← Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
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This is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human
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- [03:38]
A
Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited.
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B
We're so excited to have you here. And, you know, I always feel a little reflective around this time of year. As we move out winter and finally into spring, I always get the impulse to shake things up. And I was thinking that's exactly what you've done in your career Last year, in 2025, you published four books, girl. Yeah.
- [04:02]
A
Kind of wild. I definitely have not slept in a long time, but I'm very happy and I'm really excited for this next one, so I can't complain.
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B
I was so curious what your schedule looks like, Alex. Like, give me your day to day. Give me all the details. What time do you wake up?
- [04:18]
A
I wake up at around 6am and then I make a latte, which I have to have every single day. And then I. I try to start writing around 6:30am and then 6:30am to noon is like my golden time for writing. Like, that is when I get the most done. Because no one's emailing me, I'm able to put my phone in a different room. Nothing's happening. I'm not one of those writers who can Write for just 15 minutes in between meetings. I have to really have many hours to get absorbed into the store and just like, let it swallow me whole. So 6:30 to noon, and then I'll take a break to eat and then walk around if I'm healthy, like, get some fresh air and then come back. And usually from 2pm to sometimes past midnight, if I'm on a really tough deadline, and then I wake up next day and do it all over again.
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B
Alex, you're kidding.
- [05:11]
A
No. And I do that seven days a week, too. Yeah. I mean, and I honestly, I love to write. I've. I've been wanting to be an author since I was 12. I've been writing books since then, so this is really when I'm happiest. But obviously it's not a very sustainable schedule. But the last few years of deadlines, it's just what's been necessary to publish this many books a year.
- [05:33]
B
And it doesn't feel like burnout because you have so much passion behind it,
- [05:37]
A
is what I'm hearing. Yes, I. I definitely have gotten burned out before. It's usually after I come back from tour. And I love going on tour. Meeting my readers is the best of all of this, because I do. I. I write all these books for them, and I. I'm very grateful. They changed my entire career, but I'm an introvert, and so going and traveling and. And being around people, I. I really do get tired and a little burnt out. And then when I'm not writing a lot, you know, is when I'm, you know, kind of lose my energy. So I definitely have had burnout periods. And then I'll just take a day or two where I do nothing. And then I'm always itching to go back to writing. It is my passion. I love it so much. I truly wake up every single day so excited to dive into these worlds. So, yeah, for now, I'm really happy to do it, but I know that one day I just won't be able to maintain this schedule, and that'll be fine, too.
- [06:30]
B
But you know what I'm hearing from you, too, is this excitement because you didn't always get to do this. You actually have quite a lore behind your writing career. And for anybody who's on booktok or follows you on Instagram, which I've been doing for years. Yes, we actually DMed your. Because I saw you on the Kelly Clarkson show, and I was like, who is this young woman who is so accomplished? I was taken by you. And I just remember writing you just a note of encouragement because you're very inspirational to a lot of young writers in particular who are wanting to do this. You really made it happen for yourself. How old were you when you actually started writing books professionally?
- [07:16]
A
Oh, first of all, that's so nice. Thank you. But I was 12 years old. Not professionally, but I was 12 years old when I first wrote my book. That was around 400 pages. It was really bad. I was not some sort of prodigy. But that's when I started trying to get an agent. So I thought, okay, cool, I'll see it in Barnes and Noble the next day. I had no idea how the industry worked. So I actually went to Barnes and Noble and got a book called Guide to Literary Agents. And it was so long ago that it actually just had a directory of addresses, like physical addresses to mail your printed out manuscript to. And so that was how I learned, okay, the first step is I need a literary agent. And what felt so magical to me as a kid was I'm 12 years old, no one knows I'm writing books. Obviously I don't know anyone in publishing. I don't know anyone who has published a book at 12 years old. So it felt really magical to me that I could just send an email, hypothetically and be published. And that's really how it works. It's an industry where they're are obviously gatekeepers, but anyone can send that email and get in the slush pile. And that's how I got my agents, that's how all my friends got their agents. So it really is something that is possible. But what happens when you have an industry that has so much access like that is you have thousands of people trying to get agents at the same time. And so the rejection rates are super high. Like every agent probably has like 10,000 emails a year and they only take on one or two clients. So as a 12 year old, it was very tough to just be rejected by everyone. And I deserve to be rejected again. The book was really bad. I was 12 years old, but I just wrote another book, another book, another book. So I wrote different books through middle school, high school. I remember going to the computer lab and checking my email to get query rejections and just see them all. But I just had so much hope because I knew that it was possible and that other authors had had done that. So I kept writing books in college. I went to Penn and I studied English. I wrote a book for my senior thesis, my honors thesis, and I queried that, and that was book that got me my first agent. And it was actually an adult thriller, so it wasn't a fantasy at all.
- [09:16]
B
Wait, I want to interrupt you for one second. Say two things because you're using all these amazing literary words. So a slush pile is a stack of unsolicited manuscripts that have been sent to a publishing company for consideration. What is, can you explain what a query is?
