I chat with four awesome booksellers about their top children's and YA book picks for holiday gift giving (and my own picks, too!) -- some you've probably heard of, but others likely be new to you, and all are well worth checking out. Of course, there's no way that we could get ALL our faves in one little podcast.... but hey, it's a start. :-) 

Stephanie Appell, Parnassus Books, Nashville TN
* Find Stephanie on Twitter
* Find Parnassus on Twitter
* Parnassus has awesome book subscriptions for both YA and grownup books! These first edition, signed hardcovers come straight to your door every month -- a subscription would make an AWESOME gift for a true booklover.
* Parnassus has amazing dogs, for real. Mary Todd Lincoln is my best friend!
* Stephanie is obsessed with this Etsy shop...

​Rebecca Wells, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA
* Find Rebecca on Twitter
* Find Porter Square on twitter
* Porter Square does a ton of events - including a Debut Authors event series starting in 2019!
* Rebecca is also an author! Find out more about her debut, SHATTER THE SKY, out in July 2019.
* Rebecca is obsessed with the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

     Abby Rice, The Briar Patch, Bangor, ME
* Find Abby on Twitter
* Find the Briar Patch on Twitter
* The Briar Patch has been a children's-only bookstore for 35 years.
* They do a Harry Potter Festival every summer -- I NEED TO GO TO MAINE FOR THIS!
* Abby is obsessed with Dungeons and Dragons!

Nichole Cousins, White Birch Books, North Conway, NH
* Find Nichole on Insta
* Find White Birch Books on Insta
* White Birch has been open for 25 years -- and they have some long running book clubs that are almost as old as the store!
* Nichole is obsessed with Litograph Temporary Tattoos - they make great stocking stuffers, too! 

Martha Brockenbrough returns to discuss her latest book of YA Nonfiction, UNPRESIDENTED, a biography/documentary about the life and times of Donald Trump. We also talk about how you can decide when a story is YOURS to tell, how to deal with bad reviews, how teen readers are the BEST readers, and how to write about current events without having a brain meltdown. Martha gives writerly advice about a variety of craft issues, and we do a switcheroo, where Martha asks ME about Holiday Books! Plus, as always, we discuss what we are obsessed with this week.        

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! Throw in a buck and you just might get books - more importantly, you'll help me keep making podcasts!
* Find Martha on Twitter  --  Find me on Twitter
* Martha's website
​* Huskies! Having! Tantrums!
* Rat Chases Cat

Editorial consultant Emma D. Dryden has a storied career in children's publishing. She sat down with me to talk about revision, as well as the difference between working for a publisher and editing under her own shingle. I asked her a LOT of questions, including, what should an author expect from a Freelance Editor? How do you know if or when the time is right to hire one? What are the most common problems she sees in manuscripts? What is a "Quiet Book"? What's the difference between YA and MG, reallllly? Plus, Emma gives her top tips and tricks for revising, and a whole lot more.

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! Throw in a buck and you just might win some books.

* Find me on Twitter! Find Emma Dryden on Twitter!

* Want to hire Emma to help you overhaul your ms? Visit DRYDENBKS website.

* Emma's upcoming Spring 2019 Highlights Foundation workshop intensive looks terrific!

* Emma is an author, too! Check out WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR

* Resources we chatted about include Underdown.org and Darcy Pattinson's "Shrunken Manuscript" -- and here's a video of the Shrunken Ms technique!

* Emma recently wrote about the power of "Quiet Books" for the SCBWI

* Stay Here on Netflix may be about renovating rental properties - but there are lessons here for writers, too!

* Pics from Maurice Sendak's house:

Guest agent Kelly Sonnack joins me to talk about best practices, agent-wise... and WTH are some bad agents even DOING? Also we answer listener questions, talk about query management, vent on the topic of submission do's and don'ts, and we go in deep about our favorite yearly event, the Big Sur Children's Writers Workshop. Oh and obviously we also talk about the Black Death and how it affects caterpillars, among other scintillating topics. Join us, won't you? 

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! Throw in a buck to support the show, and you just might win books.

* Here's me on the twitter! Here's Kelly Sonnack!

* ABLA query guidelines

* Registration for the Big Sur Children's Writers Workshop is now open!

* TheJanuary Elfman Scholarship for Big Sur CWW. Application deadline is 9/30

​* The Shaya Cookbook

* Ever want to know everything about what can go wrong with caterpillars? I gotchu.

Books we talked about:

Guest author Lesa Cline-Ransome gets into it about writing nonfiction (particularly biographical) picture books. Like, how does she choose subjects? How does she decide HOW to tell the story, do research, and get a new angle on a topic we might think we already know? Plus, what is it like to have a partner who is also the illustrator for your picture books? Annnnd, we discuss Lesa's brand-new debut Middle Grade novel, FINDING LANGSTON.

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! 

* Find me on the Twitters!

* Find Lesa Cline-Ransome on Twitter, or on her website!
​
* 44 PAGES - A documentary about Highlights Magazine and the production of the 70th anniversary issue, Inon Netflix

* KIM'S CONVENIENCE - A funny and heartwarming sitcom about a Korean-Canadian family, also on Netflix. (Both OK for kiddos.)

