Bad Lit Friends

This week, BLF's all about our agent wish list: all the things we wish literary agents would do better. (You're all perfect though! Utterly and thoroughly!) We are back in the trenches (deal with it, PubTips gatekeepers) and ready to tank our author careers before they get started because who doesn't feel like a soupçon of nihilism these days???We have SO MANY THOUGHTS about query forms, submission pipelines, communication gaps, and why the *%#! are we still doing partials in 2026 when no one sends physical manuscripts anymore? We discuss streamlining query requirements, the importance of updating MSWLs (help us help you!), closing to queries occasionally, and the eternal mystery of "why did you query this agency?" We also turn the mirror on ourselves and talk about what writers can (gulp) do better. Because—shocker!— we're not perfect either. Well, sometimes we are, but it's good to be humble. PLUS Hot Goss about Grammarly's new AI "expert review" feature that let dead authors critique your work (!!!). Nobody asked for this who wasn't being paid to sell it! Also: sex dolls somehow came up and we're very sorry. Sort of.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends@bsky.social.Threads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BadLitFriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.comShow notes: HOOOO BOY GRAMMARLY! : https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/890921/grammarly-ai-expert-reviews Since we recorded, Grammarly has walked this revolting “function” all the way back after authors, researchers, and users revolted but does this wash the sin away? My sources (bashed up Magic 8-Ball, common sense, and my vague recollection of California privacy torts law) say NO: https://www.wired.com/story/grammarly-is-facing-a-class-action-lawsuit-over-its-ai-expert-review-feature/

In this episode, we explore the complex landscape of social media and why it's all evil evil evil. We talk about our own personal experiences with social media, going all the way back to the halcyon days of Usenet, MySpace, and forums, because we are oooold.HOT GOS: Should you refuse to read in a genre, write a book in that genre, and then crap all over the genre? The answer may surprise you!Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends@bsky.social.Threads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BadLitFriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.comShow notes:You can hear more about Print Run Podcast's $100 query deal to benefit Open Market at the Zion Community Commons here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NRCvMqEBJXYUkHvTi2DC6

What's in your boneyard? This week we're talking about shelf novels, not-ready-for-primetime attempts, and all those beautiful disasters collecting dust in your Scrivener files. Join us as we confess to our abandoned manuscripts (Kirk's got a fantasy novel about Irish legends, Meagan's got EIGHT BOOKS in something called "the Melaverse"), discuss why sometimes quitters CAN be winners, and consider whether some books only exist to teach you how to write the next one. (Hmmmm, maybe??)PLUS Hot Goss: authors should be allowed to talk about their rejection letters in public as long as they're not being dickish when spilling tea, more on the power dynamics between writers and agents, and why the algorithm on Threads will absolutely make you the main character when you least expect it so, uh, don't be a dick? Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends@bsky.social.Threads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BadLitFriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.comShow notes:The Shit No One Tells You About Writing podcast (yes, yes, we know we bungled the name of an amazing podcast that we both listen to so you think we'd know better but NO): https://www.theshitaboutwriting.com/

In this episode, we read some iconic opening lines, from timeless classics to modern favorites (we got you covered too, indies!), and why those first few words have so much pressure to be brilliant (nbd right?). We also give some well-deserved attention to epistolary novels and at least try to make the case for reading more broadly, even when it means stepping out of your comfort zone. We’re here to celebrate great writing, side-eye lazy tropes, and remind everyone that books are better when they surprise you.In hot goss, we talk about why empathy might just be literature’s greatest superpower.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends@bsky.social.Threads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BadLitFriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.comShow notes:Pride and Prejudice: https://bookshop.org/p/books/pride-and-prejudice-jane-austen/d037d070de87e54fBleak House: https://bookshop.org/p/books/bleak-house-charles-dickens/0a8f64b370463d43Maeve Fly: https://bookshop.org/p/books/maeve-fly-cj-leede/96a041c5c9a4bca4Crazy Rich Asians: https://bookshop.org/p/books/crazy-rich-asians-movie-tie-in-edition-kevin-kwan/f0c74f97854adae8The Midnight Dolls: https://a.co/d/05U56oDkDear Committee Members: https://villagewell.com/item/ERwtpK2h44AEywicI58rtgREAD MORE DIVERSELY!!! https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUJqpOWEvzh/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

