young adult fiction

In this week’s episode Marissa chats with debut author and podcaster Bethanie Finger about her YA historical fantasy, MORE THAN LIFE. Also discussed in this episode: expedited series releases, being a pantser, even when worldbuilding, finding the magic in editing, short chapters, the effectiveness of writing exercises and sprints, the Prince Kai Fan Pod, the importance of setting boundaries, taking breaks, and asking for help, and so much more.

Show notes: 

The Prince Kai Fan Pod: https://princekaifanpod.wixsite.com/website 

Follow Litjoy for info about The Heartless Annotated Special Edition: https://www.instagram.com/litjoycrate

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a closeted queer kid meets his fairy godfather what does he wish for?

Today we meet Ricardo Galaviz and we’re talking about the book that saved his life: Am I Blue? by Bruce Coville. And Bruce joins us for the conversation!

Ricardo (all pronouns) is the Associate Director of the Milwaukee LGBT Center.

Bruce (he/him) is the author of over 100 books including My Teacher is an Alien, Into the Land of Unicorns, and Jeremy Hatcher, Dragon Hatcher.

Am I Blue? Coming Out From The Silence is an anthology of short stories edited by Marion Dane Bauer and the title comes from the Bruce's short story Am I Blue? in which a fairy godfather offers a young queer kid three wishes.

Read more!
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote a fantastic article about this episode. Many thanks to Amy Schwabe!

Connect with Ricardo and Bruce
Ricardo's website: mkelgbt.org
Bruce's website: brucecoville.com

Our Bookshop
Visit our Bookshop for  new releases, current bestsellers, banned books, critically acclaimed LGBTQ books, or peruse the books featured on our podcasts: bookshop.org/shop/thisqueerbook

To purchase Am I Blue? visit Bruce's website: brucecoville.com

Become an Associate Producer!
Become an Associate Producer of our LGBT podcast through a $20/month sponsorship on Patreon! A professionally recognized credit, you can gain access to Associate Producer meetings to help guide our podcast into the future! Get started today: patreon.com/thisqueerbook

Credits
Host/Founder: J.P. Der Boghossian
Executive Producer: Jim Pounds
Associate Producers: Archie Arnold, Natalie Cruz, Jonathan Fried, Paul Kaefer, Nicole Olila, Joe Perazzo, Bill Shay, and Sean Smith
Patreon Subscribers: Stephen D., Stephen Flamm, Ida Göteburg, Thomas Michna, and Gary Nygaard.
Creative and Accounting support provided by: Gordy Erickson
Music and SFX credits: visit thiqueerbook.com/music

Quatrefoil Library
Quatrefoil has created a curated lending library made up of the books featured on our podcast! If you can't buy these books, then borrow them! Link: https://libbyapp.com/library/quatrefoil/curated-1404336/page-1

In this week’s episode Marissa chats with Hafsah Faizal about her latest YA fantasy heist, the first of a new duology, A TEMPEST OF TEA. Also discussed in this episode: how a non-reader can turn into a reader and then a published author, planning out a heist when being mostly a pantser, struggling with doubts and imposter syndrome, planning out romance, worldbuilding and the wisdom of editors, the benefits of time and space away from a project, and so much more!

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode Marissa chats with Dinesh Thiru about his debut YA fantasy adventure, INTO THE SUNKEN CITY. Also discussed in this episode: how a gag project can inspire a writing career, retelling a literary classic (TREASURE ISLAND) in a postapocalyptic setting, how much of the source material to use, and creating a more modern diverse cast of characters, being conscious about your setting and sensory details, using real maps and biology to make the setting and details feel real, creating the voice of colorful characters, balancing being a stay at home parent with the writing, and so much more!

 Show notes: 

The Artists’ Way – Julia Cameron https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9780143129257 

The official MM merchandise shops: 

https://www.etsy.com/shop/happywriterstore

https://thehappywriter.creator-spring.com/ 

https://www.teepublic.com/user/the-happy-writer 

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Planet Poet-Words in Space – NEW PODCAST!  LISTEN to my WIOX show (originally aired November 21st, 2023) featuring Maureen Buchanan Jones, poet, writer and Amherst Writers and Artists (AWA) Training Director, who discusses and reads from her books blessed are the menial chores and Maud & Addie. Pamela Manché Pearce, Planet Poet’s Poet-at-Large also joins us on the show. Visit: Sharonisraelpoet.com. Visit Maureen Buchanan Jones.

