OwlCrate Presents: Lost in Plots

The Nest Re-Visited: OwlCrate-A-Con Keynote with V.E. Schwab Oct 30, 2024

In this episode Jordan is joined by OwlCrate founder Korrina and New York Times best selling author V.E. Schwab for the Keynote Address of OwlCrate-A-Con 2024. The trio discuss the origins of their collaborations, dismantling the concept of "fantasy" and expanding your interests both as a reader and a creative. Victoria describes how her approach to writing has changed with success, the significance discovering her sexuality has had on her work and how her path through the industry has informed her creativity. Date Recorded: August 17th, 2024

Chapter 20: Carissa Broadbent Oct 14, 2024

In this episode Jordan and Maggie are joined by New York Times Best Selling Author (and longtime OwlCrate collaborator) Carissa Broadbent. The trio discuss the themes and impact of "Serpent and the Wings of Night", what it means for a character to be morally gray, the differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing and the excitement and surrealness of success in the book industry.

Chapter 19: Post-Apocalypse Sep 25, 2024

In this episode, Jordan and Cade explore the post-apocalyptic subgenre centered around their buddy reading of "Last Light" by Claire Kent. They share their favorite post-apocalyptic media, discuss the appeal of dystopian stories and debate how each would fare in an end of the world scenario. They also share some big news as they reveal the submission process for the upcoming OwlCrate Press project, "Future States of Stars". BOOKS MENTIONED Last Light by Claire Kent Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Foundation by Isaac Asimov Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank On the Beach by Nevil Shute The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 1984 by George Orwell Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Wool by Hugh Howey The Four Horsemen Series by Laura Thalassa

Chapter 18: Reflections on OwlCrate-A-Con Sep 20, 2024

Jordan and Maggie get together this week to look back on the recent OwlCrate-A-Con event. The duo touch on some of their favorite moments and inside jokes ("Butter" merch available soon!) plus offer a glimpse at some exciting future plans and projects. The hosts are also briefly joined by Team OwlCrate member Tara to discuss the recent "Six of Crows" box and the challenges of curating items amid rights restrictions.

Book Club: The Luminaries + Monsters Sep 05, 2024

In this episode, Cori is joined by Amber from team OwlCrate to discuss Susan Dennard's "The Luminaries" and other monster themed books. The two go over their favorite moments, make a few predictions for the future installments and reveal which clan they each belong to (via the Luminerds quiz at https://luminerds.substack.com/p/which-clan-do-you-belong-to) They also provide recommendations for other monster stories ranging from classic literature to high fantasy. BOOKS MENTIONED The Luminaries by Susan Dennard The Hunting Moon by Susan Dennard Only a Monster by Vanessa Len Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Dracula by Bram Stoker Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu The Girl From the Other Side by Nagabe Court of the Vampire Queen by Katee Robert The Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

Chapter 17: OwlCrate-A-Con 2024 (Prelude) Aug 15, 2024

This week Jordan is joined by Maggie to gear up for OwlCrate-A-Con 2024, taking place August 16-17th! The two go over the extensive panels and events planned for the weekend as well as reveal the many special guests due to attend. OwlCrate-A-Con attendance is exclusive to members of the Nest, so be sure to join today for access to this special event! EVENT SCHEDULE Friday August 16th 6:45PM EST: YA Author Panel Friday August 16th 8:00PM EST: Keynote: Soldier, Poet, King Saturday August 17th 12:00PM EST: Keynote Guest V.E. Schwab Saturday August 17th 1:15PM EST: Monsters in Masquerade Panel Saturday August 17th 2:30PM EST: Artist Panel Saturday August 17th 3:45PM EST: Contemporary Romance Panel Saturday August 17th 5:00PM EST: Horror Panel Saturday August 17th 6:15PM EST: Creator Panel Saturday August 17th 7:30PM EST: Sci-Fi Panel Saturday August 17th 8:45PM EST: Romantasy Panel

The Nest Re-Visited: Interview with Adriana Mather Jul 31, 2024

In this episode Maggie is joined by New York Times best selling author Adriana Mather for a remarkable conversation. Adriana shares some amazing stories of her family connections to historical events ranging from the Salem witch trials to the sinking of the Titanic. They discuss her most recent work, "The Break Up Artists" and consider the necessity and comfort of genre tropes before going a little deeper into Adriana's evolving psychology of positivity -- shaped recently by some truly joyous news! Don't skip this one if you missed it in the Nest!

