88 Cups of Tea

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors. We even have an Instagram story takeover by today’s guest Christine Riccio so make sure to head over to https://www.instagram.com/88cupsoftea/. 

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Curious about juggling multiple creative pursuits around a busy schedule? How about tangible actions you can take to shift into a productive mindset? We talk about it all and more with Christine Riccio.

Christine is a Youtuber and New York Times Best Selling author, Her Youtube channel PolandbananasBOOKS has nearly half a million book-loving subscribers. She makes comedic book reviews, vlogs, sketches, and writing videos chronicling the creation of her own novel, Again, But Better. She’s also one of the three YouTubers behind BOOKSPLOSION- Youtube’s longest-running book club!

In our conversation, we talk about Christine’s journey to becoming a best selling author and one of the most influential booktubers. She gives us a behind-the-scenes look into how she started her YouTube career, her writing and filming process, and how she works around her busy schedule. Further into our conversation, we talk about tangible actions you can take to shift into a writing mindset and the importance of self-care. She shares advice on growing your platform and reaching your writing goals, and we discuss her novel Again, but Better.

Please say 'Hi' to Christine on Twitter! https://twitter.com/xtineMAY

Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/christine-riccio/to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors! 

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Curious to learn what goes into designing a new brand identity? Want a behind-the-scenes look into the creative process of 88 Cups of Tea's new logo? Eager to discover all the hidden messages in our logo that perfectly highlights our community values? We talk about it all and more with designer Juliette Kim.

Juliette is a creative director based in South Korea. She graduated from Rhode Island School of Design and in 2017 she established her own creative agency Studio Juli-ette, which specializes in identity design and packaging. Juliette is the artist who designed 88 Cups of Tea's lovely new logo and brand identity.

In our conversation, we talk about how she discovered her love for storytelling through design and art that inspired her to attend Rhode Island School of Design working. She shares the steps she took to open her own design studio and how important it was to lean on her support system throughout the entire process. Further in, we dive into what brought us together to design 88 Cups of Tea’s new logo and brand identity. She shares a behind-the-scenes look into the design process and how we worked together to create a logo that perfectly highlights 88 Cups of Tea’s uplifting values of community, fun, creativity, and love. She shares all the hidden nuances within the logo you might not catch at a first glance. And later, she shares what she hopes people feel when they see our new logo. 

Please say 'Hi' to Juliette on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/studio.juliette/

Head over to her shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/juliette-kim/to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to follow us on Instagram @88CUPSOFTEA to keep up with our latest posts and Instagram stories where we announce new episodes and essays,  feature our favorite quotes, and host Instagram Story takeovers by some of your favorite authors! 

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Curious to discover ways to uncover your inner voice? Or how to embrace vulnerability when telling your story? How about ways to practice self-care when crafting difficult scenes? We talk about it all and more with Jasmin Kaur.

Jasmin is a writer, illustrator, and spoken word artist exploring themes of feminism, womanhood, social justice and love, acts as a means of healing and reclaiming identity. She was named The Tempests' 40 Women to Watch in 2019 and has been celebrated at the American Music Awards. Her debut poetry and prose collection, "When You Ask Me Where I’m Going" releases October 1st. 

In our conversation brought to you by Epic Reads, we talk about Jasmin’s love for story and her passion for highlighting her identity and creating representation in her art. We also talk about how she uncovered her inner authentic voice, ways to recognize when you're holding back and self-censoring your writing voice, and how to amplify your vulnerability so it flows naturally in your writing. We discuss her highly-anticipated debut "When You Ask Me Where I’m Going" and why she chose to format the book’s structure the way she did. Be sure to keep your ears out for Jasmin's powerful poetry reading in the later half of this episode. Afterwards, head over to our Instagram @88CupsOfTea ‘cause Jasmin will be taking over our Instagram Stories on Monday, September 30th!

Say 'Hi' to Jasmin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jusmunkaur

Head over to her shownotes page at 88cupsoftea.com/podcast/jasmin-kaur/ to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

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Curious to learn the power story can have in our healing processes? How about tips on navigating the financial side of the publishing industry? Or ways to vividly craft emotion in your story? We talk about it all and more with author Jason Reynolds.

