Writing in Real Life

We had an AWESOME launch party! Jennifer Beals encounters Morgan’s aunt. Morgan and Barry visit an actual bookstore to see their book in the wild. Big transitions for Leia and Luke mean Barry and Morgan have more time with the kids…and less time with the keyboards.Links:Writing in Real Life — Episode 106: The One You Can PreorderSurvey: Reading Before Bed Has Major Sleep, Health, and Lifestyle Benefits | Real SimpleMorgan is Reading: The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundBarry is Reading: The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundRate us on iTunes

It’s Pub Day for The Hive, Barry and Morgan’s book baby! #HasCassieSurfacedYet?Links:The Best Books of Fall 2019 | PEOPLE.comOrder The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | IndieboundThe Hive Launch PartyRate us on iTunes

Morgan gets good news. Morgan gets good news. A cross-country trip with a 4-year-old! Barry does something he’s never done before and feels less bad about it than you’d imagine. Mmm; dried mango.Links:Preorder The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | IndieboundBarry tweets about his writing processRate us on iTunes

An update on Morgan’s leap of faith and work(s) in progress. Writers with day jobs and the world’s opinions of such. Barry takes on the preorder system. Also: Meet the sensational character find of 2019, the villainous…TweetStorm!Links:Preorder The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | IndieboundMorgan’s Agent: Kathleen Anderson (@KAndersonbird) / TwitterThe Flash: Crossover Crisis: Green Arrow’s Perfect Shot: | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundBarry discusses Tobias Buckell and Patreon: Writing in Real Life — Episode 86: The One with Two RantsTobias Buckell’s tweet thread about day jobs for writersBarry’s tweet thread about preordersSoupy Sales' 'Green Pieces of Paper' ScandalFree Comic Book DayAuthor Susan Adrian on Preorders Scuttling a Book DealMorgan is Reading; Sweet Valley High GN: Academic All-Star? | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundBarry is Reading: Famous Men Who Never Lived by K Chess | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundRate us on iTunes

Updates on marriage and the kids. Luke figures out the Apple Watch at age 2. Is it possible to become a successful author nowadays without using or being good at social media? “Be adequate!” Remember when Twitter was fun? What’s more important: talent or networking?Links:Jamie Attenberg Twitter thread on book releases1-Star Reviews for The HiveLife Is Short and Then You Die: Mystery Writers of America Presents First Encounters with Murder | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundTeen Creeps PodcastOn Breaking Down the Barrier Between YA and Adult Fiction | Literary HubGymnastics at the 2000 Summer Olympics - WikipediaWaPo's Editor’s Note on the Bestseller List SnafuMorgan is Reading: Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundRate us on iTunes

Updates on marriage and the kids. Luke figures out the Apple Watch at age 2. Is it possible to become a successful author nowadays without using or being good at social media? “Be adequate!” Remember when Twitter was fun? What’s more important: talent or networking?Links:Space Unicorn - Parry Gripp and Brianne Drouhard - YouTubeBarry Lyga (barrylyga) on MyspaceStudy Finds Artists Become Famous Thanks to NetworkingHe’s Writing 365 Children’s Books in 365 Days, While Holding Down a Day Job - The New York TimesOpinion | I Want to Be Rich and I’m Not Sorry - The New York TimesJason Momoa's 'Dad Bod' the Envy of Dads EverywhereBarry is Reading: Dark Horse by Fletcher Knebel | Amazon | BN.comMorgan is Still Reading: The Art of Breaking Things by Laura Sibson | Amazon | BN.com | IndieboundRate us on iTunes

Morgan finishes a book! How it feels to finish a book and turn it in: Satisfaction, doubt, joy, panic, all of it. Barry tries to convince his publisher not to publish his book. Listening to music while writing: Good idea or best idea? And Barry’s feelings on reviews.Links:Barry is Reading: Equations of Life by Simon Morden | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundMorgan is Reading: The Art of Breaking Things by Laura Sibson | Amazon | BN.com | IndieboundMorgan is Also Reading: Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner | Amazon | BN.com | IndieboundRate us on iTunes

Catching up on the last year: Morgan quits her job. They have their first signing. Barry can’t run around in his underwear any more. Why is the dishwasher always running?Links:The UpsideWhere Storytelling and Pop Culture Collide - BookCon 2019Talking about The Hive: Writing in Real Life — Episode 101: The One where They Wrote a Book TogetherPreorder The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | IndieboundMorgan is a CancerBarry is a VirgoExclusive first look: The Flash joins forces with the Green Arrow in 'Crossover Crisis' | EW.comPreorder The Flash: Green Arrow’s Perfect Shot: Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | IndieboundThe I Hunt Killers Movie is Coming! (Maybe. In Korean.) | Barry Lyga Dot ComThanos: Titan Consumed | Barry Lyga Dot ComWolverine: Worst Day Ever | Barry Lyga Dot ComRate us on iTunes

Barry and Morgan are happy to finally be able to talk about their book together, THE HIVE. Plus: What does Jennifer Beals have to do with this?