After Meagan's car tries to murder her (and she still shows up to record because some people have PRIORITIES), we tackle something actually positive for once: the writing community! Well, we try to stay positive. This week we're exploring what writing communities are, why they matter, and how they keep us from feeling like dysfunctional, self-hating chaos goblins screaming "MUST WRITE MORE" into the deep, dark night. (See? Positive!)As Kirk tries to enforce the promise that we're going to keep this episode upbeat, we talk about the benefits, practical and otherwise, of communities: feedback, accountability, emotional support, and not feeling so effing alone in a solitary pursuit. Plus we dive into When Communities Go Wrong: toxic positivity, gatekeeping (not again!), jealousy of others who are doing nothing wrong except ummmmm succeeding when we're not, and the particularly vile corners of social media that engender all this grossness. It's mostly cheery! Mostly!Plus in Hot Goss: More publishers behaving badly! Who'da thunk it?? Red Ogre Review's proudly not backing down from some hellacious submission terms that read like a stick-em-up, and Harper's Bazaar is doing the EXACT SAME THING they got called out for in 2019: making you assign them some rights when you submit that nobody should want to. (But some people will; selling your soul never goes out of style.) Also, just when you thought this podcast was marked safe from contract interpretation, we break down why trusting someone who says "I'm a nice guy who would never enforce this garbage term" maybe isn't such a great idea.Also Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware is now following Meagan on Bluesky and Meagan's being completely normal about it.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends@bsky.social.Threads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BadLitFriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.comShow notes:Red Ogre Review brouhaha: https://bsky.app/profile/j-tkelly.bsky.social/post/3me2qrh5odk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/victoriastrauss.com/post/3me2vhydn6223Harper's Bazaar sucking all over the place: https://writerbeware.blog/2026/02/06/unhappy-returns-harpers-bazaar-short-story-contest-america-star-books/

In this episode, we chat about our own writing journeys: what went wrong, what went right, and what we really wish we’d known back in the day. We talk discipline (no, not that discipline, get your mind out of the gutter--or don't, we're not your boss), luck and timing, and whether writers actually have to be on social media or if we can all just, like, not.Along the way, we swap stories about building an online presence, finding (and leaning on) a writing community, and riding the emotional roller coaster that comes with putting our work into the world.On hot gos, we explore everything ever that is wrong with romance. (no, we don't)Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends@bsky.social.Threads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BadLitFriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.comShow notes:The video mentioned in our hot gos segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TReLoQAfrYQThank you, Christy, for your delightful comment!

Rejection letters: they suck! But also they're not the end of the world! (Trust us, we've been there. Repeatedly.) Join us for a loosey-goosey conversation about what you can learn from form and personalized rejections from literary agents, the agony of being ghosted, and why your "dream agent" might not actually be your dream agent at all. Kirk shares war stories from 200+ queries, Meagan credits her law degrees for her cold dead heart, and we debate whether the worst icon on QueryTracker is that red frowny face (yes).PLUS Hot Goss about an agent who accused a writer of using AI and shared their manuscript with colleagues to gossip about it (!!!). Do we have to tap the "unless there's an literal prompt left in the text, maybe don't accuse a writer of using AI if you don't know better" sign again? Because between us we have twenty fingers. We can keep tapping.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends@bsky.social.Threads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BadLitFriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.comShow notes:Rejection letter drama on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1qjhidt/discussion_very_strange_response_from_an_agent/Reddit post about whether Mia Ballard's Shy Girl was written by AI: https://www.reddit.com/r/horrorlit/comments/1q8so32/shy_girl_by_mia_ballard_does_anyone_else_think/

