye to Write or Die by listening to snippets from past episodes and discussing the advice they’ve received along the way from amazing past guests including S.Jae Jones, Alex Aster, Victoria Aveyard, Tiffany Jackson, Phil Stamper and More! Then they read listener comments and answer some last “Ask Us Anything” questions! Thank you to all the WorDies who’ve joined us on this journey! Our hope is that you keep this community going even after the podcast is done!
Topics discussed include:
- Separating “author” from “writer”
- Fake it til you make it mindset
- Social media and mental health
- Envy and jealousy in publishing
- Switching agents
- Focusing on your craft
MENTIONS:
• THIS IS WHY THEY HATE US by Aaron H. Aceves
• LIGHTLARK by Alex Aster
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• ORDER Witchlings
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E23: Write or Die & The Final Episode (part 1)
Kat & Claribel say goodbye to Write or Die by listening to snippets from past episodes and discussing the advice they’ve received along the way from amazing past guests including Daniel Jose Older, Leigh Bardugo, Holly Black, Ayana Gray, Mark Oshiro, and More! Topics discussed include:
- Messy first draft.
- How to get into drafting mode.
- Being wary of generalized advice.
- Finding community.
- Being a BIPOC author.
- Parasocial relationships in publishing.
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• ORDER Witchlings
Buy Claribel a coffee on Claribel's Ko-fi
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom
• Check out Kat’s Books
Buy Kat a coffee on Kat's Ko-fi
S4 E22: Vita Ayala & The Met is Super Haunted
Claribel & Kat discuss what "success" means in publishing (and what it definitely does not mean). Then they interview Vita Ayala about their journey into writing comics, how the Metropolitan Museum of Art is super haunted, being inspired by Octavia Butler as a kid, and the difference between comics and prose writing.
ABOUT VITA: Vita Ayala (they/them) is a trans non-binary Afro-Puerto Rican writer born and bred in New York City, where they grew up dreaming dreams of dancing on far away worlds, fighting monsters on the block, and racing fish along the bottom of the ocean. Before Vita began freelancing as a writer, they worked in book retail, event coordination, building management, baking, and museum security (day and graveyard shift). They’ve broken at least one of every bone in their body, which means they can feel the rain coming. Vita writes both comics and prose fiction, and has written for publishers such as: Black Mask Studios, DC (comics), Dynamite, IDW, Image Comics, Macmillan, Marvel Comics, Realm, Valiant, and Vault Comics. Vita currently resides in New York City with their wife and cat sons.
• FOLLOW VITA: Website | Twitter
Buy New Mutants Vol. 1 (New Mutants, 1) by Vita Ayala
Buy New Mutants Vol. 2 (New Mutants, 2) by Vita Ayala
Buy Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space
Buy Submerged by Vita Ayala
Listen to Marvel's Jessica Jones: Playing with Fire
MENTIONS:
• DAWN by Octavia Butler
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• BUY Once Upon a K-Prom
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E21: Kat Cho & Suga’s Diss Track
Claribel interviews Kat about her young adult k-pop romcom, Once Upon a K-Prom. They chat all things k-pop (including Kat’s first k-pop loves), what inspired the book, whether Kat included BTS in K-Prom, and more!
ABOUT KAT: 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. Kat and her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, NBC, Refinery 29, and Seventeen. Her books include the Penguin One World One Book 2019 Selection, Wicked Fox, and its internationally bestselling sequel, Vicious Spirits. As well as the upcoming romcom Once Upon a K-Prom (Disney, 2022). She currently lives and works in NYC and spends her free time trying to figure out what kind of puppy to adopt.
• FOLLOW KAT: Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• BUY Once Upon a K-Prom
• BUY Wicked Fox
• BUY Vicious Spirits
MENTIONS:
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (April 5, 2022, Scholastic)
S4 E20: Traci Chee & The Epic Reads Egg Video
Claribel & Kat talk about pressures on authors every time a new book comes out & how publishing relationships naturally change over time. Then they interview Traci Chee about her path to publication, behind-the-scenes of finding out her book was a Printz Award Honor, and her newest Fantasy, A Thousand Steps into Night!
BIO: Traci Chee is a best-selling and award-winning author of books for young people, including the instant New York Times best seller and Kirkus Prize Finalist The Reader and Printz Honor Book, Walter Award Honoree, and National Book Award Finalist We Are Not Free. Her newest book is A Thousand Steps into Night, a Japanese-influenced young adult fantasy. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, egg painting, gardening, and hosting game nights for family and friends. She lives in California with her fast dog.
• FOLLOW : website | Twitter | Instagram
MENTIONS:
• Epic Reads Egg Video
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 17, 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E19: Laekan Zea Kemp & Just Pre-Ask For An Extension
Claribel & Kat discuss a conversation the saw online about being “satisfied” with your author career vs being “happy” as an author. Then they interview Laekan Zea Kemp about her publishing journey. How she started off self-publishing and transitioned into traditional publishing. And what it’s been like writing across multiple genres and age categories!
Content Warning: Discussions of grief/parental death/cancer
ABOUT LAEKAN: Laekan Zea Kemp is a writer living in Austin, Texas. She’s also the creator and host of the Author Pep Talks podcast, as well as a contributor to the Las Musas podcast. She has three objectives when it comes to storytelling: to make people laugh, cry, and crave Mexican food. Her work celebrates Chicanx grit, resilience, creativity, and joy while exploring themes of identity and mental health. Her debut novel, SOMEWHERE BETWEEN BITTER & SWEET is out now from Little Brown Young Readers.