We hit episode 100 and invites special guests Carolyn Mackler, Jon Skovron, Maggie Lehrman, and more!

Barry FINALLY gets to talk about his super-secret mystery project: THANOS! How on earth does he live with himself writing Marvel AND DC? Who is “Brick Charles?” Babysitting in the modern age. Morgan marvels at The Secret History of Twin Peaks. And an update on the I HUNT KILLERS prequel. Links:• Thanos Is Getting a Book [CORRECTED]• Flash Book Series: Amazon.com• Access (Character) - Comic Vine• DC vs. Marvel - Wikipedia• Avengers Infinity Wars Eyes Record Box Office Opening With $200m Open | Deadline• We talk about microprogress: Writing in Real Life — Episode 97: The One that’s Lucky>• If I Had More Time, I Would Have Written a Shorter Letter | Quote Investigator• Your Money: Perks galore rule the new economy of babysitting• 18 Exhaustingly Funny Tweets From Parents With A LOT Of Kids• Barry is Reading One Way by S.J. Morden | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks• Morgan is Reading Freshman Dorm by Linda A. Cooney | Amazon• Rate us on iTunes

A man stupidly claims we don’t need women authors because he can write women just fine. (Dude…) Where is all the good sex in YA these days and why did it go away? Plus: Luke gives your hosts one hell of a scare and Barry has read a bunch of books for a change. Links: Barry's tweet about Unedited the book that will kill me — Barry Lyga Dot Com The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party - Wikipedia Gwen Katz’s tweet about men writing women The tweet that started the flood of women writing about themselves through the eyes of male authors In Y.A., Where Has All the Good Sex Gone? - The New York Times #Yasaves: A Tale of Hashtaggery | The New Yorker Literary Review’s Bad Sex in Fiction Award | Literary Review Barry Read Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier by Mark Frost | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks |

The pleasures and pains of returning to old projects. What do surfing and writing have in common? We’re gonna tell you! Plus: micro-progress is real progress, and believe it or not…Barry’s reading a book!

Barry says farewell to a wonderful librarian who left us too soon. Should publishing give huge advances to former Trump Administration officials? Why do readers feel betrayed when they learn a book is part of a series? Then we talk about our collaboration and rant about the five-star rating system. Links: 2018 Teen Book Fest Stephanie Squicciarini Obituary - Irondequoit, New York | Legacy.com Publishers already contacting Hicks about book deal: report | TheHill Hope Hicks Modeled for Gossip Girl Spinoff Book Cover — Donald Trump's Press Secretary Modeled for "The It Girl" We discussed Trump killing publishing in: Writing in Real Life — Episode 90: The One with Barry’s Deep, Dark Secret Rate us on iTunes

The literal pain of parenthood. Morgan still hates The Princess Bride. Act single for a better marriage. Barry talks on the phone — a lot. Do graphic novels deserve their own bestseller list? Barry explains his insane schedule. Plus: #metoo comes to kidlit. Links: Writing in Real Life — Episode 1: The One that Came First Fatal Attraction- "I Will Not Be Ignored" - YouTube Morgan has no soul and hates The Princess Bride: Writing in Real Life — Episode 70: The One in which Morgan Bites the Bullet For a Better Marriage, Act Like a Single Person - The New York Times Comics Industry Asks ‘NYT’ to Restore Graphic Bestseller Lists Discussing the NYT bestseller lists: Writing in Real Life episodes 27-30 Children’s Publishing Reckons with Sexual Harassment in Its Ranks | School Library Journal Sexual Harassment in the Children’s Book Industry – Anne Ursu – Medium '13 Reasons Why' author Jay Asher denies harrassment claims | The TribuneSexual Harrassment « Dan WellsSexual Harassment in the Children's Literature Industry | Rick RiordanBarry’s blogs on hugging kids: Remember that They’re Kids — Barry Lyga Dot Com | Male Guilt, Hugs, and More — Barry Lyga Dot Com Rate us on iTunes

We’re back! Again! Our reach is more global than we thought. Lyga’s Law of Publishing rears its ugly head again. Editors who are also writers: Threat or menace? The benefits and drawbacks of working a day job while writing. Cool new imprints! The books Morgan’s body shuts down. Plus: Luke turns one! Links:

