Episode #92: Podcast Changes!
Thank you so much to all of the Book Friends Forever listeners who took the time to fill out the brief podcast survey a few weeks ago. Your input was very helpful. Grace and Alvina discuss the results of their podcast survey, and talk about what changes they're planning on making to the podcast in the new year, including starting a Patreon page! Please continue to rate and review the podcast on apple podcasts and tell some friends about it.
As usual on every episode, they catch up on each other’s lives, share what’s on their minds, and talk about what they’re grateful for.
“How have you been?”
Grace was busy taking down her three Christmas trees and feeling efficient and responsible about getting it done so early! Alvina has been busy settling into her new apartment. It was her first day back at work and she only had 65 emails! It was a slow day and a nice way to transition back from break.
Survey results (Check all that apply options)
Question 1: Who Are you?
27% authors and illustrators, 25% teachers or librarians, 25% parents, 5% work in publishing, 1% agent or bookseller. Some others were teens, aspiring authors, and Grace fans.
Question 2: What do you want to hear about?
Over 77% would like to hear publishing industry insider info and anecdotes, 86.67 % would like to hear about our Asian American identities, 33.33% want to hear about tips for getting published, 60% interested in the process of publishing, 72% want to hear about the craft of publishing, and 74.67% want to hear about our personal lives.
Question 3: Have you ever purchased or borrowed a book that you heard about on this podcast?
Over 81% said they had!
Question 4: How would you help support the podcast?
The majority picked either Patreon or merchandise.
Question 5: Are you interested in interacting with other listeners?
Only 23% said Yes, 19% answered NO and most 59% said maybe.
Questions 6: Do you like listening to guests on the podcast?
89% liked having a guest on the podcast!
We will probably try to have a special guest on the podcast once a month. If you have any other suggestions on a specific guest, please send them in. Many people commented that they loved the Phoebe Whal episodes. They were Alvina’s favorites too mostly because it was nice to have someone who is in children’s publishing but talking about something not necessarily directly related about children’s publishing.
THANK YOU! Your feedback was much appreciated and now here are some of the podcast changes:
The Book Friends Forever podcast will feature an odds and ends episode once a month. It’s going to be called the “ Chop Suey Episode”. Grace and Alvina discuss their relationship to the term “chop suey” and how they’re going to reclaim it! Grace mentions her experience working at a Chinese food restaurant as a teenager and Alvina recommends the documentary on Chinese food in America called, “The Search For General Tso”. Chop Suey episodes will feature fun segments and what they’re currently working on. Alison Morris will also be on to continue recommending books.
On regular episodes they will be adding a new segment called “The Fortune Cookie” segment. This will be covering a small and maybe random topics and facts. If you have any small questions, fun ideas, or things that you would like the BFF to answer, please send them along!
Finally, the podcast did decide to start a Patreon page! Grace and Alvina explain some of their backstory on how the podcast started and what is needed to sustain it. They are just looking for a little bit of support not to earn much money. Grace talks about the podcast as being one of her non –lucrative side hustles. She doesn’t worry too much about how successful the podcast is, but since the pandemic hit, she’s had to change her attitude a bit.
If you join the Patreon page, you will get a blank notebook with Grace’s artwork on it (while supplies last )! It includes a quote from Alvina’s mom on the notebook, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” You will have access to the Kids Ask Authors Random Questions feed. (Super random and funny questions and answers!) At the end of the episode, they share the random question episode featuring Jason Reynolds. Do you want to know what food Jason Reynolds can’t bring himself to eat?! Listen to this episode to find out!
The Patreon members will also have the opportunity to submit what they’re grateful for and the Book Friends will read them at the end of their episodes when they talk about what they’re grateful for. Speaking of that…
“What are you grateful for?”
Grace is grateful for her Christmas gift. Her husband gave her a boba shaped mini fridge for her work studio! They don’t normally exchange gifts, but this year they decided to. Alvina is grateful for the Buynothingproject.org as she is getting rid of some things from her condo. (like goose feathers!)
