Episode #55: The Pandemic Episode!

The BFF’s are talking this week about the one thing that is on everyone’s minds: The Coronavirus and the state of the new world we are waking up to. When this podcast goes live, so much will have already changed in the news.

Grace is fighting off being so down about things by staying busy. Not necessarily in the creative way, but by launching her new podcast Kids Ask Authors, writing duck stories, putting up YouTube videos, and other ways to distract and not feel so stressed. Grace mentions as a freelancer, having all of her speaking events get cancelled will be tough financially since she relies on those trips as a big part of her income. A whole season of travel wiped out is really hard.

All of her events this spring were cancelled. Like so many others, Alvina and Grace discuss how they are trying to wrap their head around the virus changing their work, home life, and social life so quickly.

Alvina is nervous about social distancing because she is such an extrovert! There is so much anxiety over the illness but actually Alvina has been dealing with it, learning about it, and thinking about it for a much longer time. Her family was on board the Diamond Princess Cruise that was quarantined back in February. Some of her relatives were sick but they have fully covered thankfully. Still, it is scary but she’s been consumed with worrying about it for quite sometime. She’s happy she lives in her spacious apartment with windows as opposed to some of her old and much smaller apartments over the years. She’s also totally stocked up on supplies because she ALWAYS is!

How will the virus effect publishing?

The industry will be effected if the economy is. If there is a recession, that will effect the entire industry. Will people be interested in reading books about devastation, pandemics, etc.. or will they be craving some escapism? These are the questions the book friends discussed. Grace has been feeling like reading light-hearted books to kids on her YouTube channel, but that is because she’s craving it. Others may be craving books ABOUT pandemics. For instance, like the book, Agnes at the End of the World, by Kelly McWilliams.

Grace and Alvina talk more about the coronavirus in the age of online dating, (Alvina can weed out the people online that tell her they’ve been out to a crowded bar recently and say there’s nothing to worry about! Goodbye! ) what it feels like to be Asian during the outbreak, (It’s a real issue: people think because you’re Asian, you are more likely to have the virus. ) and they talk about how they’re generally handling everything at this time.

What are you grateful for?

Alvina: Is grateful that she has a cat, has been talking to family and friends, that she can be well-stocked up on supplies, and for her great living space during this quarantine.
Grace: Is thankful for the fact that they have all they need to be hunkered down. She is also thankful for her husband because he has helped her get the new Kids Ask Authors podcast up and running while even getting more episodes out per week to coincide with homeschooling.

Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts as they’re nearing 100 episodes! There will be a drawing and a prize TBD. The book friends forever are taking suggestions on what that prize will be!

Be safe and be healthy!