The Paper Trail Podcast
Paper Trail
A monthly writing and publishing podcast featuring a rotating roundtable of children's book authors.
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The Paper Trail Podcast
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Latest episode
Jun 29, 2026
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Episodes
Episode 31: How to Be a Good Literary Citizen (and no, it's not by calling your colleagues' books "crud") 29.06.2026 1:04:08
The one where we talk about what it takes to keep a creative community alive, why reaching "flow state" with a manuscript is actually a privilege, and how to be a good literary citizen. Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online: Website | Instagram | Buy Laekan's books Connect with Jasminne Mendez online: Website | Instagram ...
Episode 30: We're Not Meant to Labor Like This 01.06.2026 1:07:03
The one where we talk about writing the best book we possibly can within a specific timeline, discuss how accessible to readers we allow ourselves to be, and ask ourselves what we can do to foster the next generation of book lovers. Connect with Jasminne Mendez online: Website | Instagram | Buy Jasminne's books Connect with Mariko Turk online: Website |...
Episode 29: Are We There Yet? (Or What Does it Mean to Truly Make it in Publishing) 04.05.2026 58:29
The one where we fantasize about financial security and a regulated nervous system, unpack TLA 2026, and celebrate the opening of Charity Alyse's indie bookstore! Donate to Charity's GoFundMe Connect with Mariko Turk online: Website | Instagram | Buy Mariko's books Connect with Andrea Beatriz Arango online: Website | Instagram | Buy Andrea'...
Episode 28: On Becoming Less Ambitious (and Remembering to Touch Grass) 06.04.2026 1:10:42
The one where we chat about the realities of going out of print, community as a path towards hope, and writing for your Id. Connect with Andrea Beatriz Arango: Website | Instagram | Buy Andrea's books Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online: Website | Instagram | Buy Laekan's books Connect with Jasminne Mendez online: Website | Instagram | Buy Jasmi...
Episode 27: The Dreaded Demotion and the Power of Not Yet 09.03.2026 59:18
The one where we learn new and disappointing things about the publishing industry, discuss how our writing routines have changed over time, and adopt the mindset of “not yet.” Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online: Website | Instagram | Buy Laekan's books Connect with Jasminne Mendez online: Website | Instagram | Buy Jasminne's books Connect with Mariko Turk online: Websi...
Episode 26: Creative Resets (and Say Hello to Your Season 3 Round Table!) 09.02.2026 58:38
The one where we reflect on an especially difficult 2025, discuss our hopes and goals for the year ahead, and commit to fighting for our creative joy. Connect with Jasminne Mendez online: Website | Instagram | Buy Jasminne's books Connect with Mariko Turk online: Website | Instagram | Buy Mariko's books Connect with Andrea Beatriz Arango: Website | Instagram | Buy Andrea's books Connect with Laeka...
Episode 25: Nothing is Selling (or What Happened to the Tastemakers?) 03.11.2025 1:02:44
The one where we discuss publishers forfeiting their role as tastemakers and creators of culture, brainstorm ways to successfully promote a book these days, and celebrate Hien's upcoming debut novel Twin Tides! Connect with Hien Nguyen online: Website Twitter Instagram ...
Episode 24: Can Publishing Survive Fascism? 06.10.2025 48:34
The one where we celebrate the release of The Silenced, discuss book banning efforts in Texas, and question whether the U.S. publishing industry can survive this dystopian hellscape. Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online: Website TikTok Insta...
Episode 23: How to Be a Publishing Anti with Sami Ellis 08.09.2025 39:32
The one where we discuss the grief that comes with seeing behind the proverbial publishing curtain, using your day job as a way to stay hungry, and how to be a publishing anti. Connect with Sami Ellis online: Website Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online: Website ...
Episode 22: What Ever Happened to So-and-So? Or Publishing is a Game of Survivor (A Kidlit Happy Hour Crossover Episode) with Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard 04.08.2025 1:09:44
The one where we lament the shift away from lyrical picture books, mourn the synchronicity of writing something that already exists, and discuss the audacity required to actually go the distance as an author. Connect with Joanna Ho online: Website Connect with Caroline Kusin Pritchard online: Website Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online: Web...
Episode 21: Publishing is Not a Meritocracy (And Book Clubs Will Save Us All) with Alexandra Villasante 07.07.2025 50:02
The one where Alex shares what it's like publishing her sophomore novel six years after her debut, the gang discuss the Luke Bateman controversy and how publishing loves a safe bet, and Laekan celebrates her five-year anniversary of being a full-time author by going back to teaching. Connect with Alexandra Villasante online: Website Connect with Vincent Tirado online: Website TikTok Ins...
Episode 20: Publishing is a Mountain Range with Jonny Garza Villa and Aaron H. Aceves 02.06.2025 1:04:39
The one where we talk to authors Jonny Garza Villa and Aaron H. Aceves about strategies to pitch and sell our next projects, author career planning years into the future, and a fundraiser for the Queer Liberation Network. Check out the auction Connect with Jonny Garza Villa online: Website Connect with Aaron H. Aceves online: Website Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online: ...
