Publishing Pals

Maria and Suzanne
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Arts

Welcome to Publishing Pals Podcast, a podcast where two pals talk about publishing. For nearly a decade, we have tried, failed, and sometimes succeeded at being traditionally published. Come along with us as we share everything we've learned in this oddly gatekept, confusing, but incredibly fun and rewarding industry. 

  1. Sep 13

    Interview with Macmillan Cover Designer Anto Marr!

    Hello! In this episode we’re interviewing in house Macmillan cover designer, Anto Marr! Anto Marr is an illustrator and graphic designer specializing in book covers and layout. She has a degree in graphic design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and has worked for companies such as Booklogix, Macmillan Publishing, and St. Martin’s Publishing.     Anto Marr’s links: https://www.instagram.com/anto_marrt/ anto.marr.art@gmail.com - reach out to her for freelance book design layout inquiries!   Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes. A Curious Kind of Magic: https://tinyurl.com/mpxpd9r  Moonsick: https://tinyurl.com/4zer5wt3  Charlie Bowater (cover artist): http://www.charliebowater.net/ Vera Drmanovski (cover artist): https://www.veradrmanovski.com/ When Dealing With Dragons: https://www.danaswiftbooks.com/whendealingwithdragons The Crow Lord: https://tinyurl.com/mt57ck6e The Sun Child: https://tinyurl.com/2nk9suem  Kerri Resnick (book cover designer): https://tinyurl.com/yc47zbsz

  2. Aug 30

    Picture Book Writing Basics

    Hello! In this episode we’re talking about the craft of writing a picture book!  Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes. Find Maria: https://www.mariaoglesbyart.com/ Find Katie: https://www.katiedwyerillustrations.com/ Here are the links for Emily Van Beek, the agent from our agency deep dive: Website and where to query: https://www.foliojr.com/emily-van-beek Publisher’s Marketplace Page: https://tinyurl.com/4f6jphar  MSWL: https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/emily-van-beek/ An interview with Emily: https://tinyurl.com/2tx6e9tn  Katie’s substack where you can find PB writing tips: https://katiedwyerillustrations.substack.com/ Writing picture books, the main book we were talking about: https://tinyurl.com/52t7czh9 NoVa Bookstores: Birch Tree Books: https://www.birchtreebookstore.com/ Middleburg Books: https://www.middleburgbooks.com/ A bunch of the books we mentioned: Picture Books: A Sick Day for Amos McGee: https://tinyurl.com/3b3swzwj Bob Shea: https://www.bobshea.com/about Corey Tabor: http://www.coreyrtabor.com/ Awe! https://chanastiefel.com/books/awe/ Giraffe is Too Tall for This Book: https://tinyurl.com/3wasn8uj Hello, Ocean! https://tinyurl.com/mvxmyrxd Noodles on a Bicycle: https://tinyurl.com/32spwzbh Home in a Lunchbox: https://tinyurl.com/5n8pph5b Middle Grade:  Kindred Dragons: https://tinyurl.com/49fzwpff The Babysitter’s Club Graphic Novels: https://tinyurl.com/2tdet957  Animorphs: https://tinyurl.com/44vtcwrz  A Wrinkle in Time: https://tinyurl.com/2avf9j34  YA: Dragonsong (dragonriders of Pern): https://tinyurl.com/u4nchrm4  The Faraway Inn: https://tinyurl.com/4jta6k7e New Adult: Divine Rivals duology: https://tinyurl.com/9naw8uyy

  3. Aug 16

    What to Put in Your Portfolio

    Hello! In this episode we’re talking about what to put into your art portfolio! Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes. Sally M. Kim, the agent from our agency deep dive: https://www.andreabrownlit.com/Team/sally-m.-kim https://www.instagram.com/sallymkim https://bsky.app/profile/sallymkim.bsky.social Katie’s website: https://www.katiedwyerillustrations.com/ Maria’s Website: https://www.mariaoglesbyart.com/ I found my notebook! The art director’s name was Sasha Illingsworth: https://www.sashaillingworthdesign.com/  Laekan Zea kemp’s website http://www.laekanzeakemp.com/about Raissa’s website! https://rizzyfig.com/books This is the printer that Maria orders from: https://www.colorimages.com/ She likes their 120lb matte cougar paper for printing portfolio pages Portfolio book website Maria mentioned: https://tinyurl.com/48bn45d9 Also, these wood ones on etsy look gorgeous: https://tinyurl.com/mrw9m7vb

  4. Aug 2

    The Picture Book Pipeline

    Hello! In this episode we’re talking about the Picture Book Pipeline! The steps from when an agent sends out your picture book dummy, to when your final art is turned in.  Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes. Here are the links for Marie Lamba, the agent from our agency deep dive: MSWL: https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/marie-lamba/ Agency page: https://www.jdlit.com/marie-lamba Website: https://marielamba.wordpress.com/ Also, I forgot to say while recording, but she’s ranked #16 in digital fiction: horror and #48 in MG nonfiction on Publisher’s Marketplace Link to Tracy Shaw, the art director whose lecture we were referring to: https://www.tracyshawdesigns.com/ Suzanne’s book, Another Enchanted April: https://tinyurl.com/3d298uzn And her publishing company, see-saw press:  https://seesaw-press.com/ Cindy Derby: https://www.cindyderby.com/  https://www.instagram.com/cindyderby/  I think this may be the podcast interview that was mentioned: https://tinyurl.com/5fzr4r44

  5. Jul 19

    Interview with Illustrator Lavanya Naidu and Author Debra Shumaker!

