Hey Storytellers, we have Young Adult fiction writer Kendall Kulper on the show today! Kendall is the author of the super popular books SALT & STORM and DRIFT & DAGGER.
Writers with a focus on writing young adult, you’ll learn so much from Kendall’s episode. We talk a lot about magic, witches, and history.
Kendall studied History and Literature at Harvard, and because of the things she learned in school, she is able to create truthful characters and settings for her books. Let’s be honest, I would be the first one to fall asleep or cut history class in high school. However, if Kendall’s books were around during my school days, I would’ve eaten her stories like chocolate chip cookies.
Writing processes, writing schedules, landing literary representation, breaking through writer’s block, and so much more. You don’t want to miss this!
“The things that make me different are the things that I love about myself.”
“Easy does not necessarily translate to good, and difficult does not necessarily translate to bad.”
“You have to know the rules before you break the rules.”
“I always love books that don’t hide magic.”
“If you want to write, you need to read.”
What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
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How pinpointing the story’s themes is the most important step in writing a book
- How Kendall overcomes writer’s block by seeing it as part of the writing process
- Why it’s important to create personal connections before approaching potential literary reps
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How Twitter can work to your advantage when seeking literary representation
- How to weave in historical facts without boring your audience
- The inspiration behind Kendall’s popular novels
Learn More About Kendall Kulper
Kendall Kulper writes historical fiction with a fantasy twist for teen readers and knows more about nineteenth century whaling than she ever imagined. Her debut YA novel, SALT & STORM was published by Little, Brown in 2014. Her second novel, DRIFT & DAGGER was published in September, 2015, also by Little, Brown. She graduated from Harvard University with a degree in history and literature in 2008 and spent several years as a journalist before deciding to write full-time. She grew up in the wilds of New Jersey and now lives in Cambridge, MA with her husband, daughter, and much-tweeted-about dog, Abby.
Kendall’s Recommended Books & Resources:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
The Art of Looking Sideways by Alan Fletcher
The Poisoner’s Handbook by Deborah Blum
Say ‘Hi!’ to Kendall
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