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45: Heroes, Villains, Sidekicks and Kryptonite with guest author Lamar Giles

9/14/2020

1 Comment

 
Today we're talking pop culture! If you insert specific pop culture references in your work, how do you walk the line between seeming current now, and possibly making your book seem dated a couple years from now... and how DOES a grownup stay current, anyway? How can 1980's TV inform the way you structure your book, and what can superhero stories teach us about crafting a short pitch? All this and more with my special guest, MG and YA novel writing superstar Lamar Giles!
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Download Transcript

Show Notes:

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* The Literaticast has a Patreon! Throw in a buck and help support the show. 
​* Find me on Twitter - Find Lamar on Twitter
* Lamar Giles official website
* Just fun: Five things you didn't know about Lamar!

Special shout-out: My local comic shop is AMAZING, and is one of only a handful of Black-owned comic book shops in the US. The owner is wonderful and has made it their mission for the store to be an incredibly welcoming and inclusive comics space. Megabrain could really use support, as they have had to reduce their hours significantly and can't have their awesome 1980's arcade open during the pandemic - but they have started selling online for all your nerdy needs! Check out Megabrain Comics!

Books We Discussed:

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1 Comment

44: Literaticast Live! Celebrating the Hudson Valley YA Society's 10th Birthday

8/21/2020

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It's a very special episode: Four amazing authors helped me celebrate the Hudson Valley YA Society's 10th Anniversary and launch Christine Heppermann's new novel in verse WHAT GOES UP, in conjunction with Oblong Books & Music's "Oblong Online" event series. Listen in on this great event with Christine Heppermann, Brandy Colbert, Laura Ruby, and Sherri L. Smith. (And please forgive any technical glitches, this was a live event from five locations and something of an experiment!)
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Download Transcript

Show Notes: 

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* In-person events are on hold in pandemic times, but awesome authors still visit Oblong Books & Music via Oblong Online events! Check out the Oblong website's calendar of upcoming events to find out who will be visiting! 

* GET SIGNED COPIES OF ALL THESE TITLES VIA OBLONG BOOKS*

* Visit Christine Heppermann, Brandy Colbert, Sherri L. Smith and Laura Ruby on socials!

* The Literaticast has a Patreon - throw in a buck and help support the show. :-) Thank you!

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Books We Discussed:

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43: Shaking Up the "Supposed-To-Bes" with author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow

7/30/2020

1 Comment

 
As you may have noticed, the podcast took a little hiatus - but we're back, baby! This episode, I give a little "state of the publishing industry" address, where I answer some burning listener questions about how the pandemic is affecting publishing. My special guest is picture book author Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, who talks about shaking up expectations and other important lessons for picture book authors (and, actually, ALL authors!), and tells us all about her latest picture book, YOUR NAME IS A SONG. Plus, I dig a bit into the results of the latest CCBC Diversity numbers.
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Download Transcript

Show Notes:

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! Throw in a buck and help me make more episodes.

* Find me on Twitter. Find Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow on Twitter.

* Visit Jamilah's website where you can learn more about her and her books!

* The CCBC Diversity survey has put out new numbers for 2019 books.

* Support We Need Diverse Books - visit their website for more info!

Books We Discussed: 

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1 Comment

42: Creativity in Crisis with guest author Rebecca Stead

4/4/2020

6 Comments

 
Author Rebecca Stead (WHEN YOU REACH ME, LIAR AND SPY, among others) joins me to talk about her creative process -- as well as such important topics as revision with book maps, finding an authentic voice, giving yourself permission to suck, shutting down your inner critic, the annoyingness of the word "tween", and the restorative power of watching other people bake things. I'll also let her tell you a bit about her latest novel, out this week: THE LIST OF THINGS THAT WILL NOT CHANGE!
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Download Transcript

Show Notes:

* The Literaticast has a Patreon. Throw in a buck and help me keep the show going.

* Find me on Twitter. Find Rebecca Stead on Twitter.

* The 92nd Street Y is closed at the moment, but they have a full roster of online events, including writing workshops!

​* The Highlights Foundation has amazing workshops throughout the year - though they are closed right now, there are still online opportunities -- including free craft seminars!

* Rebecca shares her "Book Map" template

* I'm obsessed with the Bon Appetit Test Kitchen YouTube channel! 

* Rebecca is obsessed with @WednesdayChef on Insta!

