Chalk + Ink: Episode 85; A Mini MFA with Jen Ferguson

If you're a regular podcast listener, you may have already read Josh Galarza's, The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky, or A.S. King's, Pick the Lock, which both rocked my world for different reasons.

But if you haven't read those novels because you skew toward middle grade, then be sure to pick up one of Jen Ferguson's three YA novels, The Summer of Bitter and Sweet, or Those Pink Mountain Nights, or A Constellation of Minor Bears. Better yet, read all three. Not only is each novel engaging, but you can learn something different from a craft standpoint from each book. 

In this episode, Jen Ferguson talks about opportunities to sharpen our work, why characters mirror one another in dialogue, and why we need different books for different readers.

She recommends the following YA books:

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh, which is an Asian inspired fantasy which has a Studio Ghibli feel.

All of Edward Underhill's YA novels. During the episode, Jen talks about Always the Almost which is a ROM drama with a musician, trans boy in it, who wants to squish his rival in the piano competition.  She's a big fan of all his novels because they're caring, funny, and feature snarky, trans boys.

Jen has a writer crush on Leah Johnson, who writes middle grade and young adult novels. Plus, she owns Loudmouth Books, an independent bookstore in Indianapolis.

​Darcie Little Badger writes queer Native fantasy that's a ton of fun.

To read the interview, click here. To listen to the interview, click below.

No matter which you choose, grab your drink of choice along with your favorite notebook and writing implement and get ready for a delightful hour of discussing writer's craft.