 Maureen Buchanan Jones is Training Director and former Executive Director of Amherst Writers & Artists. Maureen has led workshops with diverse writers including people who have experienced domestic violence, high school students, the bereaved, those who are in recovery, veterans, sexual assault survivors, and members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. She leads writing workshops and retreats online and in Massachusetts and California. With a PhD in English Literature and a Phi Beta Kappa, Maureen has taught at, Holyoke Community College, Westfield State College, the University of Massachusetts, The Conway School of Environmental Design, and the Pre-College Writing Program at Smith College. Her poetry has appeared in Woman in Natural Resources, 13th Moon, Peregrine, North Dakota Quarterlyamong others. Her prose has appeared in Every Day Fiction, and Orion. Her poetry book, blessed are the menial chores was published by Amherst Writers & Artists Press. Her novel, Maud & Addie, was published by Regal Publishing House. Visit Maureen Buchanan Jones

 About blessed are the menial chores:   “…Jones’ poems teach us the ways to hold close and how we must learn to let go.  Should anyone ask what poetry is, hand them a copy of this book.”  --Sue Brannan Walker, Poet Laureate of Alabama 2003-2012, her author of Blood Will Bear Your Name won Book of the Year from Alabama State Poetry Society.

 About Maud & Addie:  "An absorbing tale of two young sisters from Halifax, Nova Scotia, who are swept out to sea and their trials and risk-taking as castaways. [...] With confident pacing that rises and falls like the waves, the book charts the girls’ progress as they enter survival mode, growing more resilient and resourceful with each test." —Kirkus Reviews 

On this episode, we are thrilled to introduce you to the legendary author Meg Cabot!

Meg Cabot’s 80+ books for both adults and tweens/teens have included multiple #1 New York Times bestsellers, with more than 25-million copies sold worldwide. Her PRINCESS DIARIES series has been published in more than 38 countries and was made into two hit films by Disney. Meg’s numerous other award-winning books include the MEDIATOR series, the Heather Wells mystery series, and AVALON HIGH, which was adapted as a film for Disney Channel. Meg joins us from her home in Key West to discuss her latest adult rom-com ENCHANTED TO MEET YOU (Avon Books, Sept 5), which is the first installment in her brand-new Witches of West Harbor series.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this illuminating episode, host Ashley Cisneros Mejia chats with Amaris Castillo — an award-winning journalist whose roots trace back to winning a storytelling contest in elementary school and whose prowess led her to be hired as an NPR Public Editor in Research at the famed journalism school The  Poynter Institute.  As we explore Amaris' journey, join us for an intimate look into the interplay among journalism, fiction writing, and motherhood.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Ways to draw from your personal experiences and passions to fuel your freelance writing journey
• Strategies for diversifying your writing specialties
• Methods to manage time efficiently
• The potential silver linings and unexpected opportunities that can arise during personal challenges

About Amaris Castillo
Amaris Castillo is an award-winning journalist, writer, and the creator of Bodega Stories, a series featuring real stories from the corner store. Her writing has appeared in La Galería Magazine, Aster(ix) Journal, Spanglish Voces, PALABRITAS, Dominican Moms Be Like… (part of the Dominican Writers Association’s #DWACuenticos chapbook series), and most recently @Quislaona: A Dominican Fantasy Anthology. She has new work forthcoming in Sana, Sana: Latinx Pain and Radical Visions for Healing and Justice, out in July from Common Notions Press. Her short story, “El Don,” was a prize finalist for the 2022 Elizabeth Nunez Caribbean-American Writers’ Prize by the Brooklyn Caribbean Literary Festival. She lives in the Tampa Bay area with her family and dog, Brooklyn.

Connect with Amaris on Instagram and Twitter.

FREE FREELANCE WRITING WORKSHOP
You're invited to Ashley's free Freelance Writing Workshop on 10/4 at 8 p.m. EST! Learn how to thrive in freelance even in the age of AI! Register here!

Talk Freelance To Me - Where Self-Employed Women Writers, Freelancers, and Solopreneurs Meet to Master the 1099 Contractor Lifestyle

SOMETHING SPECIAL JUST FOR YOU
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Grab your copy here!

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SPECIAL SHOUT OUT
Our original show music was composed by the one and only Donna O. Raphael of World Instrumentals. Please visit her website and support her!

