Teen G.E.N. Talks

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview’s special guest Patricia Park! Patricia is an Assistant Professor of Literature at American University, Fulbright scholar in Creative Arts, Jerome Hill Artist Fellow, and author of the debut young adult novel, IMPOSTER SYNDROME & OTHER CONFESSIONS OF ALEJANDRA KIM. Continue watching to learn more about author Patricia Park, we hope you...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview’s special guest Ava Reid! Ava is the award-winning, internationally bestselling author of critically acclaimed adult fantasies  Juniper & Thorn  and  The Wolf and the Woodsman,  as well as the forthcoming A Study in Drowning,  her young adult debut. After obtaining her degree in political science from Barnard College, she moved to Palo...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview’s special guest Elisa A. Bonnin! Elisa was born and raised in the Philippines, after which she moved to the United States to study chemistry and later oceanography. After completing her doctorate, she moved to Germany to work as a postdoctoral scientist. A lifelong learner, Elisa is always convinced that she should “maybe take a class in so...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview’s special guest Lauren Blackwood is a Jamaican American who writes Romance-heavy fantasy for most ages. Her debut YA fantasy novel “Within These Wicked Walls” is a NYT’s Bestseller and part of Reese Witherspoon’s book club in the Fall of 2021. Britney Spears has also raved about her debut fantasy novel!

In this week's episode, Desiree interview’s special guest Deeba Zargarpur who is an Afghan-Uzbek American. She began her editorial career at Disney-Hyperion and Freeform. Her debut YA novel, House of Yesterday was released on November 29, 2022. Besides being an author, she is also an editor where her aim is to acquire commercial books that empower young people from diverse backgrounds. Deeba i...

In this week's interview, Desiree had the pleasure of talking to Dilani Kahawala. Dilani is an author born in Sri Lanka, who also grew up in New Zealand and Australia. These various cultures inspired many of the characters she’s written about and continue to do so. After graduating from Harvard with a Phd in theoretical physics Dilani decided to create works on extra dimensions. Soon realizing...

In this weeks episode, Desiree sits down with  Lynn Slaughter! Lynn is the author of award-winning novel, Leisha's Song. She earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her previous young adult novels also include It Should Have Been You, a Silver Falchion finalist; and While I Danced, an Epic finalist. The ridiculously proud mother of two sons and grandmother of five...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Sarah interviewed Xavier Garza. Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Xavier Garza is a prolific author, artist, and storyteller whose work focuses primarily on his experiences growing up in the Rio Grande Valley. He is the author of 20 books, including Creepy Creatures and other Cucuys, Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver mask and the Maximilian and the...

In this weeks episode, Melissa and Desiree got the pleasure to talk with Rafael Lopez. Rafael is an illustrator, muralist and an all around artist. Rafael’s illustrations bring diverse characters to children's books and he works to produce and promote books that reflect and honor the lives of all the young people.

In this week's episode, Desiree interview’s special guest Deb Mercier, who lives in the greater Minnesota area with her dog, husband, and many outdoor creature friends.. She is an award-winning journalist, author of 11 books for young readers, a formal newspaper editor and technical writer. In her down time she hikes on trails and bikes and plays the flute in the Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra.

In this weeks episode, Melissa and Desiree had the pleasure of talking to Grace Shim! Grace grew up in Tulsa Oklahoma as one of two Korean-Americans at her high school (her sister was the other one). Today, Grace writes books with Korean-American protagonists that she wished she had read about as a teen, including the acclaimed The Noh Family . When she’s not plotting (the writing kind, not the wo...

In this weeks episode Melissa & Desiree had the pleasure of talking to Tina Gustafon! Tina is a Northern Arizona Master Gardener with nearly a decade of gardening experience and a Master’s in Environmental Studies. Tina wants to share her love of gardening by helping people create edible gardens everywhere. She believes gardens will improve our sustainability, environmental footprint, and food...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview special guest Chad Lucas, newspaper reporter, communications adviser, freelance writer, part time journalism instructor, parenting columnist, and award-winning author. Chad's childhood love of reading influenced him to write to initially publish a book but as he grew older turned towards journalism to make a living. Love of writing from reading...