- [09:32]
A
Of course. So a query is basically if you pick up a book and you look on the back or the jacket flap, you see a small summary of the book. A query is just an intro. Hi, my name is this. I'm querying an a hundred thousand word romantasy that is, you know, Bridgerton meets blah, blah, blah. And then you have two or three paragraphs of a pitch for your book. And you have to make it really compelling because agents, obviously, they go through thousands of them. And then you might have a little bio if you're like, I, you know, wrote this short story that got published here and that's a query. And then sometimes you can look at every agent's website and they have their directions for querying them. And some people will ask for the first 10 pages, some people ask you to attach the whole book. But basically it is just, you can cold email an agent and get published that way. That's how it works.
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B
And so you are an English major at Penn.
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A
Yes.
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B
And I can tell even just talking to you now, your mind runs a million miles a minute.
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A
Definitely.
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B
So I can imagine that you must feel different than some of the other teenagers or people that are majoring in English at Penn at the time. What did you feel being in class with all of these people who had a very similar goal to you? Did you feel that you were similar to them or did you feel like your mind was running differently?
- [10:51]
A
So I will say the classes that really helped me the most for what I do now are the workshops. So as an English major, you could choose to specialize in different things. I specialized in creative writing and the writing workshops were great because you would just write a few pages and you would turn it in and the whole class would read it and critique it. It's such a kind of raw experience to put your everything on a page and then have it critiqued. And so that really taught me to not be so precious with my wr. People are going to give you feedback and you either listen to it or you don't. But it's good to get that. That really just taught me that the people who get published, it's really about like, how long can you go getting rejected every single day? How long can you survive that and really keep going for what feels at many times an impossible dream? And so I would write query letters during my English classes. I would write my manuscripts during these classes.
- [11:44]
B
So you're writing these queries. How many times were you rejected?
- [11:48]
A
Oh, gosh, I was rejected by every single agent. At least I want to say five times. And it's tough because obviously, when I was 12, there was no chance, and the books were really bad. And I always say the best practice for writing a book is writing a book. And so that was the way I learned before I went to college, was I would write another book, and then I would write another book, and then I would rewrite it, and I really taught myself my voice. So I was rejected many times. Then when I got to college, I felt like, okay, maybe I have more of a chance. I'm getting a few requests. A few people may be interested. And that was really the hardest part, because it feels like you get so close. I had a few agents say, I want to sign you. Let's get on a call. And then at the last minute, it would just be like, you know what? This market is so competitive, or this isn't what I'm looking for. I just signed something just like this. And so it really felt like you were so close. And then when that happens, it. You. You have to go back and write another book. So it's not like you can try again tomorrow. You have to really, once you get rejected by everyone, go back to the drawing board and write another book and then start querying either months or years later. So it really felt like this cycle where you get so close, and then suddenly you're. You're back at the bottom again.
- [13:05]
B
What made someone finally say, yes, do you think?
- [13:09]
A
I think I was 21 when I got my first agent, and I had a few offers of representation, which was really wild because I had never had that before. I had gotten close, and I actually skipped my college graduation because that was the day I needed to make the decision, and I wanted to get on all these calls. And that was what I had been working to. For what? Towards for what felt like my entire life. So I was like, I don't need to go to my graduation. This is the beginning of my entire career. So I skipped my graduation. I talked to all these agents. I signed with one. We edited it all summer, and then it didn't sell to publishers. And then at that point, then I didn't have an agent anymore. And you start back at zero again.
- [13:53]
B
And you just mentioned with what happened. For anybody who doesn't know the story, it's a pretty epic story. At the beginning, I said, you have lore. You really do tell everybody what happened.
- [14:06]
A
So I had a book published. And again, there were so many moments where you just feel like it was so difficult, so many rejections, so many nos. And finally, finally, you have someone that believes in you. You Get a book deal. And my first book came out during the pandemic, so all the bookstores were closed. No one was discovering new authors in the same way that they were before. It was a terrible time to debut. So I did not have good book sales. And then I didn't have an agent anymore because the agent I was with didn't think that the book that I was working on would sell. And that book was called Lightlark. And so at that moment, I was crying and I was so sad because again, I'm, I think, 23 at this time. And you feel like you just went backwards again. I'm 12 years old, I don't have an agent anymore. None of this, you know, was worth it. And I took like the worst picture that exists of me, of just puffy and crying. And I told myself, I am going to make myself a promise that this is going to be the best thing that ever happened to me. And so I went back, I took six months to rewrite Light Lark from the beginning. Totally new manuscript. And then I query agents. And then I. I got an agent and it was great. And then I was going on submission, and then it started happen again. All these rejections were coming in and it just feels like deja vu, like I've been here before. And I think when you write for so long and you're a reader yourself, you really do think, is there no one else out there that would like this? Like, am I really writing something that no one would like? And there are so many gatekeepers, and they're the ones telling you, no, we don't think this should be published. Which really translates to, we don't think anyone would buy this book. And so I decided to make a video basically pitching my book to the Internet, to TikTok, saying, Would you read a book about this? And so I pitched my book. I said, it's about an island that appears once every 100 years to host a deadly game. And I posted it and nothing happened. It didn't no views. I almost deleted it because I was like, oh my gosh, I'm proofing these publishers right. No one wants to read this book. But I truly had nothing to lose at that point, so I left it up. In the next morning, I was just in a parking lot and I looked at my phone and it had over a million views, which was wild at the time. Book Talk. I don't even know if it was really a thing at that point. This was back in 2021, so it was just kind of starting and it went viral and had thousands and thousands of comments from readers saying, I would love a book like this. Please publish it. I need to read this. And that really helped me get the book deal because even though there were people interested, they didn't really know if they could give me a chance because my sales track was so low. And that's unfortunately what happens is if you are published, they can see how many books you've sold, and if you haven't sold that many, they're thinking, why would we give this person a chance? So that video really was the point where people were willing to give me a chance, even though I did have the low sales track. And then from there on, every single day, I posted videos about my book because the book wasn't gonna be available for a year and a half. And how do you keep people interested? It's one thing to go viral once. How do you do it enough that people remember you in a year and a half? So that became my mission post about my book so much that by the time people can pre order, by the time the book comes out, people actually buy it and give it a chance and read it. So that's, that's what happened. It feels very, you know, magical because I. I don't know what about it went viral. I'm not even sure it would go viral today. It really is kind of so many different things in the universe that lined up at that time. And honestly, I get kind of shocked that anyone has read my books because I think when you go through so long with no one caring about your writing when it happens, you're just really grateful. So I. I'm very grateful that everything happened the way it did because I'm able to see everything that's happened now for what it is.
