Episode #277:CHOP SUEY: Reading trends, the Black List, and House Trust!
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss what they think the trends for next year will be, they discuss a new site for discovering writers called The Black List, and they talk about the concept of "house trust" and how that might relate to authors and publishing. And then Alvina shares some recommendations from the LBYR list for potential holiday gift giving.
How have you been?
Alvina talks about the forest fire in Prospect Park and other fires around the area caused by a drought. Last year, Alvina went to an event called “Shoes Off” by Asian American Writers Workshop and met some wonderful new people. Grace attended a funeral for one of her Aunt’s who was a big matriarch of the family. It was strange to be around family members who didn’t think the election results were such a big deal. Grace opened a print shopee on her website!
Reading Trends
Alvina had an event with an Agents for Change organization that they did with Little Brown. The topic of trends came up. “What do you think is going to be the trend for next year?” Alvina is predicting contemporary romance for adults may trickle down to YA. Other predictions were cozy fantasy and cozy fiction. Someone said horror and vampires. Grace thinks that reading trends will go towards cozy type fantasy or fiction based on the intense political climate right now that many may want to escape. Dystopian may also come back, like Legends and Lattes…”when it’s high fantasy and low stakes.” Listeners…please let us know what you wish to read or what you believe the trends will be!
The Black List
The book friends talk about the back list from a NYT article, “The Black List Helped Reshape Hollywood. Can It Change Publishing?” How much will be YA or adult? Alvina will report back later once she gets access to it.
House Trust
This topic was inspired from from Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project podcast: More Happier: New Traditions, The Idea of “House Trust,” and a Creative Gift Suggestions.
Book Recs!
5 Little Brown books that came out this fall:
At our Table by Patrick Hulse and illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
Tale of the Flying Forest by R.M. Romero and illustrated by E.K. Belsher
The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon
Grace (plugs!) and Recommends:
Gratefuls
Grace is grateful for her “street team” that she started for her book promotion. “It’s like having a cheer leading section.” A silver lining: The bike path that Grace normally runs is under construction and she’s been running an alternative trail in the woods. The trail has a prayer labyrinth and a gratitude line!
Alvina had a bookstore notify that there was a possible mistake in a Little Brown book. It all worked out….due to help from an expert that she is very grateful for! (More on this story possibly in a year from now!)
THANK YOU!
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 and Threads, @alvinaling on BlueSky
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Instagram and Threads, @authorgracelin on Facebook, @gracelinauthor on TikTok.
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