In this weeks episode, Melissa & Desiree had the pleasure of talking to Maynard Okereke, or better known as the Hip Hop M.D. Maynard graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Civil Engineering.  He is an award winning Science Communicator, having received both the Asteroid Award for "Best Streaming Content" and the People of Change Award for his community outreach effor...

In this weeks episode, Melissa & Sarah had the pleasure of talking to Jasmine Maria Vargas. Jasmine is a beauty and lifestyle content creator that shares videos ranging from beauty tips and makeup looks to makeup reviews and affordable fashion. She is also a wedding makeup artist and when she is not running two businesses she loves a good thriller or romance book.

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview special guest Ruth Chan! Ruth is an illustrator and author who spent her childhood tobogganing in Canada, her teens in China, a number of years studying art and education, and a decade working with youth and families in underserved communities. She now writes and illustrates full-time in Brooklyn NY. 

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview special guest Raffi Wartanian, writer, musician, and educator. Raffi shares how his involvement with theatre and production and attraction to creativity, art and, music during his childhood influenced him to pursue writing in college to kickstart where he is now. Listen in to hear more on the different mediums of writing he pursued during colle...

In this weeks episode, Melissa and Desiree had the pleasure of talking to Zeke Peña. Zeke is a Xicano storyteller and cartoonist from El Paso, TX. He illustrated the award-winning books My Papi Has a Motorcycle (Kokila, 2019) and Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide (Getty Publications, 2017). His studio work is a mash-up of political cartoon, border rasquache and Hip Hop culture that addre...

In this weeks episode, hosts Melissa and Desiree interview Kristin Donnelly! Kristin is the author of Modern Potluck and works with many other authors to help them write their books. She is also a recipe developer and copywriter and lives in New Hope, PA.  Listen on to hear Kristin talk about her journey on how she went from being a food editor for FOOD & WINE to creating her own cookbook...

In this weeks episode, hosts Melissa and Desiree  had the pleasure of talking to Sallie Anne Rodriguez. Sallie is a Latina writer, researcher, and former head of U.S. Hispanic marketing for Citibank, where she supported diversity initiatives. She studied Communications at Loyola University in New Orleans and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Miami.

In this weeks episode, Melissa and Desiree interview Cindy Whitehead! Cindy is an American professional skateboarder, writer, and activist. At fifteen years old, she was the first girl to have a 2-page article and centerfold in a skateboarding magazine, where she spoke out about the impact of being one of the only females in the male-dominated sport. Cindy was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall...

In this weeks episode, hosts Melissa and Desiree interview special guest Tracy Badua! Tracy is a Filipino American author of books about young people with sunny hearts in a sometimes stormy world. By day, she is an attorney who works in national housing policy and programs, and by night, she squeezes in writing, family and pup time, and bites of her secret candy stash. We hope you enjoy the i...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview two special guests Celine,and Gia. They are the co-founders of the future-focused agency NinetyEight. All born in the year 1998 (hence the name!)co-founders Celine Chai, and Gia Lee, along with Bryant Lin started NinetyEight shortly after graduating from Loyola Marymount University in May 2020. NinetyEight creates collaborative relationships be...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview special guest Crystal Maldonado! Crystal is a young adult author with a lot of feelings. Her debut novel, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega, is a 2021 New England Book Award winner, a Cosmopolitan Best New Book, and a POPSUGAR Best New YA Novel. Her next novel, No Filter and Other Lies, explores teenage life in the social media age—and the lies we tell...

In this week's episode, Melissa and Desiree interview special guest Andrea Arango! Andrea was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She has an EdS in reading education, and works as a public school ESOL teacher by day and as a writer by night. Andrea balances her life in Virginia with trips home to see her family and eat lots of tostones de pana. When she’s not busy, you can always find her enjoying nat...