Eva and Katryn dive into character arcs this week, from craft inspirations to the similarities between building our characters and parenting them. Eva reveals her new book title (YAY!) and Katryn unveils a Lord of the Rings-inspired story cartography process for character arcs. Martin Short is also discussed, because why the hell not?

Content/Spoiler Warnings: CW for mention of JKR’s transphobia

Sources:

• Katryn discusses a troubling trend she’s noticing in this episode and her substack.

• Eva and Katryn both recommend Susan Dennard’s craft writing--check out Susan’s Substack!

• Eva has recently learned about James Scott Bell’s Write Your Novel From the Middle

• Katryn discusses her own reasons for not writing characters from outside her racial background, but please read author and co-founder of We Need Diverse Books, Dhonielle Clayton’s words on this, because it gets the point across without nearly as much ambient mumbling and word repetition.

• When it comes to redemption arcs, PLEASE pick up Tae Keller’s Jennifer Chan is Not Alone

• Read Becky Albertalli’s Amelia, If Only, Brynne Weaver’s Butcher and Blackbird, Geneva Rose’s The Perfect Marriage
  

This week, Eva and Katryn talk about social media pitfalls for authors, getting back to fangirling over craft, and BookCon’s return. Eva talks about her surprise spiritual connection to Love Island, and Katryn has conspiracy theories about Regina George and the algorithm.

Content/Spoiler Warnings: Kate discusses The Bear season 3 so if you haven't caught up before the next season, skip that portion. She also discusses mild tease spoilers about Hacks and Starstruck (HBO).

Sources:

• Subscribe to Katryn’s multi part series about authors and social media

• We talked about a lot of shows this week, here's where to find them- Love Island USA (Peacock), The Bear (Hulu), Hacks (HBO), Starstruck (HBO)

• We discuss an older episode called Vulturing the Trunk, dedicated to reviving old shelved manuscripts. If you missed it, catch the episode HERE
• BookCon is coming back next year!
• Read Stephanie Lucianovic’s books!
• Newer studies point to evidence that shows kids are using debunked practices to learn to read.
  

This week, Eva and Katryn discuss the ways in which we undervalue ourselves in publishing, and how getting feedback can cause tunnel vision for only the negative points. Eva revels in the second (or possibly fifth) chance romance she’s having with her upcoming book, and Katryn can only be healed by the Elon/Musk breakup - remember, that thing that happened two weeks ago, but now feels like two hundred years?

Sources:

• We discussed that man who had to apologize to Oprah and his flourishing career (why)
• If you’re a fan of fantasy, romance, and everything in between, follow Katryn’s sister, Maren Lane and her thriving book blog!
• Yes, we made merch. Thanks, AJ Davage!
• Katryn discusses additional Pride fuckery in her article on Substack. Follow her there!
• Also, follow Eva on Substack!

This week Eva and Katryn tackle the myth of fairness in publishing, and the sisyphean task of wading through market changes at the querying stage. Eva rethings her stance on a much maligned character in Sex and the City and Katryn can’t move past her anger at many things–chief among them: Isaac Higgentooth: Colonial Vampire.

Sources:

• Check out Eva’s German release for I Wish You Would (in Germany, titled “The Summer We Kissed”) and stay tuned to her account for a book announcement coming soon!

• We discuss the internet’s inability to believe that Sarah Jessica Parker can read two books a day, although it’s less about SJP and more about being done with spending our time on these useless discourse asides.

• Weep for the “unsung men” in publishing. Or don’t. We’re not.

• Watch Roy Wood Jr. if you want to increase your serotonin levels. Start with Father Figure, on Netflix.

• For inspiring middle grade feels, follow Lauren Magaziner (and check out her new queer fantasy MG book, The Incorruptibles!)

• Listen to Ben’s favorite band, 4Town. 😜

This week, Eva and Katryn discuss recapturing their pre-publishing creativity, parasocial expectations in online spaces, a new troubling AI survey, and building a sub list with your agent. Eva makes her way back to elite athlete status, and Katryn dives headfirst into The Pitt.

Sources:

• Did those of you who watched The Pitt happen to notice that McKay is played by Fiona Dourif and HER DAD IS PLAYED BY BRAD DOURIF? Learn Brad Dourif’s name!
• Watch Eva’s IG reflection on one year after the release of I Wish You Would
• Katryn had a blast at the Ukiah Book Fair with authors Michael Leali, Lisa Moore Ramee, Misa Sugiura, Nicole Chen, and Karen McCoy.
• Bookbub’s new survey about AI has us wondering: if AI users don’t want to do the writing part of writing, why do they want to be writers at all? This is really troubling stuff and continues to erase creative artists across every art field.
  

CW/TW: We talk about AI in this episode, and recognize it’s an exhausting topic for many who have been tirelessly fighting the erasure of artists and the theft of our creative work. For those who have been diving in headfirst, we salute you!

Eva and Katryn dive into a number of nuanced author struggles this week, from the dehumanization of authors as a product, to the myth of control when it comes to moving the needle, to the discourse surrounding pen names. Eva’s Ron Burgundy references start to reach Lord of the Rings levels, and Katryn can’t hear the title of the medical show “The Pitt” without singing “The Pit”*

*Content Notes/TWs:

We briefly mention the author recently known as ‘Moldemort’ in a discussion about pen names. This is not an endorsement, JKR has used her massive platform and money to globally cause harm to trans kids, end of story.

Sources

• This Time article details the massive Taylor Jenkins Reid deal that has massive implications in publishing, both (hopefully) good, and troubling
• We share some comments from the author community (inc. MK Lobb) about the ‘moving the needle discourse.’
• Check out Lady Whistlethreads (upgrade to paid for extras) on Substack

Eva and Katryn share their hellscape escapism picks:

• Katryn: Bob’s Burgers, The Great North, Key & Peele, Bottoms, It’s Elementary

• Anita De Monte Laughs Last, Temptation Island

WE'RE BACK! This week, Eva and Katryn are back after a long break and catch up on their lives in and out of publishing. Talking about everything from battling a desire for type-A control in the submission process to the fear of losing momentum. Eva gets real about weighing feedback, and Katryn details finding the French version of I Wish You Would in Paris!

Sources:

• Subscribe to Eva’s new Substack-based newsletter to learn a little more about the goings-on in between our episodes.
• Subscribe to Katryn’s Substack as she pivots from social media as a space to share opinions.

This week, Eva and Katryn talk book burnout, juggling projects, and the pitfalls of hyper-visibility. Katryn gets so dark that she doesn’t even bring up Lord of the Rings once, and Eva explains why she cried into a burrito.

Sources:

• Watch this video of Eva at her Grandma’s organized event if you want to cry in your own burrito!
• Don’t look at this breakdown if you haven’t seen “The Plight Before Christmas” in Bob’s Burgers’ thirteenth season. The single most heart-hitting moment of all time.
• Want a Lady Dexter book about dismembering predators? Give This Girl’s a Killer a try!