In this episode, we dive into the oft-dreaded topic of comparison titles, or 'comps,' which are essential for writers looking to query agents. We talk about the importance of comps in understanding market placement and how they can help writers articulate their book's unique qualities. We also discuss finding appropriate comps, the pitfalls of choosing titles that are either too obscure or too popular, and the nuances of crafting a compelling query letter that includes these comparisons.In Hot Goss, we opine on the very real and true meaning of friendship: buy my book, or you're dead to me.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends@bsky.social.Threads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.com

We’re back for Season Two, huzzah! And we’re literally starting at the beginning. Also figuratively.This time around, we dig into why first pages matter so much, and how they so often go sideways. We talk genre expectations, the great prologue debate, and what actually hooks readers (and agents) from page one. Along the way, we share hard-earned lessons, favorite examples from popular books, and practical tips for handling backstory, recycling cut material, and finding solid comp titles.If you’ve ever stared at your opening chapter and wondered “is this working?”, this one’s for you.AND! Hot gos! We get into a recent TikTok literary-agent controversy and how very dare them. (Note: The agent in question has since apologized. We recorded this before the apology, but we were happy to see it.)Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends@bsky.social.Threads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.comSHOW NOTES:https://www.threads.com/@sam_evans_writer/post/DTLI1zxDr-c?xmt=AQF01R3hOo-jWVjeCoNdYE57ZY0YqfYJVlXulhjiuFvpOFOOxkzc6lCFHmBScGk4hGMtyHo&slof=1https://www.tiktok.com/@kelly.j.jones19/video/7592298629696670998?_r=1&_t=ZP-92sMcQXqMXP https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1q8p74o/discussion_what_are_your_thoughts_on_agents/?share_id=6f_NKJqCbHvGFkEPNeYqD&utm_content=1&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=17

BAD LIT FRIENDS FIRST ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA!!! We were going to take the week off, but then a publisher was VERY WRONG on the internetz and… well. Surprise! Consider this a late holiday season present from Kirk and Meagan because who doesn’t like a little bit of legal analysis while they eat their weight in Danish butter cookies? This episode is all Hot Goss, Contract Law Edition as we dig into the Shadowlight Press litRPG contract that’s been circulating online, why it’s so monumentally appalling, why publishers shouldn’t include Rickrolls on their websites, and what this contract can teach you about reading publishing agreements before you sign anything. We also talk litRPG as a genre, Shadowlight’s not-so-great public response to the kerfuffle, and the bigger takeaway: if a contract makes you feel like you’re being seduced into an author’s penal colony, maybe don’t do that.Listener note: no episode on January 9th so we can have a tiny rest. We’re back on January 16, 2026 with Season Two (wut) of BAD LIT FRIENDS.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.socialThreads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsWebsite: badlitfriends.comSHOW NOTES:Writer Beware, “Why These Contract Clauses Are Scary”: https://writerbeware.blog/2025/12/19/why-these-contract-clauses-are-scary/Reddit post in r/ProgressionFantasy, “PSA: Shadow Light Press Contract” (12/16/25): https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressionFantasy/comments/1poe338/psa_shadow_light_press_contract/Follow up Reddit post by Shadow Light Press in r/ProgressionFantasy, “Shadow Light Press - Update” (12/19/25): https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressionFantasy/comments/1pppp7l/shadow_light_press_update/Editorial Freelancers’ Association’s Editorial Rates: https://www.the-efa.org/rates/Author’s Guild Contract Review (I know I said Writer’s Guild!): https://authorsguild.org/legal-services/contract-reviews/

