First Draft With Sarah Enni

First Draft Episode #320: Sarah MacLean Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author of romance novels, including Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, A Rogue By Any Other Name, and many more, talks about Bombshell, the first book in her new Hell’s Bells series. Sarah also co-hosts the Fated Mates romance podcast. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne Anne Rice, author of Interview With the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat Sarah Rees Brennan, author of Unspoken, The Demon’s Lexicon, and In Other Lands and more Carrie Ryan, author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Daughters of Deep Silence, and more Aprilynne Pike, author of Wings, Glitter, and more Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, co-authors of Beautiful Creatures Dr. Jennifer Lynn Barnes, professor studying fiction and the brain, and also author of The Inheritance Games, The Naturals, Little White Lies and more Nora Roberts, author of Visions in White, The Next Always, and Year One also p

First Draft Episode #319: S. K. Ali S. K. Ali is the New York Times bestselling author of Morris Award Finalist Saints and Misfits and its sequel Misfit in Love, Love From A to Z and its forthcoming sequel, Love From Mecca to Medina, and picture book The Proudest Blue. She also co-edited, with Aisha Saeed, the middle grade anthology Once Upon an Eid.

First Draft Episode #318: Chandler Baker Chandler Baker, the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network talks about her latest feminist thriller, The Husbands. She is also the co-author with Wesley King of YA novel Hello (From Here), out September 7! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis Lauren Oliver, New York Times bestselling author of Panic, the Delirium series, and Before I Fall 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. Listen to his First Draft interview here. Gayle Forman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of If I Stay and Where She Went, as well as We Are Inevitable, Frankie & Bug, and many more. Miss Snark Absolute Write (whose forum is b

First Draft Episode #317: Margot Wood Margot Wood, founder of Epic Reads, talks about her debut young adult novel, Fresh. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Margot Wood, founder of Epic Reads, gave incredible marketing advice on the Marketing and Publicity episode of Track Changes, the First Draft miniseries that explains the ins and outs of traditional publishing in the U.S. (listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify) Johnny Tremaine by Esther Hoskins Forbes Aminah Mae Safi, author of Not the Girls You’re Looking For, Tell Me How You Really Feel, This is All Your Fault, and Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix. Listen to her First Draft interview here. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Divergent by Veronica Roth, Simon Versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertali Jo Volpe, literary agent and President of New Leaf Literary & Media, who represents Margot. She also appeared on the Contracts episode of Track Changes. Emma by Jane Austen

First Draft Episode #316: Kerry Winfrey 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. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Superfudge by Judy Blume The Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop George Saunders, author of Tenth of December: Stories, Lincoln in the Bardo, and A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life, and many more short stories and collections. Lorrie Moore, author of Birds of America, Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?, and many more short stories and collections. Marla Frazee is the two-time Caldecott Honor-winning author and illustrator of The Boss Baby, A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, All the World, and many more. She joins us to talk about the Farmer series: The Farmer and the Clown, The Farmer and the Monkey, and T

Listen on Apple Podcasts  | Spotify First Draft Episode #315: Isaac Fitzsimons Isaac Fitzsimons is the debut author of The Passing Playbook. This episode was brought to you by Vision Season, a seven-week, virtual master class in tending your creative garden with award-winning author Elana K. Arnold (hear her First Draft interviews here and here). The Fall course of Vision Season will run from August 8th to September 25th. To learn more about Vision Season and to sign up for the Fall course, visit elanakarnold.com. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe Just Listen by Sarah Dessen The Writer’s Center in Bethesda, Md. I am J by Cris Beam “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” by Elvis Presley Jazz Jennings, author of Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen and start of “I Am Jazz” (TV show) Changing the Game (documentary)  

First Draft Episode #314: Ben Zhu Ben Zhu, author, illustrator, and founder of Gallery Nucleus, talks about his debut picture book, Dessert Island. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Dan Krall, illustrator for Samurai Jack Chris Appelhans, writer and director of Netflix animated movie Wish Dragon, and illustrator of picture books Sparky! (written by Jenny Offill) and A Greyhound, a Groundhog (written by Emily Jenkins). Dan Santat, Caldecott Award-winning author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, as well as After the Fall, Are We There Yet?, and The Guild of Geniuses, among many more. How to Draw the Marvel Way by John Buscema and Stan Lee Astro Boy (movie) Dave Masters, who taught animation at Rowland High School before leaving to become head animation trainer at Warner Bros. Chuck Jones, animator, filmmaker and voice actor, best known for his work with Warner Bros. Cartoons on the Looney Tunes and Merrie M