- [17:56]
B
What a story of resilience. Alex, thank you. Right now, I'm super excited for my upcoming trip to Atlanta. I'm taking my mom to celebrate her birthday. She's never been. And I'm going to take her to eat all the best food, see the best jazz music, and I'm gonna have to sneak in a museum or two. Trips like that are truly unforgettable. And what makes it even better is staying at a place on Airbnb. Now, if you're planning any upcoming trips, you could be hosting your home on Airbnb. And with Airbnb Co host Network, you could hire a local co host to handle everything, like creating your listing, managing reservations, guest communication, on site support, and even styling your space. So while you're making your own memories. Your home can be helping another family make theirs and earning you extra cash. Find a co host@airbnb.com host when you're planning a trip, it helps to have a credit card that rewards you no matter where you like to book. That's the Autograph Journey credit card from Wells Fargo. What makes a difference is how flexible it is. You can earn rewards where you like to book travel if you like going straight to the airline or hunting down a deal on a hotel site, this card is designed to keep rewarding you. Here's how the points stack up. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel, and one point on other purchases. So picture booking that hotel in the neighborhood you've always wanted to stay in, that's earning points. Grabbing flights for a last minute getaway, that's earning sitting down for that first dinner when you land. Still earning. Even the everyday stuff between trips can help toward your next journey. The Autograph Journey card from Wells Fargo helps turn the way you already travel, eat and explore into rewards. Learn more at Wells Fargo.com autographjourney Terms apply. Apple Books is the best place to read, listen to or discover the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone. And now there's a very exciting heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club, so it's easier than ever to explore each monthly book pick, plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set goals and track your reading progress. Get great recommendations for your next read or listen and enjoy it all on the go, wherever you are. You can even share your books with up to five family members at no cost. Again, no subscription required. Visit Apple co reeseapplebooks to find out more. That's Apple co reeseapplebooks and read or listen to Reese's current pick and browse past selections today on Apple Books. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton. We spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and with characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands, but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for lazy weekend mornings with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet Just like the books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into our everyday moments. Moments like following four adult daughters as they navigate love, loss, and the legacy in the Most Fun We Ever had by Claire Lombardo. All while curled up in soft cotton Joggers. Or Sinking into the island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. A story that spans generations. Forbidden love and a fig tree that remembers everything. Wrapped in a hand stitched quilt, each thread holding its own kind of memory. Next time you settle in for a chapter, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more@thefabricofourlives.com. you've now written and have been published across a number of genres.
- [21:59]
A
Yes.
- [22:00]
B
I'd argue that you're best known as a fantasy writer. Would you agree?
- [22:04]
A
I think so.
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B
And so you're building these really high stakes big drama worlds all about betrayal and deceit and twists and turns. But your first two books, Curse of the Night Witch and its sequel, are based on Colombian folktales that your abuela, your grandmother, would tell you.
- [22:23]
A
Yes.
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B
I think that's so special that they're personal to you. What did those folk tales teach you about storytelling when you were growing up?