• FOLLOW : website | Twitter | Instagram
BUY Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet
MENTIONS:
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E18: Claribel A. Ortega & #WitchlingsBook
Kat interviews Claribel about the process of writing and publishing their second middle grade (and first series!). How publishing a second book feels different. How expectations change as your career progresses. And working on not “giving weight to the negative”
ABOUT CLARIBEL: New York Times Bestselling and award-winning author, Claribel A. Ortega is a former reporter who writes middle-grade and young adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she's not busy turning her obsession with eighties pop culture, magic, and video games into books, she’s co-hosting her podcast Bad Author Book Club and helping authors navigate publishing with her consulting business GIFGRRL. Claribel is a Marvel contributor and has been featured on Buzzfeed, Bustle, Good Morning America and Deadline.
Claribel’s debut middle grade novel Ghost Squad is out now from Scholastic and is being made into a feature film. Her forthcoming books include Witchlings (Scholastic) and the graphic novel Frizzy (First Second). You can find her on Twitter, Instagram and Tiktok @Claribel_Ortega and on her website at claribelortega.com.
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok | Website
• BUY Witchlings
• BUY Ghost Squad
• BUY This is Our Rainbow
• BUY Reclaim the Stars
MENTIONS:
• S2 E20: Claribel Ortega & I'm Expecting a Payoff Jesus
• S2 E21: Claribel Ortega & the Bi-Annual Clickbait
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E17: Judy I. Lin & Walking Away From Bad Situations
Claribel & Kat talk about book promo they’ve done that they think was worth it, and what they don’t think they’ll do again. Then they talk to debut author, Judy I. Lin about her debut fantasy, trying out IP, and eventually choosing to go the traditional route instead.
ABOUT JUDY: Judy I. Lin was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Canada with her family at a young age. She grew up with her nose in a book and loved to escape to imaginary worlds. She now works as an occupational therapist, and still spends her nights dreaming up imaginary worlds of her own. She lives on the Canadian prairies with her husband and daughter. A Magic Steeped in Poison is her debut novel.
• FOLLOW JUDY: website | Twitter | Instagram
• Buy A Magic Steeped in Poison
• Buy A Venom Dark and Sweet
MENTIONS:
• Canva
• Sija Hong - illustrator
• DVCon - Claribel A Ortega How to Put Together a Media Kit [cc]
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (April 5, 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 17, 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E16: Alexis Castellanos & The Story Web We Weave
Claribel & Kat talk about Author-Reviewer “relationships” and what’s okay to do and what to stay away from. Then they interview debut graphic novelist, Alexis Castellanos about how she used family stories to flesh out and inspire her debut graphic novel.
ABOUT ALEX: Alexis Castellanos was born and raised in Florida where she enjoyed sunny days, dramatic thunderstorms, and delicious Cuban food. After graduating from college, she moved to New York City and worked as a scenic artist, bringing theatrical sets to life with a little bit of paint and a whole lot of ingenuity. She currently works as a graphic designer by day and spends her nights dreaming up stories. She lives in Seattle with her partner and her extremely photogenic cat, Belle. Isla to Island is her first graphic novel.
• FOLLOW ALEX: website | Twitter | Instagram
• BUY Isla to Island
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (April 5, 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 17, 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E15: Deborah Falaye & Put Yourself Out There
Claribel & Kat discuss their thoughts on jumping back into promoting their new books! Then they interview their PitchWars mentee about her upcoming seering fantasy debut, BLOOD SCION!
ABOUT DEBORAH: Deborah Falaye is a Nigerian Canadian young adult author. She grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where she spent her time devouring African Literature, pestering her grandma for folktales, and tricking her grandfather into watching Passions every night. When she’s not writing about fierce Black girls with bad-ass magic, she can be found obsessing over all things reality TV. Deborah currently lives in Toronto with her husband and their partner-in-crime yorkie, Major.
• FOLLOW : Twitter | Instagram
• BUY Blood Scion
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (April 5, 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 17, 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E14: Malinda Lo & I Just Do Gay Things
Claribel & Kat discuss how they decide on what project to work on next. And then they interview Award Winning and NYT Bestselling author, Malinda Lo, about her experience in the industry, her advocacy for diversity in kidlit, and what it was like going back to a shelved project and revising it years later for publication.
ABOUT MALINDA: Malinda Lo is the National Book Award-winning, bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club, which which was named a Best Book of 2021 by NPR, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, BookPage, and was a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist. Her debut novel Ash, a Sapphic retelling of Cinderella, was a finalist for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, the Andre Norton Award for YA Science Fiction and Fantasy, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and was a Kirkus Best Book for Children and Teens. She has been a three-time finalist for the Lambda Literary Award. Malinda’s short fiction and nonfiction has been published by The New York Times, NPR, Autostraddle, The Horn Book, and multiple anthologies. She lives in Massachusetts with her partner and their dog.
• FOLLOW MALINDA: website | Twitter | Instagram
• Last Night At the Telegraph Club
• Add A Scatter of Light on Goodreads
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (April 5, 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 17, 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E13: Write or Die Live
This is a bonus episode of Write or Die! Originally recorded live as part of DVCon (a free virtual writing conference for diverse creators), Claribel & Kat read your anonymously submitted publishing stories and questions!
