• Laurie and Sierra lament their cute outfits that nobody but Instagram will see thanks to the pandemic. (01:50)
• Laurie explains why her characters are as awful as they are. Why are they like this? Why does she put us through such torture? (3:35)
• Sierra checks in with Laurie about her transition from being a YA writer to writing both YA and adult novels. We talk about the highs and lows of adolescence and reshaping your identity as you age. (6:48)
• Laurie and Sierra discuss their favorite psychological thrillers, including Sierra's experience with reading He Started It by Samantha Downing while she was in the psych ward. (15:00)
• Laurie spills about how she tackles difficult subjects in her work, ranging from suicide to revenge porn. (19:00)
• Sierra and Laurie discuss an anthology project they worked on together, what the collaboration process was like, and dealing when projects aren't picked up when submitted to publishers. (22:30)
• Laurie dishes about her days as a model, and a trip to Japan that didn't end as expected. (27:09)
• We discuss our favorite lipsticks and skincare, because of course. (30:49)
• Laurie tells us how she balances writing and momhood, and answers a listener question on which of her characters she’d want to room with at college. (34:49)

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE

Boots similar to Sierra’s Betsey Johnson’s

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn*

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll*

Whisper Network by Chandler Baker*

My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing*

Tangerine by Christine Mangan*

He Started It by Samantha Downing*

KVD Studded Kiss Lipstick

Drunk Elephant Moisturizer

GlamGlow Eye Cream

Fresh Beauty Moisturizers

Benefit Mascara

Kiehl’s Cleanser

Youth to the People Superberry Dream Mask

Biossance

ABOUT LAURIE

Laurie Elizabeth Flynn is a former model who lives in London, Ontario with her husband and their three children. She is the author of three young adult novels: Firsts, Last Girl Lied To, and All Eyes On Her. The Girls Are All So Nice Here is her adult fiction debut. It has sold in 11 territories worldwide and been optioned for television by AMC.

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Buy The Girls Are All So Nice Here*

Buy Firsts*

Buy Last Girl Lied To*

Buy All Eyes on Her*

SIERRA'S LINKS: Twitter | Instagram | Website

VIEW ALL EPISODES AND SHOW NOTES: sierraelmore.com/podcast

SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: https://ko-fi.com/theauthordiaries

• Ryan and Sierra discuss their sun/rising/moon signs, not that they know what the hell they mean. (3:11)
• Ryan explains his new podcast, Celebrity Book Club, and the adventures of Tyra Banks and Tookie de la Creme. (Don't ask.) Also, why Nicholas Cage had the right idea stealing the Declaration of Independence. (Again: don't ask.) (5:05)
• A guide to not dulling out the best parts of yourself in an unkind world, our journeys as Baby Gays, and Ryan gives advice to the up and coming Baby Gays. (14:00)
• A thank you to the haters and critics, who are obsessed with leaving salty Goodreads reviews about how gay Ryan's book is. (24:40)
• Ryan's innovative and thankfully SFW use of Grindr, and the importance of mentorship in writing/the arts. (30:55)
• Ryan answers listener questions, including who in Be Dazzled is most likely to get cancelled on social media and what Ryan enjoys about being an author. (36:05)

• Cosmic RX birth chart generator
• Celebrity Book Club
• Modelland by Tyra Banks
• LA Candy by Lauren Conrad
• What the hell happened on November 5, 2020 on Tumblr
• Grindr tiktok
• Dick soap (sorry, and yes we will discuss in a future episode)
• "Is Himbo Ableist?"

Ryan La Sala writes about surreal things happening to queer people.

Ryan resides in New York City, but only physically. Flighty to a fault, he spends most of his time in the astral planes and only takes up corporeal form for special occasions, like brunch and to watch anime (which is banned on the astral planes).

Ryan is the author behind the riotously imaginative Reverie, and the brilliantly constructed Be Dazzled. He has been featured in Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Tor.com, and one time Shangela from RuPaul’s Drag Race called him cute. Right in the middle of the road downtown! So. Pretty big deal all around, yes?

Instagram | Website | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Buy Reverie

Buy Be Dazzled

I am a Bookshop.org affiliate, and will receive a sales percentage if you choose to purchase books through my links.