Barry thanks the listeners for their compassion. We know you like Morgan more than Barry, but guess who likes YOU? How much baby room monitoring is too much baby room monitoring? Plus: Something is wrong with the Internet. And it’s not just us saying that. Links: Tori Amos - Streets of Philadelphia (Bruce Springsteen cover) @ Beacon Theatre, NYC1 2017 - YouTube Miami Book Fair 2017 National Book Awards “Reading for All!” Dick Robinson receives Literarian of the Year Award from President Bill Clinton at the National Book Awards | On Our Minds Molly O’Neil’s Thread on Andrew Shvarts’s Thread on Writers and Hobbies Does Barry need a hobby? We discussed in Episode 16: The One with Reality TV The Overmonitored Nursery - The New York Times Something is wrong on the internet – James Bridle – Medium Morgan Recommends Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Why they’ve been AWOL. Yes, we talk about American Heart. Sorry. Also: We’re sick of Twitter. Links: The Flash: Hocus Pocus | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Navigating the choppy waters of life with a ‘threenager’ - The Washington Post We talk about The Black Witch: Writing in Real Life — Episode 88: The One where It’s All about One Thing, Really AMERICAN HEART by Laura Moriarty | Kirkus Reviews Kirkus withdraws starred review after criticism. American Heart Review: Kirkus Editor On Why They Changed It Heart of the Matter — The Horn Book Let’s talk about American Heart by Laura Moriarty. – Celeste P. – Medium A starred (for now) review: BANG by Barry Lyga | Kirkus Reviews Now Raina Telgemeier's Drama Banned In An Entire Educational District In Texas - Bleeding Cool News And Rumors Washington Parent Objects to Pixelated Genitals in Mangaman | Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Hell Is For Children - Wikipedia Have children? Here's how kids ruin your romantic relationship Denis Leary - Happiness Comes in Small Doses - YouTube Morgan is Reading: Faithful Place by Tana French | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

A lot of parenting talk, including dance class, a quiz to determine if you’re ready for parenthood, and more. Barry goes viral. Sort of. Book doulas—yeah, they’re a thing. Why your first book has to be perfect. And how do you avoid the scourge of multitasking when you need to monotask (i.e., write)? Links: mother! (2017) - Rotten Tomatoes Are you ready for parenthood? A quiz for couples on the precipice. Barry goes “viral,” ‘90s style. (About halfway down the page, someone named “Ushgarak” posts two lists. I actually wrote both of them.) 10 Reasons why Star Wars is better than Star Trek Book doulas: the new way to push your writing into the world | Books | The Guardian Multitasking Damages Your Brain And Career, New Studies Suggest Freedom: Internet, App and Website Blocker

Dads apparently reduce childhood obesity by just…being dads? Trump is apparently killing publishing. Barry goes on a rant about spoilers and is called out for hypocrisy, then confesses a major children’s lit sin…and proceeds to diss a book you probably love. Sorry about that. Links: EWin Calling Series Ergonomic Computer Gaming Office Chair with Pillows - CLD - ewinracing Thrifter | Spend Where it Matters UCLA Ergonomics - Tips for Computer Users More playtime with dad linked to lower obesity risk for young kids - The Washington Post Is Trump Ruining Book Sales? | New Republic Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) | Twitter Barry talks about James Baldwin: Writing in Real Life — Episode 31: The One where Harry Potter and the X-Men are the Same Spoiler Alert: Spoilers Make Things More Enjoyable - WNYC News - WNYC The Trespasser by Tana French | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Senior Management | Scholastic Inc. Why Everyone Should Read Harry Potter - Scientific American The Widow’s House by Carol Goodman | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Kids learn social media fails by watching their parents. Forget readers — how do you raise writers? The agony and the ecstasy of summer reading. Is sex the secret to getting boys to read? What you need to read in order to be a better writer. Plus: the collector mentality. Links: Parents’ social media habits are teaching children the wrong lessons - The Washington Post Dad recreates daughter's selfies | Daily Mail Online What Parents Can Do to Nurture Good Writers - The New York Times Want Teenage Boys to Read? Easy. Give Them Books About Sex. - The New York Times The Perils of Comic Book Collecting ‘Summer of Hell’ at Penn Station kicks off this week | New York Post Barry is Reading: Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Yes, we discuss YA Twitter culture with regard to The Black Witch and that Vulture article. And then a brief parenting moment and some fun books to read as the world burns. Links: The Black Witch: An Epic Fantasy Novel (The Black Witch Chronicles) gone: Review: The Black Witch by Laurie Forest The Toxic Drama on YA Twitter Google manifesto spotlights hot-button issue of gender diversity Amazon.com: The Black Witch (The Black Witch Chronicles) (9780373212316): Laurie Forest: Books The Black Witch (The Black Witch Chronicles, #1) by Laurie Forest — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists How hyped new author Scott Bergstrom infuriated the YA literature community | The Daily Dot Roxane Gay’s Tweet ‘I Didn’t Love My Daughter For the First Year Of Her Life’​ | Men’s Health Morgan Recommends: The Regulars by Georgia Clark | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Barry Recommends: Legendtopia: The Battle for Urth by Lee Bacon | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

