Lit Tea Podcast
Hosted by Sabrina Lotfi
Hi friends! Welcome to the LitTea podcast, coming fall 2022 with a focus on querying agents and publishing transparency through agent and author interviews.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that querying is hard af—the process, researching agents, emotionally—and while I can’t take any of the stress away from putting your book babies out there, I can try to help make your querying process a little easier.
In my agent interviews, we’ll discuss everything from common pitfalls and red flags, what to expect from an author-agent relationship, to agency staff and subrights, how editorial they are, and what they’re excited to see in their inboxes.
With authors, we’ll discuss their querying journeys, their favorite writing tips and tricks, and what they wish they’d known before they started querying. And all about their incredible books, of course!
To summarize: I’m here to spill all the LitTea.
If you’d like to request a guest, have a question you’d like featured, or just want to say hi, I’d love to hear from you!
For a full transcript of the LitTea Podcast Trailer, please CLICK HERE.
Episode 19: Khadijah VanBrackle
A downloadable PDF transcript of this episode will be available shortly
Khadijah VanBrakle was born and raised in Canada, to American parents. This mother of five has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a half-finished MBA. She started writing for children as one of her 2012 New Year’s resolutions. Khadijah writes stories about characters, like her three daughters, who are both Black American and Muslim.
In September 2021, Khadijah was chosen for one of the Highlights Foundation’s Muslim Storytellers Fellowships. She holds an administrative position and is an active member of Black Creators HQ.
In this episode:
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel by Lisa Cron
Gilmore Girls
Lindsay Eagar’s Creative Revisionist Class
The Lord of the Rings soundtrack
Maura, Khadijah’s editor at Holiday House
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Renni Browne & Dave King
An Ember in the Ashes Series by Sabaa Tahir
The Great British Baking Show
The Order of Things by Kaija Langley
Control Freaks by J.E. Thomas
Tagging Freedom by Rhonda Roumani
All You Have to Do by Autumn Allen
Fatima Tate Takes the Cake
Fatima Tate wants to be a baker AND enjoy some innocent flirting with her hot friend Raheem—but her strict Muslim parents would never approve of either…
Seventeen-year-old Fatima Tate, aspiring baker (100% against her conservative parents’ wishes), leads a pretty normal life in Albuquerque: long drives with BFF Zaynab, weekly services at the mosque, big family parties, soup kitchen volunteering (the best way to perfect her flaky dough recipe!), stressing about college. But everything changes when she meets a charming university student named Raheem. Knowing the ‘rents would FREAK, Fatima keeps their burgeoning relationship a secret… and then, one day, her parents and his parents decide to arrange their marriage. Amazing! True serendipity!
Except it’s not amazing. As soon as the ring is on Fatima’s finger, Raheem’s charm transforms into control and manipulation. Fatima knows she has to call the whole thing off, but Raheem doesn’t like to lose. He threatens to reveal their premarital sexual history and destroy her and her family’s reputation in their tight-knit Muslim community. Fatima must find the inner strength to blaze her own trail by owning her body, her choices, and her future.
-Holiday House-
Episode 18: Melanie Figueroa
A downloadable PDF transcript of this episode will be available soon
Melanie Figueroa is a literary agent at Root Literary and a member of the Association of American Literary Agents. She has a M.S. in creative writing and book publishing from Portland State University and a B.A. in English rhetoric and composition and certificate in technical writing from California State University, Long Beach. She got her start in publishing as an editorial project manager and freelance editor before joining Root Literary as an agency assistant in 2018. She represents children’s literature and adult fiction, and what she loves most about the job is the balance of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.
Melanie was born and raised in Southern California in a multicultural, blended family, so she has a soft spot for books that speak to the nuances of relationships and identity. When she's not working, you can find her stress baking, watching something scary, or snuggling with her chocolate lab, Oakley.
