Book Friends Forever Podcast

Alvina and Grace
  • 4.9 (234)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Children's book publishing's secrets are revealed as we listen in on fascinating, unguarded, insider discussion from two uniquely qualified best friends: award-winning author/illustrator Grace Lin, and one of NYC's top editors, Alvina Ling. Go behind the scenes of kid lit and catch a glimpse of the lives of the best-selling author and editor, and the relationship between them.

  1. 3D AGO

    2026 New Year's Resolutions!

    Grace and Alvina have their first episode of 2026. They sum up 2025 with one word, they share their proposed words of the year for 2026, and then share four resolutions and some aspirations each. They also share something they want to let go of in 2026. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they share some of the favorite things they consumed over the holidays, including books, movies, TV shows, and food! And, they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ https://shop.carlemuseum.org/product/ling-tings-lunar-new-year-two-times-lucky-hardcover

    1h 3m

  2. 12/19/2025

    2025 Year-End Review!

    Grace and Alvina look back on the year and share their highlights and lowlights, look back at their words of the year, and evaluate how they did on their new year's resolutions. For the Fortune Cookie segment they share their favorite things they consumed all year. And, they end as always with what they're grateful for. FYI, they're taking the next two weeks off for the holidays! See you in 2026!  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ https://shop.carlemuseum.org/product/ling-tings-lunar-new-year-two-times-lucky-hardcover

    52 min

  3. 12/12/2025

    Intelligence vs. Wisdom

    Grace and Alvina talk about the difference between wisdom as intelligence, as outlined in an episode of the Hidden Brain podcast, and how this applies to current events as well as the publishing world. They talk about the definitions of both, and how intelligence is not an indicator for success. For the Fortune Cookie they talk about the nonprofit organization Inkluded and their efforts to diversify the publishing industry. And then Grace tells Alvina about her book A BIG BED FOR LITTLE SNOW. And they end as always with what they're grateful for.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ https://shop.carlemuseum.org/product/ling-tings-lunar-new-year-two-times-lucky-hardcover

    53 min

  4. 12/04/2025

    2025 Holiday Gift Guide!

    Grace and Alvina have their annual holiday gift guide episode where they give gift recommendations for the people in your life! The gifts ideas include bread lamps, banned books socks, board games, and more! For the Fortune Cookie they talk about School Library Journal's 21st Century Canon and the lack of inclusion of picture books by women. And they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ https://shop.carlemuseum.org/product/ling-tings-lunar-new-year-two-times-lucky-hardcover

    42 min

  5. 11/26/2025

    Inventory Management with Lianna Izzo!

    Grace and Alvina continue their Publishing Curriculum series and welcome special guest Lianna Izzo, to talk about inventory management! They cover everything from what is entailed with evaluating how many books to print, as well as the supply and demand of books, and which departments Lianna works with the most. They talk about the difference between books printed overseas vs domestic printing, and what happens at the end of a book's life. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they share their favorite ways to eat Thanksgiving leftovers, and they end as always with what they're grateful for.  Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ https://shop.carlemuseum.org/product/ling-tings-lunar-new-year-two-times-lucky-hardcover

    49 min

  6. 11/21/2025

    CHOP SUEY: New Imprint, AI and Library Laws, Literary Travel, and Book Recs with Alison Morris!

    Grace Lin and Alvina Ling have an odds and ends episode where they talk about the big news that was recently announced--Alvina is going to be starting a new imprint in the new year! And, the LBYR editorial team is being reorganized. They also talk about how AI is being used by some librarians in Texas to comply with some new book banning laws. And they also talk about traveling alongside literary themes. And then, children's literature specialist Alison Morris joins to share some book recommendations. And, they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ https://shop.carlemuseum.org/product/ling-tings-lunar-new-year-two-times-lucky-hardcover

    1h 5m

  7. 11/13/2025

    Decision Making and Regret!

    Grace Lin and Alvina Ling discuss how regret factors into their decision making, and they discuss five styles of decision making, and which style they both fall under. They also talk about the endowment effect and how that factors into their decision making, and their feelings about making mistakes and whether they consider themselves to be careless or careful. For the Fortune Cookie segment, they discuss various pieces of publishing news, including a follow up on the closing of Baker & Taylor, a new Dr. Seuss book discovered, and the announcement of a Children's Booker Prize. They end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1.  See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor.  Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast  Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/ https://shop.carlemuseum.org/product/ling-tings-lunar-new-year-two-times-lucky-hardcover

    50 min

  8. 11/07/2025

    Two Topics: Asian Parents and Gratitude Chains!

    Grace and Alvina talk about two topics this week. The first, inspired by a post by actor Ming Na Wen, they talk about different types of Asian parents and what some of the stereotypes and cultural differences are. Then, they talk about gratitude chains, where you start with the thing you're grateful for, and then work your way back to trace all the things that had to happen for that thing to exist.  For the Fortune Cookie segment, they talk about a garlic aoili-scented vampire book! And they end as always with what they're grateful for. Click here to become a Patreon member: https://www.patreon.com/Bookfriendsforever1. See info about Grace's new book "The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon": https://linktr.ee/gracelinauthor. Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Bookfriendsforever_podcast Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bookfriendsforever_podcast/

    43 min
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4.9
out of 5
234 Ratings

About

Children's book publishing's secrets are revealed as we listen in on fascinating, unguarded, insider discussion from two uniquely qualified best friends: award-winning author/illustrator Grace Lin, and one of NYC's top editors, Alvina Ling. Go behind the scenes of kid lit and catch a glimpse of the lives of the best-selling author and editor, and the relationship between them.

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