We swear this isn’t turning into a TV review podcast, but…we just have to spend some time on Younger and Friends from College. Is it OK for men to use female pseudonyms? What do you say to someone who is afraid to have kids? The economics of cookbooks. Plus: You knew it was coming: Potty training. Links: Younger | TVLAND.com Friends from College - Wikipedia Episode 3 · Friends From College · TV Review Friends From College takes on YA for some reason · TV Club · The A.V. Club  Men Are Apparently Adopting Ambiguous Pen Names to Sell Psychological Thrillers to Women  The History of Nancy Drew White Writer Makes "Best Poetry" — With An Asian Pen Name The Hidden Risks of Writing a Cookbook  Oh Crap! Potty Training by Jamie Clowacki | Amazon | BN.com |

Barry is annoyed by Instagram without even being on it. And Barry is ready to lose it over Netflix…again. Morgan remains calm. Does financial success kill artistic risk? The new/old phenomenon of writers seeking patronage. Plus: Email from a new listener! Links: Barry's July ACLU fundraiser The squatter on Instagram Barry is the only Barry Lyga in the country Netflix to trial technology that hands control to viewers | Daily Mail Online Writing in Real Life — Episode 15: The One where Leia Flirts Longform Podcast #249: John Grisham Inside the Actors Studio | Bravo TV Official Site Pivot Questionnaire -aka Inside the Actor's Studio (wowzone.com) Terry Trueman The Bachman Books by Stephen King Tobias Buckell on Patreon Curtis Sittenfeld asks for title help on Facebook Neil Gaiman on George R.R. Martin It’s Amazing That The Old Record Industry Existed In The First Place Litsy (app) Rate us on iTunes

Barry is writing The Flash. ‘Nuff said! BookExpo and how it feels to be among the Book People. Barry and Morgan have a secret. The return of the million bad words and the madness of colored index cards. How do you raise a feminist son? (Spoiler alert: Books are involved.) Links: The Flash, Supergirl to get middle grade novels The Flash: Hocus Pocus preorder | Amazon Flashpoint (event) | Arrowverse Wiki LB School: Barry Lyga | Little Brown Library | Resources for Teachers & Librarians The #1 book and author event - BookExpo 2017 SEPH LAWLESS  | OFFICIAL WEBSITE  Marieke Nijkamp, YA author Scholastic Summer Reading Road Trip Where Storytelling and Pop Culture Collide - BookCon 2017 Alan Alda - Wikipedia The New York Times: John Grisham’s Do’s and Don’ts for Writing Popular Fiction 'Feminism is the Radical Notion That Women Are People' Shirt The New York Times: How to Raise a Feminist Son The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts | Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound Danny Dunn series by Jay Williams Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine - Wikipedia Gramophone record - Wikipedia Morgan Recommends: Leave Me by Gayle Forman | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Barry and Morgan talk about Twin Peaks. A lot. Especially since it just might explain EVERYTHING about Barry’s writing. Do readers today demand more closure in books, and if so, why? Plus: How cool superheroes are and why geekdom should be for everyone, regardless of race, sex, or planet of origin. Links: Why Is ‘Twin Peaks’ So Influential? - The Atlantic Twin Peaks - Official Series Site | SHOWTIME The West Wing Episode Guide "Endings to be useful must be inconclusive." - Samuel R. Delaney The Leftovers | The Official Website for the HBO Series Mad Men - Wikipedia MARK FROST - novelist, television/film writer, director, Producer The Millions : Dragons Are for White Kids with Money: On the Friction of Geekdom and Race - The Millions Durlans | DC Database Pre-Crisis | DC Database Adventures of Superman Vol 1 507: The comic where Superman doesn’t drop the n-bomb Superman decries racism Rate us on iTunes