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A
Oh, they taught me everything. So I'm Colombian. My mom is from Colombia. She grew up there. She moved here when she was in her 20s. And I actually learned English with Spanish at the same time because my grandparents don't really speak English. And so every single night from maybe when I was like two years old, my abuela Lala I call her, she would come to my room and she would sit at the end of the bed and she would be wrapped up in blankets and she would tell us cuentos, like, and so she would. She had like all of these different tales that were passed down orally, so they weren't really written down. But her mom told her, and then her mom's mom told her. And one of them was called La nina con la estrella en la frente, which means the girl with the star on her forehead. And it was my favorite one. So every single night I'd be like, please, please tell the one with the star on the forehead. Which is just wild because obviously I now have a book called Starside. And I think having such a special person in my life be a storyteller, having it be such a dramatic moment of like, I'm waiting for her to come to my room so I can fall asleep to this beautiful fairy tale that was passed down through Generations. It made storytelling special. And I think that she kind of, even though maybe she didn't know it, was giving me permission to tell my own stories. And so it wasn't, I think, like far fetched for me to start creating my own. And so even when I was really young, I would get like printer paper and fold it and I would make little books. And my mom really encouraged that too. She, she kept all of them. She actually showed me recently my first few books. But yeah, I think that having her influence in that storytelling culture was really cool and really inspired me to wanna tell stories one day. And inspired a lot in those books as well.
- [24:19]
B
It's so cool for me to hear that, Alex, because I have this armchair theory that we actually all kind of know who we are and what we wanna do at a very young age. And then sometimes the world can talk us out of it. But for instance, I would dress up as like Hillary Clinton and Gloria Steinem and all these amazing women for every book report.
- [24:42]
A
Wow.
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B
And my dream was always to be in women's media. Like, I wanted to interview these incredible women. And I think it's so cool to hear that you were making these little books when you were, you know, 8, 10 years old. Like you knew you wanted to be a writer.
- [24:56]
A
All kids know what they love. And it's really when you get grow older and you hear, oh, you can't make a living doing this, or oh, this isn't practical, that that's what kind of kills your dreams. But I agree with you. I think that at least by like 10 years old, you know what you like because you're not thinking about it as a job. You're only thinking, this is what I like to do. And yeah, kids are so special in that way. They really just do things because they like it. They have no other reason to do it.
- [25:25]
B
Do any of these stories that your abuela told you make their way into your books today?
- [25:33]
A
I definitely think with Emblem island, because the girl with the star on her forehead, it's a star and it's like a special symbol. And so that really got translated into the emblems, which are kind of magical markings in the middle grade series. And then for Lightlark, Lightlark was partially inspired by La Patasola. That's another Colombian folklore. And it's kind of like a temptress that lives in the forest. And so all of these stories have definitely been in the back of my mind. And then the character names, some of them are Spanish wars, which is really like a way to Kind of honor my culture and my heritage.
- [26:09]
B
I need more of your grandma on your TikTok, because I just.
- [26:12]
A
Oh, my gosh.
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B
I find this to be so beautiful. You know, when I started working at hello Sunshine. Yeah, I remember thinking, wow, I'm the first generation in my family who has been able to do what they want to do. Like, I have the privilege to go after my dreams, and it's only because all of the women who have sacrificed. And I'm hearing your story and thinking, wow, there's so much generational sacrifice that has allowed you to become this amazing writer.
- [26:43]
A
Yeah. No, My great, great grandma, she lived in a small village in Colombia, and she was not like her. Her hu. And didn't allow her to leave the house. He didn't allow her to speak. Like, he silenced her. And so the fact that now, so many generations later, like, I'm able to do what I love, and I'm able to write books and have my words be out there, it really is. You're right. It's very important to remember that, you know, I'm only here because there were so many strong women who fought outside of their circumstances. And my great grandma, she was a single mom to, I think, five kids, and she was extremely strong, and she. She had a job. Like, she. She did everything that she needed to to survive. And I think that all of my books have strong women, and they're inspired by, like, the strong woman in my life. They always told me, like, you be independent. Fight for your dreams. Like, you can do this. And my mom especially, she has such a fire in her. She's such a strong person. And I really have tried to get any part of that strength and that flame within me, because she has it. And she's really the one that has told me since the very beginning, like, you have to go for it. You keep going. And even we would go on college tours, and I remember there was a tour guide that was, like. He said that he, like, had interned at, like, a publishing house, and she was like, go tell him about your book. Go. Like, like, mom, are you joking? Like, that's so embarrassing. And she, like, would. But she was like that. And she is like that. She was like, go fight for what you want. And so she. She's really why I even tried to dream about something like this. And honestly, why I never gave up, because it's really easy to just say, you know what?
- [28:21]
B
Maybe.
- [28:22]
A
Maybe this is it for me. So, yeah, I'm really grateful for all of their influence. And, yeah, they're amazing.
- [28:30]
B
I mean, it sounds like you write almost like you're possessed, Alex. And I mean that in a kind way. What is it about fantasy that puts your creativity into turbo mode like that?
- [28:44]
A
I think ever since I was young, reading was the only thing that could get me out of my head. I have pretty bad anxiety. My mind is always just spinning up all of these scenarios, and it was the only thing that could quiet my mind. And so when I started writing, it was that, but better because I'm immersed in the story, I get to decide, I get to almost control what happens. And so. So it was really therapeutic for me to be able to get lost in a world and just let it swallow me whole. So I will say that when I reach that kind of, like, flow state of you're just five hours in, suddenly you look up and it's dark outside. And how did this time pass? How have I written this many words? It feels magical. And I'm always chasing that feeling of getting so swallowed in into the manuscript that you do feel almost like you're possessed. And I listen to the podcast. I know a few people have said this, but I find it to be true as well. It's almost like you don't have control over the characters as much as I used to think, okay, I can control this, you really can't. I will have moments where I'm writing and I'm just like, oh, my gosh, like, why would they say that? Or like, who is this? Or, you know, like, oh, my gosh, this is amazing. And so you're just like, what's going to happen next? And. And it really feels like the characters are speaking through you in a weird way. And I love that feeling. I love the feeling of just kind of typing what's coming to me, getting lost in a story and hopefully giving that to someone else. Because I know all through my childhood and even now, like, I really am so grateful to the books that helped me get lost in another world.