MENTIONS:
• DVCon
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (April 5, 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 17, 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E12: Wendy Xu & Shut Up, Do Your Work, & Stay Off Goodreads
Claribel & Kat interview illustrator Wendy Xu about how she first got into illustrating comics, how her work in publishing prepared her for her publication journey, and advice on properly crediting artists for their work!
ABOUT WENDY: Wendy Xu is an award-nominated Brooklyn-based illustrator and comics artist with three upcoming graphic novels from Harper Collins. She is the co-creator of "Mooncakes", a young adult fantasy graphic novel published in 2019 from Lion Forge Comics/Oni Press. Her work has been featured on Catapult, Barnes & Noble Sci-fi/Fantasy Blog, and Tor.com, among other places.
• FOLLOW : website | Twitter | Instagram
• Buy Mooncakes
• Buy Tidesong
• Add The Infinity Particle on Goodreads
MENTIONS:
• Lynda Barry
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (March 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E11: Sarah Raughley & Even Heroes Aren’t Perfect
Claribel & Kat catch up with each other and talk about the emotional ups and downs of building an author career. (CW: brief discussion of trauma) Then they interview Sarah Raughley about what it was like to get published in the before-times, differences she’s felt releasing her newest series during the pandemic, and how she researched the lives of Black people in 19th century Britain for her book, THE BONES OF RUIN.
ABOUT SARAH: Sarah Raughley grew up in Southern Ontario writing stories about freakish little girls with powers because she secretly wanted to be one. She is a huge fangirl of anything from manga to scifi/fantasy TV to Japanese role-playing games, but she will swear up and down at book signings that she was inspired by Jane Austen. Sarah has been nominated for the Aurora Award for Best Young Adult novel and works in the community doing writing workshops for youths and adults. On top of being a YA writer, Sarah has a PhD in English, which makes her a doctor, so it turns out she didn’t have to go to medical school after all.
• FOLLOW : website | Twitter | Instagram
BUY The Bones of Ruin (The Bones of Ruin #1)
BUY Fate Of Flames (The Effigies #1)
MENTIONS:
• Black Victorians, Black Victoriana by Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (April 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E10: Akshaya Raman & A Bed Full of Snakes
Happy New Year! Claribel & Kat discuss some fun news in their author careers and chat about new year and resolutions. Then they interview debut author, Akshaya Raman about her highly anticipated Fantasy, The Ivory Key. How she dealt with doubt during her query journey and how she made writing friends.
ABOUT AKSHAYA: Akshaya Raman fell in love with writing when she wrote her first story at the age of ten. Though she graduated from UC Davis with a degree in biology, she gave up pursuing a career in science to write books. She is a co-founder and contributor to Writer’s Block Party, a group blog about writing and publishing, and has served on the planning teams of several book festivals. She lives in the Bay Area with an actual scaredy cat, and in her free time, she enjoys baking, traveling, and watching too much reality TV.
FOLLOW AKSHAYA: website | Twitter | Instagram
• BUY The Ivory Key
MENTIONS
Fave "untraditional" success stories:
• S4 E7 Emiko Jean & We Don't Need Permission to Write
• S2 E1: Susan Dennard & #UghJay!
• S1 E23: Karen M McManus & The Haunted Airbnb
• Halloween Bonus: Holly Black & Black Pond Revelations and Weird Stuff
FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (April 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E9: Claribel & Kat & WorD’s Last Holiday Episode!
This week, Claribel & Kat discuss what they learned about their writing and author journeys in 2021. Then they answer listener questions about how to survive querying, Self-publishing, how they first got into writing, when to change agents, and more. Plus bonus chat about K-Dramas and K-pop!
MENTIONS:
WRITING PODCASTS
• The Writing Show with Paula B.
• Pub(lishing) Crawl Podcast (Archive)
MOVIE
K-DRAMAS
• Boys Over Flowers
• W: Two Worlds
• Winter Sonata
K-POP
• Claribel’s K-Pop suggestions: BTS, Twice, CL
• Kat’s K-Pop suggestions: Big Bang, SHINee, Stray Kids
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E8: Maisie Chan & Danny Chung Has Two Titles
Claribel & Kat discuss mentorship programs, both formal and informal! Then they chat with Maisie Chan about her experience publishing her debut Middle Grade and the differences between the UK and US publishing market.
ABOUT MAISIE: Maisie Chan is a British Chinese children's author from Birmingham. She loves dim sum, yoga and travelling. She has written early readers for Hachette and Big Cat Collins, and has a collection of myths and legends out with Scholastic. She is the author of Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths (U.K.) also known as Danny Chung Sums It Up (U.S.), and the Tiger Warrior chapter book series (M Chan). She runs Bubble Tea Writers Network to support and encourage writers of East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) descent in the U.K. She has a dog called Miko, who has very big eyes and wakes up too early. She has a large old school hip hop collection. She lives in Glasgow with her family.
• FOLLOW MAISIE: website | Twitter | Instagram
Buy Danny Chung Sums It Up (US)
Buy Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths (UK)
MENTIONS:
• DVMentor
• DVDebut
• When Night Breaks by Janella Angeles
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E7: Emiko Jean & We Don’t Need Permission to Write
Claribel & Kat talk about how to prepare for panels & some quick tips on how to answer interview questions. Then they interview NYT Bestselling author Emiko Jean about her publishing journey, how publishing has changed since she first queried in 2011, and what it’s been like building an author career.
Emiko’s BIO: When Emiko is not writing, she is reading. Most of her friends are imaginary. Before she became a writer she was an entomologist (fancy name for bug catcher), a candle maker, a florist, and most recently a teacher. She lives in Washington with her husband and children (unruly twins). She loves the rain.
