Episode 108: The One with Two White Chicks on a Beach

Ep. 108: The One with Two White Chicks on a Beach

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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We had an AWESOME launch party! Jennifer Beals encounters Morgan’s aunt. Morgan and Barry visit an actual bookstore to see their book in the wild. Big transitions for Leia and Luke mean Barry and Morgan have more time with the kids…and less time with the keyboards.

Links:

• Writing in Real Life — Episode 106: The One You Can Preorder
• Survey: Reading Before Bed Has Major Sleep, Health, and Lifestyle Benefits | Real Simple
• Morgan is Reading: The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Barry is Reading: The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes

Bonus Episode: The One that's Really Short

Bonus Ep.: The One that's Really Short

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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It’s Pub Day for The Hive, Barry and Morgan’s book baby! #HasCassieSurfacedYet?

Links:

• The Best Books of Fall 2019 | PEOPLE.com
• Order The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound
• The Hive Launch Party
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 107: The One with a Two-Book Deal

Ep. 107: The One with a Two-Book Deal

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Morgan gets good news. Morgan gets good news. A cross-country trip with a 4-year-old! Barry does something he’s never done before and feels less bad about it than you’d imagine. Mmm; dried mango.

Links:

• Preorder The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound
• Barry tweets about his writing process
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 106: The One You Can Preorder

Ep. 106: The One You Can Preorder

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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An update on Morgan’s leap of faith and work(s) in progress. Writers with day jobs and the world’s opinions of such. Barry takes on the preorder system. Also: Meet the sensational character find of 2019, the villainous…TweetStorm!

Links:

• Preorder The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound
• Morgan’s Agent: Kathleen Anderson (@KAndersonbird) / Twitter
• The Flash: Crossover Crisis: Green Arrow’s Perfect Shot: | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Barry discusses Tobias Buckell and Patreon: Writing in Real Life — Episode 86: The One with Two Rants
• Tobias Buckell’s tweet thread about day jobs for writers
• Barry’s tweet thread about preorders
• Soupy Sales' 'Green Pieces of Paper' Scandal
• Free Comic Book Day
• Author Susan Adrian on Preorders Scuttling a Book Deal
• Morgan is Reading; Sweet Valley High GN: Academic All-Star? | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Barry is Reading: Famous Men Who Never Lived by K Chess | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 105: The One where Morgan is Preternaturally Chill

Ep. 105: The One where Morgan is Preternaturally Chill

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Updates on marriage and the kids. Luke figures out the Apple Watch at age 2. Is it possible to become a successful author nowadays without using or being good at social media? “Be adequate!” Remember when Twitter was fun? What’s more important: talent or networking?

Links:

• Jamie Attenberg Twitter thread on book releases
• 1-Star Reviews for The Hive
• Life Is Short and Then You Die: Mystery Writers of America Presents First Encounters with Murder | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Teen Creeps Podcast
• On Breaking Down the Barrier Between YA and Adult Fiction | Literary Hub
• Gymnastics at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Wikipedia
• WaPo's Editor’s Note on the Bestseller List Snafu
• Morgan is Reading: Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 104: The One with the Book-Shaming

Ep. 104: The One with the Book-Shaming

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Updates on marriage and the kids. Luke figures out the Apple Watch at age 2. Is it possible to become a successful author nowadays without using or being good at social media? “Be adequate!” Remember when Twitter was fun? What’s more important: talent or networking?

Links:

• Space Unicorn - Parry Gripp and Brianne Drouhard - YouTube
• Barry Lyga (barrylyga) on Myspace
• Study Finds Artists Become Famous Thanks to Networking
• He’s Writing 365 Children’s Books in 365 Days, While Holding Down a Day Job - The New York Times
• Opinion | I Want to Be Rich and I’m Not Sorry - The New York Times
• Jason Momoa's 'Dad Bod' the Envy of Dads Everywhere
• Barry is Reading: Dark Horse by Fletcher Knebel | Amazon | BN.com
• Morgan is Still Reading: The Art of Breaking Things by Laura Sibson | Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 103: The One without a Flaming Pile of Dung

Ep. 103: The One without a Flaming Pile of Dung

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Morgan finishes a book! How it feels to finish a book and turn it in: Satisfaction, doubt, joy, panic, all of it. Barry tries to convince his publisher not to publish his book. Listening to music while writing: Good idea or best idea? And Barry’s feelings on reviews.

