Jul 19

Jul 19 Episode #206: 2023 Mid-Year Review!

Grace and Alvina talk about how they're doing on their new-year's resolutions and have a mid-year review!

Pre-Order Chinese Menu!

Educators! Pre-order Chinese Menu for the Carle Museum and receive a FREE virtual classroom visit with Grace to celebrate the Moon Festival on Sept 29th!

Not an educator? Want something different? Pre-order Chinese Menu from Porter Square Book and receive an enamel dragon pin (perfect for the upcoming Year of the Dragon)!

Find all of the pre-order info here: https://gracelin.com/news-events/

How have you been?

Alvina and Stephen are celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary. They’ve been together for three years and married for two! ALA is happening soon! Grace’s world has been hectic and melancholy because Hazel is graduating from elementary school.

Annual Mid-Year Review

Grace and Alvina talk about their New Year’s resolutions and check-in on them!

Grace has been sticking to her first one about exercising and running a 5k. She’s been focusing on more family trips this year which is what she wanted to do.
Alvina wanted to send her nieces and nephews birthday cards and she’s been good about that! She is also taking Ukulele lessons!

Fortune Cookie Segment: Publishing News

Elizabeth Gilbert news: In a video announcement posted to Twitter on Monday, Gilbert said her upcoming novel, The Snow Forest, will be removed from the release calendar following criticism from Ukrainians, whose country is still at war with Russia since its invasion in February 2022. Grace and Alvina discuss self-censorship, social media, and protesting books. Grace mentions A Suicide Bomber in the Library by Jack Cantos.

Gratefuls!

Grace is grateful for the pod parents from the pandemic. It is truly amazing what they experienced together. Alvina is grateful for Stephen and their wonderful marriage.

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.)