• FOLLOW : website | Instagram
MENTIONS:
• BUY Tokyo Ever After
• BUY Empress of All Seasons
• BUY We’ll Never Be Apart
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E6: Alex Aster & Cursed Islands Are My Brand
Claribel and Kat answer a listener's question about publishing events, what it’s like to organize events like DVPit/DVCon, and some tips about attending events. Then they chat with Alex Aster about her author journey, discuss going viral on TikTok and whether it’s worthwhile for authors to join. Plus Alex gives us some Authortok tips!
ALEX’S BIO: Alex Aster is an author and graduate of The University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing. The Emblem Island series is inspired by the Latin American myths her Colombian grandmother told her as a child before bedtime.
• BUY Curse of the Night Witch
• ADD Lightlark on Goodreads
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E5: Shanna Miles & Categories Are Arbitrary
Claribel & Kat discuss author responsibility as public figures with platforms, brought to you by Kat’s k-pop obsession with Stray Kids. Then they interview Shanna Miles about her hybrid journey, starting out with self-publishing, and then getting an agent and being traditionally published. Shanna gives some practical advice for anyone considering self-publishing, discusses diversity in publishing, and how YA “trends” are cyclical!
BIO: Shanna Miles is an author, reviewer and librarian who lives in Georgia with her two daughters, and educator husband and advocates tirelessly for appropriate representation for marginalized people in children’s fiction. Her passion is Paranormal Romance, but she also has a deep affinity for diverse Science Fiction like that of Octavia Butler and Sherri L. Smith. “For All Time” is Shanna Miles’ latest work.
FOLLOW SHANNA: website | Twitter | Instagram
• BUY For All Time
• BUY Willow Born
MENTIONS:
• Ingram Spark Self Publishing Tools
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E4: Ayana Gray & Claribel Ortega Saw My Tweet!
Claribel & Kat discuss burnout and some of the coping mechanisms they’ve found helpful to get them through. Then they interview debut author, Ayana Gray about the path it took to find the courage to write, how her path “crossed” Claribel & Kat’s along the way, and her highly anticipated debut novel, BEASTS OF PREY.
CW: Discussions of death of a loved one and grief at 21:45 time point. Fast forward past that to 25:03 if this is triggering.
Ayana BIO: Ayana Gray is an author of speculative works and lover of all things monsters, mythos, and #MelaninMagic. Originally from Atlanta, she now lives in Little Rock, Arkansas where she reads avidly, follows Formula 1 racing, and worries over her adopted baby black rhino, Apollo. Her highly anticipated young adult debut, BEASTS OF PREY, is coming out with Penguin Random House!
• FOLLOW : website | Twitter | Instagram
BUY Beasts of Prey
MENTIONS:
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E3: Graci Kim & Kiwis Just Want to Make Friends
Claribel and Kat give updates on their upcoming books (Witchlings and Once Upon a K-Prom) and discuss comparison in publishing and how it disproportionately affects BIPOC. Then they interview bestselling author Graci Kim about her journey into publication and how she learned to embrace her Korean name and identity!
CONTENT WARNING: Discussions of death of a child at 27:12 point. Skip to 28:54 to avoid that discussion.
GRACI BIO: Graci Kim is a bestselling author of magic-infused middle grade books, who was vine-picked in Korea and sun-ripened in New Zealand.
Her Korean mythology-inspired debut, The Last Fallen Star, published by Disney Hyperion (Rick Riordan Presents) and the first in the Gifted Clans trilogy, became an instant US bestseller. It was named by Indigo as a Best Book of 2021, was an Amazon Best Book Ages 9-12, and was selected by Publishers Lunch as a 2021 Buzz Book. Called a “sparkling yarn” by Entertainment Weekly, the book has been featured in TIME Magazine for Kids, Hypable, and Publishers Weekly; and has been optioned by the Disney Channel for a live-action television series.
• FOLLOW GRACI: website | Twitter | Instagram
PRE-ORDER The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities
MENTIONS:
• Graci’s TedTalk “The Hidden Power Behind Our Names”
• Beach Read by Emily Henry
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E2: Jason June & Getting Kicked In The Face by Kylie Minogue
Claribel & Kat answer a listener question about writing character voice and perspective. Then they interview Jason June about getting kicked in the face by Kylie Minogue and the journey from writing Picture Books to writing Young Adult!
BIO: Jason June is a gay, genderqueer, list-making, Virgo Sun, Taurus Moon, Pokémon-playing writer living in Austin, TX. If he had a Gay Agenda, "marry the love of your life", "be mom to two extremely pampered Pomeranians," and "get accidentally kicked in the face by Kylie Minogue as an extra in her music video" would all be crossed off.
• FOLLOW : website | Twitter | Instagram
MENTIONS:
• Buy Jay’s Gay Agenda
• Buy Whobert Whover, Owl Detective
• The Emotional Craft of Fiction
• Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
• Legendborn by Tracy Deonn
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S4 E1: Misa Sugiura & Inviting Your Entire Mailing List
We’re Back! In the season 4 premiere, Kat and Claribel share what they did over summer break and share big news about the future of Write or Die. Then they interview Misa Sugiura about her publishing journey, differences between releasing a book in 2021 vs before 2020, and creating boundaries between author identity and private personal life.
