First Draft With Sarah Enni

First Draft Episode #183: Author and Illustrator Jon Klassen   Jon Klassen, Caldecott Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the “I Want My Hat Back” series, as well as the illustrator of Sam and Dave Dig a Hole and Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett; The Dark by Lemony Snicket; House Held Up by Trees by Ted Kooser; Cats' Night Out by Caroline Stutson; and many more. Find him on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr! Circle, the third and final book in Barnett and Klassen’s “Triangle, Circle, and Square” series, is available now where books are sold! In the course of our conversation, Jon and I discuss how his early experience as a set designer changed how he thought about picture book audiences, why he felt that painting objects or animals had as much emotional impact as human characters, and how the personal arc of his best-known series, I Want My Hat Back, went from ironic detachment to artistic earnestness.   Links and Topics Mentioned in This Episode The Little Mermaid was one of the Dis

Lilliam Rivera, author of THE EDUCATION OF MARGOT SANCHEZ, is back with DEALING IN DREAMS, out now!  She talks about writing a Latinx future, entering a room with hope, and getting to meet Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.   Lilliam Rivera 2.0 Show Notes Lilliam’s first interview on First Draft here Ingrid Rojas Contreras, author of FRUIT OF THE DRUNKEN TREE Amerie Zareen Jaffrey, executive editor at Simon & Schuster Anderson Cooper A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess A Clockwork Orange (movie) The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton The Warriors (movie) Mad Max Fury Road (movie) Ray Bradbury Justice Sonia Sotomayor Pablo Cartaya, author of MARCUS VEGA DOESN’T SPEAK SPANISH Veronica Roth (listen to her First Draft podcasts here and here) Meg Medina Matt de la Pena

Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of the SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL series, including the most recent A CRYSTAL OF TIME (out today!) talks about the insidiousness of triumphant good, how tutoring taught him discipline, and the epic battle of Serena Williams versus Maria Sharapova.   Soman Chainani Show Notes The Ramona series by Beverly Cleary Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice Renee Ahdieh, author of The Wrath & the Dawn series and Flame in the Mist (listen to her First Draft podcast here) 50 Shades of Grey by E.L. James Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Cinderella Ate me Daughter by Peggy Orenstein Soman’s appearance on the Tim Ferriss podcast Maria Sharapova Serena Williams Tiger Woods Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green The Fault in Our Stars (movie) Becky Albertalli, author of SIMON VERSUS THE HOMO SAPIENS AGENDA (listen to her First Draft i

Sarah Enni, debut author of TELL ME EVERYTHING and usually the host of the First Draft podcast, answers questions from past First Draft interviewees about craft and ego, staying on schedule, Bob Costas’ pink-eye story, the evolution of her interview style, Hammer the cat’s origin story.   Sarah Enni bonus episode show notes Maurene Goo (listen to her First Draft episode here) Nic Stone, author of DEAR MARTIN and ODD ONE OUT (listen to her First Draft podcast here) Kristen Kittscher, author of WIG IN THE WINDOW and TIARA ON THE TERRACE (listen to her First Draft podcast here) Bullet journal Allie Brosh’s comics about procrastination Shane Pangburn (listen to his First Draft podcast here) Kate Hart, author of AFTER THE FALL (listen to Kate Hart’s First Draft interview here) Bob Costas Tochi Onyebuchi, BEASTS MADE OF NIGHT and CROWN OF THUNDER (listen to his First Draft podcast here) The Deftones, lead singer Chino Moreno The Darkness, “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” Victoria Aveyard, author of

Sarah Enni, debut author of TELL ME EVERYTHING and usually the host of the First Draft podcast, answers questions from fellow YA writer Maurene Goo! Sarah shares her lengthy path to publishing, the role of humor and tone in contemporary fiction, her outlining process, and the one cross-country flight that changed everything.   Sarah Enni Show Notes Maurene Goo, author of the upcoming SOMEWHERE ONLY WE KNOW and THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL, I BELIEVE IN A THING CALLED LOVE, and SINCE YOU ASKED The Giver by Lois Lowry Lord of the Flies by William Golding Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Xenon: Girl of the 21st Century (movie) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer YALLWEST Zan Romanoff (listen to her First Draft podcast here) Seattle Metropolitan Washington Business Journal American Lion by Jon Meacham The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson Sara Zarr (listen to her First Draft podcast here) Ameriie Interstellar (movie) Tahereh Mafi (listen to her FIrst Draft interview here) Kate

Amanda Maciel Show Notes TELL ME EVERYTHING by Sarah Enni TEASE by Amanda Maciel LUCKY GIRL by Amanda Maciel Post Secret (social media site) Michelle Schusterman David Levithan Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi Nina Goffi Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Sarah Burnes, literary agent with The Gernert Company. She has been my agent since 2013. I loved what Sarah had to say about her approach to the slush pile, the myth of work-life balance, and her “no assholes” rule.   Sarah Burnes Show Notes The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar Alloy book packaging company Zan Romanoff (Listen to her First Draft episode here) Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia Pseudonymous Bosch Jon Gertner Witches of America by Alex Marr Shirley Jackson: A Rather Haunted Life by  Ruth Franklin Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Vicki Lame, editor at St. Martin’s Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes What If This Were Enough by Heather Havrilesky Amanda Maciel, editor at Scholastic