First Draft Episode #313: Co-authors of Blackout: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon  The co-authors of Blackout: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon talk about their New York Times bestselling collaborative novel. Vision Season Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: “Mask Off,” by Future Literary agent Molly Ker Hawn of The Bent Agency

First Draft Episode #312: Tanaz Bhathena Tanaz Bhathena, author of A Girl Like That and The Beauty of the Moment talks about her fantasy series, Hunted by the Sky and its sequel, Rising Like a Storm. This episode was brought to you by The Great Godden by Meg Rossof, out from Candlewick Press now. Read sample chapters here. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold Thrity Umrigar, Parsi author of The Space Between Us Rohinton Mistry, Parsi author of A Fine Balance The School Library Journal and its starred review for A Girl Like That Driving by Starlight by Anat Deracine Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea Goosebumps and Fear Street by R. L. Stine Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin The Shahnameh: The Persian Book of Kings (also Shahnama), a long epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between c. 977 and 1010 CE

First Draft Episode #311: Doree Shafrir Doree Shafrir, co-host of the Forever35 podcast and author of Startup, joins us to talk about her debut memoir, Thanks For Waiting: The Joy (& Weirdness) of Being a Late Bloomer. This episode was brought to you by The Great Godden by Meg Rossof, out from Candlewick Press now. Read sample chapters here. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Harriett the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder Slate Gawker Ben Smith, founding editor in chief of Buzzfeed News and now a reporter on the media for the New York Times Acast, podcast network Carrie Frye, book editor Doree and Kate’s column for InStyle

First Draft Episode #310: Chris Appelhans Chris Appelhans, writer and director of Netflix animated movie Wish Dragon, and illustrator of picture books Sparky! (written by Jenny Offill) and A Greyhound, a Groundhog (written by Emily Jenkins). Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Jon Klassen, Caldecott Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the I Want My Hat Back series, and The Rock From the Sky. Listen to his First Draft interviews here and here. A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life, by George Saunders The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

First Draft Episode #309: Casey McQuiston Casey McQuiston, New York Times bestselling author of Red, White, and Royal Blue, talks about their latest queer rom-com, One Last Stop. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Hadestown (musical) The Royal We and its sequel The Heir Affair, by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks, the writing duo otherwise known as Fug Girls. Hear their First Draft interview here. Louise Rettison, author of Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson and many more YA novels Eddie Izzard, actor and comedian A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hilary Rodham Clinton by Carl Bernstein My Date with The President’s Daughter (movie) Chasing Liberty (movie) Derry Girls (TV show) Happy Endings (TV show) New Girl (TV show) Veep (TV show) Parks and Recreation (TV show) How I Met Your Mother (TV show) VIcki Lame, editor at St. Martin’s Press The You’re Wrong About podcast’s series about Princess Diana Susie Q (movie) Doctor Who (TV show)

First Draft Episode #308: Sarah Kuhn Sarah Kuhn, author of the Heroine Complex series, Shadow of the Batgirl with Nicole Gaux for DC Comics, the Star Wars audiobook original Doctor Aphra, talks about her new young adult novel, From Little Tokyo, With Love. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: IGN.com Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV show) Alert Nerd Matt Springer, one of the founders of Alert Nerd Chris Stewart, one of the founders of Alert Nerd Backstage magazine Fresh Romance, an anthology to which Sarah contributed Crazy Rich Asians (movie) Editor Jenny Bak  

First Draft Episode #307: John Green 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. Today’s episode is brought to you by JAY’S GAY AGENDA, a moving and hilarious sex-positive queer teen rom-com from debut novelist Jason June, out from HarperCollins now. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Hank Green’s First Draft interview discussing A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, the sequel to his #1 New York Times bestselling debut, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. Hank is, along with his brother John Green, the CEO of Complexly, co-host of the Vlogbrothers YouTube channel and the Dear Hank and John podcast, and is also co-founder of VidCon, DFTBA Records, and Crash Course. Listen to his First Draft interview here. The Babysitter’s Club by Ann

