First Draft With Sarah Enni

First Draft Episode #300: Emma Straub Emma Straub, New York Times-bestselling author of The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married, talks about her most recent novel, All Adults Here, out in paperback now. She and her husband own Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic. 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: Emma Straub’s father is Peter Straub, author of Ghost Story, Julia, A Dark Matter, and more The Magnetic Fields (band) The “Apology” episode of Still Processing, a New York Times podcast featuring conversations between culture writers Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham

First Draft Episode #299: Jon Klassen Jon Klassen, Caldecott Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of the I Want My Hat Back series, is back with a book he wrote and illustrated: The Rock From the Sky. And by Revision Season, the seven-week virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Spring 2021 course will run from May 9 to June 26 and Enrollment opens April 1st! Learn more at ElanaKArnold.com. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Hear Jon’s first First Draft interview here Marla Frazee, 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 The Farmer and the Circus. Hear her First Draft interview here. George Saunder’s most recent book: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading

First Draft Episode #297: Brittney Morris Brittney Morris, author of Slay and Miles Morales: Wings of Fury talks about her newest speculative YA, The Cost of Knowing. And by Revision Season, the seven-week virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Spring 2021 course will run from May 9 to June 26 and Enrollment opens April 1st! Learn more at ElanaKArnold.com. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (listen to her First Draft interview here) The Piano (movie) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Papo & Yo (video game) Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine Black Panther (movie) #PitMad National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) Brittney worked on video games The Lost Legend of Redwall and Subnautica: Below Zero The Redwall video game is based on Redwall by Brian Jacques

First Draft Episode #297: Marla Frazee 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 The Farmer and the Circus, out now. This episode was brought to you by We Are the Fire, the YA fantasy by debut author Sam Taylor, out from Swoon Reads now! And by Revision Season, the seven-week virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Spring 2021 course will run from May 9 to June 26 and Enrollment opens April 1st! Learn more at ElanaKArnold.com. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Crockett Johnson Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendack You can order signed copies of Marla’s books from Vroman’s Bookstore You can order signed copies of Marla’s books f

First Draft Episode #295: Laurie Devore Laurie Devore, author of How To Break a Boy and Winner Takes All, talks about her latest contemporary YA, A Better Bad Idea. This episode is brought to you by Freedom, the easy-to-use app that blocks distracting apps and websites, letting you get into deep work flow. Use offer code FIRSTDRAFT for 40% off a yearly or forever plan. And by The Stacks, a podcast about books and the people who read them. The Stacks is your literary best friend; your virtual book club; your one-stop shop for everything books. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow the show on Instagram at @thestackspod and on Twitter at @thestackspod_ ! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Lurlene McDaniel, author of Don’t Die, My Love, Six Months to Live, and Breathless The Gemma Doyle series, made up of: A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels, and The Sweet Far Thing, by Libba Bray, author of Printz award-winner Going Bovine, and genuinely terrifying

First Draft Episode #296: David Arnold David Arnold is the New York Times bestselling author of Mosquitoland, Kids of Appetite, and The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik, talks about his latest genre-bending YA sci-fi, The Electric Kingdom, out now! This episode is brought to you by Freedom, the easy-to-use app that blocks distracting apps and websites, letting you get into deep work flow. Use offer code FIRSTDRAFT for 40% off a yearly or forever plan. And by We Are the Fire, the YA fantasy by debut author Sam Taylor, out from Swoon Reads now! Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkein LOST (TV show) X-Files (TV show) Sphere by Michael Crichton Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Courtney C. Stevens, author of Faking Normal, Dress Codes for Small Towns, and more. Listen to her First Draft interview here. Ruta Sepetys, #1 New York Times bestselling and Carnegie

First Draft Episode #294: Cassandra Clare Cassandra Clare is #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, the forthcoming Sword Catcher duology, and co-author of the Magisterium series. She joins First Draft to discuss her most recent Shadowhunter novel, Chain of Iron, the latest installation of the Last Hours trilogy, and to answer listener questions. This episode is brought to you by It’s Kind of a Cheesy Love Story by Lauren Morril, out now! And by Freedom, the easy-to-use app that blocks distracting apps and websites, letting you get into deep work flow. Use offer code FIRSTDRAFT for 40% off a yearly or forever plan. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Hear my first conversation with Cassandra Clare on First Draft here Pacemaker is the word count software Cassandra uses to stay on top of her deadlines Sixth Sense (movie) Holly Black, Newberry Honoree and New York Times bestselling author of the Spiderwick Chronicles, The Curse Workers, Magesterium, and her most rec

First Draft Episode #293: Ransom Riggs Ransom Riggs, New York Times best-selling author of the Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children series, which is wrapping up with the sixth book, The Desolations of Devil’s Acre, out now! This episode is brought to you by Freedom, the easy-to-use app that blocks distracting apps and websites, letting you get into deep work flow. Use offer code FIRSTDRAFT for 40% off a yearly or forever plan. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Hear Ransom’s first First Draft interview here The Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children movie Cassandra Clare, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, the forthcoming Sword Catcher duology, and co-author of the Magisterium series. Her most recent Shadowhunter novel, Chain of Gold, kicks off the Last Hours trilogy. Hear her First Draft interview here.  