* Want to procrastinate? Spend time on Apartment Therapy.

* One of our fave shows on HBO, INSECURE is about to start its third season! (Not for kiddos...)

Author Debbi Michiko Florence joins us to chat about her winding path to publication, and her awesome chapter book series, JASMINE TOGUCHI, the fourth book of which has just been released. I talk about how to query chapter books, Debbi gives insight into the writing of them, and we both dole out wisdom (??) for listener questions. Plus we talk about ducks, snacks, and cooking shows.

* The Literaticast is able to exist because of Patreon. Like it? Throw in a buck and you just might win books!
* Debbi Michiko Florence's official website
* Debbi on Twitter! Me on Twitter!
* Debbi on Insta!  Jasmine Toguchi on Insta!  Me on Insta!
* Meet the illustrator of Jasmine Toguchi - Elizabet Vuković!
* The Infamous Word Count post!
* Bokksu - a subscription service for Japanese Treats
* Meet Darcy and Lizzie:

Award-winning author-illustrator Dan Santat joins me to discuss time management, illustrating vs authoring, portfolio-making, the World Cup, killers for hire (again! it's a theme!), and so much more. 

SHOW NOTES:
* The Literaticast has a Patreon! Throw in a buck to support the show, and you just might win books, too.

* Find Dan Santat on Twitter, or on his website!  Find ME on Twitter!

* Dan talked a bit about the SCBWI -- are you a member? 

* Check out the portfolios of some of the up-and-coming illustrators Dan is keen on: Matthew Forsythe, Stephanie Graegin, Katherine Roy, Corinna Luyken.

* Jenn's fave new podcast is Graphic Novel TK - subscribe!

(SOME OF THE) BOOKS WE DISCUSSED:

I give some recommendations for my favorite books for writers. Then my guest, middle grade novelist and English professor Erin Dionne, chats with me about revision tips and tricks, plotting vs pantsing, story structure, and more. Spoiler alert: There is no one way to be a writer! Oh also we talk a bit about contract killers and trivia addiction. Obviously.

SHOW NOTES:

* The Literaticast has a Patreon - throw in a buck and you just might win books! (Also, you'll help keep new episodes of the podcast coming. Yay!)

* Erin Dionne is on the web, and on twitter. (Also, I'M on twitter!)

* Blake Snyder's "Beat Sheet" for plotting (See the book SAVE THE CAT, below, for more details)

* Another example of cinematic plot points

* Erin's first picture book is coming this fall, and you can pre-order it now! ​

* Teachers Write is a great FREE program that runs over the summer, July 9-Aug 3, particularly geared towards teachers who also write books. Check it out for mentorship and inspiration!

BOOKS WE DISCUSSED:

I'm joined by Suzanna Hermans, from Oblong Books & Music in New York's Hudson Valley. She talks about how she curates the selection at Oblong -- what prompts an "auto-buy" from her -- and when books get returned. We also touch on some hot topics: Does a scandal from an author prompt exclusion from the bookstore shelves? And just how terrible IS Henry Higgins from MY FAIR LADY? (#theworst). Plus, great book recommendations, and current obsessions!

SHOW NOTES:

* SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE!
* The Literaticast has a Patreon - chip in a buck, and you just might win books every month.
* Find me on Twitter @literaticat - Find Suzanna Hermans on Twitter @oblongirl
* Visit Oblong Books & Music on the web!
​* Awesome upcoming YA events at the Hudson Valley YA Society
* Edelweiss is a digital catalogue system
* Obsessions have a Caribbean flair:
 -- Jenn rec's a TV show on Netflix: DEATH IN PARADISE is escapist "Murder She Wrote-esque" fare.
 -- Suzanna recommends ONCE ON THIS ISLAND for Broadway Lovers.

BOOKS WE DISCUSSED:

It's a jam-packed double episode featuring two authors whose YA books are polar opposites... except for the fact that they are both TERRIFIC... and they both have the same release date! Amy Spalding is on hand to discuss her new rom-com THE SUMMER OF JORDI PEREZ (AND THE BEST BURGER IN LOS ANGELES), and also to do a deep dive into the hamburger-based culinary traditions of L.A. Justina Ireland joins me to talk about her blood-spattered alt-historical novel DREAD NATION, Mark Twain, and how to kill a man with a grass trimmer. Never say we don't teach you anything on the Literaticast!

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! Throw in a buck, and you can be the first to ask questions... and you just might win great books. Including the books featured on this very episode! 

* I'm on twitter! Amy Spalding is on twitter!Justina Ireland is on twitter! WE'RE ALL ON TWITTER!

* Amy's author website -- * Justina's author website

* The In-n-Out Secret Menu Items, ranked

* The Two Bossy Dames newsletter - you can subscribe for free, or get bonus content with a paid subscription. (It is SO GOOD, gang)

* From the NYT: Black Kids Don't Want to Read About Harriet Tubman All the Time

* The Hamline MFA program in Writing for Children & Young Adults

* Writerly Resources: Justina tweetly opines about novel openings and the Promise of the Story

​* Writerly Resources 2: Books by Donald Maas including WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL

* Writerly Resources 3: The AbsoluteWrite message board