First Draft Episode #325: Ayana Gray

Ayana Gray, debut author of Beasts of Prey, which is being adapted into a Netflix film.

Today's episode of First Draft is brought to you by Tonight We Rule the World by Zack Smedley, out from Page Street Publishing on October 5th.

And by Revision Season, a seven-week virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Fall 2021 Session of Revision Season will run Oct 10 – Nov 28, and enrollment is now open!

Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• As Told By Ginger (movie)

• Pete Knapp, literary agent with Park & Fine Literary and Media

• Stacey Barney, associate publisher of Nancy Paulsen Books

• Scrivener, writing software

• Beth Phelan, literary agent with Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency and founder of DiverseVoices Inc., (which is #DVpit / #DVart, DVcon, DVdebut and DVmentor)

• #MSWL is a twitter hashtag agents and editors use to let writers know what they are looking for.

• Pitch Wars

• Circe by Madeline Miller

• The Inklings interviews on Ayana’s website

🎙️ Enjoy this episode? Check out…

• Kendare Blake, New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series, Anna Dressed in Blood, and more, talks about her new historical thriller, All These Bodies, and her upcoming YA novel set in the universe of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, In Every Generation. Hear her First Draft interviews here and here.

• Alaya Dawn Johnson, Nebula-winning author of YA novels The Summer Prince, Love is the Drug, and Trouble the Saints. Hear her First Draft interview here.

• Kristin Cashore, New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling series, including Graceling, Fire, Bitterblue, and Winterkeep, as well as Jane, Unlimited. Hear her First Draft interview here.

Thanks for Listening!

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Join the First Draft Patreon, or make a monthly or one-time donation via PayPal or Venmo

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✍️ Track Changes Learn how the traditional publishing industry works in the Track Changes podcast mini-series.

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First Draft Episode #324: Kendare Blake

Kendare Blake, New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series, Anna Dressed in Blood, and more, talks about her new historical thriller, All These Bodies, and her upcoming YA novel set in the universe of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, In Every Generation.

This episode is brought to you by The Devil Makes Three by Tori Bovalino, out from Page Street Press now!

And by Revision Season, a seven-week virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Fall 2021 Session of Revision Season will run Oct 10 – Nov 28, and enrollment is now open!

Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• Hear Kendare’s previous episode of First Draft here, and watch the Tell Me Everything University Bookstore (Seattle, WA) event featuring Sarah Enni, Kendare, and Somaiya Daud, author of YA sci-fi book Mirage and Court of Lions.

• Antigoddess by Kendare Blake

• Stephanie Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss and the horror novel There’s Someone Inside Your House (watch the Netflix film adaptation Oct. 6!) talks about her newest scary book, The Woods Are Always Watching.

• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

• Murder in the Heartland (movie)

• Natural Born Killers (movie)

• Capote (movie)

• Infamous (movie)

• Interview With a Vampire by Anne Rice

• Jocelyn Davies, editor at Disney

• Kieran Viola, director of editorial for Disney Hyperion

• Roswell (TV show)

• LOST (TV show)

• Cobra Kai (TV show)

• Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning, and critically acclaimed author of many books, including the And I Darken trilogy, the Slayer series, the Camelot Rising trilogy, and her upcoming adult debut, Hide. Listen to her First Draft interview here.

🎙️ Enjoy this episode? Check out…

• Cassandra Clare, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, the forthcoming Sword Catcher duology, and co-author of the Magisterium series. Hear her First Draft interviews here and here.

• Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling An Ember in the Ashes series, and the fothcoming All My Rage. Hear her First Draft interviews here and here.

• Victoria Aveyard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Red Queen series, talks about the first book in her new YA fantasy series, Realm Breaker. Hear her First Draft interviews here and here.

Thanks for Listening!

🏆 Support the Show

Join the First Draft Patreon, or make a monthly or one-time donation via PayPal or Venmo

🤳 Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

📫 Sign up for the First Draft Newsletter

👕💯 Get First Draft merchandise

✍️ Track Changes Learn how the traditional publishing industry works in the Track Changes podcast mini-series.

👍 Rate, Review, and Recommend

Take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your honest and positive review helps others discover the show -- so thank you!

First Draft Mini-Episode: First Draft Patreon With Sarah Enni

Creator and host of First Draft, Sarah Enni, announces the launch of the First Draft Patreon, a way listeners can help support the show by pledging $5 or $10 a month. In exchange for that monthly donation, supporters will gain access to an exclusive community forum, get monthly video chats with Sarah, get 15% off First Draft merchandise, and get a shoutout at the top of a First Draft episode and on the First Draft supporter page.