In this episode:
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
The Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Learn to Draw Finding Dory
Holly Root, Taylor Haggerty, Alyssa Maltese, Molly O’Neill - some of Melanie’s colleagues at Root Literary
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Divergent series by Veronica Roth
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Sparkle by Lakita Wilson
I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue (coming 2024)
The Office
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Nura and the Immortal Palace by M.T. Khan
Episode 17: Kristy Boyce & Carrie S. Allen
CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF transcript of this episode
Kristy Boyce
Photo © Open Image Studio
Kristy Boyce lives in Pickerington, OH and teaches psychology as a senior lecturer at The Ohio State University. When she’s not spending time with her husband and son, she’s usually writing, reading, putting together fairy gardens, or planning her next trip back to Europe.
CARRIE S. ALLEN
I grew up in the Colorado ski town of Breckenridge, which means I have excellent ice-scraping, snow-shoveling, woodstove-lighting skills. Like all Breck kids, I spent my free time on the ski slopes and frozen pond. And shoveling more snow.
My undergrad degree is in Biology and my masters is in Sport Science (clearly setting me up for a career in fiction writing.) I’ve held every position on a hockey bench: player, coach, referee, athletic trainer… yes, even Zamboni driver. I worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer, first at the high school level and then at my alma mater, Colorado College. Eventually, I semi-retired from sports medicine to become a fully-tired mom.
I live in Colorado Springs with my husband, two kids, two dogs, and four chickens. Hobbies include books, dogs, dessert, and anything outdoors on a gorgeous Colorado day. Combine all four and you’ll never get rid of me.
Photo © Kate Testerman
In this episode:
Jessica Lewis; check out our LitTea interview
Tara Gonzalez at Erin Murphy Literary Agency
Being Mary Bennet & Lola at Last by JC Peterson; check out our LitTea interview with Carrie S. Allen
Jacqueline Li, cover artist for Hot British Boyfriend, Hot Dutch Daydream, and Being Mary Bennet
Picture Perfect Boyfriend by Becky Dean
Bellegarde by Jamie Lilac
My Fair Lady
Playing the Long Game: A Memoir by Christine Sinclair
Margot Mertz for the Win by Carrie McCrossen & Ian McWethy; check out our LitTea interview
The Next New Syrian Girl by Ream Shukairy
The Hard Parts: A Memoir of Courage and Triumph by Oksana Masters
Spare by Prince Harry
Kristy’S BOOKS
HOT DUTCH DAYDREAM
Cover by Jacqueline Li
Rom-com lovers and fans of Elise Bryant and Jenna Evans Welch will adore this next summer read from Hot British Boyfriend author Kristy Boyce.
No one has ever accused Sage Cunningham of being easily distracted. She has a plan, and she won’t be swayed. She’ll spend the summer interning in her mentor's lab in Amsterdam, and then she’ll be ready for college. All she needs to do to pay for the summer abroad is agree to serve as the au pair for Dr. Reese’s three-year-old.
Sage has it all down to a science, but she doesn’t anticipate the surprise arrival of Dr. Reese’s teenage son. Ryland is spontaneous, flirty, and impulsive—everything Sage isn’t. He’s a talented artist, but he’s desperately in need of someone to keep him focused. And as nannying proves harder than Sage had expected, it turns out she might need help too.
The two strike a deal. Sage will stop Ryland from going out with a different girl every day, and Ryland will pitch in with his little brother.
Spending the summer stuck together is the perfect way to keep distractions to a minimum. Right?
-HARPERTEEN-
Hot British Boyfriend
Optioned for film/TV by Awesomeness Production Studios
Cover by Jacqueline Li
This enchanting debut teen romance novel, which follows one girl across the Atlantic in a quest to find adventure, love (preferably with a guy with a cute accent), and maybe even herself, is perfect for fans of Kasie West and Stephanie Perkins.
After a horrifying public rejection by her crush, Ellie Nichols does what any girl would do: she flees the country. To be more precise, she joins her high school’s study abroad trip to England. While most of her classmates are there to take honors courses and pad their college applications, Ellie is on a quest to rebuild her reputation and self-confidence. And nothing is more of a confidence booster than getting a hot British boyfriend.
When Ellie meets Will, a gorgeous and charming Brit, she vows to avoid making the same mistakes as she did with the last guy she liked. Which is why she strikes up a bargain with Dev, an overachieving classmate who she’s never clicked with, but who does seem to know a lot about the things Will is interested in—if he helps her win over her crush, then she’ll help him win over his.
