Photo credit: Lauritta Stellers

In the 68th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Michelle Quach about graphic design, unlikable female characters, and creating a love interest who does more than just the assigned reading. Michelle is the author of the debut YA, NOT HERE TO BE LIKED. Michelle can be found on Twitter @michellequach and Instagram @_michellequach. Her website is michellequach.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Gold-Plated Girls newsletter: ‘Never Have I Ever’ & Dead Dads & Me by Victoria Edel

Laura Hankin

A Special Place for Women by Laura Hankin

The Other Two on HBOMax

Munich

Schitt’s Creek on Netflix

Ted Lasso on Apple+

Constance Grady

Why a Christmas Episode Supercharged the Ted Lasso Debate by Kathryn VanArendonk

Reservation Dogs on Hulu

Only Murders in the Building on Hulu

Moving On, A Love Story - Nora Ephron Apthorp article

Portrait of a Scotsman by Evie Dunmore

League of Extraordinary Women series

The Bookshop of Second Chances by Jackie Fraser

Suddenly You by LIsa Kleypas

Fated Mates podcast

Sally Rooney

Why is the Sex in Sally Rooney’s Novels So Good? by Amil Niazi

She’s All That

Writing the Romantic Comedy by Billy Merritt

Macbeth

Life: A User’s Manual by Georges Perec

The Book Doctors

PitMad

If You, Then Me by Yvonne Woon

In-Between Girl

The Ezra Klein Show: How Blue Cities Became So Outrageously Unaffordable

The Ezra Klein Show: That Anxiety You’re Feeling?

Hana Kh Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 67th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Emma Kress about writing girls in sports, taking risks, and social media as an author. Emma is the author of DANGEROUS PLAY, available now! Emma can be found on Twitter @emma_kress, TikTok @emma_kress, and Instagram @kress.emma. Her website is emmakress.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

All I Wanna Do

Bluey

Bluey is the Best Kids’ Show of Our Time by Kathryn VanArendonk for Vulture

Flat Stanley

The Nanny

Drawn That Way by Elissa Sussman

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Born in Fire / Born in Ice / Born in Shame (Irish Born trilogy) by Nora Roberts

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

Reservation Dogs

Sterlin Harjo on WTF with Marc Maron

Killers of the Flower Moon movie

Brendan Fraser Joins Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

The Great House Revival

Cynthia Leitich-Smith

Mary Quattlebaum

Amy King

David Macinnis Gill

A.R. Capetta

Cory McCarthy

Nova Ren Suma

Our episode with Nova Ren Suma

Ruth Ware

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price

Our episode with Tirzah Price

In the Same Boat by Holly Green

Sarah Dessen

When You Look Like Us by Pamela N. Harris

Mare of Easttown

Ted Lasso

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 66th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Margot Wood about Emma retellings, marketing a book as “queer,” and finding community in book lovers. Margot can be found on Twitter @margotwood and Instagram @margotmwood. Her website is margotwood.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Epic Reads

Immersive Van Gogh exhibit

Carrieres de Lumières

Georges Méliès

Hieronymous Bosch

L’Atelier des Lumières Paris

A Black Lady Sketch Show

Issa Rae’s wedding photos

A Special Place for Women by Laura Hankin

While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory

Our episode with Jasmine

Emma by Jane Austen

Emma (2020 film)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Adrienne Kisner

Our episode with Adrienne

Meisner technique

Kiersten White

Alphasmart Neo Typewriter

The Princess Diaries

Love, Simon

Insurgent movie

Cheer Up: Love and Pompoms by Crystal Fraser

The Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

Ice Planet Barbarians by Ruby Dixon

Bones

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Freddie Prinze Jr.

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 65th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Azadeh Westergaard about illustration, the joys of research, and Nikola Tesla. Azadeh is the author of A LIFE ELECTRIC: THE STORY OF NIKOLA TESLA. She can be found on Twitter @ahwestergaard and Instagram @ahwestergaard. Her website is ahwestergaard.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children and Young Adults

Heartburn by Nora Ephron audiobook read by Meryl Streep

Heartburn movie

Nora Ephron’s “Heartburn” is an Ideal Audiobook by Helen Rosner

Quotation from Heartburn

Fresh by Margot Wood

Emma by Jane Austen

Clueless

Hacks

Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work

Never Have I Ever

Virgin River

Black Widow

Seven Days in June

Thanks for Waiting by Doree Shafrir

Forever35 podcast

Amelia Bedelia

Roseanne Rosannadanna

Júlia Sardà (illustrator of Azadeh’s book)

