First Draft With Sarah Enni

Bea and Leah Koch, two sisters who co-own The Ripped Bodice, the only brick and mortar bookstore in the U.S. to sell exclusively romance titles, who were named 2017 RWA Steffie Walker Booksellers of the Year by the Romance Writers of America and recently struck an overall deal with Sony Pictures. I loved what Bea and Leah had to say about being activist booksellers, retraining romance readers, and becoming advocates for representation and change in publishing. Bea and Leah Koch, owners of The Ripped Bodice, Show Notes Women and Children First (bookstore in Illinois) The Ripped Bodice Kickstarter Preeti Chhibber (of Scholastic) Word bookstore’s Romance Book Club Greenlight (bookstore in Brooklyn) Ashley C. Ford (author and editor running the Green Light romance book club) The Ripped Bodice State of Racial Diversity in Romance Publishing Report (2016 and 2017) (The New York Times artiicle detailing the report’s findings, “In Love With Romance Novels, But Not Their Lack of Diversity”) Vivian Stevens (edit

Tiffany D. Jackson—author of ALLEGEDLY, whose latest book, MONDAY’S NOT COMING, is out now! Her next book, LET ME HEAR A RHYME, is due out May 21, 2019!—talks about still considering herself a newbie writer, the allure of horror stories, and being honest about the emotions of publishing.   Tiffany Jackson Show Notes   There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins   Get Out (movie) American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Laini Taylor is a National Book Award finalist for Lips Touch Three Times, New York Times bestseller for the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, and Printz Honoree for Strange the Dreamer and its sequel, Muse of Nightmares, out now!   Laini Taylor Show Notes John Grisham Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel Victoria Aveyard (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Jim di Bartolo, illustrator and Laini’s husband SCBWI The National Book Award Arthur Levine, publisher at Scholastic In the Shadows by Kiersten White and Jim di Bartolo Printz Award Laini’s Ladies Sarah Dessen Victoria Schwab (listen to her First Draft podcast here) Holly Black Cassie Clare Sarah Rees Brennan Kelly Link Libba Bray (listen to her First Draft podcasts here and here) Maurene Goo (listen to her First Draft podcasts here and here and here) Gentleman and Phantoms, Laini’s story which appears in the Foretold anthology The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer, Laini’s story which appears in the My True Love Gave to Me antho

Tochi Onyebuchi, author of CROWN OF THUNDER, the second book in the BEASTS MADE OF NIGHT series--which is out now--talks about the audacity of new writers’ ideas, writing himself and his family into a book for the first time, and being an award-winning witness.   Tochi Onyebuchi Show Notes The Los Angeles TImes Festival of Books (listen to my interview with the festival’s Associate Director of Events Programming, Maret Orliss, here) Korn Linkin Park The Wikipedia entry of Nigerian-Americans Lie Down In Darkness by William Styron Frankenstein by Mary Shelley The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay Renee Ahdieh (listen to her First Draft interview here) Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo (manga) The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault Eugène Delacroix, French Romantic artist Sabaa Tahir (listen to her First Draft podcast here) Marie Lu (listen to her First Draft podcast interviews here and here) Leigh Bardugo (listen to her FIrst Draft podcast interview here) Black Pant

Sam Maggs, author of A FANGIRL’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY: A Handbook for Geek Girls and WONDER WOMEN: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History, talks about her most recent book, GIRL SQUADS, a non-fiction collection of 20 female friendships that changed history. Sam shares the Google search that kicked off the new book, the surprising (and alarming) stories she stumbled on while researching GIRL SQUADS, and deploying her pronunciation skills for the audiobook.   Sam Maggs Show Notes   The Ripped Bodice bookstore in Culver City, CA   Wonder Women by Sam Maggs   Zohra, the all-female orchestra in Afghanistan   1964 Japanese women’s volleyball team Magical Beatdown by Jen Woodall, illustrator

Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of DEAR MARTIN, talks about her newest young adult novel, ODD ONE OUT, out October 9! Nic talks about lies of imagination versus lies of convenience,  “high taste” readers, and the benefits of eavesdropping.   Nic Stone Show Notes   Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi Brandy Colbert (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Spelman College “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors,” a friendship theory by Rudine Sims Bishop Christopher Myers and Chris Jackson, publishers of their own imprints at Random House Kwame Alexander Mae Carol Jemison (Astronaut) The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Divergent by Veronica Roth (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Delirium by Lauren Oliver Requiem by Lauren Oliver John Green Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult Beverly Daniel Tatum, PhD. (president of Spellman University) Sarah Dessen Rena Rossner (NIc S

Alex London--author of the Proxy Series, the Wild Ones series, and more, about his new young adult novel, BLACK WINGS BEATING--talks about the patriarchal influence on narrative structure, considering queer heroism, being terrified of coming back to YA, and why Jonathan Franzen owes him a thank you note.   Alex London Show Notes Alex London’s first episode of First Draft The Wild Ones Junior Library Guild The Adventures of Wrong Man and Power Girl Hope Nation edited by Rose Brock Ursula K. le Guin H is for Hawk by Helen McDonald The Once and Future King by T. H. White Mike Dupuy Hawk Food Mary Fran Rash, Owner of Main Street Books in St. Charles, MO YALLFEST Adam Gidwitz Neal Shusterman Jason Reynolds Will Kostakis (listen to his First Draft episode here)

Sara Farizan, author of IF YOU COULD BE MINE and TELL ME AGAIN HOW A CRUSH SHOULD FEEL, talks about her newest novel, HERE TO STAY, out now! Sara talks about love as a human rights issue, writing action sequences, and why she chose not to write in Charles Barkley’s voice.   Sara Farizan Show Notes New England Mobile Book Fair James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl Sesame Street The Office (TV show) The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish John Irving When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (listen to her First Draft interview here) Maurene Goo (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here and here) Books, Inc. (bookstore in SF) Reggie Miller (former NBA player and commentator) Kevin Harlan (NBA commentator) The murder of Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha in Chapel Hill, N.C. Matthew Shepard Stephen Curry (NBA player) Charles Barkley (NBA player) Daria Morgendorffer (Daria TV show)

Nova Ren Suma, New York Times bestselling author of The Walls Around Us, Imaginary Girls, and more, talks about her newest novel, A Room Away From the Wolves, out now! Nova shares what she learned from ghostwriting, talks about finding New York through the myths of her mother, and talks about discovering her strange self.   Nova Ren Suma show notes Imaginary Girls Margaret Atwood Fear of Flying by Erica Jong Mary Higgins Clark Antioch College Feathered by Laura Kasischke Francesca Lia Block (listen to her First Draft episode here) Laura Ruby Bennett Madison The MacDowell Colony Micol Ostow (author) Kate Angelella (editor at Simon and Schuster) Good Morning Midnight by Jean Rhys Yaddo (artist’s colony) Poets & Writers magazine

Courtney Summers, author of many books including CRACKED UP TO BE, THIS IS NOT A TEST, ALL THE RAGE, and her newest novel which comes out today, SADIE, talks about not wanting to do a book a year again, seeing her career shift 10 years in, how she thinks about her abrupt endings, sticking with the heart of the novel, and podcasts.   Courtney Summers 2.0 Show Notes   Hear Courtney’s first First Draft interview (with bonus Veronica Roth) here! PLEASE REMAIN CALM, the ebook sequel to THIS IS NOT A TEST Serial (podcast) S Town (podcast) Sara Goodman, Courtney’s editor at Wednesday Books (listen to her First Draft interview here) Emily Hainsworth (author) Interstellar (movie) Maurene Goo (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here and here) Tell Me Everything by Sarah Enni

