Happy Track Changes Day!
Today, I am releasing the final episode of the Track Changes series, and I am... overwhelmed, honestly. I can't believe that the idea I had one year ago is now a complete project that you can listen to and enjoy.
Please give the final episode a listen, and if you dig it, tell your friends! And sign up to continue getting behind-the-scenes publishing info via the weekly Track Changes newsletter, and consider leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.
I also redesigned the First Draft website 💻 So let me know what you think, or if you find any links to nowhere (lol)!
Read on for...
🏆 The final episode of Track Changes Season 1 is UP!
🎧 Recent can't-miss First Draft episodes
🗳️ Some timely links
💎 Links for TELL ME EVERYTHING
🏆 Final Episode of Track Changes Season1! 🏆
Season one of Track Changes has wrapped up with Episode 9: Marketing and Publicity (Part 2), and Defining Success. I hope Track Changes gave you clarity and perspective on this industry. If you have thoughts (or suggestions for a possible season 2), reply to this email and let me know!
If you've enjoyed the series and you'd like to support First Draft / Track Changes, you can:
Subscribe to the Track Changes weekly newsletter to get more helpful info & perspective on publishing
Sponsorships for the podcast are available, if you have a book coming out or work for a company whose customers look like First Draft listeners, reach out for more info!
🎧 Recent First Draft Episodes 🎧
Track Changes: Marketing and Publicity (Part 1), and Defining Success
📚📈❤️ How authors can create a marketing strategy to promote their own book, and when it might be right to bring in an independent marketing or publicity firms. Jennifer de Leon shares the highs and lows from launching Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, and we discuss expanded definitions of success.
Listen here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Castle Envy With Katharine McGee
Katharine McGee is the New York Times bestselling author of The Thousandth Floor series, as well as American Royals and its sequel, Majesty.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Track Changes Bonus Episode: Publishing From Every Angle
A conversation between an author, agent, and editor to cover the ins and outs of the publishing process. The panel features Abigail Hing Wen, debut author of Loveboat Taipei; agent Joanna Volpe, president and literary agent at New Leaf Literary & Media; and Alvina Ling, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief at Little Brown Books for Young Readers (and co-host of the Book Friends Forever podcast).
This conversation was held as part of A Mighty Blaze’s YA Weekend, and many thanks to Joseph Moldover (author of Every Last Breath) and Jennifer de Leon (author of Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From) for all the help putting that entire celebration together.
Listen here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Writing Infinity Jokes With Jill Twiss
Jill Twiss, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo and Emmy winning comedy writer on Last Week Tonight, talks about her latest picture book, Everyone Gets a Say, with illustrator EG Keller.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Track Changes Bonus Episode: The Don't Ask Me Where I'm From Team
A conversation between the entire team behind debut young adult novel Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From: author Jennifer de Leon, Literary agent Faye Bender, partner and founder of The Book Group, and Caitlyn Dlouhy, Vice President & Editorial Director–Caitlyn Dlouhy Books at Simon & Schuster.
This conversation was held as part of A Mighty Blaze’s YA Weekend, and many thanks to Joseph Moldover (author of Every Last Breath) for all the help putting that entire celebration together.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Hooked On Libraries With Adele Griffin
Adele Griffin, two-time National Book Award honoree and author of almost thirty books for Young Adult and middle grade readers, including The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone, The Becket List, and Sons of Liberty and Where I want to Be.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Track Changes: Marketing and Publicity (Part 1)
📚🗣️💰 How do readers learn about your book? We get into how publishing companies decide on the marketing budgets for each book, and what marketing tools are at their disposal. The difference between publicity and marketing; how authors can maximize what their publisher has planned; and the one thing that matters most when it comes to promoting books.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Using the Skills of Friendship With Arthur Levine
Arthur Levine is the legendary children’s book editor, including of series such as Harry Potter and The Golden Compass. He is founder of publishing house Levine Querido, and formerly President and Publisher at Arthur A. Levine Books at Scholastic, as well as author of picture books, most recently The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol.
I used portions of Arthur’s interview in the Track Changes: Inequality in Publishing episode, and I encourage you all to listen.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Christina Hammonds-Reed and Jason Reynolds
Christina Hammonds-Reed, debut author of The Black Kids, is in conversation with 2020–2021 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jason Reynolds, whose many books include All American Boys (cowritten with Brendan Kiely [listen to his First Draft interview here]), As Brave as You, For Every One, the Track series, Look Both Ways, Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You and Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Honor.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
Defining the Line With Morgan Jerkins
Morgan Jerkins, author of essay collection This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America, talks about her new book, social history and memoir Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots.
Listen to our interview here, on iTunes, or on Spotify!
🗳️ Just Gonna Put This Here 🗳️
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