Celebrating Mothers Day — good idea or selling out? Has the time come for time-outs? How parenting is like being Batman. (Guess which one of us came up with that.) The scourge of “idea debt” for writers, and how to break out of it. Plus: Barry has a book on the list of the 50 Best YA Novels of all time! Links: The Inventor of Mother's Day Disowned the Holiday, and So Should We All - The Atlantic "You know, like Caine in Kung Fu" Janet Lansbury Time's Up for 'Timeout' - The Atlantic Americans’ Opinions On Spanking Vary By Party, Race, Region And Religion | FiveThirtyEight Imagining your future projects is holding you back. Scriptnotes, 296: Television with Damon Lindelof Amulet (comics) - Wikipedia The Leftovers (TV Series 2014– ) - IMDb Boy Toy on Booklist's 50 Best YA Books of All Time BooklistYA on Twitter Rate us on iTunes

We’re back! The tale of the birth of their superhuman son. The mantras that got them through the early months of Luke’s life. Morgan starts a new project that isn’t a baby. Barry’s tour for BANG and its aftermath. Links: The Good Sleeper by Janet Krone Kennedy | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks The New Science of Siblings - TIME New Y.A. Novels Tackle Crime and Its Consequences (The New York Times reviews Bang) 'Bang' by Barry Lyga: EW Review Barry’s favorite movie: White Hunter, Black Heart Barry’s Facebook page with videos from tour Clips app "The Book That Will Kill Me" Morgan is Reading: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Morgan Recommends: The X-Files Origins: Devil's Advocate by Jonathan Maberry | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Morgan Recommends: The X-Files Origins: Agent of Chaos by Kami Garcia | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Barry Has Read: Slider by Pete Hautman | Amazon preorder Barry Has Also Read: Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart | Amazon preorder | BN.com preorder | iBooks preorder Rate us on iTunes

A shout-out for Barry??? Moms being attached to newborns and the dads who have nothing to do. The meaning of #FUSS! Barry fundraises for the ACLU. Keeping a diary…or not. Does losing hurt more than winning feels good? Links: How publishing houses weigh a decision like giving Milo Yiannopoulos a book deal. The whole Leslie Jones Twitter feud, explained | Lifestyle News for College Students | USA TODAY College Turns out Milo plagiarized a lot of his "poetry" from Tori Amos. Defends himself by comparing it to T.S. Eliot using literary references. : GamerGhazi Reps say phone calls prompted ethics reversal. Barry’s fundraiser for the ACLU Morgan Has Read: Superficial by Andy Cohen | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Barry Has Read: Skin Deep by Timothy Hallinan | Amazon | BN.com Mitt Romney's Top Aide On The White House Run by Candidate Confessional Rate us on iTunes

First toddler holiday season. What do you get for the kid who has everything? #firstworldproblems Morgan still hasn’t given birth. What exactly do babies remember and for how long? Morgan can’t distinguish between herself and her twin. A discussion of YA’s obsession with teen romance. Links: Girls Write Now Traces of Time Lost - The Atlantic On Normalizing Teen Singlehood in YA Song without Words by Ann Packer | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers by Nancy Jo Sales | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound 36 Reasons How I Met Your Mother's Marshall and Lily Have the Greatest Relationship Ever | Glamour We discuss young debut authors vs. older debut authors in Episode 74: The One Not Sponsored by Sesame Street 35over35.com Barry's Opus: The Book That Will Kill Me Barry is Reading: Crashed by Timothy Hallinan | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Follow-up on ebooks: Are sales REALLY down? Errors in published books. Also, follow-up on writers taking breaks. Morgan discovers that she likes writing. Did the election kill reading? Morgan’s theory of needing other parents. Plus: Isn’t there a better term for graphic novels? Links: ISBN Joanna Penn on drop in ebook sales: http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2016/07/25/author-voice/ (Specifically 19:00 to 21:35) http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2016/06/06/facebook-advertising-mark-dawson/ (3:45 to 6:20) http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2016/06/03/breakdown-book-sales/ Taking a Break — Barry Lyga Dot Com Barnes & Noble Says People Stopped Reading Books Because Of The Election - BuzzFeed News Weekend Box Office: Trump Bump? 'Arrival,' Others Get Post-Election Boost | Hollywood Reporter Barry Recommends: Seekers into the Mystery Vol. 1 by J. M. DeMatteis et al | Amazon Barry Also Recommends: Seekers into the Mystery omnibus (preorder links) | Amazon | BN.com A Contract with God by Will Eisner | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound New comics laureate Charlie Adlard declares war on 'the graphic novel' | Books | The Guardian Rate us on iTunes

Books can keep you sane. What does the election mean for fiction, particularly YA? Maybe ebooks aren’t the big deal everyone thought they were. When is it permissible to slack off on your writing? Thanksgiving advice for non-Americans. Splitting focus between your kids. Clingy post-nap toddlers. Links: Adult Books Sales Fell in First Half of 2016 Amazon vs. Hachette Luke Cage Sweet Christmas! Lath and plaster Magda Gerber and the Creative Child | Janet Lansbury Barry is Reading: The Indestructibles by Matthew Phillion | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks Another Anime Con Morgan Recommends: Commonwealth by Anne Patchett | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Morgan Also Recommends: Today Will be Different by Maria Semple | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