Chapter 16: Contemporary Romance Jul 25, 2024

Maggie is holding down the fort this week and she's joined by Sophie to discuss their passion for contemporary romance. The two discuss their favorite tropes and trends, the sometimes misleading effects of "cartoon covers" on spicy stories, the perfect length for a "slow burn" romance and LOTS of recommendations. All this plus a small deviation on the popularity and history of golf in Scotland. Given the topic the language is slightly saucier than our standard fare, so audience discretion is advised. BOOKS MENTIONED Business Casual by B.K. Borison The Fiance Dilemma by Elena Armas Daydream by Hannah Grace Icebreaker by Hannah Grace Collide by Bal Khabra The Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness Deep End by Ali Hazelwood Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood Twisted Love by Ana Huang Twisted Hate by Ana Huang Twisted Games by Ana Huang Twisted Lies by Ana Huang Fangirl Down by Tessa Bailey The Au Pair Affair by Tessa Bailey Secretly Yours by Tessa Bailey My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde Fix-Her Upper by Erin St. James Knockemout Series by Lucy Score The Pairing by Casey McQuiston Magnolia Parks by Jessica Hastings

Book Club: Riley Sager & Thrillers Jul 05, 2024

Jordan is joined this week by Cade and Maggie to go over her first foray into thrillers. What starts as a book club gathering to discuss the recent novel "Middle of the Night" soon becomes an analysis of Riley Sager's entire body of work culminating in Maggie and Cade's rankings of all eight of his novels. The trio also discuss some of their favorite tropes of the genre and the surprising cross-over that might exist between fantasy and thriller fans. Plus Jordan confesses to the crime of the century! BOOKS MENTIONED Riley Sager Novels - Middle of the Night - Final Girls - The Last Time I Lied - Survive the Night - The House Across the Lake - The Only One Left - Lock Every Door - Home Before Dark Eragon by Christopher Paolini Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica The Hunting Wives by May Cobb Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth The Last One by Will Dean The Chamber by Will Dean Razorblade Tears - S.A. Crosby All the Sinners Bleed - S.A. Crosby Blacktop Wasteland - S.A. Crosby

Chapter 15: Writing & Collaborating (w/Neal Shusterman) Jun 26, 2024

Jordan is joined this week by very special guest, New York Times best selling author Neal Shusterman. The two discuss the benefits and challenges of writing with others, working with his son, writing across diverse genres, the importance of tackling difficult subject matter and potential upcoming adaptions of Neal's work. NEAL BOOKS MENTIONED Break to You (with Debra Young & Michelle Knowlden) Unwind Dry (with Jarrod Shusterman) Roxy (with Jarrod Shusterman) Tesla's Attic (with Eric Elfman) I Am the Walrus (with Eric Elfman) Shock the Monkey (with Eric Elfman) Courage to Dream: Tales of Hope in the Holocaust Challenger Deep Scythe

Book Club: A Lesson in Vengeance and Pride Month Jun 19, 2024

Cori is joined this week by Cade of Team OwlCrate (@heyatlascreative) to go over Victoria Lee's 2021 book "A Lesson in Vengeance". As a re-read for Cori, but a first time for Cade, the two compare thoughts on the surprisingly dark and atmospheric YA title. The - in the spirit of Pride Month - the two dig into some recommendations and recollections of their favorite books featuring LGBTQ+ representation. Learn more about Lambda Literary at https://lambdaliterary.org/ BOOKS MENTIONED A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin The Wicker King by K. Ancrum The Weight of Stars by K. Ancrum Darling by K. Ancrum Icarus by K. Ancrum Faebound by Saara El-Arifi Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse Care Of: Letters, Connections, and Cures by Ivan Coyote Welcome to St. Hell by Lewis Hancox Haru by Joe Latham Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree

Chapter 14: Spoilers Jun 10, 2024

This week Jordan and Maggie are joined by special guest Autumn (@theautumnbookreads) to spill the tea on some special projects in the works at OwlCrate. They go over how Autumn carved out her role in the book community, the pressure of providing accurate spoilers and the immense satisfaction that comes with sleuthing out release information. Then Jordan and Maggie drop some very exciting news about upcoming special editions, new products, original works and something so big it may just change how people see OwlCrate in 2025 and beyond! BOOKS MENTIONED When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker To Bleed a Crystal Bloom by Sarah A. Parker When Oceans Rise by Robin Alvarez And maybe a few others (you'll have to listen to find out)

The Nest Re-Visited: Thea Guanzon Interview Jun 06, 2024

In this episode Jordan and Teresa are joined by author Thea Guanzon for a spirited exchange. The trio discuss Thea's origins in FanFiction, the obstacles she's faced in pursuing art as a career in the Philippines, their shared love of Reylo and the importance of good book cover to an author. They also dive into Thea's book, "The Hurricane Wars" and explore the magic systems Thea created and express their appreciation of the enemies-to-lovers trope. Join the Nest for more conversations like this one! Date Recorded: December 11, 2023

Chapter 13: OwlCrate Press May 29, 2024

Jordan is joined this episode by Maggie and Shanleigh of team OwlCrate to talk about OwlCrate Press and all the exciting projects coming down the pike of this new endeavor, specifically the "Monsters and Masquerades" anthology and their first special edition acquisition! They also discuss the recent controversy surrounding the Readers Take Denver convention and share their thoughts on the importance of community in the book industry.