    Hello! In this episode we’re interviewing Illustrator Lavanya Naidu and Author Debra Shumaker! We talk about their publishing journey, as well as their collaboration on their forthcoming picture book, Sunday Scaries! Preorder here!  - https://tinyurl.com/bdffhd6k  Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes. Lavanya and Debra’s links: Lavanya: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lavanyanaidu/?hl=en Book related work - https://catagencyinc.com/lavanya-naidu Portfolio - https://www.behance.net/lavanyanaidu Website - https://lavanyanaidu.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lavanya_naidu  Debra: Website - https://debrashumaker.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/debrakshumaker/ Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/debrakshumaker.bsky.social Some of the indy bookstores in the northern VA area that Debra shouted out: Birch Tree Books: https://www.birchtreebookstore.com/ Scrawl Books: https://www.scrawlbooks.com/ PB Pitch: https://pbpitch.weebly.com/pbpitch-twitter-event.html Gianna Lakenauth, the editor who worked on Sunday Scaries who Debra gave a shoutout to: https://manuscriptwishlist.com/mswl-post/gianna-lakenauth/ Lavanya’s agent that she mentioned and gave a shoutout to is Aliza R Hoover:  https://tinyurl.com/39zz5zyv  https://catagencyinc.com/

  6. Jul 5

    Mid Atlantic Agents and Editors Day Notes

    Hello! In this episode we’re talking about notes from the SCBWI mid-atlantic 2026 conference, as well as a few notes from past conferences.  Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes. Here are the links for Linda Camacho, the agent from our agency deep dive: https://tinyurl.com/2s7sv4sh https://www.galltzacker.com/submissions.html  https://lindacamacho.com/  https://bsky.app/profile/lindacamacho.bsky.social  Some of the agents and editors from the agents and editors day that we mentioned:  Agents: Marie Lamba: https://www.jdlit.com/marie-lamba Ann Rose: https://www.thetobiasagency.com/ann-rose Rebecca Williamson: https://tinyurl.com/3hk8trrt Jennifer Unter: https://theunteragency.com/ Editors: Catherine Laudone: https://www.catherinelaudone.com/ Alex Aceves: https://tinyurl.com/yc88earj  Brian LaRossa: https://brianlarossa.com/ This is Brian LaRossa’s bluesky where he does artist calls sometimes: https://bsky.app/profile/brianlarossa.com Irene Vázquez: https://tinyurl.com/mr6rpvnx  Note: Krista Marino doesn’t seem to have a website.  Sinix Design (great anatomy tutorial videos): https://www.youtube.com/user/sinixdesign  Erin Casey Weston (the other agent at Galt & Zacker we talked about) https://www.galltzacker.com/submissions.html

  7. Jun 21

    Procreate Brushes

    Hello! In this episode we’re talking about Procreate brushes! Our favorites, some basic Procreate tips, and packs and edits we’d recommend.  Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes. Katie’s website (welcome, Katie!): katiedwyerillustrations.com  Links for Jessica Regel, the agent from our agency deep dive: https://tinyurl.com/4wxxuu59 https://helmliterary.com/books https://helmliterary.com/submit What’s new in the Procreate update: https://tinyurl.com/bdck7snx Kyle T. Webster, the creator of the new Procreate brushes: https://www.instagram.com/kyle.t.webster/  Devin Elle Kurtz’s gumroad: https://tamberella.gumroad.com/ Freya brush packs: https://tinyurl.com/45swjw5n Lucy Flemming brushes: https://tinyurl.com/53wwvu37  Vivien Mildenberger brushes: https://vvberger.gumroad.com/l/Vivibrush  Retro Maxpack brushes: https://maxpacks.com/retro-maxpack Devin Elle Kurtz’s Bakery Dragon series: https://tinyurl.com/46f84ens

  8. Jun 7

    Imprint Updates and More

    Hello! In this episode we’re talking about the state of the publishing industry, going over a talk and an article on some of the recent imprint closures and changes expected in the coming months. Here are some of the authors, artists, and other things we brought up during the episode. Just a disclaimer - please do not take our word as fact. The publishing industry is always changing, and often we are talking about things we are remembering from a while ago or have heard from others. It’s always important to do your own research! If we realize after the fact that we have gotten anything wrong, we will do our best to correct it in the show notes. Here are the links for Lily Ghahremani, the agent from our agency deep dive: Website: https://www.fullcircleliterary.com/our-agents/lilly-ghahremani/ Querytracker: https://querytracker.net/agent/633 Publisher’s Marketplace: https://tinyurl.com/mr3sdk2r What the Fact, the nonfiction book that sold based on the pitch the editor was looking for: https://tinyurl.com/bddayhpr The controversy on Shy Girl, for anyone wondering what the heck we were talking about: https://thedreydossier.substack.com/p/91-percent-human-the-shy-girl-ai Celebrity Memoir Book Club Podcast: https://www.celebritymemoirbookclub.biz/ The Third Gilmore Girl: https://tinyurl.com/crm84hav  The substack article Suzanne was referencing: https://tinyurl.com/kj97fphd

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About

Welcome to Publishing Pals Podcast, a podcast where two pals talk about publishing. For nearly a decade, we have tried, failed, and sometimes succeeded at being traditionally published. Come along with us as we share everything we've learned in this oddly gatekept, confusing, but incredibly fun and rewarding industry. 

Information

  • Creator
    Maria and Suzanne
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Publishing Pals
  • Show Website
    Publishing Pals