She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein by Lynn Fulton

Mary Who Wrote Frankenstein by Linda Bailey, illustrated by Júlia Sardà

Laura Hankin

Andrea Bartz and Laura Hankin Talk About Accidentally Writing Similar Novels

Elizabeth Gilbert

Ann Patchett

Big Magic

Newspapers.com

Nikola Tesla Museum

New York Public Library

Archive.org

New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

Theatre on Film and Tape Archive

Oklahoma! on Broadway

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne

Liz Garton Scanlon

Maira Kalman

Ooh-La-La Max in Love by Maira Kalman

School of Visual Arts

Monica Wellington

Mary Quattlebaum

Martha Brockenbrough

Linda Urban

Patent Pending bar

Patent Pending in Nomad is a Cafe by Day, Speakeasy by Night

Call My Agent!

The Worst Witch

The Worst Witch books by Jill Murphy

Sing

Sing 2

Misery

Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe

The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction

Jhumpa Lahiri

“Brownies” by ZZ Packer

The Aspiring Poet’s Journal

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 64th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Cassie Gustafson about writing about sexual assault responsibly, loving dark stories, and Tana French. Cassie can be found on Twitter @cassiegusty and Instagram @cassiegusty. Her website is cassiegustafson.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Djerassi

Nova Ren Suma

Our episode with Nova Ren Suma

World of Our Fathers: The Journey of Eastern European Jews and the Life They Found and Made by Irving Howe

Norma Klein

Just Friends

Margaret

The Cinematic Traumas of Kenneth Lonergan

Melissa’s Bright Wall / Dark Room essay

Margaret issue of Bright Wall / Dark Room

J. Smith-Cameron

Succession

You Can Count on Me

Manchester by the Sea

Angels in America

West Side Story

Gosford Park

The Box in the Woods by Maureen Johnson

Truly Devious Trilogy by Maureen Johnson

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Finding Water by Julia Cameron

By Now, Burnout is a Given

Band Candy

Earshot - Buffy saves Jonathan

Danny Strong

Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak

Tana French

The Secret Place by Tana French

The Trespasser by Tana French

In the Woods by Tana French

Laurie Faria Stolarz

Jane Anonymous by Laurie Faria Stolarz

The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow

The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu

Land directed by Robin Wright

Songland

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 63rd episode of Truer Words, we speak with Kristy Everington about Australian authors, why Americans call everything “cute,” and Ethan Hawke. Kristy is the author of the debut picture book ISOBEL ADDS IT UP. Kristy can be found on Twitter @kmeverington and Instagram @kristyeveryington. Her website is kristyeverington.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Very Sincerely Yours by Kerry Winfrey

Our episode with Kerry Winfrey

Starstruck on HBO Max

Ted Lasso on Apple+

Dickinson on Apple+

Hacks on HBO Max

Succession on HBO

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Our episode with Rachel Lynn Solomon

Kirkus review of Isobel Adds It Up

Kathi Appelt

Praise by Andrew McGahan

Sara Zarr

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Jaclyn Moriarty

Melina Marchetta

Tomorrow, When the War Began series by John Marsden

Martine Leavitt

Jane Kurtz

An Na

Not Great, Bob!

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Buffy on Hulu

Angel on Hulu

The X-Files

THE X-FILES TWEET (allegedly, please don’t sue us)

Dawson’s Creek

Our episode with Laurie Morrison

Mare of Easttown on HBO Max

Cruel Summer on Freeform

Vampire’s Promise by Caroline B. Cooney

You by Caroline Kepnes

You TV series

Dig by A.S. King

The Project by Courtney Summers

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

Photo credit: Louisa Wells

In the 62nd episode of Truer Words, we speak with Camryn Garrett about journalism, film, writing for teens as a teen (and young adult), and DIRTY DANCING. Camryn is the author of two young adult novels, FULL DISCLOSURE and OFF THE RECORD. Camryn can be found on Twitter @dancingofpens and Instagram @camryngwrites. Her website is camryngarrett.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

#1000wordsofsummer on Twitter

#1000wordsofsummer/Craft Talk newsletter by Jami Attenberg

Jami Attenberg

Film at Lincoln Center

World of Wong Kar-Wai

In the Mood for Love

Chungking Express

Criterion Channel

High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America

High on the Hog host Stephen Satterfield

Magnolia Plantation

Michael Twitty

High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America by Jessica D. Harris