The Nest Re-Visited: Interview With Jason June May 28, 2024

In this episode Nest mod Leah sits down with author Jason June for a captivating one-on-one conversation. The two discuss Jason's novel, "The Spells We Cast" and the themes of love and hatred that run through the work as well as and the balance between darkness and light in storytelling. Jason also provides some insight into the upcoming sequel and future plans in the YA genre and beyond. Date Recorded: November 1, 2023

Book Club: Ace of Shades & Travel May 23, 2024

Cori and Jordan have recently re-read "Ace of Shades" and they want to talk about it! They go over their favorite moments and characters, compare the tone to current YA titles and give their thoughts on revisiting books in general. In the second half of the episode the topic shifts to travel as the duo reminisce about their treasured bookish travel destinations and memorable book events they have attended. BOOKS MENTIONED Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Chapter 12: Publishing (Kinda Sorta) May 20, 2024

We're not usually big on cold opens, but who could resist? Maggie from Curation dropped in for an impromptu chat with Jordan while Cori is off sick. The two discuss the different types of "smart" they bring to their positions, drop a few small spoilers and teases about upcoming releases, Jordan shares her ambivalent relationship with Notion software and most importantly, we learn the details of their infamous Mexico meet up. BOOKS MENTIONED Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody What the Library Hides by Isabel Ibanez Serpents & the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea

Chapter 11: Yall West Wrapped May 16, 2024

Jordan is back from California and joined by Sophie and Syl from Team OwlCrate to give the full rundown on their time at YallWest. The trio go over some reveals, reminisce about their Disneyland trip, name drop a few friends they rubbed shoulders with at the social functions and make Jordan uncomfortable with praise for her author panel. They also cover Sophie's once in a lifetime dinner experience in Los Angeles (and ponder if Jordan is at the center of all OwlCrate HR issues) A good time was had by all on this one and the language is a little loose, but nothing worth hitting the explicit tag over. Slumber party vibes, basically.

Chapter 10: Season Two Kick Off May 13, 2024

Jordan and Cori are back for season two! The duo shake the dust off and re-acquaint themselves with the audience, go over their favourite books of 2023, discuss Jordan's budding interest in fantasy horror novels, and divulge a few OwlCrate 2024 goals. They also give their Corrupted Crown recommendations to compliment our recent Adult Fantasy theme and reveal Cori's most valuable Funko Pop! Stay tuned for a season full of exciting new content from the OwlCrate crew! BOOKS MENTIONED Masters of Death by Olivie Blake Good Omens by Neil Faiman & Terry Pratchett Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross The Truth About Stories by Thomas King Butcher and Blackbird by Brynne Weaver Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance by Jesse Wente Never Whistle at Night (Anthology) Edited by Shane Hawk Children of Dune [Dune 3] by Frank Herbert Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas The Cruel Prince by Holly Black Queen of Nothing by Holly Black Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb The Tawny Man Trilogy by Robin Hobb Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff A Song of Ice and Fire (Series) by George R. R. Martin Legendborn by Tracy Deonn Damsel by Evelyn Skye The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle Dear as Salt by Rafe Martin The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Chapter 9: The Nest Dec 08, 2023

OwlCrate's homegrown online community The Nest is turning one and Jordan and Cori are here to reflect on the year and celebrate the huge success that it has been! They look back at some of their favorite moments and offer a glimpse at some exciting developments and projects for 2024. If you're catching this podcast the day it comes out (December 8th), be sure to join the OwlCrate Crew in the Nest tonight for anniversary festivities! BOOKS MENTIONED Murtaugh by Christopher Paolini Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff

Chapter 8: Yall Fest Part II (The Recap) Nov 24, 2023

Cori and Jordan are joined by their travel companions Teresa and Sophie to reflect on and wrap up OwlCrate's experience at Yall Fest 2023.

