Do you read fanfic? Have you ever wondered what goes on in the mind of a fanfic writer? How do fanfic writers stay close to cannon while also providing such interesting stories that we wish existed? What draws fanfiction writers to certain fandoms and series? Well you are in luck! I sat down with Izzy (Daevastanner on AO3) who has written several fanfiction pieces. Most of her writing is within the world of ACOTAR by Sarah J Maas with a few other fandoms thrown in! We talk all about cannon, our favorite fanfics, why we think fanfic is so incredibly popular and so much more!
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Izzy (@readthesefics)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Have you read Beasts of Prey and are extremely excited for Beasts of Ruin? Well you should be excited then because I got to sit down with Ayana Gray and discuss the rich history and mythology that inspired this story, how it felt to get a Netflix deal before even publishing the Beasts of Prey, and how we are all fighting imposture syndrome at all times. Ayana is an incredible human and I cannot recommend her series enough!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Ayana Gray (@AyanaGray_)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Have you read These Hollow Vows and want to know how Lexi Ryan came up with this extremely well written world? Did you know that she didn't have an outline? Are you cheering for Sebastian or Finn? Are you dying to know if we will return to this world? In today's episode, Lexi Ryan and I sat down to discuss everything about the These Hollow Vows duology and its EPIC conclusion, These Twisted Bonds. We discuss it all: how to balance a love triangle, major lessons she has learned about the industry, why Lexi decided to traditionally publish this duology while self publishing her romance novels, and more!
These Twisted Bonds is out now! You can order a copy here!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Lexi Ryan (@writerlexiryan)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Did you know less than 3% of books are translated into English? That not including text books and things, that number is actually closer to 600 books? Total. I was blown away by this in today's discussion with Chad Post. Chad is the publisher at Open Letter, the University of Rochester's nonprofit, literary translation press, and is one of only a handful of publishing houses dedicated to increasing access to world literature for English readers. Chad talks all about why we don't see very many translated works these days, what causes a spike in translated works, other interesting trends!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Chad Post (@openletterbooks)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
What happens when two author BFFs are inspired by a new twist on The Parent Trap? You get the amazing book, The Beach Trap! Ali Brady knocked this book out of the park! It has everything you could ever want in a fun summer read. You have sisters, love, a feud, heavy topics, light topics, the beach. Everything. I am in love with this book and I adored this conversation with Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey! We talk about it all in today's episode! From writing as a duo, how they developed a story that felt so seamless you would have no idea it was written by two people rather than one, their own writing careers, and more! Their book is amazing and I hope you preorder it!
The Beach Trap is out July 14th! Preorder it here.
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Ali Brady (@alibradybooks)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Why would an author hire an outside publicist? How do PR professionals cultivate their relationships with the media and social media folks? Who gets an Advanced Reader Copy and how? If you have asked yourself any of these questions, you'll love today's interview with Kathleen Carter! Kathleen is the CEO and Founder of Kathleen Carter Communications and is the Public Relations person for many of the guests we have had on the podcast!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Kathleen Carter (@kccpr)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
What would happen if Romeo and Juliet was set in modern day Texas and instead of just feuding families, they were competing mariachi bands? How would the battle against gentrification affect their relationship? If you are curious about this dynamic, you will be excited to read West Side Love Story by Priscilla Oliveras. In today's episode, I sat down with Priscilla to discuss her newest release, how she teaches a course on romance writing, how she balances everything and so much more! We talk all things Mariana and Angelo, how Priscilla felt touching topics such as gentrification and the foster system, and how Selena was stuck in my head the entire time I read this book!
West Side Love Story is set to release on June 1st!
You can order West Side Love Story Here!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Priscilla Oliveras (@prisoliveras)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
What does an editor actually do? How do they help our favorite books come to our bookshelves? Are there any real quality checks when publishing books? Are publishing houses anything like the show Younger? If you have asked yourself any of these questions, you will love my guest today! I got to sit down with Maria Gomez, editor at Montlake (an imprint of Amazon Publishing) to discuss all things editing! From if the table filled with manuscripts exist to how publishing is so subjective to the timelines many of her books are on! It was a fantastic discussion and I loved hearing about this side of the literary industry!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Maria Gomez from Amazon Publishing
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Have you read The Empirium Trilogy yet? Did you know that Furyborn was the first book Claire Legrand tried to get published, yet it was published years into her writing career and required a ton of faith and tenacity to get on bookshelves? In today's episode, I got to sit down with Claire and hear all about the processes of writing, how soundtracks help her write her stories, who her favorite Star Trek captain is, and so much more! I loved chatting with Claire and hearing so much more about Eliana, Rielle, Audric, and the Empirium Trilogy world!
Also, shoutout to @elleisbooked for helping me write some of The Empirium Trilogy questions!
Click here to connect with Claire's Spotify!
Click here to purchase The Empirium Trilogy!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Claire Legrand
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
How do agents decide who to pick up? How does querying work? Are agents involved in the editorial process or the marketing process for authors? How does the mass exodus we are seeing in publishing affect the industry and are agents worried? If you have asked yourself any of these questions, you will love today's episode with special guest, John Cusick! John is a Senior Vice President at Folio Literary Management and the agent to many well known authors, such as Laura Sebastian, Joan He, Julie Murphy and so many others!
As a warning: We had some slight audio problems for the first two questions but we fixed it 4 min in. I didn't realize we needed to rerecord the first two questions until after the interview, but it was all fixed and wonderful from about the 4 min mark on!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: John Cusick
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Have you picked up Home or Away by Kathleen West yet? If you haven't, today's episode will absolutely convince you to! I sat down with Kathleen to discuss her newest release, along with the Me Too movement, how book popularity is completely based on timing, and the pressure we put on kids and athletes! This book is a poignant look at both how far parents will go to help their kid succeed at their goals while also taking a look at less than ethical relationships and abuse of power.
