We had an AWESOME launch party! Jennifer Beals encounters Morgan’s aunt. Morgan and Barry visit an actual bookstore to see their book in the wild. Big transitions for Leia and Luke mean Barry and Morgan have more time with the kids…and less tim

Bonus Episode: The One that's Really Short

Sep 3rd, 2019

It’s Pub Day for The Hive, Barry and Morgan’s book baby! #HasCassieSurfacedYet?Links:The Best Books of Fall 2019 | PEOPLE.comOrder The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | IndieboundThe Hive Launch PartyRate us on iTunes

Ep. 107: The One with a Two-Book Deal

Aug 28th, 2019 28m 48s

Morgan gets good news. Morgan gets good news. A cross-country trip with a 4-year-old! Barry does something he’s never done before and feels less bad about it than you’d imagine. Mmm; dried mango.Links:Preorder The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | Indieb

The One You Can Preorder

Aug 15th, 2019 37m 24s

An update on Morgan’s leap of faith and work(s) in progress. Writers with day jobs and the world’s opinions of such. Barry takes on the preorder system. Also: Meet the sensational character find of 2019, the villainous…TweetStorm!Links:Preorder

Ep. 105: The One where Morgan is Preternaturally Chill

Aug 1st, 2019 29m 5s

Updates on marriage and the kids. Luke figures out the Apple Watch at age 2. Is it possible to become a successful author nowadays without using or being good at social media? “Be adequate!” Remember when Twitter was fun? What’s more important:

The One with the Book-Shaming

Jul 17th, 2019 37m 49s

Ep. 103: The One without a Flaming Pile of Dung

Jul 5th, 2019 29m 37s

Morgan finishes a book! How it feels to finish a book and turn it in: Satisfaction, doubt, joy, panic, all of it. Barry tries to convince his publisher not to publish his book. Listening to music while writing: Good idea or best idea? And Barry

Ep. 102: The One where They Swear They’re Back

Jun 19th, 2019 32m 49s

Catching up on the last year: Morgan quits her job. They have their first signing. Barry can’t run around in his underwear any more. Why is the dishwasher always running?Links:The UpsideWhere Storytelling and Pop Culture Collide - BookCon 2019T

Episode 101: The One where They Wrote a Book Together

Jun 29th, 2018 28m 44s

Barry and Morgan are happy to finally be able to talk about their book together, THE HIVE. Plus: What does Jennifer Beals have to do with this?

The One that Came after Episode 99

May 10th, 2018 46m 35s

We hit episode 100 and invites special guests Carolyn Mackler, Jon Skovron, Maggie Lehrman, and more!

The One where Barry Plans to Kill Half the Universe

Apr 20th, 2018 28m 23s

Barry FINALLY gets to talk about his super-secret mystery project: THANOS! How on earth does he live with himself writing Marvel AND DC? Who is “Brick Charles?” Babysitting in the modern age. Morgan marvels at The Secret History of Twin Peaks.

Episode 98: The One with Sex

Apr 6th, 2018 31m 30s

A man stupidly claims we don’t need women authors because he can write women just fine. (Dude…) Where is all the good sex in YA these days and why did it go away? Plus: Luke gives your hosts one hell of a scare and Barry has read a bunch of

Episode 97: The One that’s Lucky

Mar 22nd, 2018 26m

The pleasures and pains of returning to old projects. What do surfing and writing have in common? We’re gonna tell you! Plus: micro-progress is real progress, and believe it or not…Barry’s reading a book!

The One with a Bunch of Topics

Mar 12th, 2018 33m 53s

Barry says farewell to a wonderful librarian who left us too soon. Should publishing give huge advances to former Trump Administration officials? Why do readers feel betrayed when they learn a book is part of a series? Then we talk about our co

The One where Morgan Finally Cares about Back Pain

Feb 22nd, 2018 37m 30s

The literal pain of parenthood. Morgan still hates The Princess Bride. Act single for a better marriage. Barry talks on the phone — a lot. Do graphic novels deserve their own bestseller list? Barry explains his insane schedule. Plus: #metoo

Episode 94: The One During the Super Bowl

Feb 6th, 2018 32m 45s

We’re back! Again! Our reach is more global than we thought. Lyga’s Law of Publishing rears its ugly head again. Editors who are also writers: Threat or menace? The benefits and drawbacks of working a day job while writing. Cool new imprints! T

Ep. 093: The One with Harsh Words, Guys

Nov 26th, 2017 32m 55s

Barry thanks the listeners for their compassion. We know you like Morgan more than Barry, but guess who likes YOU? How much baby room monitoring is too much baby room monitoring? Plus: Something is wrong with the Internet. And it’s not just us

Episode 92: The One with Tantrums

Oct 27th, 2017 31m 8s

Why they’ve been AWOL. Yes, we talk about American Heart. Sorry. Also: We’re sick of Twitter.Links: The Flash: Hocus Pocus | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundNavigating the choppy waters of life with a ‘threenager’ - The Washington

Episode 91: The One where We Need a Dance Pope

Sep 22nd, 2017 37m 30s

A lot of parenting talk, including dance class, a quiz to determine if you’re ready for parenthood, and more. Barry goes viral. Sort of. Book doulas—yeah, they’re a thing. Why your first book has to be perfect. And how do you avoid the scourge

Episode 90: The One with Barry’s Deep, Dark Secret

Sep 8th, 2017 34m 19s

Dads apparently reduce childhood obesity by just…being dads? Trump is apparently killing publishing. Barry goes on a rant about spoilers and is called out for hypocrisy, then confesses a major children’s lit sin…and proceeds to diss a book you

Episode 89: The One where Morgan Read a Dude

Aug 23rd, 2017 32m 31s

Kids learn social media fails by watching their parents. Forget readers — how do you raise writers? The agony and the ecstasy of summer reading. Is sex the secret to getting boys to read? What you need to read in order to be a better writer. Pl

Episode 88: The One where It’s All about One Thing, Really

Aug 11th, 2017 34m 24s

Yes, we discuss YA Twitter culture with regard to The Black Witch and that Vulture article. And then a brief parenting moment and some fun books to read as the world burns.Links: The Black Witch: An Epic Fantasy Novel (The Black Witch Chron

Episode 87: The One with Poopy in the Potty

Jul 26th, 2017 40m 30s

We swear this isn’t turning into a TV review podcast, but…we just have to spend some time on Younger and Friends from College. Is it OK for men to use female pseudonyms? What do you say to someone who is afraid to have kids? The economics of co

Episode 86: The One with Two Rants

Jul 11th, 2017 37m 6s

Barry is annoyed by Instagram without even being on it. And Barry is ready to lose it over Netflix…again. Morgan remains calm. Does financial success kill artistic risk? The new/old phenomenon of writers seeking patronage. Plus: Email from a ne

Episode 85: The One where Barry is Aware that It’s the Wrong Flash

Jun 13th, 2017 35m 2s

Barry is writing The Flash. ‘Nuff said! BookExpo and how it feels to be among the Book People. Barry and Morgan have a secret. The return of the million bad words and the madness of colored index cards. How do you raise a feminist son? (Spoiler