Queries, Qualms, & Quirks

Latest Episodes:

Middle Grade Author Adrianna Cuevas and the Successful Conference Pitch Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

Middle Grade author Adrianna Cuevas joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss writing for a specific audience, the kindness of other writers, making massive revisions, writing with the television on, and fear of not being good enough. ✦

Adrianna Cuevas is the author of the Pura Belpre honor book The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez and the upcoming Cuba in My Pocket. She is a first-generation Cuban-American originally from Miami, Florida. A former Spanish and ESOL teacher, Adrianna currently resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and son. ✦

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If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqadrianna

Historical Romance Author Royaline Sing and Her Literary Agent Sara Megibow Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

Historical romance author Royaline Sing and her literary agent Sara Megibow join Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss querying an agent with a publication offer in-hand, Sara’s normal submission-reading process, finding the time to write, breaking the rules, trusting your partners, and surprises being the norm in the publishing industry. ✦

Royaline Sing writes through the noise of my lovely two kids, a very supportive husband, and a bank job where numbers rule. She is currently writing Historical Romances, with heroines setting their own norms and coming toe-to-toe with heroes worth loving. She is a huge fan of Bollywood romantic movies and Marvel. ✦

Sara Megibow is a literary agent with kt literary out of Highlands Ranch, CO. She has worked in publishing since 2006 and represents New York Times bestsellers authors including Margaret Rogerson, Roni Loren, Jason M. Hough and Jaleigh Johnson. She specializes in launching debut authors and working on long-term career development and profit strategy with them. ✦

Sara: kt literary | Twitter ✦

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If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqroyalinesara

Picture Book Author Tara Lazar and Rebelling Against Routine Jul 29, 2021

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Picture Book Author Tara Lazar joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss how to do picture book market research, writing in between wiping baby butts, publishing surprises, coming up with book titles before anything else, figuring out what works for you, and not having a writing schedule. ✦

Street magic performer. Award-winning ice sculptor. Hog-calling champion. These are all things Tara Lazar has never been. Instead, she writes stories for children featuring quirky characters and hilarious happenings. Tara writes the 7 ATE 9 series of picture books from Little Brown, illustrated by Ross MacDonald. Her latest book is BLOOP with illustrator Mike Boldt, about an alien who comes to conquer earth but thinks the dogs are in charge! ✦

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If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqtara

Contemporary Fiction Author Suzanne Park and A Thousand Rejections Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

Contemporary Fiction Author Suzanne Park joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss going to acquisitions (multiple times) without getting a book deal, repurposing life stories for fiction, the impact writing for standup has on her novels, the lack of a linear path after Pitch Wars, and amassing a thousand rejections. ✦

Suzanne Park is a Korean-American author who was born and raised in Tennessee. In her former life as a stand up comedian, Suzanne appeared on BET, was the winner of the Seattle Sierra Mist Comedy Competition, and was a semi-finalist in NBC's "Stand Up For Diversity" showcase. ✦

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If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqsuzanne

Romance Author Kait Ballenger and the Literal Elevator Pitch Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

Romance novelist Kait Ballenger joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss not meeting publisher's sales expectations, writing on the tail end of a trend, getting a starred review without knowing what it means, only writing what you love, and getting an agent after a literal elevator pitch. ✦

Kait Ballenger is the award-winning author of the Seven Range Shifter paranormal romance series, where she weaves captivating tales of dark, sexy heroes who are cowboys by day, wolf shifters by night. When Kait’s not writing “intense and riveting” paranormal plots or “high-voltage” love scenes that make even seasoned romance readers blush, she can usually be found with her nose buried in a good book. She lives in Florida with her husband and two young sons. ✦

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If links aren’t clickable, find them at: https://bit.ly/qqqkait

Mystery Author Susan Elia MacNeal and Rolling with the Punches Jul 08, 2021

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Mystery Author Susan Elia MacNeal joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss almost giving up, how being a writer is like being a boxer, writing a cocktail book while pregnant, and publishing a book with a slow start but a long tail. ✦
Susan Elia MacNeal is the author of The New York Times, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly and USA Today-bestselling Maggie Hope mystery series, starting with the Edgar Award-nominated and Barry Award-winning MR. CHURCHILL'S SECRETARY, which is now in its 23nd printing. Her most recent book is THE HOLLYWOOD SPY, which just came out on July 6. ✦
Susan: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound | Libro FM ✦
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If links aren't clickable, find them here: https://bit.ly/qqqsusan

Middle Grade author Laura Segal Stegman and Finding Peace with Your Path Jul 01, 2021

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Middle Grade author Laura Segal Stegman joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss dozens of revisions over 28 years, the importance of writing community, deciding to sign with a small press, querying too early, and both the benefit and distraction of Twitter.

L.A.-based arts publicist and author Laura Segal Stegman’s middle grade debut, Summer of L.U.C.K., was released in September 2020 by INtense Publications and will be followed by a sequel in 2021. Her non-fiction credits include the travel book Only in New York. Her feature stories have appeared in Los Angeles Times and Westways Magazine, among others.

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If the links aren't clickable, find them at: https://bit.ly/qqqlaura

Young Adult Author Angeline Boulley and a Decades-Long Journey Jun 24, 2021

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Young Adult Author Angeline Boulley joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss waiting 28 years to write the book, the most illuminating question to ask offering agents, prioritizing Native talent when negotiating her film rights, ensuring her craft was worthy of the story she wanted to tell, and the single most helpful thing she did for her writing. ✦

Angeline Boulley is a #1 New York Times bestselling author who writes about her Ojibway community in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Her debut novel, Firekeeper’s Daughter, is a Reese’s Book Club selection and received the inaugural Barnes & Noble Young Adult Book Award. It’s being developed for a Netflix series by the Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions. ✦

Questions to Ask a Prospective Agent from Jim McCarthy ✦

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If the links aren't clickable, find them at: http://bit.ly/qqqangeline

Literary Fiction Author Catherine Adel West and There Is No Morning Dew (Yet) Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

Literary Fiction Author Catherine Adel West joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss the dangers of pitching your book before it’s complete, the advantages of virtual book tours, the need for publishing to reflect the world around it, advocating for yourself, and letting go of bitterness. ✦

Catherine Adel West was born and raised in Chicago, IL where she currently resides. Her debut Saving Ruby King was published in 2020.
Catherine's short story “Orion’s Star” is featured in the body positive anthology Every Body Shines. Her sophomore novel Becoming Sara King is slated for release in 2022. ✦

Every Body Shines: Bookshop | Amazon | IndieBound ✦

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If the links aren't clickable, find them at: http://bit.ly/qqqcawest

Cozy Mystery Author Mia P. Manansala and a Candle for the Ancestors Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

Cozy Mystery Author Mia P. Manansala joins Queries, Qualms, & Quirks this week to discuss how a one-day writing workshop change everything, the pressure to represent your community well, the importance of a writing support network, being jealous of writing friends, and choosing the right agent for you, even if they’re not the biggest agent that offers. ✦

Mia P. Manansala (she/her) is a writer and certified book coach from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture. Her debut novel, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, is out now! ✦

QQQ Home Base | Support on Patreon ✦

If the links aren't clickable, find them at: http://bit.ly/qqqmiapm

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