First Draft Episode #359: Traci Thomas Traci Thomas is the creator and host of The Stacks Podcast, a show about books featuring interviews with authors and book lovers. New episodes out every Wednesday! In this episode, we discuss my choice to

Simple Pleasures and Sinister Undertones With Nina LaCour

May 26th, 2022 51m 20s

First Draft Episode #358: Nina LaCour Nina LaCour is the bestselling and Michael L. Printz Award-winning author of five critically acclaimed young adult novels, including: We Are Okay, and Hold Still. She joins to talk about her first picture

Dreams and Ghosts With Samira Ahmed

May 19th, 2022 1h 5m

First Draft Episod #357: Samira Ahmed Samira Ahmed is the bestselling author of Love, Hate & Other Filters, Internment, Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know, and Amira & Hamza: The War to Save the Worlds, as well as a Ms. Marvel comic book mini-serie

Writers and Friends With Kristin Dwyer

May 12th, 2022 1h 4m

First Draft Episode #356: Kristin Dwyer Kristin Dwyer is the debut author of YA romance, Some Mistakes Were Made. THIS EPISODE BROUGHT TO YOU BY… Fundamentals of Design, a crash course in design tailored specifically for authors. Head to embow

Embrace the Funny With Shannon Hale

May 5th, 2022 1h 4m

First Draft Episode #355: Shannon Hale Shannon Hale is the New York Times best-selling author of over thirty children's and young adult books, including graphic novel memoirs Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever, and multiple award

Moms Don't Have Time to Chat With Zibby Owens

Apr 28th, 2022 51m 39s

First Draft Episode #354: Zibby Owens Zibby Owens is the founder of the podcast Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books, and new publishing company Zibby Books, as well as author of picture book Princess Charming and forthcoming memoir, Bookends: A

Determinism is the Only Answer With Adrienne Celt

Apr 21st, 2022 1h 5m

First Draft Episode #353: Adrienne Celt Adrienne Celt is a cartoonist and author of The Daughters, Invitation to a Bonfire, as well as cartoon collection, Apocalypse How? An Existential Bestiary. She joins to talk about her latest, End of the

Let Your Heroines Be Horny With Elissa Sussman

Apr 15th, 2022 1h 10m

First Draft Episode #352: Elissa Sussman Elissa Sussman is the author of adult romance Funny You Should Ask, and YA novels Drawn That Way, Burn, and Stray. This episode is brought to you by Revision Season, the seven-week virtual master class

Finishing an Unfinished Thing With Mac Barnett

Apr 7th, 2022 1h 7m

First Draft Episode #351: Mac Barnett Mac Barnett, two-time Caldecott Honor and #1 New York Times bestselling author of picture books like Extra Yarn and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole with illustrator Jon Klassen, and the Jack book series with illu

The State of the Library With Amanda Oliver

Mar 31st, 2022 1h 19m

First Draft Episode #350: Amanda Oliver Amanda Oliver, former librarian and author of OVERDUE: Reckoning with the Public Library. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Reza Aslan, professor at U.C. Riverside’s MFA program and author of

Chasing the Feeling With John Cho

Mar 24th, 2022 24m 41s

First Draft Episode #349: John Cho John Cho, actor, producer, writer, and author of debut middle grade novel, Troublemaker, with Sarah Suk. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder Fift

Live in the Awkward With Kate Spencer

Mar 17th, 2022 58m 13s

First Draft Episode #348: Kate Spencer Kate Spencer is the co-host of the award-winning podcast Forever35, and author of the memoir The Dead Moms Club. She joins to talk about her first novel, In a New York Minute. Links to Topics Mentioned I

Two Kinds of Fears with Seth Meyers

Mar 15th, 2022 40m 51s

First Draft Episode #347: Seth Meyers Seth Meyers, host of Late Night with Seth Meyers and former head writer for Saturday Night Live, talks about his debut picture book, I’m Not Scared, You’re Scared with Rob Syegh. Links to Topics Mentioned

A Tightrope of Self-Belief With Jennifer E. Smith

Mar 10th, 2022 55m 5s

First Draft Episode #346: Jennifer E. Smith Jennifer E. Smith, author of YA novels The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between and more. She’s here to talk about her first picture book, Creatu

We Only Get The Hunks We Get With Rebecca Serle

Mar 8th, 2022 49m 14s

First Draft Episode #345: Rebecca Serle Rebecca Serle, New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years, The Dinner List, and more, talks about her new novel, One Italian Summer. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Rebecca’s first

Sabaa Tahir’s Little Brain Pets

Mar 4th, 2022 48m 8s

First Draft Episode #344: Sabaa Tahir Sabaa Tahir, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Ember in the Ashes series talks about her new contemporary YA, All My Rage. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Don’t miss Sabaa’s first F

Acts of Hope With Abdi Nazemian

Feb 24th, 2022 1h 6m

First Draft Episode #343: Abdi Nazemian Abdi Nazemian, screenwriter and author of Stonewall Honor book Like a Love Story talks about his most recent YA, The Chandler Legacies. Links to Topics Mentioned In This Episode: Abdi’s first First Dra

Adam Rubin's Reality is Subjective

Feb 17th, 2022 58m 54s

First Draft Episode #342: Adam Rubin Adam Rubin, New York Times bestselling picture book author known for Dragons Love Tacos, Those Darn Squirrels!, Robo-Sauce and more with illustrator Daniel Salmieri, about his new collection of middle grade

Mess Stuff Up With Jon Scieszka

Feb 3rd, 2022 1h 9m

First Draft Episode #341: Jon Scieszka Jon Scieszka, former National Ambassador for Children’s Literature and New York Times bestselling author best known for picture books with illustrator Lane Smith, including The True Story of the Three Lit

Things Have to Happen With Swan Huntley

Jan 27th, 2022 58m 17s

First Draft Episode #340: Swan Huntley Swan Huntley is the author of adult literary novels The Goddesses, We Could Be Beautiful, and her newest, Getting Clean With Stevie Green. The presenting sponsor for this episode is Sips By, a multi-brand

Your Publishing Journey Is Not Your Personal Journey With Ibi Zoboi

Jan 21st, 2022 1h 21m

Ibi Zoboi is the New York Times bestselling author of National Book Award Finalist American Street, Pride, My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich and co-author with prison reform activist Yusef Salaam of Punching the Air. She joins us to talk about

Why the Bodega Doors Opened For Jacqueline Woodson

Jan 13th, 2022 56m 56s

Jacqueline Woodson is a 2020 MacArthur Genius fellow, National Book Award winner, Newberry, Caldecott, and Coretta Scott King winner, former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Brown G

Workshop of Joy With Lamar Giles

Jan 6th, 2022 1h 10m

First Draft Episode #337: Lamar Giles Lamar Giles, author of the acclaimed novels Fake ID, Endangered, Overturned, Spin, Not So Pure and Simple. He joins us to talk about his middle-grade series The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, Last Chance for Log

Reclaiming Authenticity With Varian Johnson

Dec 16th, 2021 1h 13m

First Draft Episode #336: Varian Johnson Varian Johnson, award-winning author of The Parker Inheritance, Twins, The Great Greene Heist, joins us to talk about his most recent middle-grade, Playing the Cards You’re Dealt. The presenting sponsor

It Can't Be a Soundbite With Kekla Magoon

Dec 9th, 2021 1h 9m

First Draft Episode #335: Kekla Magoon Kekla Magoon is the award-winning author of many novels and nonfiction books for kids and teens, including How It Went Down, The Season of Styx Malone, and her newest, Revolution In Our Time: The Black Pa