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Book Friends Forever Podcast
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Book Friends Forever Podcast

Author: Alvina and Grace

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Children's book publishing's secrets are revealed as we listen in on fascinating, unguarded, insider discussion from two uniquely qualified best friends: award-winning author/illustrator Grace Lin, and one of NYC's top editors, Alvina Ling. Go behind the scenes of kid lit and catch a glimpse of the lives of the best-selling author and editor, and the relationship between them.
324 Episodes
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Grace and Alvina talk about two topics this week. The first, inspired by a post by actor Ming Na Wen, they talk about different types of Asian parents and what some of the stereotypes and cultural differences are. Then, they talk about gratitude chains, where you start with the thing you're grateful for, and then work your way back to trace all the things that had to happen for that thing to exist.  For the Fortune Cookie segment, they talk about a garlic aoili-scented vampire book! And they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina discuss a recent article about the challenges regarding the business model of book publishing, and how publishers tend to gamble big on debut novels. They discuss sales track and how that affects how publishers view you, and the ups and downs of publishing in general. For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about what their favorite type of landscape is. And they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they talk about the closing of Baker & Taylor, and they touch on some topics regarding banned books. They also talk about internships and their own experiences working as interns back in the day, as well as some advice for interns today. Then, Alison Morris joins to share some book recommendations, and they end by sharing what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace Lin and Alvina Ling welcome special guest Debbi Michiko Florence--Grace and Debbi are recording together while on their Very Asian Book Trip! They talk about building community, including the Asian American Voices retreat at Highlights. They talk about the impact the pandemic had on their respective communities. And they talk about how the main thing needed to create community is putting yourself out there. They also talk about the potential pitfalls of creating community.   For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about their Mid-Autumn Festival wishes, and they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast  
Grace and Alvina welcome special guest Adelia Kalyvas to talk about her job working in Special Sales, specifically the gift side. You'll learn all about how she got into publishing and what "specialty sales" and "gift sales" entails. They talk about the type of products that work well in the gift market, including mini kits and wrapping paper books, and how they sell to accounts using paper catalogs and gift shows. For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about their favorite retail stores to shop, and they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina discuss some recent events surrounding the Freedom of Speech, including late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel being pulled from the air temporarily. They talk about censorship and cancel culture. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they talk about Slate.com's recent "25 Greatest Picture Books of the Last 25 years." And they end as they always do with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Episode 318: Gossip!

Episode 318: Gossip!

2025-09-2537:05

Grace and Alvina are together in Brooklyn and gossip with each other! They talk about their relationship with gossip, when it can be positive or harmful, and Alvina shares a piece of funny gossip from her office. They also share some legendary author gossip! For the Fortune Cookie segment the talk about a group that has formed called "Save Middle Grade" to try to address the challenges the middle grade category has been facing. And they end as they always do with what they're grateful for.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina welcome special guest Michele McGonigle DeYoung! Michele was the first producer/editor of the Book Friends Forever podcast, and they discuss how she pivoted from her career in Audio Publishing to family coaching! Michele talks about how she broke into publishing, and then how she pivoted away! She also talks about her coaching training and the common issues she talks about in her coaching practice. For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about what they've been reading lately, and they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.   Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina continue their Publishing Curriculum series and welcome special guest Jenny Mandel to talk about her job working in Special Sales. You'll learn all about how she got into publishing and what "special sales" entails. And Jenny also shares the "meet cute" way she met her husband! For the Fortune Cookie segment they talk about what they're looking forward to this Fall, and they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/   
Grace Lin and Alvina Ling discuss a bunch of different pieces of publishing news, including the launch of Google's Gemini Storybook App, the cancellation of the NEA Creative Writing Grant, the creation of a new MFA program of writers of young people's literature, and the news that S&S's CEO will be stepping down to start a new imprint. Children's Literature Specialist Alison Morris joins them to discuss two recent studies on the decline of pleasure reading, and about how Gen Z isn't reading to their kids as much as previous generations. And then Alison shares some book recommendations. They end as always with what they're grateful for.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace Lin and Alvina Ling talk about travel and explore the question of whether or not all travel is transformative or opens one's horizons? They discuss how living in a foreign country is more transformative than travel, and how reading can be more transformative than travel.  Then they talk about how scammers are using AI to send very personalized emails to trick authors. They talk about some other recent scams, including fake employment texts and other scam texts.  Then Alvina tells Grace about the book INVISIBLE PARADE by Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio. And, they end with what they're grateful for.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/  
Grace and Alvina talk about two different topics--they debate the term "well-read" and whether they consider themselves to be well-read or if they even aspire to be so. They also discuss the gender disparity in children's books featuring animal protagonists. And then, Alvina tells Grace about the Book BEAR CAME ALONG by Richard T. Morris and illustrated by LeUyen Pham. They end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ 
Grace and Alvina welcome special guest Padma Venkatraman, author and oceanographer, to talk about a recent bill that she helped pass in Rhode Island to protect librarians, teachers, authors, and publishers from book banning. For the Fortune Cookie segment they all talk about their favorite ice cream flavors! Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/  
Grace and Alvina are in CT with special guest Libby Koponen celebrating Libby's 75th Birthday. They discuss what they think the key qualities for success in the book publishing industry are. For the Fortune Cookie segment, Libby tells Grace and Alvina about her newest book, IS THAT THE BUS. And they end as always with what they're grateful for. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss several topics, including how protagonists in YA have gotten older over the years, different ways authors use pen names, and then, Alison Morris joins to discuss what they would all eat for their last meals! Alison also gives some book recommendations based on her recent travels, and they end as always with what they're grateful for. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/  
Episode 309: Summer!

Episode 309: Summer!

2025-07-2543:26

Grace and Alvina talk about summer--what their relationship is to summer, what their favorite childhood memories from summer are, and what their favorite summer reading books are. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they discuss the recent Mahmoud vs Taylor Supreme Court ruling and read part of a statement written by author Katherine Locke. Then, Grace tells Alvina about her book DUMPLING DAYS which is about a summer trip to Taiwan. And then end as always with what they're grateful for. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/  
Grace and Alvina do a mid-year check in to see how they're doing on their new year's resolutions! They talk about their words of the year, and give updates on their goals and aspirations. For the Fortune Cookie Segment, they talk about the seven types of friends everyone needs. And, Alvina tells Grace about the middle grade book SILVERBORN by Jessica Townsend. And they end as always with what they're grateful for. S ee complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina are back from ALA and discuss the importance of friendship groups, if they have them now or had them in the past, and share some articles that give advice on how to create them. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they discuss Quirk Publishing's recent announcement that they are pausing their publishing program and subsequent layoffs. For the Tell Me About segment, Alvina tells Grace about Peter Brown's picture book adaptation of The Wild Robot, The Wild Robot on the Island. And they end as always with what they're grateful for.  See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ 
Grace and Alvina have an odds and ends episode where they discuss several topics, including tips on how to stay grounded, various publishing news including the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, BookCon returning, and a bookstore in San Francisco deciding not to carry Harry Potter. They also discuss various recent developments regarding AI. And then, Alison Morris joins to give some book recommendations, and they end as always with what they're grateful for. See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/
Grace and Alvina are together at the Carle Museum, recording a live episode with special guest Melissa Hung, curator of Grace's solo art exhibit at the Carle Museum! They talk about how the show came to be, what the process of curation entailed, what the name and meaning of the show is, and what they would like visitors to the show to take away from it. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they talk about what kind of museum they'd open if they could, and they end with sharing what they're all grateful for.  See complete show notes at www.bookfriendsforever.com.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/    
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