Susan Dennard is the New York Times bestselling author of the SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY series and THE WITCHLANDS series. Her newest novel in that series, BLOODWITCH, is out February 12.   Susan Dennard Show Notes Susan’s wikipedia page Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander Cinder by Marissa Meyer Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (hear her First Draft interviews here and here) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas Paul Scheer (host of How Did This Get Made) Joanna Volpe, literary agent at New Leaf Literary Harper Collins Tor Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan Anne McCaffrey Misfits & Daydreamers (Susan’s newsletter) and her writing about writing and life The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Alexandra Bracken “The Silicon Valley Suicides,” by Hanna Rosin Avatar: The Last Airbender Assassin’s Creed Holes by Louis Sachar The FRIENDS episode where Joey and Phoebe try to find a truly selfless act National Novel Writing Month

Robin LaFevers, author of the New York Times bestselling HIS FAIR ASSASSINS series, talks about the memories that live on in our bodies, the downside to critique groups, and how writing her breakout series retriggered old trauma--sidelining her ability to write for more than a year. She worked her way, physically and emotionally, back to write the latest in the series, COURTING DARKNESS, out February 5, 2019.   Robin LaFevers Show Notes The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson Writer Unboxed SCBWI RWA (Romance Writers of America) Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart Jesus Camp (documentary) Donald Maass (agent and author of Writing the Breakout Novel) Leigh Bardugo (listen to her First Draft episodes here and here)

Renée Watson, New York Times bestselling author of PIECING ME TOGETHER a Newberry Honor book and winner of the Coretta Scott King award, THIS SIDE OF HOME, and many others, and co-author of WATCH US RISE, out February 12. Renée is also founder and executive director of the I, Too Arts Foundation, a non-profit organization housed in the home of legendary poet Langston Hughes, committed to nurturing voices from underrepresented communities in the creative arts.   Renée Watson Show Notes Renée Watson’s first First Draft interview I, Too Arts Collective Dreamyard Community Word Project A Place Where Hurricanes Happen by Renee Watson Langston Hughes Kate Messner (author) Kendolyn Walker, program director at I, Too Jennifer Baker, social media director at I, Too and co-host of the Minorities in Publishing podcast Ellice Lee, graphic designer for I, Too and Associate Art Director of Philomel, Penguin Random House Tracey Baptiste SCORE, the nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors Ellen Ha

Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN, CROWN OF WISHES, and the ARU SHAH series talks about the first book in her latest young adult series, THE GILDED WOLVES, out January 15. She talks about connecting to her history through fairy tales, how being voted most likely to succeed caused a lot of angst, and the pressure of picking an AIM away message.   Roshani Chokshi Show Notes Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley Jhumpa Lahiri AFI (band) Thursday (band) Deftones (band) Harry Potter Sailor Moon (cartoon) Christiane Amanpour (TV broadcast journalism) His Girl Friday Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell (book) The Young Elites by Marie Lu (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Rick Riordan His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman Stormrunner by J. C. Cervantes Stephanie Lurie, Editorial Director, Rick Riordan Presents (Disney-Hyperion) Claire Legrand (listen to her First Draft interview here) National Treasure (movie) Lara Croft (video game

Tracey Neithercott, author of Gray Wolf Island, talks about being inspired by unsolved mysteries and real life treasure hunters, how writing shapes our identities, and how she wrote her debut book while dealing with a life-altering chronic pain diagnosis.   Tracey Neithercott Show Notes The Bodyguard (movie) Whitney Houston Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Dawson’s Creek (TV show) Kiersten White (listen to her First Draft interview here) Absolute Write The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Sarah LaPolla, literary agent Stand By Me (movie) Oak Island Astonishing Legends podcast about Oak Island Forrest Fenn (antiquities dealer who buried a treasure) When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (listen to her First Draft interview here) Scrivener Tahereh Mafi (listen to her First Draft interview here)

Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood and its forthcoming sequel, as well as Tales from the Hinterlands, talks about stuffing her debut book with secret book recommendations, the borderlessness of being a young reader, and loving angry girls in fiction.   Melissa Albert Show Notes Vera Nabokov The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin Lolita Hollywood Babylon by Kenneth Anger The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner Wise Child by Monica Furlong Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie Hook (movie) Charles de Lint Helen Oyeyemi Philip Pullman’s Grimm Brothers translation Roshani Chokshi’s forthcoming trio of novellas Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado Kelly Link Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo (listen to her First Draft episodes here and here) Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs (listen to his First Draft interview here) Flannery O’Connor Time Out Chicago A Spark of Light (Barnes &