A necessary discussion of the distinction between a political podcast and an apolitical podcast. Parenting in the age of Trump. The web reveals which writers Barry writes like. Why is platform-shaming a thing? Links: A kid asks for Jazz to save us on Twitter Barry’s blog about the election After the Red Rain by Barry Lyga with Peter Facinelli & Robert DeFranco | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks Facebook, in Cross Hairs After Election, Is Said to Question Its Influence - The New York Times Bitch Sesh: A Real Housewives Breakdown podcast on Earwolf Who Do You Write Like? Is Social Media Toxic to Writing? The teenage brain on social media | UCLA Morgan Recommends: American Girls: Social Media and the Secret Lives of Teenagers by Nancy Jo Sales | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Barry Recommends: 1984 by George Orwell | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Morgan is, like, the next Arthur Conan Doyle. What do authors wish they’d known when they first started their careers? The difference between institutional and commercial sales…and success. Letting your kids get bored can be good for them. The AAP revises its screen recommendations. (Whew!) Links: The Beast Burger | Beast Burgers | Beyond Meat - The Future of Protein™ Who Do You Write Like? Christa Desir's tweets Gordon Korman Resources for Infant Educarers Magda Gerber and the Creative Child | Janet Lansbury American Academy Of Pediatrics Lifts 'No Screens Under 2' Rule : NPR Ed : NPR Issaquah High School comes under fire for library book - Issaquah-Sammamish Reporter Rate us on iTunes

Barry has a book challenged; guess which one! After reading Bruce Springsteen’s memoir, Barry has an epiphany. Leia requests her favorite musician. Morgan plans and executes a toddler’s birthday party without any help. Links: Washington Parent Objects to Pixelated Genitals in Mangaman | Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Office for Intellectual Freedom | Offices of the American Library Association Banned Books Week | Celebrating the Freedom to Read: September 25- October 1, 2016 Book banned in Carroll gets partial reprieve - tribunedigital-baltimoresun Teacher tweets that Mangaman is safe Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Bruce Springsteen: On Jersey, Masculinity And Wishing To Be His Stage Persona : NPR You're a whole different person when you're scared (Warren Zevon & Hunter S. Thompson) - YouTube Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

A brief clarification from last week. Sesame Street vs. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse…to the death! Is a young writer more impressive than an old one? Who do you try to make happy when you write, and should it always be yourself? Practice vs. raw talent. Barry rants briefly about VOYA. Links: Sesame Place | Sesame Street Theme Park in Pennsylvania Mickey Mouse Clubhouse | Disney Junior Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - 'Hot Dog Dance' - Disney Official - YouTube Lora Kolodny's tweet about 30 under 30 lists Frank McCourt - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Paul Levitz Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler | Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound On Beauty by Zadie Smith | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Robin Brande John Milton invokes the Muse Is Bisexuality Too Mature for Young Readers? Run by Kody Keplinger | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound VOYA’s review of Boy Toy Bang on Entertainment Weekly Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Is it all doom and gloom for publishing? Is there a secret room somewhere with the salvation of books? Should authors wish for salaries instead of royalties? What is the secret of Barry’s unpublished novel and its connection to Lin-Manuel Miranda? Plus: Morgan is writing again! Links: A Rough Six Months for Big Book Publishers Daniel Nayeri on Publishing Workman Publishing The origin of Knopf/Publishing as a gentleman’s industry Merritt Tierce on Publishing 'Love Me Back' - How Much Money Authors Make Love Me Back by Merritt Tierce | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Hamilton Lin-Manuel Miranda Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Alexander Hamilton: A Biography by Forrest McDonald | Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound State of Wonder by Ann Patchett | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Morgan abandons Barry. Leia’s vocabulary explodes…along with her temper. The mystery of children’s YouTube. Puppies vs. children. Is there such a thing as vacation with a kid? And is there really even such a thing as a YA novel? Links: Hurricane Hermine peters out An example of a YouTube video with 29 million views that Leia likes Scrubs on what it's like to have a baby Slice Literary Conference Panel: The Sex Talk Barry's quote on Twitter The Millions : There Is No Such Thing as the Young Adult Novel - The Millions Review Guidelines | VOYA Real Time With Bill Maher: I Don’t Know It For a Fact..I Just Know It’s True - September,1st - YouTube Barry is Reading: Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks & Gita Varadarajan | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Morgan Recommends: Tumbling by Caela Carter | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Everyone is sick and Morgan doesn’t want to talk about it. She’s willing to talk about a new sale, though! Plus: New writing plans! Links: Motherwell – Telling all sides of the parenting story Morgan is Reading: You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Barry is Reading: Uprooted by Naomi Novik | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Morgan finally goes too far and insults The Princess Bride. What writers shouldn’t worry about (but do anyway). Do starred reviews matter? On-site daycare can be good for business. Bullet journaling: chicken soup for the soul? Links: The Princess Bride The Never-ending Story The Princess Bride by William Goldman | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Barry's new book: The Secret Sea | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Dahlia Adler's Twitter thread on what writers shouldn’t worry about Barry talks about his Goodreads rank: Writing in Real Life — Episode 65: The One with Melissa Why Yelp Restaurant Reviews Aren’t Trustworthy Is It Possible to Make a Living as a Mommy Blogger? - The Atlantic 50Quote Details: John Wanamaker: Half the money I... - The Quotations Page Patagonia's CEO Explains How To Make On-Site Child Care Pay For Itself | Fast Company | Business + Innovation Why the Bullet Journal Works: It Soothes Your Panicky Mind -- Science of Us Use Reminders on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support Rate us on iTunes

