Shows
Story of the BookAxie Oh: The Girl Who Fell Beneath the SeaIn this final episode of Story of the Book Season 2, we're talking to the amazing Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of THE GIRL WHO FELL BENEATH THE SEA (Feiwel & Friends, 2022). We chatted to Axie about so many great topics, including her writing process, querying with a first draft, taking 8 years to publish a book, and the allure of fairy tale retellings. We loved this conversation, and we hope you do, too!Axie Oh is a first generation Korean American, born in New York City and raised in New Jersey. She studied Korean history and creative...2022-03-291h 29Story of the BookRena Rossner: The Sisters of the Winter WoodThe wonderful Rena Rossner joins us to talk about how she wrote her debut YA crossover novel, THE SISTERS OF THE WINTER WOOD (Orbit, 2018). Rena has so much wisdom to share about writing the book only you can write, why novels in verse are so powerful, and writing scenes out of order. We also go into her submission story -- which includes getting to acquisitions *twice* with no success -- and the struggle of writing her second book, THE LIGHT OF THE MIDNIGHT STARS (Orbit, 2021).Rena Rossner hails from Miami Beach, Florida. She is a graduate of...2022-03-221h 11Story of the BookMaggie Thrash: Lost Soul, Be At Peace(Mild expletives in this episode)We have a conversation with the brilliant Maggie Thrash about her graphic memoir, LOST SOUL BE AT PEACE. Maggie has tons to say about using pictures when words fall short, writing minor books of your heart while working on that one big hard project, and the pitfalls of believing you must be on social media to be a successful writer. Maggie Thrash is the author of the critically-acclaimed graphic memoirs Honor Girl (a Los Angeles Times Book Prize nominee) and Lost Soul, Be At Peace. Her fiction works include the n...2022-03-151h 36Story of the BookLife of an Editor: Kaylan Adair, Part 2Part TWO of our conversation with the generous and brilliant Kaylan Adair! As an executive editor at Candlewick Press, Kaylan is brimming with information about the acquisitions process, P&Rs, revisions, the importance of authorial voice, editor burnout, and more! She walks us through what it was like to find HOUR OF THE BEES in her inbox, and what it takes for an editor to bring a book all the way to publication. Since this is such a meaty conversation, we’ve split it into TWO PARTS. (This is Part 2.) Both parts are out now! 2022-03-081h 06Story of the BookLife of an Editor: Kaylan Adair, Part 1The brilliant Kaylan Adair joins us to talk about life on the other side of the desk! As an executive editor at Candlewick Press, Kaylan is brimming with information about the acquisitions process, P&Rs, revisions, the importance of authorial voice, editor burnout, and more! She walks us through what it was like to find HOUR OF THE BEES in her inbox, and what it takes for an editor to bring a book all the way to publication. Since this is such a meaty conversation, we’ve split it into TWO PARTS. Part One is up now, Part Two wi...2022-03-0148 minStory of the BookCaroline Starr Rose: A Race Around the WorldThe incredible Caroline Starr Rose joins us to talk about how she wrote her nonfiction picture book, A RACE AROUND THE WORLD: THE TRUE STORY OF NELLIE BLY AND ELIZABETH BISLAND (illustrated by Alexandra Bye). Caroline has so much wisdom to share about the different levels of historical fiction, thinking of yourself as a storyteller rather than an authority, and allowing curiosity to shape your projects. We had so much fun recording this conversation and we hope you love it! Caroline Starr Rose is a middle grade and picture book author whose books have been ALA-ALSC Notable, J...2022-02-221h 04Story of the BookK.A. Reynolds: The Land of YesterdayConfetti time! We're back for Season 2 of Story of the Book! In this episode, K.A. Reynolds joins us to talk about how she wrote her debut novel, THE LAND OF YESTERDAY (HarperCollins, 2018). We chat about the magic of writing without a plan, doing TWO revise and resubmits for her agent, and getting up at 2.00 a.m. to write. (No, that wasn't a typo!) We hope you love this conversation as much as we do.K. A. Reynolds's first two novels, THE LAND OF YESTERDAY and THE SPINNER OF DREAMS, are out with HarperCollins now. He...2022-02-151h 13Story of the BookBonus Craft Episode: FailureHayley and Lindsay discuss how they've learned to take care of themselves after creative failures. 2022-02-0823 minStory of the BookBonus Craft Episode: Other Creative PursuitsHayley and Lindsay talk about living a creative life outside of writing, and why it's imperative to do things just for your soul. This is a bonus holiday episode. We'll be back in February 2022 with a new season of full length episodes.2022-02-0130 minStory of the BookBonus Craft Episode: Writing Middle GradeHayley and Lindsay talk about the ins and outs of writing middle grade books -- and what makes the category so special. This is a bonus holiday episode. We'll be back in February 2022 with a new season of full length episodes. 