EPISODE 20! We made it even though we still barely know what we’re doing. This week we’re roasting literary tropes like chestnuts in the fire. Join us as we rate enemies-to-lovers, chosen ones (spoiler: thank u, next), ticking clocks and much, much more on a scale that’s completely inconsistent! Also, Meagan gets weirdly deep about property law and Kirk insists the romance genre needs more corpses. PLUS Hot Goss about yet another AI feature that literally nobody asked for unless their last name is Bezos.Content warning (24:25-24:35): passing reference to slash fic involving the 27th and 30th U.S. presidents that seriously the world probably never needed to know about. I mean, hey, maybe it is your bag, so no judgment and you might want to fast forward right to this part. Just listen to the rest of it, okay?Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com
Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social
Threads: @badlitfriends
Instagram: @badlitfriends
Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

In this episode, we’re chatting with indie author Jessica Lunt about her writing journey and her debut novella, The Witch Hunter’s Wife. We talk about what it’s really like to write historical fiction, from research and routines to tackling big themes like marriage, social expectations, and pregnancy loss. Jessica also shares how she balances writing with life as a mom of four, and what the indie publishing world looks like from the inside. We dive into everything from audiobooks and marketing to handling rejection, finding community, and what she’s working on next. Jessica also imparts advice for writers trying to find their way in indie publishing.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.socialThreads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsWebsite: https://badlitfriends.comShow notes:Content warning: we discuss pregnancy loss between 00:27:00 and 00:31:00.Jessica's website where you can signup for her newsletter: https://www.jessicalunt.com/You can buy Jessica's newest novella, The Witch Hunter's Wife at Amazon, your local bookstore, or through your local library.

Yes queen/king/court jester, we're tackling alpha and beta readers: what they are, when you need them, how to find them, and what to ask for when someone agrees to read your ugly book baby. Consider this a companion to our last episode on critique partners and writing groups because we said so.In Hot Goss, we wonder why anyone cares how many books other people read in a year, and lose our minds over quite possibly the worst take of 2025: third person POV makes you a misogynist. Someone needs to throw their laptop in the dumpster and get a flip phone.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.socialThreads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsWebsite: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

In this episode, we welcome our guest, Anne Wells, to the show to talk about writing groups and critique partners. We share our very different experiences: Meagan's unicorn-level luck with her supportive four-year-old writing group, Kirk's unfortunate writing-group curse, and Anne's adventures in a Meetup group where the rude go to die.We also dig into what makes a writing group actually work, how to find one that won't make you miserable, and why some writers seem weirdly drawn to tearing others apart. (Is it their kink? We're not here to kink-shame, but also, yes we are.) We also talk about where to find your people: Discord servers, Blue Sky, conferences, local guilds, boring weddings maybe? And we share tips for keeping a group healthy long-term, including the most important question you should ask yourself: Are you miserable?In Hot Goss, we discuss a BookTuber's garbage take that Romantasy readers are "not the brightest sparks" and tools of the patriarchy. We also touch on why attacking a genre and its entire readership is, like, not cool, man.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.socialThreads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsWebsite: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

In this episode, we're wrapping up our three-part series on novel, talking about actually finishing the thing, managing the emotional rollercoaster of finishing, stepping away after “The End,” and getting your manuscript ready for beta readers.In Hot Goss, we dive into the latest BookTok drama involving author and influencer Elyse Myers, reader spaces, parasocial relationships, and the increasingly complicated rules of online engagement. Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com
Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social
Threads: @badlitfriends
Instagram: @badlitfriends
Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/Show notes:Seven Drafts, by Allison K Williamshttps://sevendrafts.com/Elyse Myers' Bad Taco Datehttps://www.tiktok.com/@elysemyers/video/7016002945082871046?lang=en

Welcome back to the second part of our "So You Want to Write a Novel" series! Last week, we covered the basics: genre, POV, and whether your idea could just be vibes (spoiler: no). This week, we're tackling the actual writing part, which turns out to be kind of important.We discuss where (and where not) to start your novel , why your first draft is allowed to be garbage, and the importance of just getting words on the page. We also compare writing tools and get very serious about backups. (Seriously, stop reading this and go back up your manuscript right now.)We also talk about research and how much is enough before you're just procrastinating, and why momentum matters.And of course…Hot Goss. (Hot gos? Hotgos? Hawtgaws?)Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com
Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social
Threads: @badlitfriends
Instagram: @badlitfriends
Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/Show notes:Scrivener: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/Dabble: https://www.dabblewriter.com/