Jason is an award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of his many books including When I Was the Greatest, Boy in the Black Suit, All American Boys (co-written with Brendan Kiely), As Brave as You, For Every One, the Track series, Long Way Down, which received both a Newbery Honor and a Printz Honor, and his upcoming novel Look Both Ways.

In our conversation, we dive into the power of story and its ability to help work through hardships and trauma. We discuss writing from instincts when describing feelings and emotions, defining the sweet spot between science and soul in stories and the role this sweet spot plays in his editing process. Further into our conversation, we talk about survivor’s remorse as successful artists, how creating a lane for marginalized voices through access creates opportunities, and he unveils the financial side of the publishing industry. 

Say 'Hi' to Jason Reynolds on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasonReynolds83

Head over to Jason's shownotes page at  https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/jason-reynolds/ to find the resources and books mentioned in his episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

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If you enjoyed this episode and would love to support our show, Patreon is the best way! Patrons at certain tiers get early access to full, uncut interviews and fantastic extended interviews from previous podcast episodes! If you’re not yet a Patron and you’d love early access to these interviews in addition to other cool benefits (snailmail, Storyteller Welcome Box, livestream hangouts with bookhaul and mystery box giveaways, etc.) head on over to patreon.com/88cupsoftea to sign up! 

Hey Storytellers! 

Here's a bonus episode to fill you in on all the details about Pitch Wars. 

This episode features Brenda Drake (founder), Sarah Nicolas (managing director), Kellye Garrett (board member), Adalyn Grace, Graci Kim, and Susan Lee. 

The shownotes page for this episode will be available in a few hours, please check back for quotables, highlights throughout the episode with time markers, the guests' biographies, and the list of resources mentioned throughout! 88CUPSOFTEA.COM/PODCAST/PITCH-WARS

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

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Curious to discover ways to get into the writing groove? How about advice on working with smaller publishing houses? Or best practices for co-authoring a novel? We talk about it all and much more with Ally Condie!

Ally is the author of The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe, Summerlost, Atlantia, and the critically acclaimed Matched trilogy, a  #1 New York Times and international bestseller.  

In our conversation, Ally shares the heartfelt story of how she fell in love with storytelling and her journey to becoming a best-selling author. We discuss working with smaller publishing companies, how to embrace rejection to reach your writing goals, and we get into the nitty-gritty of Ally’s writing and editing process. We continue on to talk about how she finds time to write with such a busy schedule and the tools she uses to get into the writing mindset. She dives into the details of her newest novel The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe and the fascinating behind-the-scenes story of what sparked that idea. And towards the end, Ally talks about her experience getting her master's degree she always wanted, what exciting projects she’s currently working on - including a co-authored novel, and ways you can use writing to make a change in the world.

Say 'Hi' to Ally Condie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/allycondie

Head over to Ally's shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/ally-condie/ to find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

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If you enjoyed this episode and would love to support our show, Patreon is the best way! Patrons at certain tiers get early access to full, uncut interviews and fantastic extended interviews from previous podcast episodes! If you’re not yet a Patron and you’d love early access to these interviews in addition to other cool benefits (snailmail, Storyteller Welcome Box, livestream hangouts with bookhaul and mystery box giveaways, etc.) head on over to patreon.com/88cupsoftea to sign up! 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

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Curious to know how you can draw inspiration for your story during your research process? Or how to not let setbacks in your writing process create writer's block? How about strategies to help you craft smooth transitions in your story? We talk about it all and much more with Madeline Miller!

Madeline is the New York Times bestselling author of The Song of Achilles and her most recent, critically-acclaimed novel, Circe, which is currently being adapted for an 8-episode series for HBO Max. 

In our conversation, we dive deep into how Madeline fell in love with Greek mythology and found her passion to craft strong female characters in classical settings. We discuss how crucial it is to change the narrative by creating the core of strong female characters, what to do when facing setbacks in your writing process, and strategies to lure out new ideas for your stories. Madeline also shares advice on crafting a seamless narrative when the plot has gaps, and how leaning on your characters can help you create smooth transitions. Further into our conversation, we discuss the importance of finding your support system and creating a research process that works best for your voice. 