Somaiya Daud, debut author of YA sci-fi book MIRAGE, was the very first author I ever interviewed for First Draft Podcast. We had a lot to catch up on since then, so listen now to hear about Somaiya’s bumpy path to publication, the way race plays into our concepts of the future and, of course, Star Wars!   Somaiya Daud Show Notes   Somaiya Daud’s first interview with First Draft Podcast J. R. R. Tolkien William Gibson Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Emma by Jane Austen One Thousand and One Nights Sheherazade Historiography Star Wars Alloy Entertainment Chelsea Grimmer The Poetry Vlog Somaiya Daud on The Poetry Vlog Provincializing Europe by Dipesh Chakrabarty Ex Machina (film) The Jetsons Joanna Volpe

Jessica Spotswood, author of the CAHILL WITCH CHRONICLES, WILD SWANS, and THE LAST SUMMER OF THE GARRETT GIRLS, as well as editor of A TYRANNY OF PETTICOATS, THE RADICAL ELEMENT, and of TOIL & TROUBLE: 15 TALES OF WOMEN AND WITCHCRAFT, which comes out August 28!   Jessica Spotswood Show Notes Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Michele Volanksy, Dean of Dramaturgy at Washington College The Laramie Project (play) Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Ira Glass’s quote on creativity Tiffany Schmidt Jessica’s Reddit AMA about editing anthologies Slasher Girls and Monster Boys edited by April Genevieve Tucholke Beth Revis (listen to her First Draft interview here) Andrea Creamer Marie Lu (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Saundra Mitchell Carrie Ryan Caroline Tung Richmond (listen to her First Draft podcast here) Lindsay Smith (liste

Julian Winters, author of RUNNING WITH LIONS, talks about starting to write so he could create happy endings for his own life, being more creative when working at night, wanting to chuck the rulebook, and his nontraditional publishing journey.   Julian Winters Show Notes One Direction Felicity (TV show) Scandal (TV show) Scott Foley Kirsten Hubbard (listen to her First Draft podcast here) Sara Farizan (author of IF YOU COULD BE MINE and TELL ME AGAIN HOW A CRUSH SHOULD FEEL and the forthcoming HERE TO STAY) BOY MEETS BOY by David Levithan Robbie Rogers (out soccer player) Nic Stone (author of DEAR MARTIN and the forthcoming ODD ONE OUT) INTO THE BLUE by Pene Henson LUCHADOR by Erin Finnegan Becky Albertalli, author of SIMON VERSUS THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA (listen to her First Draft podcast here) Patrice Caldwell Simon James Green, author of NOAH CAN’T EVEN Adam Silvera (listen to his First Draft interview here)

Katie Cotugno, author of HOW TO LOVE, FIREWORKS, TOP TEN, and 99 DAYS and its sequel, 9 DAYS AND 9 NIGHTS, talks about the correlation between how she’s feeling and whether she’s writing, her ten-year debut novel, and making sense in the quiet after the loud. Katie Cotugno Show Notes The Baby-Sitters Club Sweet Valley High The Saddle Club Roald Dahl Judy Blume Maurene Goo (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here and here!) Robin Benway (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Hanson Zan Romanoff (listen to her First Draft interview here) Emerson College Alloy Entertainment Wesleyan University Jodi Picoult Morgan Matson and her book SAVE THE DATE (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Katniss from THE HUNGER GAMES THREE SIDES OF A HEART: STORIES ABOUT LOVE TRIANGLES edited by Natalie C. Parker The Office (TV show) Lisa Schroeder

Emily X. R. Pan, debut author of the New York Times bestselling THE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER, talks about how she discovered her creative life after going to business school, her many years of writing and re-writing her book, and finding her bravery to put herself on the page. Emily X. R. Pan Show notes: Little Brown Books for Young Readers The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice NYU Stern School of Business Penguin (now Penguin Random House) Professor Chuck Wachtel at NYU Buddhism Taoism “Losing Face” in Chinese culture Confucianism Mahayana Buddhism Coco (movie) Noggin by John Corey Whaley FORESHADOW: A Serial YA Anthology