But even as Ellie embarks on a whirlwind romance, one that takes her on adventures to some of England’s most beautiful places, she still needs to figure out if this is actually the answer to all her problems…and whether the perfect boyfriend is actually the perfect boy for her.
-harperteen-
Dungeons & Drama
Coming Spring 2024 from Underlined/Random House
Carrie’s Books
MICHIGAN VS. THE BOYS
*Releasing in paperback September 5, 2023*
When a determined girl is confronted with the culture of toxic masculinity, it’s time to even the score.
Michigan Manning lives for hockey, and this is her year to shine. That is, until she gets some crushing news: budget cuts will keep the girls’ hockey team off the ice this year.
If she wants colleges to notice her, Michigan has to find a way to play. Luckily, there’s still one team left in town …
The boys’ team isn't exactly welcoming, but Michigan’s prepared to prove herself. She plays some of the best hockey of her life, in fact, all while putting up with changing in the broom closet, constant trash talk and “harmless” pranks that always seem to target her.
But once hazing crosses the line into assault, Michigan must weigh the consequences of speaking up — even if it means putting her future on the line.
-KCP LOFT-
OUT OF OUR LEAGUE
A sports anthology edited by Jennifer Iacopelli and Dahlia Adler, releasing January 23, 2024
Episode 16: Jessica Lewis
CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF transcript of this episode
Jessica Lewis is a Black author and receptionist. She has a degree in English Literature and Animal Science (the veterinarian plan did not work out). She lives with her way-funnier-than-her grandmother in Alabama. When she isn't writing or working she enjoys watching cooking or HGTV-type home shows. She writes both young adult and middle grade fiction, the latter under her pen name Jazz Taylor. Her forthcoming 2023 titles are Monstrous (YA) and Starting from Scratch (MG).
In this episode:
The Maximum Ride series and When the Wind Blows by James Patterson
Hank the Cowdog series by John R. Erickson, illustrated by Gerald L. Holmes
Goosebumps by R.L. Stine
Holly Root at Root Literary
Wildfire (title changed to Bad Witch Burning)
Star Wars
Marvel
Olivia Valcarce, Jessica’s editor at Scholastic
Story Genius by Lisa Cron
Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores
The Last of Us (the game)
The Last of Us (the show)
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause
Blood and Chocolate (the movie)
Blockbuster videos
Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Warm Bodies (the movie)
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
writing as Jessica Lewis
Bad Witch Burning
Monstrous (Fall 2023)
Writing as Jazz Taylor
From the author of Meow or Never, a story about blended families, anxiety, and how a fresh start can be just what you need…even when you least expect it.
Janie believes there’s a best way to do everything. When she sticks to a schedule, she and her mom can tackle anything. But Janie’s perfect schedule—and her life—are getting shaken up this year. Her new stepmom, Keisha, is moving in, along with her daughter, Makayla.
Worst of all? Makayla brings a cat with her. And Janie hates cats.
Even though it’s hard, Janie tries to welcome Makayla to her new school. And honestly, she maybe does too good a job. Soon, Makayla is volunteering with Janie’s beloved Sunshine Club, and Janie’s friends all love her. The only one who pays any attention to her anymore is Makayla’s nosy cat. It feels like her new sister is taking over! What's a gal to do with a copycat in her life?
-Scholastic-
Episode 15: Mae Coyiuto
CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF transcript of this episode
Mae Coyiuto is a Chinese-Filipino writer, born and raised in the Philippines. Mae earned her BA in Psychology from Pomona College and her Master’s Degree in Writing for Young Adults/Children from The New School. If she’s not writing, she’s usually fangirling over Beyoncé, tennis, Gilmore Girls, or all of the above. She currently lives in Manila.
In this episode:
Holes by Louis Sachar
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
NewJeans - K-Pop group
Justin Bieber
Thao Le, literary agent at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency
Gloria Chao (American Panda; When You Wish Upon a Lantern)
The Bachelor
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
The Fraud Squad by Kyla Zhao
This is Not a Personal Statement by Tracy Badua
The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
Carrie by Stephen King
Chloe and the Kaishao Boys
When Dimple Met Rishi meets Loveboat, Taipei in this hilarious YA rom-com about a Chinese-Filipina girl in Manila whose father sets her up on a marathon of arranged dates in hopes of convincing her to stay close to home for college.