Leia discovers the curse of imagination. A lovely email from a friend. Working on spec: Should you? When? Why? “Money flows to the writer.” Find the mistake in The Secret Sea and win a prize! Morgan guests on another podcast — shock! Horror! Links: Pretend Play | What to Expect Separation Anxiety Why swearing is good for you — Quartz Rejection, Part 14 - News From MENews From ME Writer Beware®: The Blog: PublishAmerica Is Now America Star Books The Secret Sea | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Pete Hautman - Home Barry and Pete Hautmann commiserate on errors in their books Barry regrets an idea he didn’t use in Bang Folklore.org: Real Artists Ship Morgan on All the Social Ladies podcast Telling the Right Stories at the Right Time - Forbes Rate us on iTunes

Leia burns up. Barry has a long talk with himself. Morgan asks the audience for advice. The power of positive thinking turns out to backfire. Do you lose yourself as a person when you become a parent? Cursing around your children: Great idea or greatest idea? Links: Watch President Barack Obama Full Speech At The DNC 2016 - YouTube Watch Hillary Clinton's full speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention - YouTube Thinking positive is a surprisingly risky manoeuvre | Aeon Essays "I Learned It By Watching You" Anti-Drug PSA - YouTube Barry tweets about Leia's first word possibly being f*ck Rate us on iTunes

Barry and Morgan (and Leia!) survive their move! Barry surrenders to day care, with plenty of guilt. A rant about professionalism. Giving up on a manuscript. New projects for Morgan and Barry. Links: Eugene’s comment on Leia’s sleeping and baby nightmares Pregnancy Brain: Myth or Reality? On Being an Aging Children’s Writer - Just Thinking Morgan Recommends: The Diviners by Libba Bray | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Morgan is Reading: Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Morgan is Also Reading: Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Barry is Reading: In the After by Demitria Lunetta | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

The Orlando shooting, bad conference experiences, home improvement woes, and a baby that won’t sleep. Also: Barry and Morgan each start working on new projects! Links: Orlando nightclub shooting: Read about the victims - Orlando Sentinel The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound WubbaNub | WubbaNub Infant Pacifiers Rate us on iTunes

Special guest Melissa Walker (UNBREAK MY HEART, LET’S PRETEND WE NEVER MET) fills in for Morgan! We discuss different ways of getting published, writing with more than one kid, and how writing a book doesn’t prepare you for the next one. Plus: On spec vs. proposal, and the horror of ranking. Links: Melissa’s website Carolyn Mackler Doug Stewart at Sterling Lord Sassy magazine Episode 20: The One where Leia Goes to a Bar Mitzvah (and we talk about the value of twenty minutes) Pomodoro Technique Batcave - DC Database - Wikia Barry’s Goodreads rank (scroll down to "Average Rating") Sale on Unbreak My Heart ebook! | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks Melissa Recommends: What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Melissa Also Recommends: The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan Vivian | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Barry Recommends: When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Familiarity breeds contempt…for your own book. Sensitivity readers. You can’t make everybody happy. Leia reverses her position on sleep. And a big announcement. Links: Barry’s tweet about hating his book Sensitivity Readers — Writing in the Margins 4 out of 5 dentists... Bizarro World Growing Pains Episode #150: "There Must Be a Pony" SCBWI New Jersey | 2016 June Conference Rate us on iTunes