Links:

• Barry is Reading: Equations of Life by Simon Morden | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Morgan is Reading: The Art of Breaking Things by Laura Sibson | Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound
• Morgan is Also Reading: Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner | Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 102: The One where They Swear They’re Back

Ep. 102: The One where They Swear They’re Back

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Catching up on the last year: Morgan quits her job. They have their first signing. Barry can’t run around in his underwear any more. Why is the dishwasher always running?

Links:

• The Upside
• Where Storytelling and Pop Culture Collide - BookCon 2019
• Talking about The Hive: Writing in Real Life — Episode 101: The One where They Wrote a Book Together
• Preorder The Hive: Amazon | BN.com | Indiebound
• Morgan is a Cancer
• Barry is a Virgo
• Exclusive first look: The Flash joins forces with the Green Arrow in 'Crossover Crisis' | EW.com
• Preorder The Flash: Green Arrow’s Perfect Shot: Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• The I Hunt Killers Movie is Coming! (Maybe. In Korean.) | Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Thanos: Titan Consumed | Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Wolverine: Worst Day Ever | Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 101: The One where They Wrote a Book Together

Ep. 101: The One where They Wrote a Book Together

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Barry and Morgan are happy to finally be able to talk about their book together, The Hive. Plus: What does Jennifer Beals have to do with this?

Links:

• Jennifer Beals-Inspired YA Novel Set for 2019 | Hollywood Reporter
• Jennifer Beals - IMDb
• Tom Jacobson - IMDb
• 2017 — Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 100: The One that Came after Episode 99

Ep. 100: The One that Came after Episode 99

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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It’s our 100th episode, and we’ve got it all! A rant from Barry about the male gaze! Morgan threatens to leave the show! Peanut allergies! And special guests, including Carolyn Mackler, Jon Skovron, and Melissa Walker!

Links:

• Morgan has Read: The Secret History of Twin Peaks by Mark Frost | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Literary vs. Popular — Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Carolyn Mackler’s Books: Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Jon Skovron’s Books: Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Glimmer Train is shutting down: Bulletin #136
• Barry’s issue of Glimmer Train, still available on Amazon!
• Melissa Walker’s Books: Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Maggie Lehrman’s Books: Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 99: The One where Barry Plans to Kill Half the Universe

Ep. 099: The One where Barry Plans to Kill Half the Universe

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Barry FINALLY gets to talk about his super-secret mystery project: THANOS! How on earth does he live with himself writing Marvel AND DC? Who is “Brick Charles?” Babysitting in the modern age. Morgan marvels at The Secret History of Twin Peaks. And an update on the I HUNT KILLERS prequel.

Links:

• Thanos Is Getting a Book [CORRECTED]
• Flash Book Series: Amazon.com
• Access (Character) - Comic Vine
• DC vs. Marvel - Wikipedia
• Avengers Infinity Wars Eyes Record Box Office Opening With $200m Open | Deadline
• We talk about microprogress: Writing in Real Life — Episode 97: The One that’s Lucky
• If I Had More Time, I Would Have Written a Shorter Letter | Quote Investigator
• Your Money: Perks galore rule the new economy of babysitting
• 18 Exhaustingly Funny Tweets From Parents With A LOT Of Kids
• Barry is Reading One Way by S.J. Morden | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks
• Morgan is Reading Freshman Dorm by Linda A. Cooney | Amazon
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 98: The One with Sex

Ep. 098: The One with Sex

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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A man stupidly claims we don’t need women authors because he can write women just fine. (Dude…) Where is all the good sex in YA these days and why did it go away? Plus: Luke gives your hosts one hell of a scare and Barry has read a bunch of books for a change.

Links:

• Barry's tweet about Unedited
• the book that will kill me — Barry Lyga Dot Com
• The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party - Wikipedia
• Gwen Katz’s tweet about men writing women
• The tweet that started the flood of women writing about themselves through the eyes of male authors
• In Y.A., Where Has All the Good Sex Gone? - The New York Times
• #Yasaves: A Tale of Hashtaggery | The New Yorker
• Literary Review’s Bad Sex in Fiction Award | Literary Review
• Barry Read Twin Peaks: The Final Dossier by Mark Frost | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Barry Read Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 97: The One that’s Lucky

Ep. 097: The One that’s Lucky

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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The pleasures and pains of returning to old projects. What do surfing and writing have in common? We’re gonna tell you! Plus: micro-progress is real progress, and believe it or not…Barry’s reading a book!