Books We Discussed:

Signed copies of Rebecca Stead's books are available at Oblong Books while supplies last! 
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6 Comments

41: Marketing Mayhem with Hannah Moushabeck

3/23/2020

2 Comments

 
My guest this week is Hannah Moushabeck, a book marketing wizard from Quarto Books with a life-long history in the book industry. Hannah and I chat about ways for you to get the word out about your book, and what your publisher is doing, as well as social media 101, and so much more.

​PLEASE NOTE:
This episode was recorded several weeks ago, in the Before-Time when we still had lively bookstores and libraries. Much of the valuable info herein will still apply, but some of it, well.... bear it in mind for when the "shelter-in-place" orders lift. I'll be updating with "Corona-Time" info as I have it.
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Download Transcript

Show Notes:

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* The Literaticast has a Patreon. Throw in a buck to help support the show.

* Find Hannah on Twitter. Find me on Twitter!

* Hannah's publisher, Quarto Books

* Hannah's family publisher, Interlink Books

* The Interactive Slime Museum! 
​
* More about the Haynes Library in Eleuthera, Bahamas

UPDATE: Hannah has put together a useful article with marketing tips for a Post Quarantine world!

Books We Discussed: 

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2 Comments

40: A Publicist Explains It All For You, with guest Tracy van Straaten

2/15/2020

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My guest is publicist Tracy van Straaten, who will pull the curtain back and reveal everything you've always wanted to know about Book Publicity but were afraid to ask! (Well, maybe not everything. But a LOT OF STUFF!) Including how to best work with your in-house publicist, when hiring an outside publicist might be the right move, and much more.
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Download Transcript

Show Notes

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! Throw in a buck to support the show.

* Find me on Twitter! Find Tracy on Twitter!

* TvS Media Group website

* Get a taste of how many books the NYT gets in to review every week...

* You can get audiobooks free from your library with the Libby App

* Authors Tracy talked about who have a great online presence include:
​Jason Reynolds, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jenny Han, Rick Riordan,
Kate Messner, Kelly Yang, Lisa Yee,  Jarret Krocozka
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Out now!
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Out now!
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May 19, 2020
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June 2, 2020
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Sept 1, 2020
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39: Career Building with Kate Messner

1/19/2020

6 Comments

 
My guest this week is Kate Messner -- the perfect person to discuss Career Building! Over the past decade she's published over 30 children's books, and has 12 more coming out in 2020 alone. Wowza! We'll talk about how she does it. We also talk about things she WISHES she had known when she was a debut, how to find balance in what can be a wild business, and so much more. 
Download the Transcript
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Show Notes

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! If you're a fan and are so inclined, throw in a buck to help me keep the episodes coming.

* Find me on Twitter. Find Kate on Twitter.

* Kate Messner's official website.

* "What Happened To Your Book Today" is a must-read poem by Kate -- especially good for when you're feeling those "nobody is talking about my book" blues....

* More about branding and social media stuffs from the ever-brilliant Jess Keating

* One of the books Kate recommended, ALL THIRTEEN by Christina Soontornvat, is not yet available for pre-order -- keep an eye on her website for more info as it comes.

Books We Discussed: Click on the Book Jackets for info and buy links! 
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The first novel Kate and I sold!
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Available Feb 4, 2020
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Available Feb 4, 2020
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The first book in the OVER/UNDER series!
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Available March 24, 2020
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Available March 3, 2020
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One of Kate's favorite new Debuts!
6 Comments

38: The Great Big Holiday Gift Guide - 2019

12/2/2019

5 Comments

 
We welcome the return of the Great Big Holiday Gift Guide, 2019 edition! I interview three independent booksellers from various parts of the country, and we give you our best recommendations for ALL the young folks on your shopping list – and some of the grownups, too. Joining me are Abby Rauscher, from Books are Magic in Brooklyn New York – Cecilia Cackley, from East City Books on Capitol Hilll in Washington DC, and Stephanie Heinz, from Print: A Bookstore, in Portland Maine. Get a pen and paper, you're gonna want to take notes on this one!

Bookstores Represented: Click the logo to visit the website!