- [30:24]
B
Yeah, absolutely. I want to kind of ask you an unhinged question, which is sure. Part of the characters that you write, a lot of them are these very broody, dark guys. Like, very swoon worthy men.
- [30:36]
A
Yes. Yes.
- [30:37]
B
Is there a guy that, like, has been inspired by anybody in your real life?
- [30:42]
A
Absolutely not. It's almost the opposite. Like, all the things I'd like to read about are the opposite of my real life. Like, I. Yeah, I don't know anyone like that. I think I would probably get, like, a restraining order against someone like. Like Crip will just, like, Kill people to win my affection. But, yeah, all of the behavior we love to read about in Romantasy is stuff that would be a huge red flag in real life. I think in real life, I prefer, like, friends to lovers. Like, something a little less toxic. Like, I get enough of the toxic stuff in my books, like, when I write them, so I think something safe is a lot better. And also just like your best friend. Right? Which is what I hope my characters end up with. Even if they meet during, like, enemies to lovers circumstances, I get so bored just as a reader. So that's why as a writer, I'm constantly kind of putting them in these circumstances where they might have to become enemies again, because I just like that tension. So it's the exact opposite in real life. I could not handle that. I'm too sensitive.
- [31:46]
B
Well, when I talk to fantasy writers, they are just really expert world builders. And when you're writing fantasy, you are building worlds. But when you're writing something like Summer in the City, which is a romance novel, it's kind of like you're going on these emotional quests, whereas with fantasy characters, you're going on literal quests. And how do you build the stakes of the chemistry for these characters the way you would build the stakes for the world building in fantasy?
- [32:16]
A
That's a really good question. I think for Ellen Parker and Summer in the City, their romance really started with kind of the question of, like, okay, if he's a tech billionaire, and billionaire romance is obviously like a huge romance trope. I was kind of thinking to myself, like, who wouldn't like this? Because a lot of people would love that, but who wouldn't like this? And it was kind of like, prickly character who has her own career, and she's kind of has this, like, guard around her because people are constantly underestimating her. And that is kind of her worst nightmare for a guy to be so publicly successful, because her worst nightmare is for people to think that her career was because of who she's with romantically. So it kind of that built the stakes of. Of just their traits. Like, Parker is the opposite. Parker has been, like, a tech billionaire for so long that he now doesn't believe when someone likes him because he thinks it's just because of the money that people think he has. So I think their kind of, like, quest throughout the city is ways to put their guard down and see, okay, maybe it's not always wrong to let someone in. So I think it really started with who these characters are and why they, you know, need this romance and why they're fighting against it.
- [33:28]
B
The why is interesting because Elle was very stubborn at times, but I really loved her drive. So even though she was, like, making me angry a little bit, I was so sucked in because I respected it and respected her. I'm curious about your editing process, because I know you write so quickly. Have you ever sort of written loosely and then changed quite a bit before a book hit shelves, which I know that you do, and then regretted something that you cut?
- [33:59]
A
I don't know about something. I cut more like people. Readers are very harsh on, like, female protagonists, right? Like, they're. They would totally accept that a guy, like, kills everyone in a room because he's obsessed with the girl. But, like, God forbid, a girl like you stand up for herself or something. So, like, afterwards you're like, okay, maybe I didn't have have to make her that prickly. But honestly, the way I make peace with it is it truly feels like when I'm writing, that's their story. That is the story. That is how Elle is. I can't do anything about it, right? So it kind of feels like I'm just telling their story. And there are a few moments in Starside, even, like, when I'm like, okay, maybe I should change this. Maybe, like, readers wouldn't like this. But then, truly, it feels like that's the story. Like, I'm just telling it. That's kind of how it is. Like, obviously, when I talk to my editor and it's like, this isn't working. I'm not like, oh, well, that's the way it is. No, I edit a lot, and I actually love getting edits because I like to kind of break a story apart and then put it back together. And I like that time to reflect, especially because I've had weeks or months away from the manuscript. So you go back, but it's kind of these very important moments. I just think that's their story. That's the way they are. It would be doing the story a disservice for me to change it.
- [35:12]
B
Is there a character or a storyline that you think readers would be shocked to hear how or where it started?
- [35:18]
A
Hmm. For Starside, I wrote the 15 page romance scene first, and that was really different for me from other books. Like, I weirdly started at the romance because I knew that I wanted these characters to genuinely hate each other and still hate each other, even when they get together. And so I wrote that to almost force myself to, like, hey, they hate each other at this point in the book this far into it, you have to keep them enemies that long. And so that was something that I've never done before because I want them to become lovers. I'm a reader, I want them to become lovers so soon. But I really wanted to make sure that they stayed at each other's throats for at least most of the book.