Links:

• 2017 — Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Micro-Progress and the Magic of Just Getting Started - The New York Times
• Sally Nicholls Twitter thread
• Writing Advice #19: The Path to Publication (Part 1) — Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Bang Reviews — Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Barry is Reading: The Secret History of Twin Peaks by Mark Frost | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Morgan is Reading: Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens - Wikipedia
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 96: The One with a Bunch of Topics

Ep. 096: The One with a Bunch of Topics

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Barry says farewell to a wonderful librarian who left us too soon. Should publishing give huge advances to former Trump Administration officials? Why do readers feel betrayed when they learn a book is part of a series? Then we talk about our collaboration and rant about the five-star rating system.

Links:

• 2018 Teen Book Fest
• Stephanie Squicciarini Obituary - Irondequoit, New York | Legacy.com
• Publishers already contacting Hicks about book deal: report | TheHill
• Hope Hicks Modeled for Gossip Girl Spinoff Book Cover — Donald Trump's Press Secretary Modeled for "The It Girl"
• We discussed Trump killing publishing in: Writing in Real Life — Episode 90: The One with Barry’s Deep, Dark Secret
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 95: The One where Morgan Finally Cares about Back Pain

Ep. 095: The One where Morgan Finally Cares about Back Pain

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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The literal pain of parenthood. Morgan still hates The Princess Bride. Act single for a better marriage. Barry talks on the phone — a lot. Do graphic novels deserve their own bestseller list? Barry explains his insane schedule. Plus: #metoo comes to kidlit.

Links:

• Writing in Real Life — Episode 1: The One that Came First
• Fatal Attraction- "I Will Not Be Ignored" - YouTube
• Morgan has no soul and hates The Princess Bride: Writing in Real Life — Episode 70: The One in which Morgan Bites the Bullet
• For a Better Marriage, Act Like a Single Person - The New York Times
• Comics Industry Asks ‘NYT’ to Restore Graphic Bestseller Lists
• Discussing the NYT bestseller lists: Writing in Real Life episodes 27-30
• Children’s Publishing Reckons with Sexual Harassment in Its Ranks | School Library Journal
• Sexual Harassment in the Children’s Book Industry – Anne Ursu – Medium
• '13 Reasons Why' author Jay Asher denies harrassment claims | The Tribune
• Sexual Harrassment « Dan Wells
• Sexual Harassment in the Children's Literature Industry | Rick Riordan
• Barry’s blogs on hugging kids: Remember that They’re Kids — Barry Lyga Dot Com | Male Guilt, Hugs, and More — Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 94: The One During the Super Bowl

Ep. 094: The One During the Super Bowl

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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We’re back! Again! Our reach is more global than we thought. Lyga’s Law of Publishing rears its ugly head again. Editors who are also writers: Threat or menace? The benefits and drawbacks of working a day job while writing. Cool new imprints! The books Morgan’s body shuts down. Plus: Luke turns one!

Links:

• A listener wishes Barry good health
• The birth of Lyga’s Law of Publishing: Writing in Real Life — Episode 29: The One where Morgan Makes a Comic Book Reference
• Your Book Editor Just Snagged Your Spot on the Best-Seller List - The New York Times
• Our discussion of men writing under female pseudonyms: Writing in Real Life — Episode 87: The One with Poopy in the Potty
• If It Wasn't For My Corporate Office Job, I Couldn't Be a Novelist | Literary Hub
• Our discussion of writers being on salary at publishing houses: Writing in Real Life — Episode 73: The One where They Saw Hamilton
• Kwame Alexander Will Start His Own Imprint. The Name? Versify. Get It? - The New York Times
• Rick Riordan Presents | Rick Riordan
• Mack Bolan - Wikipedia
• Louis L'Amour - Wikipedia
• Urban Dictionary: sick
• One Year Later (Again) — Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 93: The One with Harsh Words, Guys

Ep. 093: The One with Harsh Words, Guys

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Barry thanks the listeners for their compassion. We know you like Morgan more than Barry, but guess who likes YOU? How much baby room monitoring is too much baby room monitoring? Plus: Something is wrong with the Internet. And it’s not just us saying that.