First Draft Episode #291: Mary H.K. Choi Mary H. K. Choi, New York Times bestselling author of Emergency Contact and Permanent Record and her newest YA, Yolk, answers listener questions. This episode is brought to you by Freedom, the easy-to-use app that blocks distracting apps and websites, letting you get into deep work flow. Use offer code FIRSTDRAFT for 40% off a yearly or forever plan. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Listen to Mary H K Choi’s first appearance on First Draft here Amy Sherman-Palladino, creator of Gilmore Girls Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, the filmmaker brothers behind Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother Where Art Thou? and many more Alexander Chee, author of The Queen of the Night, Edinburgh, and How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays Famous diarist Anaïs Nin, Mirages: The Unexpurgated Diary of Anaïs Nin, 1939-1947 The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend Elana K. Arnold’s Revision Season Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

First Draft Episode #291: Anna Carey Anna Carey is the author of This is Not The Jess Show. She’s also the author of The Eve Trilogy (Eve, Once, Rise) and the Blackbird series (Blackbird, Deadfall). Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Listen to Anna’s first First Draft interview here! Catie Disabato, author of The Ghost Network and the new adult contemporary novel U Up? Hear her First Draft interview here. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and her TED Talk, “Your Elusive Creative Genius” John Cusick at Folio Literary Management is Anna’s current literary agent

First Draft Episode #290: Loan Le Loan Le, editor at Simon & Schuster’s Atria Books and debut author of A Phở Love Story. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Bringing the Devil to His Knees: The Craft of Fiction and the Writing Life, edited by Charles Baxter and Peter Turchi Bringing Down the House: Essays on Fiction by Charles Baxter The Art of Subtext: Beyond Plot by Charles Baxter Jen Ung, Senior Editor at Simon PUlse and editor of A Phở Love Story

First Draft Episode #289: Catie Disabato Catie Disabato, author of adult literary novels The Ghost Network and her newest, U Up? Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Dan Chaon, author of Ill Will, Await Your Reply, and Stay Awake was Catie’s creative writing professor at Oberlin Edan Lepucki, New York Times bestselling author of California and Woman No. 17. Edan’s latest project is Mothers Before, a collection of essays and photographs based on the popular Instagram Mothers Before, which Edan created. She is also the co-host, with fellow writer Amelia Morris, of the podcast Mom Rage. The New York Times review of Catie’s debut novel, The Ghost Network Kirsten Reach, former editor at Melville House and current fiction editor at the Kenyon Review “Catie Disabato’s Novel ‘U Up?’ Renders LA’s Magic In Dark Bars And Chaotic Text Messages,” an interview with Catie by Zan Romanoff in CNMN magazine. Zan Romanoff, journalist and author of A Song to Take the World Apart, and Grace and the Fever, appear

First Draft Episode #288: Matt de la Peña Matt de la Peña, author of seven critically acclaimed young adult novels including Mexican Whiteboy and Newbery Medal–winning author of Last Stop on Market Street talks about his newest collaboration with illustrator Christian Robinson, Milo Imagines the World. This episode is brought to you by Plotting With Revelations, the three-unit online character arc workshop created by critically-acclaimed, Edgar Award-nominated author Erin Bowman (hear her First Draft interview here). Register at embowman.com/workshops by February 7th. and use special coupon code FIRSTDRAFT to save $100. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Maya Angelou, poet and author of memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Ball Don’t Lie (movie) Elizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling author of National Book Award and Printz-winning The Poet X, as well as With the Fire on High and Clap When You Land. Listen to her First Draft interview h

First Draft Episode #287: Elise Bryant Elise Bryant is the debut author of Happily Ever Afters. This episode is brought to you by Plotting With Revelations, the three-unit online character arc workshop created by critically-acclaimed, Edgar Award-nominated author Erin Bowman. Register at embowman.com/workshops by February 7th. and use special coupon code FIRSTDRAFT to save $100. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott The Bailey School Kids series by Marcia Thornton Jones and Debbie Dadey Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries series, Size 12 is Not Fat, All American Girl and many more Sarah Dessen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Once and for All, Just Listen, The Truth About Forever and many more. Hear her First Draft interview about The Rest of the Story. Megan McCafferty, author of Sloppy Firsts: A Jessica Darling Novel, Bumped, The Mall, and more The Animorphs series by K. A. Applegate Faye Kellerman, author of t