- [36:04]
B
Do you have a pub day edition at all?
- [36:06]
A
When I'm on the day of pub, I go straight to the Barnes and Noble in Union Square, like the biggest Barnes and Noble. And I like to go to the different retailers and see their editions because a lot of them have different artwork. And then I just kind of sit on my couch and I'll like, look at the posts that I was tagged in to see whatever readers want me to see, I'll see what their favorite parts are. And my readers are great. They really tag me and like, you know, like, they, they want me to see this and I try to respond. So that's kind of my tradition. And then, oh, something I'll do is a few days later I'll go on the Kindle app and I'll see what the most highlighted parts are because I'm always curious to see, like, which parts reson with people.
- [36:49]
B
Alex, I love that you go to retailers. I think that's so cute.
- [36:52]
A
Yeah, of course. I mean, genuinely, I still get so happy because I know what it's like to walk into a bookstore and they don't have your book, they've never heard of your book, they don't stock your book. Like, I had that for, you know, a while. So it, it feels really cool to go into a store and see it on a table or to see people in line with it. It's just really cool.
- [37:14]
B
I also think the feedback loop you have from Booktok is really interesting. You know, booktok in general has become such a driving force in the literary world. And the more writers I speak to, the more I realize that it has democratized and demystified so many things about the publishing world, which is so positive. And I talk to writers who say booktok is the bane of my existence. It's too much feedback. I don't want to be part of social media. It seems like you, you found this really nice footing with it. What's your relationship like with it? How do you feel about it?
- [37:52]
A
I love book talk. Book talk is what made the difference between me querying agents and not having an audience for my books and having everyone reject it to having readers. It is the, the, the best thing that ever happened to my career. So that's why, like, you know, it. I can never feel anything but positive for, like, a platform that not only got readers to know about my book, but got people reading again. I know that there's nothing better than picking up a book for your mental health. Just picking it up and reading it and getting lost in a world is so magical. And the fact that millions of other people were able to discover that magic through booktok is amazing. It feels like I'm still connected to my readers. So I'm really grateful.
- [38:34]
B
This is the Taylor Swift model of authorship like you are. You've created this community that is in relationship with you. You guys are creating together. It's very special.
- [38:46]
A
Yeah, I mean, I. I just think when you meet these readers and when you see their videos and some people are posting, you know, dozens of posts about your book, how can you not want to give them the best possible of everything? So that's why I get up so early and like, write for so late seven days a week. Because I want to not only get. Give them the best work I can do, but get it to them quickly. I don't want to make them wait. Really. Don't take it for granted that they have chosen to support my books. And I love my readers so much and I hope they can feel that.
- [39:18]
B
Do you see yourself writing books forever or would you ever move into a different creative realm?
- [39:24]
A
I mean, I've loved writing books since I was 12. I don't think that there would ever be a time where I don't want to write stories. I think that there will definitely be a time where I'm not writing or publishing three books a year. But yeah, I think I also just want to feel joy. I think readers can tell if you felt joy while you were writing. And if there's ever a point where I'm not super happy to write every day, then I wouldn't for that period of time because I think my readers deserve something that I really wanted to write and publish.
- [39:58]
B
So fantasy romance. Is there another genre that you have on your heart that you want to experiment with next?
- [40:06]
A
I think I would love to one day write a thriller. I love, like, big plot twists. I love, like, surprises. And so I. I think that would be really fun, but I can't see myself writing that anytime soon.
- [40:17]
B
Yeah, I think you can do it. I see you being able to create the tension that a thriller requires.
- [40:23]
A
Ooh, thank you. I think I like romance too much. Like I like having. And I don't know if a thriller you know, like usually it's someone's killing the other person, which, you know, happens in fantasy, but. But I don't know. I don't know.
- [40:36]
B
You could do like a romantic thriller like Mr. And Mrs. Smith.
- [40:39]
A
That's true. That's very true. Yeah.
- [40:41]
B
Yeah. You know, Alex, I think a lot of people listening are going to feel really inspired by your journey. I know I have listening to you. What is your best advice for aspiring authors for people who want to be the next Alex Aster?
- [40:59]
A
I think first of all, you have to write what you love because at the end of the day, you will reread your own writing hundreds of times. So really write what you want to read. Don't take rejection personally because at the end of the day, you don't want to be represented by an agent who doesn't absolutely love your book. And so they're doing you a favor by saying no. And the publisher is doing you a favor by saying no. If they can't see the potential of what you're doing, then just write the next book. And I always say don't just once you finish your book, write the next thing. That's the best distraction. But nowadays there are so many different avenues for getting your work out there. You can make a TikTok video, you can self publish. There's so many different ways to get your story into readers hands. So just keep writing. And there are people out there who want to read your story. It might take a while to find them, but write for yourself first because then no word will ever be wasted.