Links:

• Tori Amos - Streets of Philadelphia (Bruce Springsteen cover) @ Beacon Theatre, NYC1 2017 - YouTube
• Miami Book Fair
• 2017 National Book Awards
• “Reading for All!” Dick Robinson receives Literarian of the Year Award from President Bill Clinton at the National Book Awards | On Our Minds
• Molly O’Neil’s Thread on Andrew Shvarts’s Thread on Writers and Hobbies
• Does Barry need a hobby? We discussed in Episode 16: The One with Reality TV
• The Overmonitored Nursery - The New York Times
• Something is wrong on the internet – James Bridle – Medium
• Morgan Recommends Gather the Daughters by Jennie Melamed | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 92: The One with Tantrums

Ep. 092: The One with Tantrums

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Why they’ve been AWOL. Yes, we talk about American Heart. Sorry. Also: We’re sick of Twitter.

Links:

• The Flash: Hocus Pocus | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Navigating the choppy waters of life with a ‘threenager’ - The Washington Post
• We talk about The Black Witch: Writing in Real Life — Episode 88: The One where It’s All about One Thing, Really
• AMERICAN HEART by Laura Moriarty | Kirkus Reviews
• Kirkus withdraws starred review after criticism.
• American Heart Review: Kirkus Editor On Why They Changed It
• Heart of the Matter — The Horn Book
• Let’s talk about American Heart by Laura Moriarty. – Celeste P. – Medium
• A starred (for now) review: BANG by Barry Lyga | Kirkus Reviews
• Now Raina Telgemeier's Drama Banned In An Entire Educational District In Texas - Bleeding Cool News And Rumors
• Washington Parent Objects to Pixelated Genitals in Mangaman | Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
• Hell Is For Children - Wikipedia
• Have children? Here's how kids ruin your romantic relationship
• Denis Leary - Happiness Comes in Small Doses - YouTube
• Morgan is Reading: Faithful Place by Tana French | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 91: The One where We Need a Dance Pope

Ep. 091: The One where We Need a Dance Pope

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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A lot of parenting talk, including dance class, a quiz to determine if you’re ready for parenthood, and more. Barry goes viral. Sort of. Book doulas—yeah, they’re a thing. Why your first book has to be perfect. And how do you avoid the scourge of multitasking when you need to monotask (i.e., write)?

Links:

• mother! (2017) - Rotten Tomatoes
• Are you ready for parenthood? A quiz for couples on the precipice.
• Barry goes “viral,” ‘90s style. (About halfway down the page, someone named “Ushgarak” posts two lists. I actually wrote both of them.) 10 Reasons why Star Wars is better than Star Trek
• Book doulas: the new way to push your writing into the world | Books | The Guardian
• Multitasking Damages Your Brain And Career, New Studies Suggest
• Freedom: Internet, App and Website Blocker
• Quitter App – Marco.org
• Pomodoro Technique - Wikipedia
• ”The prospect of being hanged focuses the mind wonderfully.”The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page: Apocrypha
• Is Astrology Rubbish? Don't Get Me Started - Seeker
• Calendar — Barry Lyga Dot Com
• Rate us on iTunes

Episode 90: The One with Barry’s Deep, Dark Secret

Ep. 090: The One with Barry’s Deep, Dark Secret

Barry Lyga & Morgan Baden

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Dads apparently reduce childhood obesity by just…being dads? Trump is apparently killing publishing. Barry goes on a rant about spoilers and is called out for hypocrisy, then confesses a major children’s lit sin…and proceeds to diss a book you probably love. Sorry about that.

Links:

• EWin Calling Series Ergonomic Computer Gaming Office Chair with Pillows - CLD - ewinracing
• Thrifter | Spend Where it Matters
• UCLA Ergonomics - Tips for Computer Users
• More playtime with dad linked to lower obesity risk for young kids - The Washington Post
• Is Trump Ruining Book Sales? | New Republic
• Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) | Twitter
• Barry talks about James Baldwin: Writing in Real Life — Episode 31: The One where Harry Potter and the X-Men are the Same
• Spoiler Alert: Spoilers Make Things More Enjoyable - WNYC News - WNYC
• The Trespasser by Tana French | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Senior Management | Scholastic Inc.
• Why Everyone Should Read Harry Potter - Scientific American
• The Widow’s House by Carol Goodman | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson | Amazon | BN.com | iBooks | Indiebound
• Rate us on iTunes