Chloe knows what it takes to be the perfect Liang daughter—stay in Manila, study business management, and join the family company. But when she unexpectedly gets off the wait list for USC, her dream of becoming an animator in the United States is suddenly within reach.
Before she goes, her auntie insists on planning a traditional debut for Chloe’s eighteenth birthday. And while a party with all her friends and family sounds like the perfect send-off, the huge production her auntie wants—complete with ball gowns and a choreographed dance number—makes Chloe want to pass out from stage fright.
To make matters worse, her father, intent on finding Chloe the perfect escort for the party, keeps setting her up on one awkward kaishao—or arranged date—after another. Why does her dad suddenly care so much about her love life? And what happens when she actually starts to fall for one of the guys, only to have to leave at the end of the summer?
At home in the Philippines, Chloe has her future all planned out for her. In America, nothing is certain. With a career in animation far from guaranteed, Chloe must decide if following her dreams is worth everything—and everyone—she’ll be leaving behind.
-G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers-
Episode 14: JC Peterson & Carrie S. Allen
Or CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF transcript of this episode
JC PETERSON
Photo © Josie V Photography
I grew up in Michigan, playing on railroad tracks and swimming all summer. After college (hey, MSU!) I moved to Oklahoma City and worked for several years as a journalist. I continued my slow migration west with a move to Denver, where I live today with my husband, two young boys, and senior tabby. I might miss the lakes in Michigan, but those mountain views are hard to beat.
In 2019, I was chosen as a mentee for Pitch Wars, and my spectacular mentors Carrie S. Allen and Sabrina Lotfi helped me edit and polish my novel BEING MARY BENNET. (Was it stressful? Oh my god, yes. But so worth it.)
Today, I’m represented by Amy Bishop of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. BEING MARY BENNET is my debut novel and released March 15, 2022 with HarperTeen.
CARRIE S. ALLEN
I grew up in the Colorado ski town of Breckenridge, which means I have excellent ice-scraping, snow-shoveling, woodstove-lighting skills. Like all Breck kids, I spent my free time on the ski slopes and frozen pond. And shoveling more snow.
My undergrad degree is in Biology and my masters is in Sport Science (clearly setting me up for a career in fiction writing.) I’ve held every position on a hockey bench: player, coach, referee, athletic trainer… yes, even Zamboni driver. I worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer, first at the high school level and then at my alma mater, Colorado College. Eventually, I semi-retired from sports medicine to become a fully-tired mom.
I live in Colorado Springs with my husband, two kids, two dogs, and four chickens. Hobbies include books, dogs, dessert, and anything outdoors on a gorgeous Colorado day. Combine all four and you’ll never get rid of me.
Photo © Kate Testerman
In this episode:
PitchWars, where Carrie and I were co-mentors and Jenny was our 2019 mentee
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Gilbert Blythe
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton
Song of the Lioness quartet & The Immortals quartet by Tamora Pierce
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
My Lady Jane & My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, Jodi Meadows
The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
Belittled Women by Amanda Sellet
Seven Percent of Ro Devereux by Ellen O’ Clover
Well, That Was Unexpected; Dial A for Auntie's; The New Girl by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Drizzle Dreams and Love Struck Things by Maya Prasad
Dahlia Adler (and if you haven’t yet, be sure to check out my LitTea interview with Dahlia HERE)
JENNY’S BOOKS
lola at last
Lola Barnes's summer is not off to the best start.
Fresh off a scandal that tanked her social status, Lola has somehow managed to alienate her twin sister, lose the friends she thought she had, and put a ... fiery end to the first part of the summer.
(The boat was barely on fire, for the record—and all the partygoers were just fine.)
Lola is given an ultimatum: jail time, or spend the summer with the nonprofit Hike Like a Girl.