BIO: Misa Sugiura’s ancestors include a poet, a priestess, a samurai, and a stowaway. Her first novel It’s Not Like It’s A Secret, won the Asian Pacific Islander American Librarians’ Association’s Award for Young Adult Literature; Her latest book, Love & Other Natural Disasters has been praised by the American Library Association as "hilariously awkward" and "honestly poignant."
• FOLLOW : Website | Twitter | Instagram
BUY Love and Other Natural Disasters
BUY It’s Not Like It’s A Secret
MENTIONS:
• Tell Me Again How A Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan
• Becky Albertalli’s post about Queer Gatekeeping
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E26: Liselle Sambury & The Werewolf Romance
In the Season Finale episode, Claribel and Kat answer some listener questions about drafting, querying, and submission. Then they interview debut author Liselle Sambury about her early writing, learning and growing from past mistakes, and how she uses YouTube to connect to the community
LISELLE BIO:
Liselle Sambury is a Trinidadian-Canadian author who grew up in Toronto, and her brand of writing can be described as “messy Black girls in fantasy situations.” In her free time, she shares helpful tips for upcoming writers and details of her publishing journey through a YouTube channel dedicated to helping demystify the sometimes complicated business of being an author.
• FOLLOW Liselle: website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
BUY Blood Like Magic
ADD Butcherbirds on Goodreads
MENTIONS:
• Liselle’s Video about her learning experience with problematic narratives
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E25: Anna Meriano & Sorry Literary Fiction
Claribel and Kat talk about “parasocial relationships” and how it affects authors and their mental health. Then they talk to Anna Meriano about IP, MFA’s and her new book about fandom and fans reclaiming safe spaces for themselves!
Bio:
Anna Meriano grew up in Houston, Texas, with an older brother and a younger brother but (tragically) no sisters. She graduated from Rice University with a degree in English and earned her MFA in creative writing with an emphasis in writing for children from the New School in New York. She has taught creative writing and high school English and works as a writing tutor. Anna likes reading, knitting, playing full-contact quidditch, and translating English song lyrics into Spanish and vice-versa. Her favorite baked goods are the kind that don't fly away before you eat them.
• Follow Anna Online: website | Twitter
• BUY This is How We Fly
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E24: Rita Williams Garcia & All Vibes, No Plot
Claribel and Kat discuss how they make promo that’s fun for them and which incorporates their personalities. Then they talk to hilarious bestselling author Rita Williams-Garcia about what it was like when she first got started in publishing, how she goes back and forth between Middle Grade & Adult, and some great advice for authors at all level!
BIO:
Rita Williams-Garcia is the New York Times bestselling author of novels for young adults and middle grade readers. Her most recent novel, Gone Crazy in Alabama ends the saga of the Gaither Sisters, who appear in One Crazy Summer and PS Be Eleven. Her novels have been recipients of numerous awards, including the Coretta Scott King Award, National Book Award Finalists, Newbery Honor Book, Junior Library Guild, and the Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction. She served on faculty at the Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children MFA Program and she resides in Queens, New York.
• FOLLOW Rita: website | Twitter | Instagram
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E23: Editor Shelly Romero Is A Goth Golden Retriever
Kat and Claribel talk a little about their personal writing processes. And then they interview Shelly Romero an editor at Scholastic about what she looks for in submissions, how you can support BIPOC authors, and the realities of the day-to-day life of editors!
SHELLY BIO:
Shelly Romero is an assistant editor at Scholastic Press, where she is looking to build a list comprised of predominantly BIPOC and traditionally marginalized authors. She graduated from Stephens College with a bachelor’s degree in English and attended the 2017 NYU Summer Publishing Institute. She is a member of Latinx in Publishing, People of Color in Publishing, and a junior mentor for Representation Matters Mentorship Program. She was selected as Publishers Weekly Star Watch 2020 Honoree, which “shines a light on innovative, talented professionals from all parts of the industry.” Born and raised in Miami by Honduran parents, she now resides in New York City where is she is forever chasing the perfect café Cubano and pan tostado.
• Follow Shelly Online: website | Twitter
Mentions:
• Add Witchlings by Claribel a. Ortega on Goodreads
• Add Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho on Goodreads
• Add Frizzy/Rizos by Claribel a. Ortega on Goodreads
• Shelly explains Acquisitions meetings, Launch, and Sales Conference from an editor’s perspective!
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E22: Sarah Dass & Persuasion Is Our Favorite Austen Book
Kat & Claribel discuss some writing and productivity tools that have been helping them write lately. Then they talk to Sarah Dass about her debut romance WHERE THE RHYTHM TAKES YOU, doing a retelling, and what it felt like being in an auction for her debut book
Bio: Sarah Dass was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago.
A graduate of the University of the West Indies and University College London, she works as an Office Administrator by day and writes stories about growing up in the Caribbean by night.
When she’s not writing, she’s thinking about writing, or taking walks with her dachshund. The only thing she loves more than a lazy day at home is exploring new countries.
Her debut novel, WHERE THE RHYTHM TAKES YOU, a YA contemporary retelling of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, will be published by Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins in 2021.
• Follow Sarah Online: website | Twitter | Instagram
Order WHERE THE RHYTHM TAKES YOU
Mentions:
• Kingsley Nebechi’s Instagram
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E 21: Victoria Aveyard Is a Map Nerd
Kat and Claribel discuss making friends and friend groups in publishing. And then they interview NYT Bestselling author, Victoria Aveyard about her writing process, starting a brand new series after spending so long in one world, how film school influences her writing process, and how she’s liking TikTok!
