Episode #132: Trends and the Kinds of Books We Want More Of!
Welcome back! Grace and Alvina discuss market trends, and also talk about the kinds of books they want to see more of.
*Special Announcement!
In an upcoming episode, the Book Friends would like to pay tribute to authors and illustrators that we lost in 2021. They would love for you to share your memories on our website using the SpeakPipe recording app. On the bookfriendsforever.com menu, click “Record your author/Illustrator Tribute” and record your memories. Some of the authors and illustrators we lost: Jerry Pinkney, Tomie DePaola, Beverley Cleary, Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, Patricia Reilly Giff, Floyd Cooper, and Gary Paulsen.
“How have you been?”
Alvina has been on a staycation and enjoying family and walking around new parts of the city. Grace has been a little stressed out trying to keep up with a busier schedule. She’s also trying to navigate how to travel when she has a daughter that in not vaccinated.
Book trends:
Grace reflects on some of the trends she has seen in the last decade or so: Snarky, black humor picture books, (such as I want My Hat Back, by Jon Klassen), then didactic picture books during the Trump era, to books now that are about empowerment and social justice. Alvina mentions the Rick Riordan fantasy trends for middle grade to books that feature much more LGBTQ main character content. She also sees vampires and witches coming back but is not so sure Zombies are making their way back in. Grace is also seeing more popular books being re-told as graphic novels.
What books we want to see more of:
Grace brought up her Own Voices article that she wrote. We know that women can write about strong women but Grace thinks we also need to see more books where the boy characters embrace feminists ideas. Grace says, “I would like to see books with white characters who find ways to be allies not saviors.”
Alvina just read “All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boy’s Soccer Team”. Even though all the characters were men, it had a very feminine feel which was nice to see.
Even though there are plenty of books about social justice and empowerment written by diverse authors, it would be nice to see quirky and funny books by diverse authors.
Fortune Cookie Segment:
Publishing Controversy! The Book Friends talk about NFT’s and “The Realms of Ruin.” Alvina explains blockchains.
Gratefuls:
Alvina is grateful for her staycation and her new podcast area with felt on the walls!
Grace is grateful for her thriving family life and the person her daughter is becoming.
Grace and Alvina have been asked to do the Charlotte Zolotow Lecture in October of 2022! Very exciting! They are nervous but grateful for this opportunity.
Grateful from one of our patrons: “I’m becoming a patron in memory of my agent, Shannon. I’m grateful that she found something in my words.” -Jill
Other books and media mentioned in this episode:
*If you’re a patron, don’t forget to check out this week’s Random Questions feed! Authors Shadra Strickland and Grace Lin answer the question, “If you could throw a parade in through the streets of your hometown, what kind of parade would it be?” Click here to listen! If you’re not a patron already, join today!
Thank you for tuning in! Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio for producing and editing this podcast. 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 TikTok and @Alvinaling on Instagram
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Twitter and Instagram and @gracelinauthor on TikTok and @authorgracelin on Facebook
Order the 2022 WTMMTM CALENDAR: https://shop.carlemuseum.org/category/books/autographed-books/grace-linSign up for Grace's author newsletter: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/kEmJMT3/newsletter