Brendan Kiely, author of THE GOSPEL OF WINTER, THE LAST TRUE LOVE STORY, and co-author of ALL AMERICAN BOYS. His newest novel, TRADITION, is an exploration of the insidious nature of tradition at a prestigious boarding school. Brendan talks about the nature of authorship, the heroic value of humility, and working hard to not have an office.   Brendan Kiely Show Notes Victoria Aveyard (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Jessie Chaffee (Brendan’s wife) When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds Rob Weisbach (Brendan’s agent) Leigh Bardugo (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Chris Lynch (YA author) John Corey Whaley (listen to his First Draft interview here) Black Lives Matter Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds I Have the Right To by Chessy Prout Paradise Lost by John Milton Wildfang’s Wild Feminist line (Portland clothing line) Four Forms of Identity, the concept of Achieved Identity

Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of SKY IN THE DEEP, talks about having a no-boundaries critique partner relationship, unhealthy (but effective) drafting processes, and how Saturn’s return led to her debut novel.   Adrienne Young Show Notes Edward Scissorhands (movie) Labyrinth (movie) The Nightmare Before Christmas (movie) Beetlejuice (movie) Kristin Dwyer Mysterious Galaxy

Caroline Kepnes—author of YOU and its sequel HIDDEN BODIES, soon to be a Lifetime drama series starring Penn Badgley—talks about her most recent novel, PROVIDENCE, talks about her Cape Cod sensibility, writing while literally regaining her voice, and having her writing debut in Sassy magazine.   Caroiine Kepnes Show Notes Go here to vote for PROVIDENCE to be the first-ever pick for the Tonight Show Book Club And be sure to tune in to LIFETIME on September, 9, 2018 at 10/9 CT for the premiere of YOU! Hop on Pop Richard Scarry Beezus and Ramona Judy Blume Sweet Valley High Sassy magazine Christina Kelly (editor of Sassy magazine) “She Talks to Angels” by the Black Crowes (song) YM Magazine School Ties (movie) Chris O’Donnell (actor) Brown (university) Parker Posey (actor) Courtney Summers (listen to her First Draft interview here) Conan O’Brien N*SYNC Backstreet Boys Tiger Beat New Kids on the Block Entertainment Weekly KGB Bar & Lit Journal 7th Heaven (TV show) Cedar Cove (TV show) Lucinda Rosenfeld (

Aminah Mae Safi, debut author of NOT THE GIRLS YOU’RE LOOKING FOR, talks about writing hangry characters, trying to make fetch happen in a book, how fantasy stories hold an inherent appeal to children of immigrants, and how artists have to have batshit belief in themselves. Aminah Mae Safi Show Notes Lauren Anderson (first black female ballet dancer, in Houston) Foucault Reza Aslan Inigo Montoya Kirsten Hubbard (her First Draft interview here) Article about foreign translators talking about interpreting President Trump Emmanuel Macron The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Brandy Colbert The Never-Ending Story (movie) Winter of Fire book by Sherryl Jordan Bachelorette (movie) Mean Girls (movie) The Scarlet Letter Winona Ryder The Crucible Demi Moore

Maurene Goo, author of SINCE YOU ASKED, I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE and the recently-released THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL, joins me to talk about planning book launches. Then, hear the live audio from when I helped Maurene launch THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL at The Ripped Bodice in Culver City, California.   Maurene Goo Show Notes Brandy Colbert Stephanie Kuehn CVT Soft Serve (food truck) The Ripped Bodice (bookstore) Fierce Reads Riverdale (TV show) Vroman’s Bookstore Edward Cullen Glow (TV show) La Brea Tar Pits Griffith Park Observatory John Cho Jem and the Holograms (movie) The Hindenburg disaster Scott Campbell (illustrator) Thor: Ragnarok (movie) Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (movie Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (movie) Taran Matharu (author) Tricia Levenseller (author) Mary Pearson (author) Hathaways series by Lisa Kleypas Art Boss by Kayla Cagan The Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser Sadie by Courtney Summers The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon Far From the Tree by Robin Benway Tell Me Everything b