- [41:55]
B
Did I used to work at Entertainment Tonight Online when I was like 25 or something? So like 10 years ago. And I would stay late and watch all of the old interviews because I was trying to learn from people. But also I was eating up all these stories that were in this vault. Right. Because I had access to it. And I'll never forget this story. And it really reminded me of what you shared. So Jennifer Lopez had been trying so hard to, quote, unquote, make it. And when she finally got the role of Selena, which was really her breakout moment, her manager called her. It was like her 16th audition. And they made her jump through so many hoops that people didn't know about. And her manager called her and said, wow, Jennifer, you really, you never make it easy. Like it's always the hard way.
- [42:45]
A
Yeah, yeah.
- [42:45]
B
And she said, you know, the difference between me and anybody who didn't make it is that I just stood the test of time. I didn't give up. And I Love hearing your story because I think it really exemplifies that you just did not give up and that's it's such a key to life.
- [43:03]
A
I think it's really easy to see one little slice of someone's career and think like, oh, they must have made it with their first book. But I would bet that almost behind almost every single success story is 10 years of work that no one ever sees. And so I do think that if you're being rejected, you're doing just in the game and you just have to keep going.
- [43:23]
B
Yeah, it's actually almost a win because it means you're in the game. I love that.
- [43:26]
A
Yeah, you're. Yeah. You can't be rejected if you are not trying. So if you're being rejected, it means you're in the game. You just gotta keep going.
- [43:35]
B
What is something that you are so obsessed with right now that you could write a book about it, but you probably won't?
- [43:41]
A
I mean, I loved K Pop Demon Hunters. I feel like it's kind of come off the other side, but my little cousin, she showed it to me.
- [43:49]
B
I love it.
- [43:49]
A
And I was like, oh, my gosh, this is amazing. I love that. I love coffee. I could write so many books about my love of coffee. I am a person who gets obsessed with things.
- [44:05]
B
Right now, I'm super excited for my upcoming trip to Atlanta. I'm taking my mom to celebrate her birthday. She's never been. And I'm going to take her to eat all the best food, see the best jazz music, and I'm going to have to sneak in a museum or too. Trips like that are truly unforgettable. And what makes it even better is staying at a place on Airbnb. Now, if you're planning any upcoming trips, you could be hosting your home on Airbnb. And with Airbnb Co host Network, you could hire a local co host to handle everything, like creating your listing, managing reservations, guest communication on site support, and even styling your space. So while you're making your own memories, your home can be helping another family make their theirs and earning you extra cash. Find a co host@airbnb.com host when you're planning a trip, it helps to have a credit card that rewards you no matter where you like to book. That's the Autograph Journey credit card from Wells Fargo. What makes a difference is how flexible it is. You can earn rewards where you like to book, travel. If you like going straight to the airline or hunting down a deal on a hotel site, this card is designed to keep rewarding you you. Here's how the points stack up. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel, and one point on other purchases. So picture booking that hotel in the neighborhood you've always wanted to stay in, that's earning points. Grabbing flights for a last minute getaway? That's earning sitting down for that first dinner when you land. Still earning. Even the everyday stuff between trips can help toward your next journey. Journey the autograph Journey card from Wells Fargo helps turn the way you already travel, eat and explore into rewards. Learn more@wells fargo.com autographjourney terms apply. Apple Books is the best place to read, listen to or discover the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone. And now there's a very exciting heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club, so it's easier than ever to explore each monthly book pick, plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set goals and track your reading progress. Get great recommendations for your next read or listen and enjoy it all on the go, wherever you are. You can even share your books with up to five family members at no cost. Cost Again, no subscription required. Visit Apple co reeseapplebooks to find out more. That's Apple co reeseapplebooks and read or listen to Reese's current Pick and browse past selections today on Apple Books. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton. We spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and with characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hands but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for lazy weekend mornings with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like the books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into our everyday mind moments. Moments like following four adult daughters as they navigate love, loss and the Legacy in the Most Fun We Ever had by Claire Lombardo, all while curled up in soft cotton joggers or sinking into the island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak. A story that spans generations. Forbidden love and a fig tree that remembers everything wrapped in a hand stitched quilt, each thread holding its own kind of memory. Next time you settle in For a chapter, slip into something cost cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton. The fabric of our lives. Learn more@thefabricofourlives.com okay, Alex, we're gonna play a game called ick or swoon. Okay.
- [48:04]
A
Okay.
- [48:04]
B
So I'm gonna name a trope. You tell me if it's an ick or a swoon.
- [48:08]
A
Okay?
- [48:09]
B
Okay. A shadow daddy.
- [48:11]
A
Swoon.
- [48:12]
B
Golden boy.
- [48:13]
A
Swoon.
- [48:14]
B
Ooh. Enemies to lovers.
- [48:16]
A
Swoon.
- [48:17]
B
Opposites attract.
- [48:18]
A
Swoon.
- [48:20]
B
Faded mates.
- [48:21]
A
Swoon. Is there any I don't like? I guess I don't like everything.
- [48:25]
B
Forced proximity.
- [48:26]
A
Swoon.
- [48:28]
B
Hidden power.
- [48:30]
A
Swoon.
- [48:31]
B
Forbidden love.
- [48:33]
A
Swoon.