Episode 14: “So You Want to Write a Novel — Really? (Part 1: Before You Begin)”This week, Meagan and Kirk kick off a three-part series on actually writing a novel. If you’ve ever said, “I think I’ll finally write that book,” this series is the audio equivalent of Cher slapping Nic Cage in the face in Moonstruck. Maybe.In Part 1 of the series, we’re talking reality checks and big decisions: are you sure you want to do this, what you’re really signing up for (spoiler: years of emotional and financial ruin), and how to choose your genre, POV, and tense without having a full-blown existential, thermonuclear meltdown. Also outlining vs. pure chaos and admit which camps we not-so-secretly live in, and why writers don’t need to be footsoldiers in the gatekeeping wars.In Hot Goss, we rage about that agent on Threads who insists you need ten betas before querying. We discuss why beta readers are important, why online writer groups are absolutely the hellscape people think (unless you’re in Meagan’s group), and why quality is more important than quantity when it comes to betas.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social Threads: @badlitfriends Instagram: @badlitfriends Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/Jane Friedman on Beta Readers: https://janefriedman.com/beta-readers/

This week, we tackle every writer's favorite task (narrator: no it's not): revisions. From massive rewrites to line editing minutiae, we discuss what to keep, what to fix, and what to destroy in a fire.We also have some show news, as Rylan steps back to focus on her writing unless, you know, there was some kind of write-in campaign demanding her return. (ahem)Thank you Rylan for all of your hard work!In Hot Goss, we dive into PenguinGate (not that Penguin): the drama surrounding Paul and Matthew's children's book, pity marketing tactics, and why doxxing Ingram employees is never the answer.Whether you're a revision lover like Kirk or a revision resister like Meagan, this episode covers everything you need to know about transforming your manuscript from "meh" to publishable.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social Threads: @badlitfriends Instagram: @badlitfriends Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/Show Notes:Sorry for the less-than-stellar editing! Did I mention Rylan was our editor?

This week, Meagan, Kirk, and Rylan talk about the wild world of online pitch events—you know, those (used-to-be) Twitter (and now Blue Sky) contests where you condense your entire manuscript into 280 characters and hope an agent notices you in the mob.Are they a legitimate path to publication? A performative Hunger Games for writers? A way to connect with your people? Spoiler: it's complicated.We break down what pitch events actually are, which ones are worth your time, how to craft a pitch that doesn't make you cringe. And then we talk about the pros and cons of different events like #PitMad, #PitDark, and #DVPit, the reality of getting likes versus actual requests, and why community might be the real prize here.In our Hot Goss segment, we dive into the recent piracy drama. We're calling out the performative "think of the disadvantaged people" arguments, discussing why "information should be free" doesn't mean entertainment should be stolen, and getting real about how piracy actually hurts authors.Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann, Kirk Rafferty, and Rylan. Our Producer is Rylan Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.socialThreads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsWebsite: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

This week, Kirk, Meagan, and Rylan sit down with debut author Amber Hamilton to talk about her dark academia romantasy, Seven Deadly Thorns, a twisted Snow White retelling where true love's kiss kills instead of resurrects.Amber shares her journey from rejection to landing five agent offers for her second novel, and the delicate balance between writing what your heart wants and writing what the market needs.We also dive into the unique challenges of writing your second book under contract, and the surrealness of people literally painting your book at a garden party.We had an absolute blast speaking with Amber, and can’t wait to read her book!Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty. Our Producer is Rylan Rafferty.Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.comBluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.socialThreads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsWebsite: https://www.badlitfriends.com/Show notes:Seven Deadly Thorns is published by Bloomsbury YA, and is available for preorder right now. It will be available for purchase on Novemeber 4, 2025. In the UK, it will be available on October 28, 2025.Amber's website is: https://amhamwrites.com