2022-01-2517 minStory of the BookBonus Craft Episode: How do you choose a point of view?Lindsay dives into how she chooses which point of view to write from. This is a bonus holiday episode. We will be back with full length episodes in February 2022. 2022-01-1825 minStory of the BookBonus Craft Episode: How to build a world with languageHayley chats to Lindsay about how she uses language to build worlds. This is a bonus holiday episode. We'll be back with full length episodes in February 2022. 2022-01-1119 minStory of the BookBonus Craft Episode: How do you deal with pacing in your books?Lindsay talks us through how she thinks about pacing when she's writing her books. This is a bonus holiday episode. We'll be back with full length episodes of Story of the Book in February 2021!2022-01-0420 minStory of the BookJulie Falatko: Yours In BooksIn this episode of Story of the Book, we talked to Julie about her latest picture book, Yours in Books, out now from Harry N. Abrams. We loved hearing Julie talk about the process of writing a picture book, revising a book 80 times or more, and why she never regrets setting high expectations for her work. Show notes:Julie Falatko's websiteBuy Yours in BooksFind Yours in Books on GoodreadsMaggie Rogers on writing a song a dayJulie Hedlund's 12 x 12The Artist's Way2021-10-261h 43Story of the BookCelia Peréz: Strange BirdsIn this episode of Story of the Book, we spoke with Celia about her second middle grade book, Strange Birds, published with Kokila/Penguin in 2019. We loved what Celia had to say about keeping her projects secret until they're rooted, making the writing process tactile with scissors and glue, and the importance of specific representation in novels. This episode is a total delight! Enjoy!Show notes:Celia Peréz's websiteBuy Strange BirdsFind Strange Birds on GoodreadsRadical BrowniesThe Victorian hat feather crazeJ...2021-10-191h 14Story of the BookChristine Day: The Sea in WinterIn this episode of Story of the Book, Christine Day walks us through how she wrote her second middle grade novel, The Sea in Winter, which was published by Heartdrum in January 2021. We talk about second book syndrome, writing middle grade stories that don't get rid of the parents, and why there's never a perfect time to write a book. We loved this conversation and we hope you do, too!Show notes:Christine Day's websiteBuy The Sea in WinterAdd The Sea in Winter on GoodreadsChristine mentions...2021-10-121h 24Story of the BookAnna-Marie McLemore: LakeloreIn this episode of Story of the Book, we talk to Anna-Marie McLemore about how they wrote their upcoming YA novel, Lakelore, which is set to be released March 8, 2022 from Feiwel and Friends. We discuss the complications and joys of writing with a neurodiverse brain about neurodiverse characters, why it's important to ask your editor what's working in your manuscript as well as what isn't working, and how a story can shift beneath your very feet (and why you should let it!). Show notes:Buy LakeloreAdd Lakelore on GoodreadsAnna-Marie's w...2021-10-051h 15Story of the BookR.M. Romero: The Dollmaker of KrakówTrigger warning: This episode of Story of the Book contains discussions about the Holocaust, including mentions of genocide, extermination camps and anti-Semitism. Please take care.In this episode of Story of the Book, we chat to R.M. Romero about how she wrote her debut middle grade novel, The Dollmaker of Kraków, which came out in September 2017 from Delacorte Press. We talk about the challenge of balancing light and darkness in fiction, using magic to write about trauma, and why Rachael hates it when someone asks her how the magic in her books "works." We loved t...2021-09-281h 12Story of the BookLindsay Eagar: Race to the Bottom of the SeaIn this episode of Story of the Book, Lindsay Eagar talks us through how she wrote her second middle grade novel, Race to the Bottom of the Sea, which was published by Candlewick Press in October 2017. We talk about starting a book with a list of things you love, what it means to "write what you know" and how, sometimes, telling everyone the ending is a good idea. :)SPOILER WARNING: In this episode, we discuss the plot of Race to the Bottom of the Sea in detail. If you haven't read the book and you hate spoilers...2021-09-211h 09Story of the BookHayley Chewins: The Sisters of Straygarden PlaceIn this episode of Story of the Book, Hayley Chewins tells us how she wrote her second middle grade novel, The Sisters of Straygarden Place, which was published by Candlewick Press in October 2020. We talk about "trying on" different versions of a story, cultivating patience and love for your own personal writing process, and the importance of chasing pleasure and joy.SPOILER WARNING: In this episode, we discuss the plot of The Sisters of Straygarden Place in detail. If you haven't read the book and you hate spoilers, please read the book before listening! We don't want...2021-09-141h 25