VICTORIAS BIO: Victoria Aveyard is an author and screenwriter, born and raised in a small town in Western Massachusetts. Both her parents are public school teachers, as well as avid film, television, and literature fans. Victoria grew up on a steady diet The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and LOST. She pursued a degree in Writing for Film & Television at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. After graduating college in 2012, Victoria moved home from Los Angeles and began writing the manuscript that would become Red Queen.
She has since published four #1 New York Times bestselling and USA Today bestselling books, two New York Times bestselling novellas, a New York Times bestselling short story collection.
She lives full-time in Los Angeles and is hard at work on her next young adult fantasy series. The first installment is Realm Breaker!
• FOLLOW VICTORIA: website | Twitter | Instagram
Mentions:
• thread on making friends on twitter: https://twitter.com/Claribel_Ortega/status/1273357320928530437
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E20: Heidi Heilig & Everyone Put Pets in Your Headshot
Claribel and Kat discuss the idea of looking back on your old writing and seeing how far you’ve come. Plus, they touch on the idea that the industry should shift to look at the story and not at the trends. Then they interview Heidi Heilig, author of the Shadow Players trilogy, about her journey with publishing, creating conscientious communities, and how the publishing community has changed since she first published 5 years ago. Plus some discussion about trilogies vs duologies and how real life events influence our writing.
BIO:
Heidi grew up in Hawaii where she rode horses and raised peacocks, and then she moved to New York City and grew up even more, as one tends to do. Her favorite thing, outside of writing, is travel, and she has haggled for rugs in Morocco, hiked the trails of the Ko’olau Valley, and huddled in a tent in Africa while lions roared in the dark.
She holds an MFA from New York University in Musical Theatre Writing, of all things, and she’s written books and lyrics for shows including The Time Travelers Convention, Under Construction, and The Hole. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and sons. They do not own a cat.
• FOLLOW HEIDI: website | Twitter | Instagram
• Order ON THIS UNWORTHY SCAFFOLD (Shadow Players #3)
• Order THE GIRL FROM EERYWHERE
MENTIONS:
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E19: Becky Albertalli & Staying Connected to Readers
Kat and Claribel discuss staying on track and Kat gets honest about her ADHD diagnosis and how it affects her author habits and life. Then they interview the beloved Becky Albertalli. Becky discusses her experiences with co-writing, what it was like watching her fandom grow, and the surreal experience of having her book adapted into film! Plus some down-to-earth advice on how authors experience doubt and connect with each other.
BECKY BIO:
Becky Albertalli is the author of William C. Morris Award winner and National Book Award longlist title, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (now a major motion picture, Love, Simon); the acclaimed The Upside of Unrequited; and the New York Times bestsellers Leah on the Offbeat, What If It’s Us (cowritten with Adam Silvera), Yes No Maybe So (cowritten with Aisha Saeed), and Love, Creekwood: A Simonverse Novella. Becky lives with her family in Atlanta.
• FOLLOW BECKY ONLINE: Website | Twitter | Instagram
• ORDER KATE IN WAITING
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E18: N.G. Peltier & Self Publishing Hybrid
Claribel and Kat discuss the misperception that all authors need to be doing a lot of promotion for their own books and constantly be on social media. Then they interview N.G. Peltier about her decision to self-publish her debut romance but how their agent worked on their behalf to create a unique hybrid situation.
N.G. PELTIER BIO:
N.G. Peltier is an anime watching, book reading, video-game playing, story writing kinda girl.
A devourer of words and books from a young age, she enjoys writing romance and creeping people out with the Caribbean folklore stories she grew up hearing.
A Trinidadian born and raised, she currently lives in Trinidad with her mountain of ideas and characters battling each other for whose story gets told next.
• FOLLOW N.G. ONLINE: website | Twitter | Instagram
• Buy SWEETHAND by N.G. Peltier
• Buy UK Paperback of SWEETHAND
MENTIONS:
• Kacen Callender Blog Post: Social Media Expectations
• Kacen Callender: The Humanization of Authors
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E17: Preeti Chhibber & This Episode Is About Titanic
Claribel and Kat discuss what “growing as a writer” means to them. Then they interview the hilarious and charming Preeti Chhibber about her time working on the other side of the table in publishing, go on a (long) tangent about the Titanic, what it was like writing IP for huge franchises like Spider-Man and Star Wars, and that one time she made Jake Gyllenhall laugh (twice!)
BIO:
Called “Spider-Man super fan and author” by Publishers Weekly, Preeti Chhibber is a YA author, speaker, and freelance writer. She worked as a publishing professional. She has written for SYFY, Polygon, BookRiot, BookRiot Comics, The Nerds of Color, and The Mary Sue, among others. Her debut original middle-grade, Orientation (Marvel’s Avenger’s Assembly #1) came out from Scholastic in August 2020 and her first picture book, A Jedi You Will Be was released by Disney this fall, she is also featured in the forthcoming YA and Adult anthologies Battle of the Bands (Candlewick, Fall 2021) and Stone Sword Table (Random House, 2022).
• FOLLOW PREETI: website | Twitter | Instagram
MENTIONS:
• Buy Marvel’s Avengers Assembly #1: Orientation
• Buy Marvel’s Avengers Assembly #2: The Sinister Substitute
• Buy A Jedi You Will Be
• Pre-Order Battle of the Bands (Candlewick, Fall 2021)
• Pre-Order Stone Sword Table (Random House, 2021)
• Mostly we just mention Titanic...
