Episode 21: Brian Katcher on writing for young adults, starting new, and starting over

Today we have award winner Brian Katcher on to talk about writing for young adults, starting new, starting over, and really killing your darlings — like, whole project kind of darlings — and how to move on from disappointment and celebrate success. We also talk research and balancing work with a day job.

Brian is a school librarian and the author of five books for young adults, including the Stonewall Award winner Almost Perfect, which also was named one of the American Library Association’s 2010 Best Books for Young Adults. His debut novel, Playing with Matches, was an ALA 2009 Best Book for Young Adults, and his most recent novel is Deacon Locke Went to Prom.

For more information about Brian, visit his website, briankatcher.com.

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Theme music is “It’s Time” by Scaricá Ricascá.

Have a question you’d like us to try to answer, or a topic you’d love to have us cover? Interested in being a guest? Contact us here.Thanks for listening, and keep up the good work!

Mentioned in this episode:

Forever Young Adult

Far Side cartoonist Gary Larson

YA author Antony John

W. Somerset Maugham’s three rules for writing

Mandy Hubbard, Brian’s agent

Luna by Julie Ann Peters

Boys who take their moms to prom (lots of them!)