Everyone seems to expect Lola to fail. But even as Lola encounters bugs, blisters, and bears (oh my!), she finds something greater that she'd been missing all along: unexpected friends, a sweet romance, strength she didn't know she had—and herself, Lola, at last.
-harperteen-
being MARY BENNET
Marnie Barnes is convinced she is the long-suffering protagonist of her life, just like the characters in all her favorite books.
But a main character isn’t the forgotten middle child of their family, nor does their love interest see them as only a friend. A series of Marnie-induced disasters forces her to confront the devastating truth: Marnie has more in common with Mary Bennet—the utterly forgettable middle sister of Pride and Prejudice—then effervescent Elizabeth Bennet.
Determined to reinvent herself, Marnie enlists the help of her bubbly roommate and opens herself up to the world—leading lady style. Between new friends, a very cute boy, and a rescue pup named Sir Pat, Marnie realizes that being the main character doesn’t mean rewriting your life entirely, just finding the right cast of characters, the love interest of your dreams, and most important, embracing your story. Flaws and all.
-HARPERTEEN-
Carrie’s Books
MICHIGAN VS. THE BOYS
*Releasing in paperback September 5, 2023*
When a determined girl is confronted with the culture of toxic masculinity, it’s time to even the score.
Michigan Manning lives for hockey, and this is her year to shine. That is, until she gets some crushing news: budget cuts will keep the girls’ hockey team off the ice this year.
If she wants colleges to notice her, Michigan has to find a way to play. Luckily, there’s still one team left in town …
The boys’ team isn't exactly welcoming, but Michigan’s prepared to prove herself. She plays some of the best hockey of her life, in fact, all while putting up with changing in the broom closet, constant trash talk and “harmless” pranks that always seem to target her.
But once hazing crosses the line into assault, Michigan must weigh the consequences of speaking up — even if it means putting her future on the line.
-KCP LOFT-
OUT OF OUR LEAGUE
A sports anthology edited by Jennifer Iacopelli and Dahlia Adler, releasing January 23, 2024
Episode 13: M. K. Lobb
CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF transcript of this episode
© Rob Boyce, 2020
M. K. Lobb is a fantasy writer with a love of all things dark— be it literature, humour, or general aesthetic. She grew up in small-town Ontario and studied political science at both the University of Western Ontario and the University of Ottawa. She now lives by the lake with her partner and their cats. When not reading or writing, she can be found at the gym or contemplating the harsh realities of existence.
Her debut novel SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS will be published February 7, 2023 by Little, Brown (Hachette). The sequel, DISCIPLES OF CHAOS, will follow in early 2024. M. K. is represented by Claire Friedman at InkWell Management.
In this episode:
Author Mentor Match (mentoring program for writers)
Roz and Damian from Seven Faceless Saints
The seven major guilds of Florence
The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew
Only a Monster by Vanessa Len
Legendborn and Bloodmarked by Tracy Deonn
A Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night by Allison Saft
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
Together We Rot by Skyla Arndt
Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton
Seven Faceless Saints
In the city of Ombrazia, saints and their disciples rule with a terrifying power, playing favorites while the unfavored struggle to survive.
Rossana Lacertosa doesn’t believe in saints. After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazia military, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system. Even if she has to pay for it in blood—or face the boy who broke her heart.
Damian Venturi is sworn to protect the city. As the youngest captain of the Palazzo security in history, Damian is expected to be ruthless, strong, and to serve the saints with unquestioning devotion. But three years spent fighting a gruesome, never-ending war left Damian with deeper scars than he wants to admit…and too many questions he’s afraid to ask.
When a murderer begins using the city’s slums as a hunting ground, targeting the weak and unprotected, the saints and their disciples are all too happy to look the other way. That is until a disciple ends up in the morgue. Tasked with finding the disciple’s killer, Damian’s investigation leads him to Roz, his childhood friend turned enemy. Together, they will have to put their past feelings aside to find the truth hiding in the pitch-black underbelly of Ombrazia.
As they unravel the mysteries behind the murders, they will discover that there’s something far more sinister—and far less holy—lurking beneath the surface. With darkness closing in and time running out, will Roz and Damian be able to save their city from an evil so powerful that it threatens to destroy everything in its path?