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out all of Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Check out Kat’s Books
S3 E16: Anna-Marie McLemore & The Gay Gatsby
Kat and Claribel chat about Whisper Networks, what they are, why they exist, and how to use them. Then they interview the amazing Anna-Marie McLemore about their Magical Realism books, how they incorporate their heart and identity into their stories, and how they embrace their weird!
Bio:
Anna-Marie McLemore (they/them) is the author of THE WEIGHT OF FEATHERS, WHEN THE MOON WAS OURS, WILD BEAUTY, BLANCA & ROJA, DARK AND DEEPEST RED, MISS METEOR (co-authored with Tehlor Kay Mejia) and the forthcoming THE MIRROR SEASON. A lot of what they write could be called magical realism. Much of it is inspired by fairy tales. Almost all of their stories find their heart in the traditions they grew up in and the communities they belong to.
• Follow Anna-Marie Online: website | Twitter
• Buy The Mirror Season
Mentions:
• Celebrity Book Club
• True Beauty
• Busted
• Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram
S3 E15: Book Twitter Manual: Handbook for Mortals
Kat and Claribel discuss the Book Twitter scandal that happened around the book HANDBOOK FOR MORTALS the NYT Bestseller’s List in 2017
Mentions:
• Handbook for Mortals author fires back after publishing fiasco https://ew.com/books/2017/08/26/handbook-for-mortals-lani-sarem/
• An Anniversary of a Scandal: One Year After Lani Sarem https://bookriot.com/lani-sarem-scandal-anniversary/
• Jenny Trout Recaps of HANDBOOK: http://jennytrout.com/?p=11574
• Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• Check out Claribel’s books
• PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
• Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• Check out Kat’s Books
• PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
• Follow Write or Die online: Twitter | Instagram
S3 E14: Kosoko Jackson & ...That's Weird
Claribel & Kat discuss joining TikTok. Then they interview Kosoko Jackson about his debut sci-fi romance YESTERDAY IS HISTORY, how to push a trope to new limits, and writing in Adult romance after writing primarily in YA. Plus some advice from Kosoko's day job in Social Media marketing and content creation!
KOSOKO BIO:
Kosoko Jackson is a digital media specialist, focusing on digital storytelling, email, social and SMS marketing, and a freelance political journalist. Occasionally, his personal essays and short stories have been featured on Medium, Thought Catalog, The Advocate, and some literary magazines. When not writing YA novels that champion holistic representation of black queer youth across genres, he can be found obsessing over movies, drinking his (umpteenth) London Fog, or spending far too much time on Twitter. His YA debut, YESTERDAY IS HISTORY, is out now, published by SourceBooks Fire and his adult #OwnVoices queer Romcom, I’M SO (NOT) OVER YOU will come out in 2022, by Berkley Romance.
• FOLLOW KOSOKO ONLINE: website | Twitter | Instagram
MENTIONS:
Add WITCHLINGS on Goodreads
Claribel’s TikTok
Kat’s TikTok
Order YESTERDAY IS HISTORY
Add I’M SO (NOT) OVER YOU on Goodreads
• FOLLOW CLARIBEL ONLINE: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
• FOLLOW KAT ONLINE: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
• FOLLOW WRITE OR DIE ONLINE: Twitter | Instagram
S3 E13: Book Twitter Manual: Introduction, I Was Hacked & Please Stop Scrolling
Claribel and Kat dive into some Book Twitter news and gossip for your entertainment and education.
Mentions:
- CP
- Punching Down
- Avoiding language used to target BIPOC
- Twitter Advice
- Expectations for how interact with readers/bloggers
- Remember, teens are our readers
- MSWL
- "I was hacked"
- "Please stop scrolling"
Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
PRE-ORDER Witchlings (Feb 2022, Scholastic)
Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)
PRE-ORDER Once Upon a K-Prom (May 2022, Disney)
S3 E12: Emily XR Pan & Nova Ren Suma & The Right Debut Book
Claribel & Kat look back on how far they’ve come since 2016 & how their goals for their author careers have changed in 5 years. Then they talk with NYT Bestselling authors & co-founders of FORESHADOW: A Serial YA Anthology, Emily XR Pan & Nova Ren Suma about how they became friends & advice about how to find your voice!
Emily X.R. Pan is the New York Times bestselling author of THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER, which won the APALA Honor Award and the Walter Honor Award, received six starred reviews, was an L.A. Times Book Prize finalist, and was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. She co-created the FORESHADOW anthology and lives on Lenape land in Brooklyn, New York.
Nova Ren Suma is the author of A Room Away from the Wolves and the #1 New York Times bestselling The Walls Around Us, both finalists for an Edgar Award for Best Young Adult Novel. She also wrote the novels Imaginary Girls, 17 & Gone, and Dani Noir and is co-editor of the story & writing craft anthology FORESHADOW: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading & Writing YA. She has an MFA in fiction from Columbia University and teaches creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and Vermont College of Fine Arts. She grew up in the Hudson Valley, spent most of her adult life in New York City, and now lives in Philadelphia.
Follow Nova Online: Website | Twitter | Instagram
Follow Emily Online: Website | Twitter | Instagram
MENTIONS
- Foreshadow
- Claribel’s Foreshadow Story: Remember
- Order Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA
Emily’s Fashion suggestions:
Nova Ren’s Bookstore suggestions:
Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
S3 E11: Claribel & Kat & Words Matter
Claribel and Kat discuss some current events and how they’re coping. As well as how powerful words can be, and how important it is for us to take responsibility for them.