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Kathleen West (@KathleenWestWrites)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Do you listen to audiobooks? Have you wondered what goes into the narration of one? Well, I sat down with actress and narrator Eva Kaminsky to discuss all of the behind the scenes aspects that go into audiobook narration! We talk about all things from developing tone, if genre affects that, how the Big 5 is different from indie author narration, and more. Eva was a wonderful guest and I loved hearing all about the process of bringing our favorite books to life via audiobooks.
See books Eva has narrated here
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guest: Eva Kaminsky (@evakaminsky1)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Have you read Crescent City 2: House of Sky and Breath? Were you blown away by all of the major reveals? Well, Jessie and I were so we HAD to sit down and discuss all of the various reveals, the new mates, and amazing new characters! If you haven't read House of Sky and Breath, I would skip this episode, but if you have, Jessie and I go over Ruhn and his arc, complain about how we are still getting Danika reveals, how Hunt was bullied into every decision this book, and how Sarah J Maas is an epic writer and I don't think I would survive in her brain. SJM is the master at hiding leads and threads and we were blown away!
Listen to our first Crescent City chat
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guests: Jessie Lovene (@jessielovenelit)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Have you seen a rise in virtual book clubs in the last year or two? Have you considered what happens behind the scenes and how they get off the ground? Well, I sit down with Sarah (@rosebudmode) who goes above and beyond for her book clubs! Coming from a gaming background, she started a book club on Twitch and has since created two more book clubs, a patreon, and has moved them to live streams on YouTube! From creating hundred pages of guides for books, moderating a discord, and going live for hours to go through all of the points of a book, Sarah really created a wonderful book club community!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Shop the books mentioned on the podcast here!
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guests: Sarah (@rosebudmode)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
I was honored to be invited to sit down with Farah Heron to discuss her newest release, Kamila Knows Best! From the story being a contemporary retelling of Emma by Jane Austen to how diverse characters don't need to live in a world of adversity, we discuss it all! I loved discussing the heavier topics while also discussing puppies, biryani parties, and how women who are seen as vapid because they take extra time with their appearance or want to host parties doesn't mean they don't have added depth.
Kamila Knows best is available for preorder and is set to be released on March 8th!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guests: Farah Heron (@farahheronauthor)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Earlier this year, we heard from Emily Wittig Designs about creating book covers as a freelancer. Today, I got to sit down with Courtney Dodson, creative director of Amazon Publishing, about creating book covers on the more traditional side of the publishing industry! Courtney and I talk all things cover design, such as how much authors have as input, how you decide what trends to embrace vs push away from, and how to really engage readers who are shopping for books! We also talk about understanding language and the best way to represent that along with simplifying is almost always a good choice! Courtney is one of the most eloquent people I have ever spoken to and I am straight up obsessed with her!
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
https://www.patreon.com/abookshelfbinge
Shop the books mentioned on the podcast here!
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guests: Courtney Dodson from Amazon Publishing (@amazonpublishing)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Have you read The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by VE Schwab? Did you cry your eyes out? Do you think Luc really loves Addie? Well, my dear friend Tatyana and I sat down to discuss all things Addie LaRue! From whether we think Henry would have been able to survive Addie's curse to how we both peaked at 23 and its all down hill from here, we break down why we love this story and why it made us incredibly emotional.
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
https://www.patreon.com/abookshelfbinge
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guests: Tatyana (@theliteraturellama2.0 and @thebookishbanterpodcast)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Why is ghostwriting such a secretive aspect of the literary world? How do you even find a ghostwriter? Do they only work with one author at a time? Do they get upset that they aren't credited? If you have ever asked yourself these questions, then you will find great enjoyment out of today's guest! I got to sit down with Dan Gerstein, CEO of Gotham Ghostwriters, a company that helps pair ghostwriters to projects and is "a one-stop solution for any author or speaker looking for help telling and selling a story."
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
https://www.patreon.com/abookshelfbinge
We have merch! Click here to shop the podcast's merch!
Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guests: Dan Gerstein from Gotham Ghostwriters (@gotham_ghosts)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Have you read Savage Lands or any books by Stacey Marie Brown? Are you curious how these characters came to her head? Do you wonder why her book feel so real and tangible? Well, you're in luck, because I got to sit down with Stacey and ask her all of these questions! From her writing process, her history in Hollywood, to the future of the Savage Lands series, we cover it all!
I will warn you, there were some technical difficulties with this episode, so I am super sorry if the audio quality is annoying. I loved this episode, so I wanted to release it despite there being slight microphone issues.
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
https://www.patreon.com/abookshelfbinge
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Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guests: Stacey Marie Brown (@staceymariebrown)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
Have you listened to Shelby Mahurin's instagram lives and heard all about her fabulous critique partner, Jordan? Have you ever heard someone mention a critique partner and have wondered "what's that?" or "how do I find one of those to look at my novel?" Well, you're in luck because I sat down with Jordan Gray and discussed all things critique partnering! We break down how she started in the business, how the industry as a whole can sometimes suck, how to find a critique partner if you don't want to pay someone, and why the industry is a rough world but surrounded by the most amazing people! There are also some fun Serpent and Dove antidotes, and a fun discussion about Passionflix. Come for the knowledge, stay for the smut adaptations.
This episode is sponsored by Audible! Follow this link to get a free 30-day trial for Audible.
https://www.patreon.com/abookshelfbinge
We have merch! Click here to shop the podcast's merch!
Credits:
Host: @bookshelfbinge
Guests: Jordan Gray (@authorjordangray)
Cover art: SaraSomethingCo (@sarasomething.co)