Chapter 7: Yall Fest Part I (The Prelude) Nov 09, 2023

Jordan is joined this week by Teresa and Sophie from Team OwlCrate to discuss their upcoming trip to Yall Fest in Charleston, South Carolina. They go over what has them most excited about this year's festival, the content they anticipate creating at the event and a few unique locations they hope to visit while in America. If you spot any of the OwlCrate crew at Yall Fest, be sure to come say hi! BOOKS MENTIONED Paradise Lost by John Milton Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros A Curse For True Love by Stephanie Garber Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston Heart of Iron by Ashley Poston Among The Beasts and Briars by Ashley Poston Chestnut Springs Series by Elsie Silver

Chapter 6: National Novel Writing Month Oct 27, 2023

This episode Cori and Jordan are joined by very special guest New York Times best selling author Marissa Meyer to talk about National Novel Writing Month. The trio discuss what NaNo WriMo is, Marissa's history with the event and the effects it has had on her career and the book community in general. Plus Marissa talks shop on the creative process with tips for the early stages of drafting and silencing the "inner editor", provides feedback on write in groups, and uses her author expertise to answer your Instagram questions! Learn about how you can be involved in National Novel Writing Month at www.nanowrimo.org Be sure to check out Marissa's podcast "The Happy Writer Podcast" on your favorite audio streaming platform! BOOKS MENTIONED Cinder by Marissa Meyer Scarlett by Marissa Meyer Cress by Marissa Meyer Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Chapter 5: Horror Oct 13, 2023

Inspired by the Halloween season, Jordan and Cori spend this episode talking horror! The two discuss early Halloween memories, share candy & costume nostalgia and give their recommendations for what to read in YA, Adult Fantasy, Middle Grade and "cozy" Horror. CONTENT WARNING: Mentions of but not graphic -- Death, Violence, Racism, Cannibalism, Teeth, and general Horror. BOOKS MENTIONED Give Yourself Goosebumps Series by R.L. Stine Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson Carrie by Stephen King Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake The Girls Are Never Gone by Sarah G. Marsh Small Favors by Erin A. Craig And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich The Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones Never Whistle at Night by Various Authors Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer Giesbrecht Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia The Forgotten Girl by India Hill Brown The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien Coraline by Neil Gaiman The Shining by Stephen King Spell Bound by F.T. Lukens The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Nail Gaiman The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree Salem's Lot by Stephen King Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewksi The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Chapter 4: Vampires Sep 29, 2023

Jordan and Cori are joined this episode by very special guest, New York Times Best Selling Author Kendare Blake to sink their fangs into the topic of vampires. The trio give a brief history of vampires in literature, examine the evolution of modern vampire stories and characters, give their thoughts on "Twilight" and its cultural impact and pick some of their favorite on-screen vampires. BOOKS MENTIONED Dracula by Bram Stoker The Vampyre by John William Polidori* Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake Salem's Lot by Stephen King The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer The Carpathian Series by Christine Feehan The Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Mina and the Undead by Amy McCaw In Nightfall by Suzanne Young A Curse For True Love by Stephanie Garber In Every Generation by Kendare Blake Against the Darkness by Kendare Blake Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice Vampires Never Get Old by Various Authors *Denotes short story

Chapter 3: Dark Academia Sep 15, 2023

In this episode Cori, Jordan and special guest Teresa explore the literary subculture of dark academia. They discuss the origins of the "genre", tackle the quandary of romanticizing a troubled past and give some of their favorite recent book titles and dark academia screen adaptations. BOOKS MENTIONED Babel by R.F. Kuang Bunny by Mona Awad A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik Frankenstein by Mary Shelley A Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness The God of Endings by Jacqueline Holland I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai The Honeys by Ryan La Sala Assassin of Reality by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio The Secret History by Donna Tartt Truly Devious Series by Maureen Johnson The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Legendborn by Tracy Deonn A Lesson in Vengeance by Victoria Lee Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé Wilder Girls by Rory Power Girls With Sharp Sticks by Suzanne Young Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas

Chapter 2: Camping Sep 04, 2023

Cori and Jordan go in-depth on OwlCrate Jr's June 2022 book, "Twelfth" by Janet Key. The two discuss their favorite characters and themes, the benefits of the middle grade category for older readers plus share their own camping stories while answering questions from The Nest. CONTENT WARNING: Pregnancy Complications (loss) @ 00:30:45 BOOKS MENTIONED Twelfth by Janet Key Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Nancy Drew Series by Caroyln Keene* Hardy Boys Series by Franklin W. Dixon* Corrie's Secret Pal by Jane O'Connor *Author pen name or pseudonym

Chapter 1: Romance and Fantasy Aug 16, 2023

In this episode Jordan and Cori discuss the launch of the OwlCrate Adult Box, why Cori reads so much Stephen King, the burgeoning "Romantasy" sub-genre and offer some of their personal fantasy picks. BOOKS MENTIONED: The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty 11/22/63 by Stephen King The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry A Million Junes by Emily Henry When the Sky Fell on Splendor by Emily Henry Fourth Wing by Rebeca Yarros The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne Liveship Traders Trilogy by Robin Hobb Kindred by Octavia E. Butler Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree Twelfth by Janet Key

Prologue Aug 16, 2023

OwlCrate officially has a podcast! Jordan and Cori give you a brief introduction to all the exciting things they plan to bring you in our new "Lost in Plots" podcast.

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