-LITTLE, BROWN-
Episode 12: Rebecca Eskildsen
CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF transcript of this episode
Rebecca Eskildsen is a literary agent at Writers House. She began her publishing career in the Seattle small press scene and spent two years bookselling at Barnes & Noble. After moving to New York, she joined JABberwocky Literary Agency as a foreign rights associate. She has been at Writers House since 2017, where she is now building her own list and continuing to support senior agent Merrilee Heifetz. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her toothless and VERY demanding cat, Violet.
In this episode:
Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park
Violet, Rebecca’s cat
Merrilee Heifetz, senior agent at Writers House
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Cake Eater by Allyson Dahlin
The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth
The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
Wilder Girls by Rory Power
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Parent Trap (as a concept)
Sadie on a Plate by Amanda Elliot/Panitch
Jude Duarte, from The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Iveliz Explains It All by Andrea Beatriz Arango (Spanish edition coming Feb 2023)
Episode 11: Kaylie Smith
Or CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF transcript of PART 1 of this episode
Or CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF transcript of PART 2 of this episode
© Andrea Hannah
Kaylie Smith is a writer and lover of all things magical and fantasy. She grew up in Louisiana where she frequently haunted bookstores and practiced her writing craft. After getting her degree in graphic design, she decided to fully pursue her dream of being an author, and the first book in her YA fantasy series, A RUINOUS FATE, debuts in January 2023 from Disney Hyperion. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found at home with her menagerie of animals, fussing over her houseplants, or annoying people about astrology.
In this episode:
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Courtney Kae + Courtney’s LitTea Podcast Episode
Kai, Ophelia, and Delphine - Kaylie’s Australian Shepherds
Monte Carlo (film)
RosalynArts (Rosita Popova)
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater, with a special mention of Blue and Gansey
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
Microsoft Excel
The Thesaurus of the Senses by Linda Hart
Where Darkness Blooms by Andrea Hannah
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
Windwitch by Susan Dennard
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Accelerated Reader Bookfinder (a really great aid to look up kidlit wordcounts)
Scrabble
Monopoly
‘Maneater’ by Nelly Furtado
The Vampire Diaries, with a special mention of Damon, Stefan, and Elana
The Undead Truth of Us by Britney S. Lewis
Books of Wonder (bookshop)
Tubby and Coos (bookshop)
Beausoleil Books (bookshop)
A Ruinous Fate
January 3, 2023
Fate does not choose the weak. Fate chooses the ready.
Calliope Rosewood is a witch with a long streak of bad luck. Like all witches in Illustros, her fate is directly tied to Witch’s Dice―powerful artifacts that have blessed her kind with limitless magic but also set them on a path toward destruction. Cursed with unspeakable powers that terrify even the most dangerous witches and fae, Calla deserted her coven four years ago and has been in hiding with her two best friends since. But Calla is also hiding a grave secret: She is only three Rolls away from becoming the last Blood Warrior and starting the Fates' War that will decimate her people and eradicate their magic.
After a betrayal from her ex leads her one step closer to fulfilling that age-old prophecy, Calla is desperate to do whatever it takes to reset her fate . . . even if that means journeying into the deadly Neverending Forest with said ex and his enigmatic older brother to find the one being who can help her forge her own path. As Calla ventures farther into the enchanted woods, she finds her heart torn between her past desires and alluring new possibilities. But she soon learns that choosing your own destiny may come with dire consequences.
-Disney Press-
Episode 10: Courtney Kae
Or CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF transcript of this episode
© Albany Katz
Courtney Kae writes the sweet and steamy happily ever afters that give her bi little heart great joy. She lives in Southern California with her husband, child, and growing hoard of plants. Some of her favorite things include: movie nights, mountain air, and pretending she doesn’t have a coffee “problem”.
