Book Friends Forever Podcast
Children's book publishing’s secrets are revealed as we listen in on fascinating, unguarded, insider discussion from two uniquely qualified best friends: award-winning author/illustrator Grace Lin, and one of NYC’s top editors, Alvina Ling. Go behind the scenes of kid lit and catch a glimpse of the lives of the best-selling author and editor, and the relationship between them.
Episodes
Grace and Alvina talk about how the current presidential administration has and could affect publishing. They discuss how the increase in book banning, cuts in funding for libraries, changes in how diversity is valued, and increased tariffs may or may not affect publishing.
For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about what's making them happy right now.
And then, Grace tells Alvina about her two Spring-themed math board books, U...
Grace and Alvina welcome special guest Janet Bruins, who has started her own independent publishing company, Picnic Heist. They talk about how she decided to start her pubilshing company and what steps she took to make that happen, including her mission for the company. They also discuss the reasons one might decide to publish with an independent publisher vs a larger one.
For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about what they've...
Grace and Alvina talk about two different types of price: authentic pride and hubistric pride, and how that might apply to their work and lives. For the Fortune Cookie segment they discuss a recent executive order to defund libraries.
Alvina tells Grace about the book BIG ENOUGH by Regina Linke. And, they end by sharing what they're grateful for.
Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.
Grace and Alvina talk about leadership styles, specifically the Goleman six styles of leadership. They also talk about a recent Hidden Brain podcast episode about how great leaders rise to the occasion.
For the Fortune Cookie segment, they discuss Meta AI and how published books (including Grace's) were pirated to train their AI program.
Then Alvina tells Grace about the book BLOW OUT THE MOON by Libby Koponen--Alvina's very first ...
Grace and Alvina talk about chance, flukes, and the unknown and how small changes and chance encounters can change the whole course of your life.
For the Fortune Cookie segment they share something that gives them hope (and end up on a bit of a tangent about politics).
Alvina tells Grace about the book ATOMIC WOMEN by Roseanne Montillo, and they end by sharing what they're grateful for.
See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsfor...
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss several topics. At the five-year anniversary of the global pandemic, they look back on how their lives have changed for the better or the worst; they discuss soft censorship, especially in relation to the Young Media Award winners. They continue to brainstorm their mission statement using adjectives some of their listeners used to describe the podcast. And then Aliso...
Grace and Alvina continue their publishing curriculum series and welcome special guests Sangeeta Mehta and Julie Scheina to the podcast. Both of them are former editorial colleagues of Alvina's who now run their own freelance editorial companies. Julie also does some coaching. They discuss how they got started in publishing and when they started freelance editing. They discuss how they structure their days, how they market their se...
Grace and Alvina talk about the emotion of jealousy and how it differs from envy, and how both are normal emotions. They discuss how to better reframe feelings of jealousy. They also discuss the feeling of compersion, which is the opposite of jealousy.
For the Fortune Cookie segment, Grace shared some insights from a Winter Institute panel about the middle grade market.
And then Alvina asks Grace to tell her about her book DIM SUM ...
Grace and Alvina talk about different organizations and their mission statements, and start brainstorming a possible mission statement for this podcast! They start by talking about their values.
For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about the announcement of a surprise new book by Stephen King and Maurice Sendak. Then, Grace asks Alvina to tell her about the book MIRROR GIRLS by Kelly McWilliams.
See complete show notes at www.b...
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss book blurbing, where the kidlit community is on social media, how publishing has improved over the years, and then Alison Morris joins to give some book recommendations.
See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.
Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.
See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com.
Follow ...
Alvina is back from Kindling Words and so she and Grace talk about the importance of community (Alvina's word of the year!) and how to build community. They talk about which communities they are currently a part of, and which communities they want to build--including the Book Friends Forever community!
For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about two bits of publishing news: the naming of Mac Barnett as the National Ambassador fo...
Grace and Alvina talk about the ALA Youth Media Award winners, as well as a bunch of other publishing news, including about book bans, children's book relief efforts as a result of the LA Fires, publishing staff changes, and a book publishing scam. For the Fortune Cookie segment Grace shared about the Year of the Snake in honor of Lunar New Year.
See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss the state of social media, including new updates on the TikTok ban and Facebook, they talk about how to cope when everything feels like it's too much, and talk about Barnes & Noble under James Daunt after five years. They also talk a little bit about three books: I AM AN AMERICAN: THE WONG KIM-ARK STORY; HELLO, TREE; and PARADISE ON FIRE.
See complete show notes at w...
With all the terrible things going on in the world right now, Grace and Alvina decide to help make themselves and others feel a little better by listing 25 small things that bring them joy. Listen to find out if their lists have any overlap! For the Fortune Cookie segment, they talk about the TikTok ban, and a potential replacement.
See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.
Click here to become a Patreon member: https:...
Grace and Alvina kick off their first episode of 2025 by sharing their words of the year and their new year's resolution. They also share what word sums up their 2024. For the Fortun Cookie segment, they share small things that make them happy!
See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.
Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.
See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com...
Grace and Alvina wrap up the year of 2024 by looking back on the year, sharing some highlights and lowlights, and also taking stock of how successful they were at keeping their new year's resolutions.
They also talk about the favorite things they consumed in 2024!
See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.
Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.
See info about Grace Lin's book...
Grace and Alvina are joined by special guest Alison Morris to talk about various topics, including the industry's efforts to help encourage children to read, especially in the middle grade space. They discuss end of the year "best of" lists and how authors should try to remember the reason they write. And, they talk about some of their favorite holiday books.
See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.
Grace and Alvina talk about the concept of deep work, and our diminished attention spans. They discuss the books Deep Work by Cal Newport and Attention Span by Gloria Mark, and share takeaways and how they've incorporated deep work into their lives, including tips and techniques.
For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about the Taylor Swift book and how it was self-published.
See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.
...Grace and Alvina give some holiday gift recommendations for readers, editors, authors, illustrators, kids, and more!
For the Fortune Cookie segment, they talk about two bits of publishing news regarding Artifical Intelligence.
See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.
Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.
See info about Grace Lin's books here: gracelin.com.
Grace and Alvina continue their "publishing curriculum" series and welcome special guest Danielle Cantarella, Executive Director of Sales at Hachette Book Group. They discuss everything from how she got her start in publishing (it's a surprising path!), how she used to sell in to Barnes & Noble, what she thinks about preorders, and what her least and most favorite parts of her job are. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they talk abou...
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