If you sign up to support First Draft before Oct. 1, 2021, you will receive a Super Special Supporter Pack, which includes a personal note from Sarah Enni, First Draft swag (bookmark, pin, and sticker), and a surprise book! Sign up to get yours today!

Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• The First Draft Patreon page

• The publishing infographics I create and try to share each week

• Callie Wright, freelance audio producer and editor

• Track Changes

• Donate to First Draft on PayPal

• Donate to First Draft on Venmo

• Follow First Draft on Instagram and Twitter

Thanks for Listening!

🏆 Support the Show

Join the First Draft Patreon, or make a monthly or one-time donation via PayPal or Venmo

🤳 Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

📫 Sign up for the First Draft Newsletter

👕💯 Get First Draft merchandise

✍️ Track Changes Learn how the traditional publishing industry works in the Track Changes podcast mini-series.

👍 Rate, Review, and Recommend

Take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your honest and positive review helps others discover the show -- so thank you!

First Draft Episode #323: Christine Riccio

Christine Riccio, New York Times bestselling author of Again, But Better and Better Together and creative force behind PolandBananasBooks, her BookTube channel with more than 400,000 subscribers, and co-host of Booksplosion, the largest book club on YouTube.

This episode is brought to you by Laura Sibson’s Edie in Between, a modern-day Practical Magic about love, loss, and embracing the mystical, available now.

And by The Lost Girls: A Vampire Revenge Story by Sonia Hartl, out from Page Street Publishing now.

Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• Christine shared her perspective on promoting books on BookTube in the Track Changes Marketing and Publicity (Part 1) episode

• Booksplosion is the book club Christine cohosts with Katytastic and Jesse The Reader

• Sasha Alsberg, New York Times bestselling co-author with Lindsay Cummings of Zenith: The Androma Saga series (listen to their First Draft interview here) and creator of YouTube channel abookutopia

• The Parent Trap (movie - 1961) (movie - 1998)

🎙️ Enjoy this episode? Check out…

• Margot Wood, founder of Epic Reads, talks about her debut young adult novel, Fresh. Hear her interview here.

• Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of queer rom-coms Red, White, and Royal Blue and One Last Stop. Hear their First Draft interview here.

• Morgan Matson, New York Times bestselling author of Save the Date, The Unexpected Everything, and more answers listener questions about life, writing, and her new YA, Take Me Home Tonight. Hear her First Draft interviews here, here, and here!

🤳 Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni

In Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

📫 Sign up for the First Draft Newsletter

👕💯 Get First Draft merchandise

✍️ Track Changes

If you’re looking for more information on how to get published, or the traditional publishing industry, check out the Track Changes podcast series.

🏆 Support the Show

Love the show? Make a monthly or one-time donation at Paypal.me/FirstDraft.

👍 Rate, Review, and Recommend

Take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your honest and positive review helps others discover the show -- so thank you!

First Draft Episode #322: Jennifer Niven

Jennifer Niven is the Emmy Award-winning #1 New York Times bestselling author of ten books, including YA novels All the Bright Places, Holding up the Universe, Breathless, and Take Me With You When You Go (with David Levithan).

This episode is brought to you by Laura Sibson’s Edie in Between, a modern-day Practical Magic about love, loss, and embracing the mystical, available now.

And by The Splendor by Breeana Shields, out from Page Street Publishing now.

Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• Penelope Niven, biographer and author of Carl Sandburg: A Biography and Carl Sandburg: Adventures of a Poet, Thornton Wilder: A Life, Steichen: A Biography, memoirist (Swimming Lessons: Life Lessons From the Pool, From Diving In to Treading Water) and co-author of James Earl Jones’s autobiography, Voices and Silences.

• The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger

• Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, Under the Banner of Heaven, Missoula, and more

• Carl Sandburg, three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning poet (for Cornhuskers and Complete Poems) and biographer (for his four-book series, Abraham Lincoln: The War Years).

• Will Schwalbe, author of The End of Your Life Book Club and Books For Living: Some Thoughts on Reading, Reflecting, and Embracing Life, and co-author of Send: Why People Email So Badly and How to Do It Better with Dave Shipley

• Jennifer’s original agent, John A. Ware, who passed away in 2013. Read his obituary in Publisher’s Weekly.

• Jennifer’s current agent, Kerry Sparks at the Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency

• David Levithan, editorial director at Scholastic and the author of many young adult novels, including Boy Meets Boy, Every Day, and co-author with Rachel Cohn of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares.

• Ava Dellaira, author of Love Letters to the Dead and In Search of Us. Listen to her First Draft interviews here and here.

🎙️ Enjoy this episode? Check out…

• Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star talks about her new YA, Instructions For Dancing and her brand new publishing venture: co-publisher of Joy Revolution, a Random House young adult imprint dedicated to love stories starring people of color. Hear her First Draft interviews here and here.