Episode 19: Meta Better Have My Money (An Of The Publishing Persuasion Crossover Episode) with Angela Montoya and Melanie Schubert 05.05.2025 1:11:03
The one where we talk about Mark Zuckerberg stealing our books, how the chaos of this current administration is adversely affecting the publishing industry, and embracing the creative pivot. Connect with Angela Montoya online: Website Connect with Melanie Schubert online: Website Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online: Website ...
Episode 18: Pre-Nazi Germany But with Smart Phones with Vincent Tirado 07.04.2025 58:00
The one where we discuss how we are staying artistically focused given the state of the world, how we manage our book cover reveals, and how to launch a fiction podcast. Connect with Vincent Tirado online: Website Connect with Diana Rodriguez Wallach online: Website TikTok Instagram...
Episode 17: Hollywood is Another Planet with Laura Taylor Namey 10.03.2025 1:04:06
The one where we lament the current state of the country, discuss the myriad routes to film and television adaptations, and remind ourselves that comparison is the thief of joy. Connect with Laura Taylor Namey online: Website Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online: Website Instagram...
Episode 16: The Post-debut Blues with Jill Tew 18.11.2024 59:20
The one where we discuss how publishers value some awards more than others, the behind-the-scenes manufacturing of a book's success, and what it feels like to finally get a peek behind the veil post-debut. Resources Mentioned: Roots. Wounds. Words. Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award NCTE The MacArthur Genius Grant Connect with Jill Tew online: Website Twitter Instagram TikTok Buy Jill's books Connect...
Episode 15: American Dirt Part Deux 21.10.2024 1:03:31
The one where we lament the mental torture of revisions, rage over the reemergence of Jeanine Cummins, and discuss how to set boundaries with family and friends who don't always consider writing to be a "real job." Resources Mentioned: Stephen King's On Writing 2023 Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards Jeanine Cummins' New Book PubTips Reddit Diana's advice thread for querying writers Connect with...
Episode 14: Children's Publishing is a White Woman's Game with Dhonielle Clayton 23.09.2024 1:09:49
The one where we welcome the indomitable Dhonielle Clayton to talk about the pressure on marginalized authors to perform in public, authorly cliques, and publishing feminism’s failure to be intersectional in combatting sexism (with a shout out to Papa Pope from Scandal). Connect with Dhonielle Clayton: Website Twitter Ins...
Episode 13: Is All Writing Political? 26.08.2024 1:01:38
The one where YA author Hien Nguyen joins the pod! We talk news consumption and how Laekan and Candace are olds (but, whatever, it’s fine), discuss whether there should be a Glassdoor for publishers, and dive deep into whether or not all writing is political. Connect with Candace Buford online: Website Twitter Instagram...
Episode 12: The Death of DEI in Publishing 29.07.2024 1:06:58
The one where we discuss the death of DEI initiatives in publishing as well as the industry's infatuation with white female readers, and Laekan reflects on being chased off the internet by the fans of a white male author. Connect with Laekan Zea Kemp online: Website Twitter Instagram ...
Episode 11 01.07.2024 1:02:32
The one where we talk about how to overcome a publisher’s low expectations for your book, how to make money as an author on TikTok, how to recognize when your writing stress is affecting your physical health, and how to determine what type of agent is best for you at different stages of your career. Resources mentioned: Writing In Italy run by YA Author Suzanne Young Angela Montoya TikTok: @angela...
Episode 10 03.06.2024 59:10
The one where we calculate how many months we can live off our advance money, discuss the process of having rights reverted back to us on past books, and rejoice in the way finding the right research materials can end writer’s block. Resources mentioned: Highlights Foundation Retreat Highlights Whole Novel Genre Course Writing In Italy Retreats for writers in all career stages-hosted by YA author...
Episode 9 06.05.2024 1:12:17
The one where we ponder what exactly determines "good sales numbers," get comfortable with starting over, and realize that publishing is built on the compost pile of failure. Resources mentioned: National Education Association Read Across America Scholastic Book Fair Tomes and Textiles: Tiktok A Crown for Corina Spanish Translation Claribel's Twitter Thread Jean Flynn Award Walter A...
Episode 8 08.04.2024 58:33
The one where we discuss the pros and cons of festivals, examine why there are no BIPOC Romantasy phenoms, and critique the worst publishing advice we've ever received. Connect with Jennifer Chen online: Website Instagram Twitter Buy Jennifer's books Connect with Candace Buford online: Website Twitter Instagram Bu...
Episode 7 04.03.2024 1:00:57
The one where we talk about balancing writing with full time work and being gentle to ourselves so that we can be kind to our creativity. We also examine burnout and awards season highs and lows. Connect with Adrianna Cuevas online: Website Instagram Twitter Buy Adrianna Cuevas' books Connect with Jamie Ofelia online: Website Twitter Instagram...
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