Say 'Hi' to Madeline Miller on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeline.e.miller

Head over to Madeline's shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/madeline-miller/ to download the first 1,000 words of her newest novel Circe! You’ll also find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

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If you enjoyed this episode and would love to support our show, Patreon is the best way! Patrons at certain tiers get early access to our full, uncut interview with Rachel Hawkins and early access to author Madeline Miller's episode this month along with a collection of fantastic extended interviews from previous podcast episodes! If you’re not yet a Patron and you’d love early access to these interviews in addition to other cool benefits (snailmail, Storyteller Welcome Box, livestream hangouts with bookhaul and mystery box giveaways, etc.) head on over to patreon.com/88cupsoftea to sign up! 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

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Ever wondered how to create a successful querying process? Or ways to cope with rejection as a writer? How about tips for nurturing a strong relationship with a literary agent? We talk about it all and so much more with Rachel Hawkins.

Rachel is the author of Rebel Belle, the New York Times bestselling series Hex Hall, Prince Charming, and its sequel and Rachel’s newest book, Her Royal Highness. 

In our conversation, Rachel shares how she fell in love with storytelling and her journey to becoming an author. She dives into her querying process and discusses key advice on how to cope with rejection. We talk about finding the right agent for you and your story and how to maintain a great agent to author relationship, how to work with your editor to strengthen your plot, and the game-changing writing advice to help you achieve your writing goals. She also gives us a snapshot of her newest book Her Royal Highness and shares the inspiration behind it.

Say 'Hi' to Rachel Hawkins on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LadyHawkins

Head over to JL's shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/rachel-hawkins to download her writing prompt exclusively provided for our community! You’ll also find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

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If you enjoyed this episode and would love to support our show, Patreon is the best way! Patrons at certain tiers get early access to our full, uncut interview with Rachel Hawkins and early access to author Madeline Miller's episode this month along with a collection of fantastic extended interviews from previous podcast episodes! If you’re not yet a Patron and you’d love early access to these interviews in addition to other cool benefits (snailmail, Storyteller Welcome Box, livestream hangouts with bookhaul and mystery box giveaways, etc.) head on over to patreon.com/88cupsoftea to sign up! 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

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Did you know we collaborated with Gotham Writers for JL's episode? 

Gotham Writers teaches creative writing classes online and in NYC where they’ve built an incredible reputation for nearly 30 years and guess what? Their first-ever Gotham Writers conference is dedicated to arming you with all the knowledge and actionable feedback to best help you land a literary agent. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that puts like-minded people who are at the stage of finding an agent in an intimate and productive setting. And to top it off, there’s free happy hour! 

The conference takes place at the Ace Hotel in NYC on Friday, October 25th and Saturday, October 26th. On Day 1, you get to learn from eye-opening and entertaining panels and presentations. And Day 2, get ready to roll up your sleeves at their pitching roundtables. We especially love this because the writers attending Day 2 all have to apply and be pre-selected to attend. Click here to learn more and be sure to grab your spot!

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Curious to know what steps you can take to break into the publishing world? How about ways you can catch a literary agent's attention? We talk about it all and so more with JL Stermer!

JL is a literary agent at New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. A born and bred New Yorker, JL has lived in Manhattan her whole life and is a lover of all things art & culture, people watching, and Donut Pub doughnuts. She is looking for voices that reflect the world as it changes, stories that share the human experience of life, love, growth, and achievement. And they don’t have to all be serious–having fun is important to her! She is adding to her non-fiction list in both YA and adult categories with smart pop-culture, comedy/satire, fashion, health & wellness, self-help, and memoir. She’s also growing her fiction list (a bit more selectively) and is looking for adult and some YA coming-of-age, humor, dark and edgy stories, and new and original voices in commercial and upmarket. She also thinks graphic novels are really cool.

