Shipping & Handling

Listen to literary agents Bridget Smith and Jennifer Udden discuss the latest in publishing, writing, fandom, books and beyond over wine.

Episode 79: Sort By Kudos 09/28/2021

Episode 79: Sort By Kudos or: Now Kiss! In which Bridget and Jen talk about Bridget’s return to fandom after a decade away, and also have a full meltdown about how long this podcast has been going on. