“We need to be able to get used to seeing main characters who happen to be of a different race.” -Jenny Han
Jenny Han is the New York Times bestselling author of teen and middle grade fiction, her most recent works titled To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.
Jenny stopped by our show to discuss the gravity of representing diversity and how the book covers in Jenny’s newest book series is creating change by shifting the perception of race and redefining the archetype of the ‘The All-American Girl’. Further into the episode, we discuss Jenny’s writing schedule and structure, and the inspiration behind To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. For fellow writers who are curious about writing retreats, we’ve got a treat for you where Jenny walks us through how she hosts her own retreats; take notes for your own future gatherings to hold yourself and your storytelling friends accountable with individual writing goals!
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“Authenticity is everything.” -Jenny Han
“Any girl can be the every girl.” -Jenny Han
“When you catch the perfect wave, you just have to ride it as far ashore as you can.” -Jenny Han
In this highly anticipated sequel to the “lovely, lighthearted” (School Library Journal) New York Times bestselling To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, Lara Jean still has letters to write and even more to lose when it comes to love.
In this charming and heartfelt sequel PS. I Still Love You, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.
“When you don’t get to see yourself, deep inside, you get this perception that your story is not as important, or that you don’t deserve to be the hero of your own story.” -Jenny Han
What You’ll Learn From This Episode:
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Why and how the book covers for the Lara Jean series is shifting the perception of race
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Why it’s crucial to write with authenticity, especially when writing for a young adult audience
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The inspiration behind To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and the Lara Jean series
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What it means when ‘any girl can be the every girl’
- How Jenny creates and leads her own writers’ retreats and how you can lead your own too
- We unpack Jenny’s writing schedule and structure
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Learn More About Jenny Han
Jenny Han is a New York Times bestselling author of teen and middle grade fiction. Her books include The Summer I Turned Pretty series; Shug; the Burn for Burn trilogy, co-written with Siobhan Vivian; and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Beforeand P.S. I Still Love You. She is also the author of the chapter book Clara Lee and The Apple Pie Dream. A former children’s bookseller, she earned her MFA in creative writing at the New School.
Jenny’s Recommended Books & Resources:
Escaping into the Open: The Art of Writing True by Elizabeth Berg
