Podcast: Deadline City's Podcast

Welcome to Deadline City: a podcast and a destination. We are two New York City-based authors who share an office and work on multiple books at a time. Between us, we have 40 books published and under contract, and we’re just getting started. If you’ve seen us on the road, you know how we cut up. We like to have fun and talk about the one thing that is always on our minds: creating books. Publishing is a big scary world to many of us, and our goal is to pull back the curtain on some of the mystery by simply talking about it. In our first season, we want to dig into subjects like YA fiction, editing, reading reviews, burnout. Most of the time, you publish a book and then you’re at a loss for what comes next. How do you navigate the industry and then still manage to write more books? That’s a journey we’re on and know that so many others are on the same road. We hope you come along for the ride.

S2: Episode 19 – Destination: Commercial Tower

Welcome to the season finale of Deadline City. We’re headed to the Commercial Tower! In this episode, we’re going to talk about literary vs. commercial fiction. We break down some of our favorite books and turn them into log lines. Is the book commercial or is it the pitch? What is the science of an…

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S2: Episode 18 – Destination: The Arena – Fantasy vs. Contemporary w/ Jason Reynolds

This week on Deadline City we are heading to the Arena! Fantasy vs. Contemporary. We have the immense pleasure of being joined by multi-award-winning and bestselling author, Jason Reynolds. The big debate? How do creators keep pushing themselves to become innovators? Is fantasy in a Middle-Earth sized rut? Do contemporary writers feel the same constraints…

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S2: Episode 17 – Destination: The Bank

What’s up, Deadline City? This week Dhonielle and I are talking about MONEY. That’s right. We’re going to the Bank. We know that there is a lot of mystery surrounding the financial aspects of becoming a writer. What are world rights? How do I even get paid? How much, in the eyes of publishing, is…

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S2: Episode 16 – Destination: Mentor Mausoleum

Don’t kill the mentor! (Or do! But first, let’s talk about why). In our final episode on character study and archetypes, we talk about one of the staples in fantasy: the mentor. One of our jobs as writers is to keep inventing fresh stories and language, and the work only gets harder. The Mentor figure…

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S2: Episode 15 – Destination: Love Interest Lounge

Welcome to the Champagne Room. A shimmering lounge where we discuss love interests—the good, the villainous, and the ones who belong in the trash with us. As part of or character study, we move on to the Love Interest. How do they serve the narrative and further the plot and the protagonist’s main story arc?…

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S2: Episode 14 – Destination: The Murder Express w/ Gretchen McNeil

Hop aboard the Murder Express! This week we put some of our character building to the test while we interview Gretchen McNeil, acclaimed horror and mystery author of Ten, #MurderTrending, and the Get Even duology, now on the BBC and soon to be on Netflix. We break down horror tropes, how to build a good…

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S2: Episode 13 – Destination: Sidekick Central

Welcome to Sidekick Central! We continue our character study during the month of May. Sidekicks can sometimes take on a life of their own. We name some of our favorites as well as the do’s and don’t’s that can help while you’re on deadline. The more life you give the people surrounding your hero, the…

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S2: Episode 12 – Destination: Plot Depot: The Hero’s Journey

Welcome to Plot Depot! This week we cover Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey and break down each section using ‘Into the Spider-Verse’. Outlines don’t always work. The Hero’s Journey is one of the most popular ones used by fantasy authors. It certainly doesn’t work for everyone, nor should it be prescriptive. In this episode, we aim…

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S2: Episode 11 – Destination: Hero & Villain Lounge

Welcome back to Deadline City! This week kicks off our month-long series of character studies. From now until the end of May we will be breaking down heroes, villains, and the journeys they take. Hang with us in our Hero & Villain Lounge where we discuss the traits that make us love these protagonists and…

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S2: Episode 10 – Destination: Author Salon w/ Nic Stone

This week on Deadline City we have Clean Getaway author, Nic Stone joining the Author Salon! Nic Stone writes in multiple genres and age groups and we pick her brain about how she keeps track of everything. We all have so many stories to tell, but how do you decide a particular story is “the…

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