In this episode:
Ben and Adam, from In the Event of Love and In the Case of Heartbreak
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Seoulmates by Susan Lee
The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal
The Twilight movies
Taylor Lautner, actor
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl
Falon Ballard, author
Lillie Vale, author
Winter and Star, Courtney’s cats
Story Genius: How to Use Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel by Lisa Cron
Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
Morgan and Rachel, characters from In the Event of Love
Rachel Lynn Solomon, author and Courtney’s Pitch Wars mentor
Claire Friedman, Courtney’s literary agent (at Inkwell Management)
Writing Irresistible Kid Lit: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers by Mary Kole
Susan Dennard’s “How to Write a 1-Page Synopsis”
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls
Whitney and Tanner, characters from In the Event of Love
Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
Astrid Parker Doesn't Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
The Make-Up Test by Jenny L. Howe
Georgie, All Along by Kate Clayborn
Kiss Her Once for Me by Alison Cochrun
Season of Love by Helena Greer
How To Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow
You’re a Mean One, Matthew Prince by Timothy Janovsky
A Valentine for Christmas by Reese Ryan
Courtney’s Books
in the event of love
Cover art by Monika Roe
Cover design by Kristine Mills
Offering a steamy, queer spin on the feel-good tropes of a Hallmark movie, this sweet, funny #OwnVoices rom-com is perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and Alexandria Bellefleur!
A BUZZFEED MOST ANTICIPATED LGBTQ ROMANCE
Morgan Ross can plan world-class events, but she didn’t plan on returning to the hometown that broke her heart seven years ago—and re-discovering the girl of her dreams . . .With her career as a Los Angeles event planner imploding after a tabloid blowup, Morgan Ross isn’t headed home for the holidays so much as in strategic retreat.
Breathtaking mountain vistas, quirky townsfolk, and charming small businesses aside, her hometown of Fern Falls is built of one heartbreak on top of another . . .Take her one-time best friend turned crush, Rachel Reed. The memory of their perfect, doomed first kiss is still fresh as new-fallen snow. Way fresher than the freezing mud Morgan ends up sprawled in on her very first day back, only to be hauled out via Rachel’s sexy new lumberjane muscles acquired from running her family tree farm.
When Morgan discovers that the Reeds’ struggling tree farm is the only thing standing between Fern Falls and corporate greed destroying the whole town’s livelihood, she decides she can put heartbreak aside to save the farm by planning her best fundraiser yet. She has all the inspiration for a spectacular event: delicious vanilla lattes, acoustic guitars under majestic pines, a cozy barn surrounded by brilliant stars.
But she and Rachel will ABSOLUTELY NOT have a heartwarming holiday happy ending. That would be as unprofessional as it is unlikely. Right?
-Kensington-
in the case of heartbreak
With a gorgeous beachfront mansion, salty ocean breeze, steamy nights, and ALL the summertime feels, this funny, sexy queer rom-com is a celebration of summer love, as a cinnamon roll of a pastry chef finds his indie rocker crush suddenly within reach. Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston, Roan Parrish, Alexandria Bellefleur, Ruby Barrett, and Alexis Hall!
When his hometown crush suddenly returns his affections at a seaside celebration, pastry chef Ben Parrish must find a way to pursue his dream of moving his bakery to San Francisco – without losing the love he’s always wanted…
Ben has been baking his grandma’s cinnamon rolls at the family café for years. He’s been quietly in love with Adam Reed, his musician-slash-mechanic neighbor, for just as long. But Ben’s done waiting behind the pastry case. He’s entered a make-or-break competition to show off his own recipes. He’s going to buy his overprotective family out of the business. And he’s going to ask Adam out. TONIGHT.
Except his big plans get punched down before they even half-rise. Soon Ben is dashing down the coast to his grandma’s 80th birthday party on the beach, hiding his broken heart in Maywell Bay, California. Sun, sea, and fresh breezes should blow in something new—except they don’t. They blow in Adam Reed, grinning like a pirate and stealing the show as the musical entertainment hired by Grandma for her big bash. Grandma’s signature Heartbreak Tea is the only remedy, and Grandma’s tea could take the paint off a fence.
But there’s a burn of truth along with the booze in his bottle, and Ben has a decision to make. Can he take the sweetness in front of him, and brave the bitterness that comes after? Or is a little sea salt just what this cinnamon roll needs?
Salty cinnamon rolls? Ew. Ben would never.