Morgan damns Barry with faint praise. Mornings! Showers! Is the “limit your kid’s screentime” notion an anti-feminist plot? Barry’s theory that multiple TVs lead to divorce. Plus, Morgan preps for her first writing conference…and makes a soul-searching confession. Links: This Mom Is Extraordinarily Tired Of Making Dinner The debate over screen time is really about moms, not kids. Appliances and their impact: the ownership of domestic technology and time spent on household work Bitch Sesh: A Real Housewives Breakdown by Earwolf on iTunes SCBWI New Jersey | 2016 June Conference Goodreads | Claudia and the Sad Good-bye (The Baby-sitters Club, #26) by Ann M. Martin (This is the book where Claudia's grandmother dies.) ASU | The Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing Rate us on iTunes

Morgan is obsessed with Snapchat. Follow-up on programming your brain and baby paranoia. Leia climbs on a truck. Vacations are good. New ideas for stories! The scourge of outlining. Morgan publishes an essay. Pitching vs. blogging. The frustration of being ignored by editors and agents. Links: This 10-Minute Routine Will Increase Your Clarity And Creativity — Life Learning — Medium Melissa Walker Episode 61: The One without a Daddy Blogosphere Imperious Leader - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Writing in Real Life — Episode 35: The One with No Baby The Weekend Novelist by Robert Ray | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks Morgan's piece on Hello, Giggles: I bought a bunch of ~vintage~ teen magazines on eBay to relive my teenage years Morgan’s HuffPo piece: How to Get Married at Work Morgan’s Pop Matters piece: Reflections on Tori Amos and the Feminist Movement | PopMatters Morgan’s blog Contract delays: Writing in Real Life — Episode 60: The One with Sylvia Plath on Zoloft Rate us on iTunes

Does a debut have to be big? Guess what: Your sales aren’t determined by the quality of your book. Are celebrity memoirs worth the massive cost? Morgan has opinions about Captain America: Civil War. The (missing) narrative of the Stay-At-Home Dad. Links: Debut novels: Why new authors are making millions | EW.com Mad Men - Don breaks up with Dr. Faye Miller over the phone - YouTube "I hope she knows you only like the beginnings of things." Captain America: Civil War Black Panther The Great Darkness Saga Earth-1/Earth-2 What It’s Like When a Stay-at-Home Dad Goes Back to Work Mr. Mom Three Men and a Baby Daddy Day Care Why Do We Teach Girls That It’s Cute to Be Scared? - The New York Times Barry is Reading: Plastic Man by Kyle Baker | Amazon (Vol.1) | Amazon (Vol. 2) | Comixology Morgan Recommends: Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larson | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Rate us on iTunes

Leia visits the doctor three times in four days. Revisiting Lyga’s Law of Publishing: Barry signs a contract and explains why it takes so long. Science says: writers and psychotics are the same. (Morgan disagrees.) Don’t be a jerk on the internet. Morgan psyches out Barry. Barry goes nuts over a new book. Links: Writing in Real Life — Episode 33: The One with Royalties The Neurological Similarities Between Successful Writers And The Mentally Ill | Thought Catalog http://www.warrenzevon.com/ Paula Abdul - Opposites Attract - YouTube When You Become The Person You Hate On The Internet : All Tech Considered : NPR How One Stupid Tweet Blew Up Justine Sacco’s Life - The New York Times archive.org Morgan Recommends: Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound 24 Things No One Tells You About Book Publishing Curtis Sittenfeld’s ‘Eligible’ Updates Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ - The New York Times Sittenfeld’s response: So Eligible got a solidly bad review from The... - Curtis Sittenfeld Internationally Bestselling Author Tess Gerritsen Barry Recommends: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound Do parents have a special talent for writing for kids? From our very first episode! -- Writing in Real Life — Episode 1: The One that Came First Rate us on iTunes

Does living in close quarters give neighbors permission to tell parents when a baby is crying too much? Morgan’s new career aspiration. Reese Witherspoon is on Goodreads—who knew? Does being a writer ruin your ability to enjoy reading for its own sake? Links: The Happiest Baby Homepage | Happiest Baby | Sleep, Colic, and Health Solutions Family extremely offended after neighbors leave nasty note about their crying baby - AOL Reese Witherspoon’s New Role: Power Broker - WSJ #AskHerMore: How the Media Talks to Women On the Red Carpet - The Representation ProjectThe Representation Project Hugo - Awards - IMDb My Childless Year — Barry Lyga Dot Com Center Stage (2000) - IMDb Morgan is Reading: Vivian Apple at the End of the World by Katie Coyle | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound The Secret Sea preorders: Amazon | BN.com Rate us on iTunes