- [48:34]
B
That's, like, such a double swoon.
- [48:36]
A
Yes.
- [48:38]
B
Found family.
- [48:40]
A
Swoon.
- [48:41]
B
Marriage of convenience.
- [48:42]
A
Convenience. Swoon.
- [48:44]
B
Really? That's such an ick.
- [48:46]
A
I mean, it's an ick in real life, but I like when it's like. I like when it. Cause it's, to me, the ultimate enemies. Lovers. Forced proximity. Like, they don't want to be together at all. And then suddenly you're married. Like, you know, what is the first night look like? I don't know. Maybe I read too much romantic.
- [49:05]
B
No, you're right. Like, who am I to tell the queen of tension what's an ick and what's a swimming? Okay, how about unrequited love?
- [49:12]
A
Oh, ick. Hate that. Really?
- [49:15]
B
Why?
- [49:16]
A
Because this is, like, fiction. I don't know. Unless it's like. No, I don't like that at all. Maybe that is my own personal taste. I feel like if a character likes a character, I like it more when the guy is obsessed with her and she's like, maybe I like you. I don't know. Like that. I. So maybe on his side, that's fine, but for her.
- [49:38]
B
No, I like that you're a girl's girl, Alex.
- [49:41]
A
Oh, yes. Yeah. Why would I want to, like, read her being, like, oh, I don't know if he likes me. Like, no, I want her to say that. But we all know. Oh, my gosh. Really? He just bought you a coffee shop chain or whatever it is.
- [49:54]
B
I love this so much. Alex Aster, thank you for your time and for inspiring us all. Wow. What a. What an hour we got to spend together.
- [50:03]
A
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
- [50:08]
B
That's it for this episode of bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. Our phone line is now open, so if you want to go 90s on us, give us a call at 1-501-291-3379. That's 1-501-291-33790 share your literary hot takes, your book recommendations, questions about the monthly pick, or let us know what you think about the episode you just heard. And who knows, you might just hear yourself in our next episode. So don't overthink it. Give us a ring. And if you want more, come hang with us. Reese's Book Club is on Instagram serving up books, good vibes and all the behind the scenes stuff you love. And I'm Danielle Robay. R O B A Y so come say hi and please seriously DM me because I actually read them and I love hearing what you think about the episodes. And don't forget to follow Bookmarked by Reese's Book club on the iHeartRadio app. Apple Podcasts are wherever you listen. We'll see you in the next chapter. Bookmarked is a production of hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts, executive produced by Reese Witherspoon and Me, Danielle Robay production by Acast Creative Studios. Our producers are Maddie Foley, Brittany Martinez and Sarah Schlied. Our editor is Carmen Borca Carillo. Our production assistant is Avery Loftus. Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rutter are executive producers for Acast Creative Studios. Maureen Polo and Reese Witherspoon are executive producers for hello Sunshine. Olga Kaminwa, Kristin Perla, Ashley Rapaport and Sarah Kernerman are associate producers for Reese's Book Club and Ali Perry is executive producer for iHeart Podcast podcasts. Today's episode is brought to you by Cotton we spend a lot of time with stories, hours curled up with dynamic plots and characters who feel like friends. What if the story isn't just in your hand hands but also in the world around you, in the fabric that's holding you close? Cotton is that timeless companion. Soft sheets for a lazy weekend morning with a book. Breezy dresses for afternoons spent reading in the backyard. It's the fabric that can be tossed in the wash without fuss. It's about ease, comfort and caring for yourself and the planet. Just like books we cherish, cotton weaves meaning into everyday moments. Next time you settle in for a chap talk, slip into something cotton. Not just to read the story, but to feel it. Cotton the fabric of our lives. Learn more at thefabricofourlives.com the autograph journey credit card from Wells Fargo is built for travel. You can earn rewards wherever you book your favorite hotel site your go to airline and more. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel and one point on other purchases. Purchases Whether it's a big vacation or a quick getaway from booking your stay to that first meal when you arrive, you're turning your trips into rewards with the Autograph Journey Card from Wells Fargo. Learn more@wells fargo.com autographjourney terms apply. Apple Books is the best way to read or listen to the books you love without a subscription right on your iPhone and a heads up for listeners. Apple Books is the official audiobook and ebook home for Reese's Book Club so you can discover every exciting pick plus author curated collections and more all in one place. Open the Apple Books app to explore a world of books and audiobooks. You can set and track your reading goals and get great recommendations for your next read or listen. Again, no subscription required. Visit Apple co Reese that's R E E S E Apple Books to find out more. More I'm partnering with Simple Mills and I have now found a new go to reading snack. Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers Think of this as a quick book style review because these crackers deserve it. The premise A snack that feels light, not heavy. Made with almond flour, sunflower seeds and flaxseeds. Nutrient dense ingredients your body can use. Not empty carbs and the taste crunchy classic flavors that leave you feeling energized. For a good plot twist, try Popums. Cheesy, airy, poppable crackers packed with veggies. Final Verdict these are a shelf staple. Find Simple Meals at your grocery store.
- [54:38]
A
This is an I heart podcast.
- [54:40]
B
Guaranteed.