Legacy by Nora Roberts

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

Red White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Mare of Easttown

Dirty Dancing

Girls5eva

Rutherford Falls

We Are Lady Parts

We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Our episode with Rachel Lynn Solomon

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon

We Can’t Let Physical Media Die by Kieran Fisher

Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman

Time for Kids Reporters

Nicola Yoon

Jacqueline Woodson

Almost Famous

The Chris Farley Show on Saturday Night Live

Shruti Ganguly

NYU MBA/MFA program

Spike Lee

Kasi Lemmons

Ang Lee

Martin Scorsese

Tamara Jenkins

NYU MFA Acting shows

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Mike Nichols: A Life by Mark Harris

Who? Weekly

Leah Johnson

The Movies That Made Us

Eleanor Bergstein

Love & Basketball

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

Photo Credit: Laura Billingham

In the 61st episode of Truer Words, we speak with Laurie Morrison about writing upper middle grade, carving up old manuscripts for parts, and Judy Blume. Laurie is the author of the middle grade novel UP FOR AIR, the just-released SAINT IVY: KIND AT ALL COSTS, the upcoming COMING UP SHORT, and the co-author (with Cordelia Jensen) of EVERY SHINY THING. Laurie can be found on Twitter @LaurieLMorrison and Instagram @laurielmorrison. Her website is lauriemorrisonwrites.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Dawson’s Creek

Amy Spalding

Our episode with Amy Spalding

Amy’s OUTFOXED book announcement

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Beach Read by Emily Henry

The Nanny

Crossing Delancey

Mare of Easttown

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

The Office

Sex and the City

The Bachelor

Six Feet Under

Law & Order: SVU

SyndicatedBK

Y Tu Mama Tambien

In the Heights

Film at Lincoln Center

Jill Santopolo

Cordelia Jensen

Eighth Grade

The Canada Geese Quilt by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

Judy Blume

Just As Long As We’re Together by Judy Blume

Goodbye, Stranger by Rebecca Stead

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret? by Judy Blume

Alan Cumyn

Franny Billingsley

Mary Quattlebaum

Shelley Tanaka

Never Have I Ever

Losers at the Center of the Galaxy by Mary-Winn Heider

The Comeback by E. L. Shen

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Joy McCullough

Our episode with Joy McCullough

Lost in Space (Netflix version)

Lost in Space (movie)

Lost in Space (1960s)

Ted Lasso

Schitt’s Creek

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 60th episode of Truer Words, we speak with A. S. King about writing EMOTIONS, respecting teens, and astrology. Amy is the author of multiple middle grade and young adult novels, including her newest, SWITCH, which comes out May 11th. Amy can be found on Twitter @AS_King and Instagram @as_king. Her website is as-king.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Jacques d’Amboise

Jacques d’Amboise in China: The Other Side of the World

Jacques d’Amboise dancing “Apollo”

Jacques d’Amboise in the dream ballet in Carousel

Jacques d’Amboise in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin’ Oscar-winning documentary directed by Emile Ardolino

National Dance Institute

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

Whiteout by Adriana Anders

Fated Mates podcast

Stacey Abrams romance novels

I Crawl Through It by A. S. King

Dig by A. S. King

The Dust of 100 Dogs by A. S. King

David Gill

Vonnegut’s Shape of Stories diagram

David Levithan

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M. T. Anderson

The Realm of Possibility by David Levithan

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A. S. King

Paul Zindel

John Mulaney

Kae Tempest

The Handmaid’s Tale (audiobook version read by Claire Danes) by Margaret Atwood

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins

The Man Suit by Zachary Schomberg

Scary No Scary by Zachary Schomberg

Louise Glück

The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry

Aaron’s Books

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 59th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Larissa Theule about writing picture books, concrete, and being a third-culture kid. Larissa is the author of the picture books A Way with Wild Things, Born to Ride, How Do You Do? and the just-released Kafka and the Doll, as well as the short story collection Fat & Bones. Larissa can be found on Twitter @larissatheule and Instagram @larissa.theule. Her website is larissatheule.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

The Nanny

Golden Girls

Whatfranwore on Instagram

Switch by A.S. King

Dig by A.S. King

Kafka and the Doll by Larissa Theule and illustrated by Rebecca Green

Kafka’s Last Love: The Mystery of Dora Diamant by Kathi Diamant

Rita Williams-Garcia

Micol Ostow

Our episode with Micol

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

“Third-Culture Kid”

