In this episode of Book Banter with Rayna, we talk with author Julie Leong about her lyrical storytelling, how the right person giving you encouragement can push you to write your book and cats, all the cats. We explore the themes of fate, resilience, and human connection that weave through The Teller of Small Fortunes. Plus, she gives us a glimpse into her creative process and what readers can look forward to next. - Julie Leong is a Malaysian Chinese American fantasy author and corporate strategist who split her childhood across suburban New Jersey and Beijing, China. Her debut novel The Teller of Small Fortunes, a cozy fantasy about an immigrant fortune-teller, comes out on Nov 5 from Ace/Berkley and Hodderscape. Julie graduated from Yale University with degrees in Economics and Political Science and currently lives in San Francisco with her husband Drew, their cockapoo Kaya, and a magical lemon tree in the backyard that somehow always has ripe lemons. When she’s not writing, she enjoys making unnecessary spreadsheets and flambéing things. Find her online at julieleong.com or on Instagram at @JulieLeongBooks. - In The Teller of Small Fortunes a wandering fortune teller finds an unexpected family in this warm and wonderful debut fantasy, perfect for readers of Travis Baldree and Sangu Mandanna - Purchase The Teller of Small Fortunes here: https://bookshop.org/lists/book-banter-guests - Book Banter is a laid-back conversational interview with authors, illustrators, creators and other bookish folks. - Subscribe to Book Banter with Rayna wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@Book_Banter