In our conversation, we dive into how JL fell in love with storytelling and the journey she took to making her literary agent career at New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. come to fruition. We talk about being open to new opportunities and being vulnerable when asking for advice and help to break into your career. She then gives us an honest look into the finances of being an agent at all levels, how she knows which clients she wants to work with, and the importance of marketing yourself and making connections. She explains what “backlist” and “earning out the check” means in the publishing world and discusses the culture at New Leaf Literary & Media, Inc. And later, we talk about the classes she teaches at Gotham Writers and all about the upcoming Gotham Writers Conference.

Say 'Hi' to JL Stermer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlstermer

Head over to JL's shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/jl-stermer/ to download the cheat sheet of “do's and don’ts when querying an agent” that JL exclusively provided for our community! You’ll also find the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation.

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If you enjoyed this episode and would love to support our show, Patreon is the best way! Patrons at certain tiers get early access to extended interviews with Rachel Hawkins and New Leaf literary agent JL Stermer this month along with a collection of fantastic extended interviews from previous podcast episodes! If you’re not yet a Patron and you’d love early access to these interviews in addition to other cool benefits (snailmail, Storyteller Welcome Box, livestream hangouts with bookhaul and mystery box giveaways, etc.) head on over to patreon.com/88cupsoftea to sign up! 

Warm welcome to our new listeners, be sure to check out our archive of episodes by clicking here!

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Did you know we collaborated with VCFA's MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults to curate a thoughtful series of intimate essays and podcast episodes so you can feel empowered throughout your writing journey? Click here to explore the published pieces.

Vermont College of Fine Arts is a global community of artists continuously redefining what it means to be an arts college. They're accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education and offers the Master of Fine Arts degree in a variety of fields, including Writing, Writing for Children & Young Adults, and Writing & Publishing, along with an International MFA in Creative Writing & Literary Translation. With low-residency and fully residential options, VCFA has the graduate program to fit your needs. Be sure to learn more about VCFA by clicking here!

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Curious to learn how to push past roadblocks that are preventing you from crafting your story? How about tips for developing complicated plots? Or ways to discover confidence in your writing voice? We talk about it all and more with Amy Rose Capetta!

Amy is the award-winning YA fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery author of The Lost Coast, Echo After Echo, The Brilliant Death, bestselling novel Once & Future co-written with her partner Cori McCarthy, her highly anticipated novel The Storm of Life (her sequel to The Brilliant Death), and more. She's also the co-founder of the Rainbow Writers Workshop, the first-ever workshop for YA and middle-grade LGBTQIAP writers.

In our conversation, Amy shares how she fell in love with storytelling and turned that passion into her writing career. She spills plot structure exercises that will help you see the bigger picture to move past roadblocks in your story. We dive into how a writing MFA helped Amy discover confidence in recognizing and trusting her writing voice, strengthen her revision process, and find a supportive writing community that’s very similar to the arts communities that she loves. Further into our conversation, we discuss the inspiration behind Amy's past novels and her writing process. She shares crafting advice on how to begin a story when you have too many ideas in your head. She gets into the nitty-gritty about writing a large cast of supportive characters and how to not distract the readers from the main story, shares incredible tips for aspiring queer writers, and explains her world-building method for developing complicated plots. 

Say 'Hi' to Amy Rose Capetta on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmyRoseCapetta 

Head over to Amy's shownotes page at https://88cupsoftea.com/podcast/amy-rose-capetta/ to find all the resources and books mentioned in her episode, tweetable quotes, and the timestamps of highlights throughout the entire conversation. 

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If you enjoyed this episode and would love to support our show, Patreon is the best way! Patrons at certain tiers get early access to extended interviews with Rachel Hawkins and New Leaf literary agent JL Stermer this month along with a collection of fantastic extended interviews from previous podcast episodes! If you’re not yet a Patron and you’d love early access to these interviews in addition to other cool benefits (snailmail, Storyteller Welcome Box, livestream hangouts with bookhaul and mystery box giveaways, etc.) head on over to patreon.com/88cupsoftea to sign up!