BUY ME A COFFEE

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Rachael Lippincott about her new YA, pitched as a sapphic Bridgerton meets Freaky Friday rom-com, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND PITTSBURGH. Also discussed in this episode: the challenges of working on very distinct points of view, using music to get into a character’s POV, how deep to go into the research when writing a historical, the desire to time-travel back to the Regency era – knowing much of it might be romanticized, the pros and cons of co-writing books with others -  including a spouse - and more! 

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with J. Elle about her YA contemporary fantasy, House of Marionne. Also discussed: throwing off the pressure to write what you think you should write and writing books for yourself, expansive worldbuilding with depth and breadth to support a trilogy - even including appendices, creating complicated, flawed love interests, adding an additional POV that shows a different side of the world the main characters live in, and so much more.

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

Katie awakes on Earth, in the night club with Kenneth. They must venture through town in the early hours. There's something evil in night awaiting them.

Katie’s body still Earth bound meditating in the nightclub, she ventures through Festavia doing battle with Lutz’s evil mannequin army. She must find as many party refugees as possible and bring them to saftey. If she doesn’t save Festavia there will be no where for Earthlings to escape too when they’re down. 

This week we're reading A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher.


We're talking homicidal sourdough starter, naughty gingerbread and reluctant heroes.


We're also talking main characters who call out all the adults not doing their job, the joys of young adult fiction and taking a detour or ten.


Holly missed the joy of sourdough in lockdown but is officially in love with Bob, Harley is baking gingerbread in the hope of getting a spicy sidekick (side-cookie?) of her own.


For more on this episode check out our website: https://www.bimbobookclub.com/episodes/episode-036


To follow Bimbo Book club on your favourite social media platform click here: https://bio.link/bimbo

Like what we’re doing and want to support us? Subscribe to our Patreon.

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Hanna Alkaf and Margaret Owen about their YA murder mystery anthology, THE GRIMOIRE OF GRAVE FATES. Topics covered in this super-fun episode include: how the project came out of a tweet, the challenges and joys of writing an anthology with so many authors, the politics of choosing contributors, using Google docs, forms, and spreadsheets to stay organized with multiple stories and so many details, the unexpected administrative work of doing a multi-author anthology, and so much more.

Trekking the World game: https://www.underdoggames.com/products/trekking-the-world 

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Alex Crespo about his debut, SAINT JUNIPER’S FOLLY, a queer YA haunted house mystery. Also discussed: using familiar settings to create fictional ones, using online resources like Pinterest and Zillow to do research on homes, doing deep dives to ensure details—even tiny ones—are accurate, what it means to be an aggressive plotter, using astrology archetypes to help create characters, writing chunks of chapters by character and then having to cobble them together, and so much more!

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Melissa Blair about her second book in the Halfling Saga, A SHADOW CROWN, as well as transitioning to being a full-time writer, the editorial process and chasing perfection, difficult second acts, writing expansive timelines and using devices to show the passage of time, writing villains, and so much more!

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with E.K. Johnston about her latest book, the prequel to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – THE DRUID’S CALL. Also discussed: how archaeology and writing can be related, writing IP (intellectual property) projects, the pros and cons of them, and how writing fanfiction can prepare you for the job, the fun and complications of inserting Easter eggs into books, and so much more.

Dragon Age (Game): https://www.ea.com/games/dragon-age
What is dressage: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/features/what-is-dressage-olympics-747995  

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Amalie Howard about her Regency Historical YA, QUEEN BEE, as well as creating historicals with a more representative cast of characters, writing linearly, knowing you can always edit later, using a playlist to get you in the mood for a particular project, the rare but awesome moment of being recognized as an author, and so much more. 

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this episode, Marissa chats with Maurene Goo about her latest YA time-travel, THROWBACK. Also discussed: how writing is both a labor of love and an actual job, how to create boundaries, take breaks, and keep from burning out, managing writing and parenthood, immersing yourself in past culture and the shock of viewing it through modern eyes, and so much more!

The Do-It-Yourself Escape Room Book:  https://bookshop.org/a/11756/9781510758803 

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/

In this week’s episode, Marissa chats with Jenna Voris about her debut YA sci-fi, MADE OF STARS, as well as writing not one, but two romances, creating complex government systems that serve the story and feed the action, the difficulty of writing heists and figuring out what details to include, on becoming an outliner but still creating excitement in the writing, the challenge of cutting unnecessary scenes, and so much more!

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/