MENTIONS:
Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok
Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
- Order WICKED FOX!
- Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)
- Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads
- www.katchowrites.com
S3 E10: Claribel & Kat & End-of-the-Year Check-In
Claribel and Kat discuss 2020, what it was like for Claribel to debut this year, and some trends they’ve noticed in the community. Plus, they discuss methods to try to allow for self-care and positivity in your life as potential coping mechanisms when going through a hard time. And how to cultivate better work habits for themselves as full-time writers.
Mentions:
Romance is a Bonus Book
W: Two Worlds
Boys over Flowers
Mystic Pop Up Bar
Spinning Silver
To Kill a Kingdom
Magic for Liars
The Gravity of Us
Be Dazzled
All of Us Villains
Silence of Bones
These Violent Delights
Stand Up, Yumi Chung
Lore Olympus
Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)
Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads
S3 E9: Chloe Gong & Shakespeare’s Ghost is Looking Out For You
Claribel and Kat discuss #PublishingPaidMe and break down why it’s such an important conversation in publishing. Then they interview NYT bestselling debut author, Chloe Gong about These Violent Delights, her Chinese retelling of Romeo and Juliet in historical Shanghai! We discuss how she got into writing (and how writing for herself helped her write a unique story) and her research process for both the setting and historical time period she chose to set her debut novel.
Bio:
Chloe Gong is a student at the University of Pennsylvania, studying English and international relations. During her breaks, she’s either at home in New Zealand or visiting her many relatives in Shanghai. Chloe has been known to mysteriously appear when “Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s best plays and doesn’t deserve its slander in pop culture” is chanted into a mirror three times.
Follow Chloe Gong online: Twitter | Instagram | Website
Order THESE VIOLENT DELIGHTS
Mentions:
Discussed: Profit & Loss (P&L), Advances
Twitter apologises for ‘racist’ image-cropping algorithm
Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)
Add ONCE UPON A K-PROM on Goodreads
S3 E8: Nikki Barthelmess & Growing With Your Agent
Kat and Claribel talk about virtual events and how to avoid burn out. They they talk to YA author Nikki Barthelmess about how her life inspired her novels, how she ended up working with her two agents when her original agent’s assistant was promoted and became her agent!
Bio:
Nikki Barthelmess is an author of young adult books, including THE QUIET YOU CARRY (out now!), QUIET NO MORE (Flux, fall 2020), and EVERYTHING WITHIN AND IN BETWEEN (HarperChildren’s, fall 2021). Nikki entered foster care in Nevada at twelve and spent the next six years living in six different towns. During this time, Nikki found solace in books, her journal, and the teachers who encouraged her as a writer. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Nikki lives in Santa Barbara with her husband, daughter, and pride-and-joy Corgi pup.
Follow Nikki online: Twitter | Instagram | Website
Buy Quiet No More
Mentions:
Sarah Gerton (agent at Curtis Brown)
Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)
S3 E7: Mara Fitzgerald & So Much Wisdom With This Episode
S3 E6: Paola Mendoza, Abby Sher & Please Vote!
Claribel and Kat discuss how to refill the creative well (especially considering how stressful current events are on the creative mind). Then they interview NYT bestselling author and activist Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher about their new YA novel Sanctuary, making a statement with your art, envisioning a diverse future where we center minority narratives.
Bio: Abby Sher is a writer and performer whose work has appeared in Modern Love: 50 True and Extraordinary Tales of Desire, Deceit, and Devotion and Behind the Bedroom Door: Getting it, Giving it, Loving it, Missing it as well as in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Self, Jane, Elle, HeeB and Redbook. She is also the author of the young adult novel Kissing Snowflakes. Abby has written and performed for the Second City in Chicago and the Upright Citizen’s Brigade and Magnet Theater in New York. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and daughter.
Follow Abby Online: Twitter | Instagram | Website
Bio: Paola Mendoza is a film director, activist, author, and artist working at the leading edge of human rights. A co-founder of the Women's March, Paola served as its Artistic Director and co-authored the New York Times bestseller Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World.
Follow Paola Online: Twitter | Instagram
Order Sanctuary
Mentions:
Register to Vote: https://www.usa.gov/register-to-vote
Vote by mail: http://votesaveamerica.com/everylastvote/
Follow Claribel Ortega online: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Follow Kat Cho online: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Order VICIOUS SPIRITS (sequel to WICKED FOX)
S3 E5: Alechia Dow & Don’t Ever Lick Your Checks
This week, Claribel and Kat talk about who to follow on social media to learn more about the industry and writing as well as how to discuss authentic representation with your writer friends or as a sensitivity reader. Then they interview debut sci-fi author Alechia Dow on what it was like writing her amazing novel The Sound of Stars, Debuting while living abroad, and her amazing booky cookies!
ABOUT ALECHIA:
Alechia Dow is a former pastry chef, food critic, culinary teacher, and Youth Services librarian. When not writing YA sci-fi featuring determined black girls (like herself), you can find her having epic dance parties with her daughter, baking, mentoring, or taking teeny adventures around Europe.
Follow Alechia: Website | Twitter | Instagram
Alechia’s Books:
Mentions:
Writing in the Margins Mentorship
https://www.patreon.com/writeordiepodcast
Patrice Caldwell (agent)
Shelly Romero (editor)
Beth Phelan (agent)
Suzie Townsend (agent)