Note: this episode briefly discusses suicide, bullying, and trauma.

• Sierra reads aloud the exact query letter that landed her representation with one of the world's top literary agencies. (1:45)
• Sierra describes how to handle querying a dual point of view novel, showcasing the emotional core of your book, building characterization into your query, and best practices for showing how your book fits in the crowded fiction market. (3:15)
• How to build a query list and track your submissions after sending your manuscript out. (5:00)
• Sierra gives us all the details on how she got her agent. She dishes on what questions she asked on "The Call" and how she prepared to speak to her agent for the first time. She also reminds listeners that selecting an agent is a business decision—look out for yourself! (5:57)
• The process for politely asking for client references, and how to interact with agents online. (8:36)
• Do you really need social media clout to get an agent? Let's discuss! (9:23)

Thank you for reading/listening! If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate us 5 stars and share with your friends—this helps us bring the podcast to new audiences. (Plus, if you do so and email us at authordiariespodcast@gmail.com, we’ll send you a cute lil’ sticker!)

• A history of Tumblr, from the Denny's memes to Destiel becoming semi-canon on November 5, 2020. Sierra also talks about Hozier. Gee, what a surprise. (1:46)
• Given Lisi Harrison's blessing (thanks, Lisi!), Sierra and Emily speculate on who the queer characters in The Clique series were. (4:50)
• We learn who Emily's favorite evil!boyfriends and evil!girlfriends in fiction are. (10:13)
• Emily answers a listener question on balancing the separation between being a youth librarian and a young adult author, and if they feel the need to sanitize their work. (17:30)
• Emily explains why the extremely faithful and extremely heretical Nadya and Malachiasz are so drawn together, as well as the psychology behind the love/hate dynamics in Ruthless Gods. (Sierra also learns how to pronounce Malachiasz's name.) (21:50)
• How Emily generates and nurtures their book ideas, as well as gives us a glimpse into how Blessed Monsters will destroy us all. Also, a hint at a pretty gross scene you'll encounter. (23:40)

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

• Spell Check Podcast with Emily and friends
• Denny's Tumblr
• The Clique by Lisi Harrison
• Sweats with “Juicy” on the ass
• How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore

Thank you for reading/listening! If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate us 5 stars and share with your friends—this helps us bring the podcast to new audiences. (Plus, if you do so and email us at authordiariespodcast@gmail.com, we’ll send you a cute lil’ sticker!)

To get updates when new episodes are posted, subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or text DIARY to 202-410-4202.

Content warning: brief suicide and abuse mentions at 27:05 and 46:33.

• Mason discusses how ideas change over time, the process of working with their editors and agent, and how to kill your darlings. (06:10)
• How the day Mason and Sierra met ended with Mason sleeping in a bathtub. (11:19)
• The conception, development, and publishing of I'll Be Home for Christmas, the companion novella to Mason's debut novel. Also, Mason's upcoming class at Tin House and participation in anthologies. (14:30)
• Pop culture discussions: movies (Midsommar, Hereditary), music (Paramore, Rico Nasty, LOONA) , and how they influence Mason's writing. (23:49)
• How awful sex and dating are as an author, and expressing vulnerability while trying to find a partner. (38:46)
• The process of coming out and learning about your identity through writing about trauma and queerness. (46:33)
• Twitter pitch contests, including..............Call Me Cornbread. Yes, this pitch is as bad as it sounds. (55:23)
• Inappropriate agent confessions (spoiler: quid pro quo is not how you get a book deal), and how to make friends on Book Twitter. (1:01:52)

MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE

• Y’allFest
• Tin House
• A24 Films
• Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy
• Call Me Cornbread
• Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee

Thank you for reading/listening! If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate us 5 stars and share with your friends—this helps us bring the podcast to new audiences.

To get updates when new episodes are posted, subscribe on your favorite podcast platform or text DIARY to 202-410-4202.

SUPPORT US ON KO-FI:  https://ko-fi.com/theauthordiaries

Nobody asked, I answered. You're welcome.

Get a sample of THE AUTHOR DIARIES, launching January 2021.

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In case you're like my mom and didn't get the Heathers reference at the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnAU7m7JRKU

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