On Being with Krista Tippett Podcast

Hamilton

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin

Outside, Inside by LeUyen Pham

Grantchester

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

Photo by John Ulman Photography

In the 58th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Joy McCullough about playwriting, castles, volcanoes, and Northwestern University (Go ‘Cats!). Joy is the author of the YA novels BLOOD WATER PAINT and WE ARE THE ASHES, WE ARE THE FIRE, the middle grade novels A FIELD GUIDE TO GETTING LOST and ACROSS THE POND, and the picture book CHAMP & MAJOR: FIRST DOGS. Joy can be found on Twitter @JMCwrites and Instagram @JMCwrites. Her website is JoyMcCullough.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Tickets to Joy’s 17-minute show, The Volcano, at Macha Theatre Works

How NYC’s Street Artists Have Responded to the Pandemic

The Electric Horseman

Emmy Lane Potter

Our episode with Emmy

Spotlight

Barefoot in the Park

California Split

The Farewell

Many Points of Me by Caroline Gertler

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

Jesse L. Martin in RENT

The Fosters

The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Good Trouble

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Mya-Rose Craig

Three Sisters

John Logan

Sarah Ruhl

The Clean House

The Laramie Project

Jocelyn Bioh

School Girls, or the African Mean Girls Play

Talia Hibbert

Act Your Age, Eve Brown

Get a Life, Chloe Brown

Dress Coded by Carrie Firestone

Anne with an E

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 57th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Tziporah (Tzippy) Cohen about chocolate, Jewish children’s literature, and Ted Lasso. Tzippy is the author of the Sydney Taylor Honor middle grade novel, NO VACANCY, and the upcoming picture book biography ON THE CORNER OF CHOCOLATE AVENUE: HOW MILTON HERSHEY BROUGHT MILK CHOCOLATE TO AMERICA. Tzippy can be found on Twitter @tzippymfa. Her website is tziporahcohen.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Not Great, Bob!

Good Trouble

The Fosters

Judas and the Black Messiah

Fred Hampton

The Lucas Brothers

Minari

The House on the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Joy McCullough

We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire by Joy McCullough

Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough

Emma

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Highlights Jewish Symposium

PJ Library

Sydney Taylor Awards

The Carp in the Bathtub by Barbara Cohen

Shelley Tanaka

Sarah Ellis

Groundwood Books

Sarah Aronson

Micol Ostow

Our episode with Micol

Nova Ren Suma

Our episode with Nova

Mary Quattlebaum

Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars by Joel Glenn Brenner

Hershey: Milton Hershey’s Extraordinary Life of Wealth, Empire, and Utopian Dreams by Michael D’Antonio

Hershey Archives

Derry Girls

Barbie “Math is hard!”

The Blackbird Girls by Anne Blankman

Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder

Turtle Boy by M. Evan Wolkenstein

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Our episode with Rachel Lynn Solomon

Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Recursion by Blake Crouch

Schitt’s Creek

Modern Family

Lupin

Ted Lasso

The Good Lord Bird

Kacen Callender

Kacen’s post on Social Media Expectations

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

Photo Credit: Sabreen Lakhani

In the 56th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Rachel Lynn Solomon about Mad Libs drafting, adult and YA romcoms, and public radio. Rachel is the author of several YA novels, including YOU’LL MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE, OUR YEAR OF MAYBE, and TODAY TONIGHT TOMORROW, and the upcoming WE CAN’T KEEP MEETING LIKE THIS, as well as the author of the just-released adult romcom THE EX TALK. Rachel Lynn Solomon can be found on Twitter @rlynn_solomon and Instagram @rlynn_solomon. Her website is rachelsolomonbooks.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Rocky Callen

Our episode with Rocky Callen

Robin Benway

Our episode with Robin Benway

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Jeremy Jordan

It’s a Sin

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman

Love at First by Kate Clayborn

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

Fated Mates podcast

First Comes Like by Alisha Rai

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas

Lagaan

Satyajit Ray

Ira Glass

Sarah Vowell

Starlee Kine

In a World . . .

Michelle Wolf

Sarah Dessen

John Green

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Ernest Hemingway

Emily Henry

The Princess Diaries

Meg Cabot

Marisa Kanter

Laura J. Silverman

Becky Albertalli

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

Judy Blume

Forever . . .

Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant

How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams

The Leftovers

Lost

Watchmen

The West Wing

The Crown

Crowning Around

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

Photo credit: Vaniya Stoyanova

In the 55th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Lauren Morrill about going viral, writing contemporary YA, and being adaptable to a changing market. Lauren is the author of six YA novels, including the upcoming IT’S KIND OF A CHEESY LOVE STORY. Lauren can be found on Twitter @laurenemorrill and Instagram @laurenmorrill. Her website is laurenmorrill.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Glasstown Entertainment Under Fire from Former Employees, Authors

How Joss Whedon’s Feminist Legacy Unraveled

‘Justice League’ Actor Ray Fisher: Joss Whedon Was “Abusive, Unprofessional”

Joss Whedon is a “Hypocrite Preaching Feminist Ideals” Ex-Wife Kai Cole Says

Joss Whedon Exits HBO Series ‘The Nevers’

Buffy the Vampire Slayer star Charisma Carpenter Speaks Out About Joss Whedon

Charisma Carpenter accuses Joss Whedon of emotional abuse on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

How Joss Whedon Fans Are Reckoning with Charisma Carpenter’s Allegations

WandaVision

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella aka Brandy Cinderella

The Oral History of Brandy’s Cinderella

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella with Lesley Ann Warren

Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein

Beach Read by Emily Henry

Miss Scarlet and the Duke

All Creatures Great and Small

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry

Jackson Pearce

Huffington Post: I Don’t Know How to Explain to You That You Should Care About Other People

A Young Adult Author’s Tweet Went Viral - But Somehow, Dr. Fauci Got the Credit

Lauren’s husband Adam Ragusea’s YouTube channel

Cyrano de Bergerac

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

Sarah Dessen

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Clueless

Gilmore Girls

Father of the Bride

Tiffany Schmidt

RWA (Romance Writers of America)

Ted Lasso

Bridgerton

The Project by Courtney Summers

Wednesday Books

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

St. Martin’s Press

Just As Long As We’re Together by Judy Blume

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

American Girl books

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 54th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Evan Griffith about writing animal stories, the magic of Mary Quattlebaum, and The Crown on Netflix. Evan is the author of SECRETS OF THE SEA: THE STORY OF JEANNE POWER, REVOLUTIONARY MARINE SCIENTIST as well as an upcoming middle grade novel tentatively titled MANATEE SUMMER. Evan can be found on Twitter @Evan_Griffith. His website is evangriffithbooks.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

The Magician and The Spirits by Deb Noyes

The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Call My Agent! on Netflix

Buffy on Hulu

Angel on Hulu

The Dry by Jane Harper

The Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson

2021 ALA Awards

Our episode with Yamile S. Mendez

Furia by Yamile S. Mendez

Our episode with Jenny Torres Sanchez

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Our episode with Kekla Magoon

Workman Publishing

Mary Quattlebaum

Joanie Stone (illustrator of Evan’s book!)

The Writing Barn

Katherine Applegate

Salima Alikhan

Our episode with Salima Alikhan

Austin SCBWI

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth Bunce

Avatar: The Last Airbender

The Crown

The Crown Style Archives from Tom + Lorenzo

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 53rd episode of Truer Words, we speak with Ellie Cypher about ruthless girls, writing to nature documentaries, and alpacas. Ellie is the author of THE GIRL FROM SHADOW SPRINGS, out February 9th. Ellie can be found on Twitter @Cypher_ec and Instagram @cypher_ec. Her website is elliecypher.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

VCFA WCYA Virtual Residency

Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

Pretend It’s a City

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

The Wilds

The Revenant - book & movie

Frozen

True Grit - book & two movies

V.E. Schwab

Hadestown

Alpacas!

Samwise Gamgee’s pony

MOMA

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Mexican Gothic and Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

All Creatures Great and Small, All Things Bright and Beautiful, Every Living Thing, and All Things Wise and Wonderful by James Herriot

Inspector Lewis

Endeavour

Vera

Van der Valk

Bob’s Burgers

Parks and Recreation

Radiolab

The Exploress Podcast

The Partial Historians

Keeping a Notebook with Nina LaCour

Amie Kaufman On Writing: A Podcast

Deadline City with Dhonielle Clayton and Zoraida Córdova

Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 52nd episode of Truer Words, we speak with Kekla Magoon about writing about recent history, teaching at Vermont College of Fine Arts, and her new cat. Kekla is the author of many award-winning books for young people. Her next book is the upcoming THE HIGHEST TRIBUTE: THURGOOD MARSHALL’S LIFE, LEADERSHIP, AND LEGACY. Kekla can be found on Twitter @keklamagoon. Her website is keklamagoon.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn

