Episodes
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Monday Mar 20, 2023
Today's guest is Lynn Ng Quezon, author of Mattie and the Machine. Lynn joined me to talk about the extreme usefulness of good critique partners, knowing how much of your research to include in historical fiction, and the pressures of doing author school visits.
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Monday May 16, 2022
Monday May 16, 2022
Today's guest is MarcyKate Connolly, author of numerous MG and YA books. MarcyKate joined me today to talk about the importance of finding a writer's critique group, the different ways to promote middle grade versus Young adult, and the difficulties of launching four books during the pandemic.
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Monday Feb 21, 2022
Nova McBee On Getting A Film Deal First & Having An Editorial Agent
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Monday Feb 21, 2022
Today's guest is Nova McBee, author of Calculated. Nova joined me today to talk about her backwards publishing journey - from film rights, to audio, to the book deal - as well as the necessity of growing a thick skin, and why she enjoys having a heavily editorial agent.
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The Hauntings, Unearthly, & Paranormal Stories Podcast
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Today's guest is Lyn Liao Butler, author of The Tiger Mom's Tale and the upcoming Red Thread of Fate. Lyn joined me today to talk about the experience of debuting during the pandemic, how having an active lifestyle helps with her writing and mind / body balance, as well as how important research is when writing in a specific setting.
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Monday Aug 16, 2021
Monday Aug 16, 2021
Todays guest is Mary McCoy, author of Indestructible Object. We talk about jumping genres - why we do it, and if it helps - or hurts - our careers. Also covered: the representation of romantic love in the media in general, and YA in particular.
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Monday Feb 24, 2020
Mary Kole: A Former Agent & Editor On Processing Critique
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Today’s guest is Mary Kole, Mary Kole is a freelance editor, author and blogger whose goal is to help writers of children’s literature create compelling stories for young readers. A former California and New York literary agent for the Andrea Brown Literary Agency and Movable Type Literary. Mary has spoken at over 75 writer’s conferences and workshops across the world, has been deeply involved with organizations including the SCBWI,Writer’s Digest, and NaNoWriMo. Her blog on children’s writing and publishing, Kidlit.com, receives an average of 17,000 hits per month. It has been named one of the “101 Best Websites for Writers” by Writer’s Digest every year since its inception in 2009. Her book, Writing Irresistible Kidlit has sold 11,000 copies. Mary has also worked as a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines, including the Los Angeles Times, and was named one of 20 writers to follow on Twitter in 2017. She currently works as a freelance editor with over 500 clients per year.
Mary joined me today to talk about making the switch from agenting to editorial work, and how a relocation spawned her editorial company. Also covered: Mary’s book, Writing Irresistible Kid Lit, and the joy of ushering a project from inception to publication alongside an author.
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Links for Mary:
Good Story Company: https://goodstorycompany.com
Editing: https://marykole.com
Blog: https://kidlit.com
Forum: https://critcollective.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/goodstoryco
Facebook: https://facebook.com/marykoleeditorial/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/goodstoryco
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kid_lit
Instagram: https://instagram.com/goodstorycompany
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/goodstory
Submission Course: https://bit.ly/kolesub
Book: http://bit.ly/kolekidlit
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Monday Aug 19, 2019
Writing Tough Topics for Teens with Jamie Beth Cohen
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Monday Aug 19, 2019
Today’s guest is Jamie Beth Cohen, author of Wasted Pretty. A writer and storyteller who works in higher education, her non-fiction has appeared in The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post, and Teen Vogue. Jamie joined me today to talk about writing tough topics for teens, getting non-fiction pieces published, and the dangers of embracing the myth of the solitary writer, plus how community can help.
Links for Jamie:
Website: http://www.jamiebethcohen.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jamie_Beth_S
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamieBethWriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wastedpretty/
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Monday Oct 22, 2018
How to Capture Middle Grade Voice With Tara Gilboy
Monday Oct 22, 2018
Monday Oct 22, 2018
Today’s guest is Tara Gilboy who holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia, where she specialized in writing for children and young adults. Her middle grade novel, Unwritten, was published by Jolly Fish Press just this month. She teaches creative writing in San Diego Community College’s Continuing Education Program and for the PEN Writers in Prisons Program.
Tara joined me today to talk about selling her book without an agent, and how to process criticism from critique partners. Also Covered: exercises to help you capture middle grade voice, and how to find critique partners both online and in real life. And, can writing be taught or is it intuitive?
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Monday Aug 13, 2018
Jessica Verdi On Writing About Hot-Button Issues
Monday Aug 13, 2018
Monday Aug 13, 2018
Today’s guest is Jessica Verdi, author of the YA contemporary novels My Life After Now, The Summer I Wasn’t Me, What You Left Behind, as well as And She Was. Jess received her MFA in Writing for Children from The New School and is a freelance editor of romance, women’s fiction, chick lit, YA, and kid lit
Jessica joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about querying a first novel, landing her agent, and breaking out of writing only one genre. Also covered: how Jessica handles hot button issues in her books, and the pushback that can come from writing about such topics, as well as the pros and cons of getting an MFA and why everyone needs an editor.
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Monday Jul 09, 2018
Monday Jul 09, 2018
Today’s guest is Abigail Johnson, author of the YA contemporary titles EVEN IF I FALL, THE FIRST TO KNOW and IF I FIX YOU. She became a tetraplegic after breaking her neck in a car accident when she was seventeen, but hasn’t let that stop her from bodysurfing in Mexico, and becoming a published author. Abigail speaks with host Mindy McGinnis about the process of getting an agent, how branding can limit your writing in some ways once you have a career, the ease of world building when writing contemporary – not to be confused with the idea that writing YA is easy - and how Abigail’s accident shapes her unique perspective of life and people, and where to find her online.
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