The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as tastemakers and creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days, and celebrate Hien's upcoming debut novel Twin Tides!
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape.
Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Connect with Vincent Tirado online:
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The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry, and how to be a publishing anti.
Connect with Sami Ellis online:
Website
Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Connect with Vincent Tirado online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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The one where we lament the shift away from lyrical picture books, mourn the synchronicity of writing something that already exists, and discuss the audacity required to actually go the distance as an author.
Connect with Joanna Ho online:
Connect with Caroline Kusin Pritchard online:
Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Connect with Vincent Tirado online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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The one where Alex shares what it's like publishing her sophomore novel six years after her debut, the gang discuss the Luke Bateman controversy and how publishing loves a safe bet, and Laekan celebrates her five-year anniversary of being a full-time author by going back to teaching.
Connect with Alexandra Villasante online:
Website
Connect with Vincent Tirado online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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The one where we talk to authors Jonny Garza Villa and Aaron H. Aceves about strategies to pitch and sell our next projects, author career planning years into the future, and a fundraiser for the Queer Liberation Network.
Connect with Jonny Garza Villa online:
Website
Connect with Aaron H. Aceves online:
Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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The one where we talk about Mark Zuckerberg stealing our books, how the chaos of this current administration is adversely affecting the publishing industry, and embracing the creative pivot.
Connect with Angela Montoya online:
Connect with Melanie Schubert online:
Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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The one where we discuss how we are staying artistically focused given the state of the world, how we manage our book cover reveals, and how to launch a fiction podcast.
Connect with Vincent Tirado online:
Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Connect with Hien Nguyen online:
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The one where we lament the current state of the country, discuss the myriad routes to film and television adaptations, and remind ourselves that comparison is the thief of joy.
Connect with Laura Taylor Namey online:
Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Connect with Hien Nguyen online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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The one where we discuss how publishers value some awards more than others, the behind-the-scenes manufacturing of a book's success, and what it feels like to finally get a peek behind the veil post-debut.
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Jill Tew online:
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Connect with Hien Nguyen online:
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Fahmidan Journal Issue 17
Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
The one where we lament the mental torture of revisions, rage over the reemergence of Jeanine Cummins, and discuss how to set boundaries with family and friends who don't always consider writing to be a "real job."
Resources Mentioned:
2023 Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards
Diana's advice thread for querying writers
Connect with Candace Buford online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
Connect with Hien Nguyen online:
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The one where we welcome the indomitable Dhonielle Clayton to talk about the pressure on marginalized authors to perform in public, authorly cliques, and publishing feminism’s failure to be intersectional in combatting sexism (with a shout out to Papa Pope from Scandal).
Connect with Dhonielle Clayton:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
Connect with Hien Nguyen online:
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Connect with Candace Buford online:
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The one where YA author Hien Nguyen joins the pod! We talk news consumption and how Laekan and Candace are olds (but, whatever, it’s fine), discuss whether there should be a Glassdoor for publishers, and dive deep into whether or not all writing is political.
Connect with Candace Buford online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
The one where we discuss the death of DEI initiatives in publishing as well as the industry's infatuation with white female readers, and Laekan reflects on being chased off the internet by the fans of a white male author.
Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
Connect with Candace Buford online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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The one where we talk about how to overcome a publisher’s low expectations for your book, how to make money as an author on TikTok, how to recognize when your writing stress is affecting your physical health, and how to determine what type of agent is best for you at different stages of your career.
Resources mentioned:
Writing In Italy run by YA Author Suzanne Young
Angela Montoya TikTok: @angelamontoya_author
Kelsie Gonzalez TikTok: @kelsiesheridangonzalez
Victoria Aveyard TikTok: @victoriaaveyard
Nara Smith TikTok: @naraazizasmith
Connect with Candace Buford online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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Connect with Charity Alyse online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
Website Twitter Instagram TikTok Buy Laekan's books
Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
The one where we calculate how many months we can live off our advance money, discuss the process of having rights reverted back to us on past books, and rejoice in the way finding the right research materials can end writer’s block.
Resources mentioned:
Highlights Whole Novel Genre Course
Writing In Italy Retreats for writers in all career stages-hosted by YA author Suzanne Young
Connect with Charity Alyse online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
Website Twitter Instagram TikTok Buy Laekan's books
Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
Connect with Candace Buford online:
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Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online:
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The one where we ponder what exactly determines "good sales numbers," get comfortable with starting over, and realize that publishing is built on the compost pile of failure.
Resources mentioned:
National Education Association Read Across America
A Crown for Corina Spanish Translation
Connect with Hannah V. Sawyerr online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
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Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
Connect with Candace Buford online:
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Connect with Charity Alyse online:
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The one where we discuss the pros and cons of festivals, examine why there are no BIPOC Romantasy phenoms, and critique the worst publishing advice we've ever received.
Connect with Jennifer Chen online:
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Connect with Candace Buford online:
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Connect with Charity Alyse online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
Website Twitter Instagram TikTok Buy Laekan's books
Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
Connect with Emily Inouye Huey online:
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The one where we talk about balancing writing with full time work and being gentle to ourselves so that we can be kind to our creativity. We also examine burnout and awards season highs and lows.
Connect with Adrianna Cuevas online:
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Connect with Jamie Ofelia online:
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Connect with Charity Alyse online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
Website Twitter Instagram TikTok Buy Laekan's books
Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
Connect with Emily Inouye Huey online:
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Connect with Candace Buford online:
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The one where we reflect on our highs and lows of 2023, our seasons of productivity, and our hopes for 2024. We also introduce a new segment in which we spill the publishing tea regarding a white author who targeted authors of color with one-star reviews.
Resources mentioned:
Connect with S. Isabelle online:
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Connect with Charity Alyse online:
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Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online:
Website Twitter Instagram TikTok Buy Laekan's books
Register for Laekan's Debut Author Boot Camp
20% discount code: PAPERTRAIL2024
Debut Author Boot Camp Scholarship form
Sign up for a School Visit Brainstorming Session
Connect with Emily Inouye Huey online:
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Connect with Candace Buford online:
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Connect with Jamie Ofelia online:
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