Bridgerton series on Netflix

Derry Girls

Laura Freeman

Ruby Bridges

The Blue Stars by Kekla Magoon and Cynthia Leitich-Smith

Cynthia Leitich-Smith

How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

X: A Novel by Kekla Magoon and Ilyasah Shabazz

Our episode with Amanda Gotera

Norma Fox Mazer

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Great British Bakeoff

Revolution in Our Time

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Gil Scott-Heron

Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

In the 51st episode of Truer Words, we speak with Amanda Gotera about building a life as a freelancer, sci-fi and fantasy for kids, and the best hairstyle for Captain Janeway. Amanda is a writer, filmmaker, and motion graphics artist, and Kathryn’s co-host on their upcoming Tamora Pierce-themed podcast, Tortall or Nothing. Amanda can be found on Instagram @amandapractica and Twitter @amandapractica. Her website is AmandaGotera.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Jacqui Lipton - Kathryn’s new agent!

Query Shark blog

Christina Bryza

Our episode with Christina

Bridgerton novels by Julia Quinn

Bridgerton on Netflix

Ted Lasso

Anthony Head

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren

The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan

Well Played by Jen Deluca

Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square (Netflix)

Happiest Season (Hulu)

Kristen Stewart

Mackenzie Davis

Clea DuVall

The Faculty

Veep

Dan Levy

Mary Steenburgen

Victor Garber

Ana Gasteyer

Aubrey Plaza

Tamora Pierce

Die Hard

Spirited Away

Kiki’s Delivery Service

Moonstruck

Star Trek

The Neverending Story

Return to Oz

The Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce

Lo-Fi Hip Hop Radio Beats to Relax To

Star Trek Voyager

Star Trek Next Generation

Star Trek Prodigy

Captain Janeway

Gibson Girl

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

Photo credit: Melissa Baumgart

In the 50th (!!!) episode of Truer Words, we decompress from the 2020 Election and celebrate the relief that comes with Biden’s victory, as well as look forward to the work that still needs to be done. We also discuss what we’re watching, reading, and listening to as we get back to the work of making art and supporting the Georgia Senate runoffs.

Mentioned in this Episode:

VCFA

Alumnx Mini Residency

When it Happens playlist by Melissa

Resistance Revival Chorus

Fuck Donald Trump by YG & Nipsey Hussle

Fifth Avenue video of marching singing “Na Na Hey Hey Good-bye”

“Watch: New York City Erupts in Celebration After Race is Called for Biden” - New York Magazine

Adam Sternbergh on Twitter comparing it to V-E Day: “Hard to quantify the mood in the streets of NYC today. Non-stop honking and cheering, people just roaming and greeting each other in joyous disbelief. I wasn’t around for VE Day but that feels like the closest analogy.”

Vote Save America

Get Mitch or Die Trying

Every Last Vote Fund

Fair Fight Action

Vote Forward

Jenny Han

Aisha Saeed

"Steve Kornacki is the Only Cute Thing About the Election"- New York Magazine

“Steve Kornacki Step on My Maps Challenge” - AV Club

“Steve Kornacki’s genuinely flustered reaction to thirst tweets is so hot” - AV Club

Leslie Jones mad about Ali Velshi filling in for Steve Kornacki

The Drew Barrymore Show

Emmy Lane Potter on Twitter

Our episode with Emmy Potter

Dash & Lily

Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn

The West Wing

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.

Photo Credit: Emerald England

In the 49th episode of Truer Words, we speak with Martha Brockenbrough about media literacy, writing the encyclopedia, and books that meet expectations. Martha is the author of the multiple picture books, YA novels, and biographies for young people. UNPRESIDENTED, her biography of Donald Trump, is now out in paperback. Martha can be found on Instagram @marthabee and Twitter @mbrockenbrough. Her website is marthabrockenbrough.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

UNPRESIDENTED by Martha Brockenbrough

Pose

Paris is Burning

The West Wing

Wet Hot American Summer

A Chat with Chris Mooney about The Republican Brain

Cynthia Leitich Smith

Cynsations blog

Watch Over Me by Nina LaCour

Julia Quinn

Bridgerton (Netflix)

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

All Thirteen by Christina Soontornvat

Kate Messner

Don Tate

Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes

Celia Perez

Rick by Alex Gino

About Us:

Truer Words is created and produced by Melissa Baumgart and Kathryn Benson. Our music was composed by Mike Sayre, and our logo was designed by Marianne Murphy.

You can follow us on Twitter @truerwordspod and on Instagram @truerwordspodcast. Contact us via our website, truerwordspodcast.com, or email us at truerwordspodcast@gmail.com.