• Morgan Matson, New York Times bestselling author of YA contemporary novels, including Save the Date, The Unexpected Everything, and Take Me Home Tonight. Hear her First Draft interviews here, here, and here.

• Mary H. K. Choi, New York Times bestselling author of Emergency Contact, Permanent Record and Yolk. Hear her First Draft interviews here and here.

🤳 Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni

In Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

📫 Sign up for the First Draft Newsletter

👕💯 Get First Draft merchandise

✍️ Track Changes

If you’re looking for more information on how to get published, or the traditional publishing industry, check out the Track Changes podcast series.

🏆 Support the Show

Love the show? Make a monthly or one-time donation at Paypal.me/FirstDraft.

👍 Rate, Review, and Recommend

Take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your honest and positive review helps others discover the show -- so thank you!

First Draft Episode #321: Stephanie Perkins

Stephanie Perkins, New York Times bestselling author of Anna and the French Kiss and the horror novel There’s Someone Inside Your House (watch the Netflix film adaptation Oct. 6!) talks about her newest scary book, The Woods Are Always Watching.

This episode is brought to you by Laura Sibson’s Edie in Between, a modern-day Practical Magic about love, loss, and embracing the mystical, available now!

Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode:

• Hear the live episode where Stephanie and Sarah Enni talk about Sarah’s debut, Tell Me Everything, at Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville, N. C.

• Hear Sara Zarr and Sarah Enni discuss the job of podcasting

• Acuity Scheduling is the software that I am using to schedule interviews

• Kerry Winfrey, author of romantic comedies Waiting For Tom Hanks, Not Like the Movies, and her newest, Very Sincerely Yours. She is also the author of YA novels Love and Other Alien Experiences and Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites It. Hear our conversation here.

• Jane Friedman, publishing expert and author educator, wrote The Business of Being a Writer and the Hot Sheet newsletter (a must for all writers IMHO!)

• Charles Dickens, author of A Tale of Two Cities, A Christmas Carol, Great Expectations, and more

• Jane Austen, author of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma and more

• NaNoWriMo, a.k.a. National Novel Writing Month (read Steph’s 2015 Pep Talk for NaNoWriMo here!)

• Kate Testerman, agent and founder of kt literary

• Julia Straus-Gabel, President and Publisher, Dutton Children's Books, Penguin Random Houes, profiled in “Her Stinging Critiques Propel Young Adult Bestsellers,” in The New York Times and “Meet the Editor: Julie Strauss-Gabel,” in Publisher’s Weekly

• John Green, #1 New York Times bestselling author of many young adult novels, including The Fault in Our Stars and Printz-winning Looking For Alaska, joins to discuss his new essay collection, The Anthropocene Reviewed. He is also one half of the vlogbrothers on YouTube and co-creator of educational series Crash Course. Hear his First Draft interview here.

• Gayle Forman, author of If I Stay, Where She Went, and many more

• Booklist online magazine

• Around the Writer’s Block: Using Brain Science to Solve Writer’s Resistance by Roseanne Bane

• Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning, and critically acclaimed author of many books, including the And I Darken trilogy, the Slayer series, the Camelot Rising trilogy, and her upcoming adult debut, Hide.

• Fear Street, a series by R. L. Stine

• Scream (movie)

• I Know What You Did Last Summer (movie)

• My Favorite Murder (podcast)

• Henry Gayden, screenwriter who wrote Shazam and the adaptation of There’s Someone Inside Your House

• Creep (movies)

• The Overnight (movie)

🎙️ Enjoy this episode? Check out…

• Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White, and Royal Blue, talks about their latest queer rom-com, One Last Stop. Hear their First Draft interview here.

• Rebecca Serle, television writer, producer, and New York Times bestselling author of six books, including When You Were Mine , The Edge of Falling, The Dinner List, and her newest, In Five Years, out now. She co-developed the hit TV adaptation of her YA series, Famous in Love. Hear her First Draft interview here.

• Leigh Bardugo, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Shadow and Bone series, the Six of Crows duology, and the King of Scars duology, discusses her first adult novel, Ninth House. Hear her First Draft interviews here and here.

   

🤳 Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni

In Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

📫 Sign up for the First Draft Newsletter

👕💯 Get First Draft merchandise

✍️ Track Changes

If you’re looking for more information on how to get published, or the traditional publishing industry, check out the Track Changes podcast series.

🏆 Support the Show

Love the show? Make a monthly or one-time donation at Paypal.me/FirstDraft.

👍 Rate, Review, and Recommend

Take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your honest and positive review helps others discover the show -- so thank you!