First Draft Episode #306: Nicola Yoon 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 co-founding Joy Revolution, a Random House young adult imprint dedicated to love stories starring people of color. This episode is brought to you by Melanin in YA, a database comprised of Black YA authors, literary agents, editors, industry professionals, and influencers. A resource for everyone involved in traditional YA publishing, Melanin in YA provides bi-monthly news round ups of book deals, cover reveals, and more. Check it out at melanininya.com, or follow Instagram: @melanininya / Twitter @melanin_ya. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Nicola’s first First Draft interview here Jodi Reamer, agent at Writer’s House who now represents NIcola and David Big (movie) Before Sunrise (movie) Barbara Marcus, head of Random House Children’s Books

First Draft Episode #305: Camryn Garrett Camryn Garrett, author of Full Disclosure, talks about her new YA, Off the Record. This episode is brought to you by Melanin in YA, a database comprised of Black YA authors, literary agents, editors, industry professionals, and influencers. A resource for everyone involved in traditional YA publishing, Melanin in YA provides bi-monthly news round ups of book deals, cover reveals, and more. Check it out at melanininya.com, or follow Instagram: @melanininya / Twitter @melanin_ya. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: R.J. Palacio, author of Wonder Sarah Dessen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Once and for All, Just Listen, The Truth About Forever, The Rest of the Story, and many more. Hear her First Draft interview here. She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor Little Women by Louisa May Alcott  

First Draft Episode #304: Chris Grabenstein Chris Grabenstein is the New York Times bestselling author of the Lemoncello series, the Wonderland series, the Haunted Mystery series, and The Island of Dr. Libris. He is also the co-author, with James Patterson, of the #1 Bestsellers I Funny, House of Robots, Max Einstein and many others. He joins to talk about his newest middle grade series, Dog Squad, out now! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Mad Magazine Rocky & Bullwinkle (TV show) The Twilight Zone (TV show) Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White American Heritage magazine Bruce Willis (actor) Kathy Kinney (comedic actor) Jane Brucker ((comedic actor) James Patterson is the world’s bestselling writer, known for the Alex Cross series, the Women’s Murder Club series, the Michael Bennett series, and many more Cheers (TV show) Michael Bay (producer, director) Woody Harrrelson (actor) Orlando Jones (actor, writer) On Writing by Stephen King Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider,

First Draft Episode #303: Victoria Aveyard 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. This episode was brought to you by the six-month Picture Book Writing and Illustration Online Course offered by author Zanni Louise & illustrator Anna Pignataro. First Draft listeners get a 20% discount on the course. Learn more, and sign up with the 20% discount, by clicking this link! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Hear Victoria’s other First Draft interviews here and here. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis, beginning with The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe Crusader Kings (video game) Scrivener (word processing software) Legend of Zelda (video game) Merriam-Webster's Visual Dictionary

First Draft Episode #302: Morgan Matson 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. This episode was brought to you by the six-month Picture Book Writing and Illustration Online Course offered by author Zanni Louise & illustrator Anna Pignataro. First Draft listeners get a 20% discount on the course. Learn more, and sign up with the 20% discount, by clicking this link! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Hear Morgan’s previous episodes of First Draft, here and here! Big (movie) Toy Story 3 (movie) Good Will Hunting (movie) Morgan’s Spotify, and the Take Me Home Tonight official playlist Stephen King’s On Writing The Penderwicks series, beginning with The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy, by Jeanne Birdsall Richard Schiff, The West Wing Rep. Adam Schiff

First Draft Episode #301: Sara Zarr Podcast chat! A conversation with Sara Zarr, National Book Award finalist author of eight novels for young adults, most recently Goodbye from Nowhere, about her creative writing podcast, This Creative Life. Listeners can get two audiobooks for the price of one at Libro.fm when you use promo code FirstDraftPod at checkout! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Hear Sara’s first First Draft interview here. Hear Sarah on This Creative Life here. I also outlined all the equipment I use for podcasting in this TechCrunch article, “How I Podcast.” Terry Gross, host of NPR’s Fresh Air podcast Marc Maron, host of the WTF podcast Pete Holmes, host of the You Made it Weird podcast Nina LaCour, author of We Are Okay, winner of the 2018 Printz Award, and other contemporary YA titles like Everything Leads to You and Hold Still, . Hear her episodes of First Draft here and here. LibSyn, the podcast hosting service Patreon Sara is no longer using SubStack to dist