Sarah Tarkoff, debut author of SINLESS (out now!), talks about writing for TV and movies, made-up religions, the Dunning Kruger graph, and being inspired to start writing a novel by a nine-year-old.

A very special episode where I give podcasting tips and answer some questions, Kayla Olson and Courtney Summers join to give book recommendations, and authors Michelle Schusterman, Alison Cherry, and Lindsay Ribar discuss co-writing, selling, and editing their YA novel, The Pros of Cons.

Michael Dante DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender and author of Rebel Genius and its sequel, Warrior Genius, on being obsessed with 50s art, how Avatar was pitched perfectly wrong, writing art as magic, and starting to write by hand.

Ben Acker, co-creator and writer for The Thrilling Adventure Hour, and writer for TV, comic books, and a series of Star Wars middle grade novels, including Star Wars: Join the Resistance. Ben and I talk about giving himself his first job, how a ukulele solo got him a gig writing at Marvel, and shares the definitions of art that he can’t shake.

Stephanie Sabol, Executive Director, Brand Management at Penguin Young Readers, talks about The Penguin Hotline, and writer friends share their most recommended books. 

Will Kostakis, who makes his U.S. debut with The Sidekicks and has two books, The First Third and Loathing Lola, published in his native Australia, talks about approaching every book like it could be his last, spite writing, being the writer he is today because of a personal tragedy, and the difference between the Australian and U.S. YA markets.

Jasmine Warga, author of My Heart and Other Black Holes and her newest, Here We Are Now, on reading teaching empathy and complexly imagining others’ internal worlds, family mythologies as social currency, the glorification of happiness, and the trouble with idolizing your friends.

Maggie Stiefvater—author of The Raven Boys cycle, The Scorpio Races, the Shiver series, and her newest, All the Crooked Saints—talks growing up in a Celtic Von Trapp family band, not being a cozy child, wanting to be the author in the airport, and writing a book to a playlist.

Brandy Colbert, author of Pointe and her newest, Little and Lion, on exploring non-traditional families, her nocturnal writing schedule, and having a productive hibernation.

Liara Tamani, debut author of CALLING MY NAME, on getting out of the cycle of ruthless academic achievement to find her passion, shedding old belief systems, fighting against the guilt and shame instilled in girls at very young ages, and the importance of numbers to her creative life.