First Draft Episode #286: Kristin Cashore Kristin Cashore is the New York Times bestselling author of the Graceling series, including Graceling, Fire, and Bitterblue, as well as Jane, Unlimited. She has returned to her fantasy world for her newest novel, Winterkeep. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: The Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene Agatha Christie, author of Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, and And Then There Were None Dorothy L. Sayers, author of Whose Body? Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons University Liza Ketchum, author of The Life Fantastic: A Novel in Three Acts Faye Bender, literary agent at The Book Group (Faye has appeared on the Track Changes series, the bonus episodes Publishing in the time of COVID and The Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From Team episodes) Kathy Dawson, editor at HMH at the time she bought Graceling, and is currently publisher at Kathy Dawson Books for Penguin Random House

First Draft Episode #285: Angie Thomas Angie Thomas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On the Come Up talks about her latest book, Concrete Rose, as well as the upcoming Blackout. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Richard Wright, author of novel Native Son and memoir Black Boy, among many other works, was born in Mississippi Passions, soap opera 1999-2008 Pete Rich, Emmy-winning writer on many soap operas, including Passions The Angie Thomas Writers Scholarship at Belhaven University Howard Bahr, author of The Black Flower: A Novel of the Civil War, and Angie’s professor at Belhaven University Brooks Sherman, literary agent at Janklow & Nesbit Associates The Writer’s Voice and #PitMad are both off-shoots of Pitch Wars Brenda Drake, New York Times bestselling author of Thunderstruck and Analiese Rising, and founder of Pitch Wars and #PitMad Russel Hornsby portrayed Maverick Carter in the movie The Hate U Give Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestsell

First Draft Episode #284: Koa Beck Koa Beck, former editor-in-chief of Jezebel and co-host of “The #MeToo Memos” on WNYC’s The Takeaway, discusses her debut non-fiction work, White Feminism: From the Suffragettes to Influencers and Who They Leave Behind. This episode is sponsored by Revision Season, the seven-week, virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Winter 2021 session runs January 17 – March 4, with Week Zero work arriving January 10. Check out more details about Revision Season and sign up at www.elanakarnold.com. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Toni Morrison, author of Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Sula, and many more Jezebel - the website where Koa served as editor-in-chief  Feministing Harvard Kennedy Shorenstein fellowship Michelle H. Mulligan, Koa’s editor at Atria Books Wall of Moms, which was formed in Portland and re-formed under Black leadership in August 2020, according to Vox

First Draft Episode #283: Dylan Meconis Dylan Meconis, cartoonist and writer, talks about her middle grade graphic novel Queen of the Sea. Its sequel, Prince of the City, will be out in 2022! This episode is sponsored by Revision Season, the seven-week, virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Winter 2021 session runs January 17 – March 4, with Week Zero work arriving January 10. Check out more details about Revision Season and sign up or Apply for 5 scholarships being offered through We need Diverse Books at www.elanakarnold.com. Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Raina Telgemeier is the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning creator of graphic memoirs Smile and Sisters, and the creator of Drama, which was named a Stonewall Honor Book, as well as Ghost. Vera Brosgol is an Eisner Award and Harvey Award winning cartoonist, and Caldecott Honor winn

First Draft Episode #282: Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, artist and illustrator respectively, of picture book The Bear and the Moon. Matthew is a poet, picture book author, and Assistant Professor at Brooklyn College. Catia is a visual artist, illustrator, and founder of A Thousand Worlds, a picture book directory that connects readers to beautiful picture books written and illustrated by BIPOC authors and illustrators. This episode is sponsored by Revision Season, the seven-week, virtual master class in novel revision led by award-winning author Elana K. Arnold. The Winter 2021 session runs January 17 – March 4, with Week Zero work arriving January 10. Check out more details about Reivsion Season and sign up or Apply for 5 scholarships being offered through We need Diverse Books at www.elanakarnold.com. Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode Monica by Mauricio de Souza Cátia’s interview on PBS NewsHour Poet Frank O’Hara Poet John Ashbery, whose collection Self-P

First Draft Episode #281: David Levithan David Levithan is editorial director at Scholastic and the author of many young adult novels, including Boy Meets Boy, Every Day, and co-author with Rachel Cohn of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares. Sips By is the only mutl-brand, personalized monthly tea subscription box, which makes discovering tea fun and affordable! Use the code “firstdraft” for 50% off your first Sips By box at www.sipsby.com. On the Remember Reading podcast, discover the tales behind these beloved children’s book classics. Hear from award-winning authors like Meg Cabot, Katherine Paterson, and Tiffany Jackson, and guests as they uncover the unique story behind each story. Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode The Babysitters Club series by Anne M. Martin David launched PUSH, the Scholastic imprint still there today Jean Feiwel, Senior Vice President and Publisher, Feiwel & Friends, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Swoon Reads, Square Fish P