Sarah Dessen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ONCE AND FOR ALL, JUST LISTEN, THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER and many more. Her newest novel, THE REST OF THE STORY, will come out in June 2019.   Sarah Dessen Show Notes Jackie Collins Stephen King Mary Higgins Clark Maurene Goo (listen to her First Draft interviews here, here, and here) Alexander London (listen to his First Draft interviews here and here) Melissa Walker Doris Betts (writing teacher at UNC) John Green Jodi Picoult A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler Lee Smith (author) Save the Date by Morgan Matson (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Sarah Dessen’s 2013 blog post about pulling a book The Hilarious World of Depression podcast episode featuring NPR’s Linda Holmes Shakespeare in Love (movie) J.K Rowling The Bustle article about Sarah Dessen’s tweet convo with JK Rowling The Fault in Our Stars by John Green Harlan Cohen

Elana K. Arnold, author of YA books Damsel, What Girls Are Made Of, Infandous, and Middle Grade series A Boy Called Bat, and many more, talks about working until the book feels worthy, reusing structure, and uncovering a deep well of rage in her writing.   Elana K. Arnold Show Notes 2.0 Elana’s first First Draft interview His Dark Materials books by Philip Pullman Martha Brockenbrough, author of Unpresidented An Ordinary Day by Elana K. Arnold (picture book coming out next year)

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, joins me to talk about how she’s expanding her teaching role with The Slow Novel Lab, and an exciting new podcast venture called Keeping a Notebook.   Nina LaCour Show Notes Nina LaCour’s first First Draft interview Lorde’s album Pure Heroine We Are Okay Nina’s interview on Yin Chang’s podcast, 88 Cups of Tea Alfred Hitchcock The Castle of Otranto, a 1764 novel by Horace Walpole Virginia Woolf Jane Eyre Wuthering Heights Frida Kahlo (Artist) Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour Keeping a Notebook (and the episode featuring Sarah Enni) The Slow Novel Lab “On Keeping a Notebook” by Joan Didion Sara Zarr’s podcast This Creative Life NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Save the Cat SquareSpace MailChimp Nina’s short story in the Foreshadow YA online YA anthology collection Writing the Breakout Novel: Worksheets by Donald Maass Hamline low residency MFA progra

Peter Stone, debut author of THE PERFECT CANDIDATE, talks about his time in Washington (before the onset of the 24-hour news cycle), how interns run the world, and how writing a speech for his wife led him to finally try a novel.   Peter Stone Show Notes The Firm by John Grisham YALLWEST YALLFest Watergate (for more, listen to Slow Burn Season 1) Monica Lewinsky (for more, listen to Slow Burn Season 2) Chandra Levy The My Favorite Murder podcast episode about Chandra Levy’s death The NPR Politics podcast The Wilderness (by Crooked Media) JonBenet Ramsey Laci Peterson Newt Gingrich Old Ebbitt Grill (bar in Washington, D.C.) The Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) The Robert Mueller Investigation George Papadopoulos Edward Snowden Whitewater (for more, listen to Slow Burn Season 2) Vince Foster (for more, listen to Slow Burn Season 2) House of Cards (TV show) Scandal (TV show) The Pelican Brief (movie) The Hunt for Red

Holly Black, Newberry Honoree and New York Times bestselling author of many things, including many series such as the SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, THE CURSE WORKER, MAGISTERIUM, and her most recent series, FOLK OF THE AIR. The latest book in that series, THE WICKED KING, comes out January 8—the tour dates to support that book were just released on Hypable today! Holly Black Show Notes   Tony DiTerlizzi, her artist for Spiderwick Chronicles Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee OwlCrate FairyLoot Third Eye Blind The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Interview With a Vampire by Anne Rice Kevin Lewis (editor, Simon & Schuster) Sabriel by Garth Nix Tamora Pierce Cassandra Clare Kiersten White (listen to her First Draft interview here) Dhonielle Clayton (listen to her First Draft interviews here and here) Office Smart A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle Kelly Link Dante’s Inferno Volcano

Robin Talley—author of LIES WE TELL OURSELVES, WHAT WE LEFT BEHIND, AS I DESCENDED, OUR OWN PRIVATE UNIVERSE—talks about her newest novel, PULP. Robin shares insight about transitioning into being a full-time writer and stay-at-home mom, writing a Judy Blume book for queer girls, and writing books with her younger self in mind.   Robin Talley Show Notes Robin’s previous First Draft episode Simon Versus the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli (listen to her First Draft episode here) Dahlia Adler Pacemaker Scrivener Forever by Judy Blume Love, Simon (movie) Ann Bannon (famous lesbian pulp author) Spring Fire by Marijane Meeker The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith Carol (movie) The Lavender Scare Lambda Literary Foundation All Out edited by Saundra Mitchell A Tyranny of Petticoats edited by Jessica Spotswood (listen to her First Draft episode here) Robin’s short stories

Andy Weir, New York Times best-selling author of THE MARTIAN and his new stand-alone Sci-Fi novel, ARTEMIS. This interview is a live recording of the in-conversation I had with Andy for New York Comic Con. I loved hearing Andy talk about moon economies, managing anxiety, and how science makes his books living documents.   Andy Weir Show Notes The Martian (movie) Matt Damon playing Brett Kavanaugh on SNL Neil Degrasse Tyson Andy’s Business Insider article on the economy of a moon colony