Episode #103: A Conversation with Grace and Shannon Hale
Grace and Alvina catch up on each other's lives and talk about the tragic mass murder in Atlanta and anti-Asian hate. Then they air a conversation between Grace and author Shannon Hale about empathy and the genderizing of children's books.
“How Have you Been?”
Grace has been trying to wrap her head around the recent shootings in Atlanta. She wrote a meaningful Facebook post about it that attracted so much support in the comments but also the inevitable trolls chimed in. Alvina has also been grateful for all the support and friends who are checking in. She wonders though, shouldn’t it be the straight white males that we are checking in with if they’re the ones going on the shooting rampages?
A Conversation with Grace Lin and Shannon Hale
On January 12th 2021, Link to Libraries and Laurie Flynn hosted a conversation with New York Times best-selling authors Shannon Hale and Grace Lin. They talked about empathy and the genderization of books. The book friends share the conversation on this episode because these are timeless topics but really important to discuss right now. Here is a list of the questions Laurie asked the authors:
What does your typical writing day look like?
Grace, as an Asian American woman, can you tell us a little bit about a question you posed in one of your Ted Talks: “what happens if you never see anyone who looks like you in a book?”
On the topic of labeling girl books vs. boy books, can you you talk to the issue of how important it is how we talk about books?
Do you get an image in your head first or do you get an idea for a story first? What is the process like when you are both the author and the illustrator?
Why have you chosen to write for young readers?
The conversation ends with a speed round of random fun questions like “wine or chocolate?”.
“What have you been consuming?”
Grace and Alvina share some of their latest consumed tv shows, podcasts, music, etc…Grace: a meditation app called Daily Shine. Alvina: The Apple TV show called Ted Lasso.
“What are you grateful for?”
Grace is grateful for the lily flowers that her husband gave to her that are now filling her home with such a lovely smell. She is also grateful for all the support everyone has provided since the attacks in Atlanta.
Alvina is grateful for the positive reception they had for their cultural appropriation episode #101 with Linda Sue Park. Also, she and Stephen had a Peloton bike arrive!
Other books and media mentioned:
Shannon Hale is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty children's and young adult novels, including graphic novel memoirs Real Friends and Best Friends, and multiple award winners The Goose Girl, Book of a Thousand Days and Newbery Honor recipient Princess Academy. She has also penned three books for adults, beginning with Austenland, which is now a major motion picture staring Keri Russell.
Thank you for tuning in! Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)
You can find Alvina @Planetalvina on Twitter and @Alvinaling on Instagram
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Facebook and Instagram
*If you’re a patron, don’t forget to check out this week’s Random Questions feed! Grace Lin and Mike Curato answer this question: If you were a pair of shoes, what kind would you be? Click here to listen! you’re not a Book Friends Forever podcast patron already, join today!