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Oblong Books and Music in Rhinebeck and Millerton, New York
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Books are Magic in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, New York
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East City Book Shop, Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.
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Print: A Bookshop, in Portland, Maine
Download Transcript
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Picture Books

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Jenn Pick
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Jenn Wildcard: Best "Christmas Book" for people who don't celebrate Christmas!
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Abby Pick
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Cecilia Wildcard: For people who like celebrity-penned picture books, this is a great one!
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Cecilia Pick
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Cecilia: Nonfiction Pick
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Stephanie Pick
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Stephanie: Nonfiction Pick

Baby Books

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Jenn Pick
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Abby Wildcard: Best Book for a Newborn
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Abby Pick
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Cecilia Pick
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Stephanie Pick

Chapter Books

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Jenn Pick
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Abby Pick
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Cecilia Pick
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Stephanie Pick

Graphic Novels

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Jenn Pick
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Jenn: YA Pick
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Abby Pick
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Stephanie Wildcard: For Tabletop Gaming Nerds
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Cecilia Pick
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Abby Nonfiction Pick
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Stephanie Pick

Middle Grade Fiction

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Jenn Pick
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Cecilia Wildcard: For kids who love Harry Potter
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Abby Pick
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Stephanie Wildcard: For folks who love Novels in Verse
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Cecilia Pick
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Stephanie Pick

YA / Adult Crossover Fiction

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Abby Pick
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Jenn Wildcard: Crossover, for older teens & adults who love scary stuff!
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Cecilia Pick
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Cecilia Wildcard: Crossover, for older teens & adults who love fantasy!
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Stephanie Pick
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Stephanie Wildcard: For audio-book lovers

Nonfiction and Miscellaneous Giftiness

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Jenn Pick
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Abby Wildcard: For the Gamer
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Abby Wildcard: For a horror lover of any age
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Jenn Wildcard: For the teens and young adults into INSTAGRAMMABLE WITCHERY!
5 Comments

37: Nonfic November, with guest editor Kandace Coston

11/24/2019

1 Comment

 
My guest Kandace Coston is an editor at Lee & Low, the largest multicultural publisher in the U.S. She is a nonfiction picture book expert, and we'll discuss how to choose a topic, what to include in the backmatter, and how to tackle potentially problematic content in a nonfiction book for young readers. Also, I explore an app that makes me feel EXTREMELY old. Join us, won't you?
Download Transcript
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Show Notes:

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! Throw in a buck and help keep episodes coming.

* Our guest editor Kandace Coston has a website. Check it out!

* Kandace also creates gorgeous hand-crafted jewelry! Check out her Etsy shop.

* Lee and Low Books has writing contests specifically for writers of color and Native/Indigenous writers. 

* We Need Diverse Books awards internship grants to help augment the low pay of interning at publishing houses.

* Here's a great article about different kinds of children's nonfiction, from author Melissa Stewart.

Books We Discussed:

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1 Comment

36: Behind the Book - ROAR LIKE A DANDELION

10/13/2019

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Welcome to an all-new feature on the Literaticast: BEHIND THE BOOK, in which we take a deep dive into the backstory behind the making of one fascinating book. Up for discussion today is ROAR LIKE A DANDELION by Ruth Krauss, Illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier, published by HarperCollins. Ruth Krauss was one of the foremost children's authors of the 20th century, and ROAR is a long-lost manuscript that has just been published for the first time. I speak to HarperCollins editor Nancy Inteli, who rediscovered the manuscript; Children's Book Historian Philip Nel, who is an expert on Ruth Krauss; and illustrator Sergio Ruzzier, who brought the story to life. If you like children's book history and the art of the Picture Book, you won't want to miss this episode.

Show Notes:

* The Literaticast has a Patreon! The latest Patreon update: We're working on transcribing past episodes of the podcast and are up to Episode 13, with more coming regularly. Thanks, Patrons, for making this possible!

* Find me on Twitter. Find Sergio Ruzzier on Twitter. Find Nancy Inteli on Twitter. Find Philip Nel on Twitter!

* There's a great piece about ROAR on the Seven Imps blog - with tons of illustrations and inspiration!

* Phil Nel has a great blog! Here's an entry about the surprising intersection between Ruth Krauss and... the Beatles?!

Books We Discussed:

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One of Sergio's favorite pages - and inspiration:

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    About the Literaticast

    Literary Agent Jennifer Laughran and her friends dish about the world of Children's Publishing.

    Become a Patron! Patreon donations go directly to paying the fees to run the podcast. Any amount over will be funneled into a scholarship program for marginalized writers to attend conferences/ workshops.

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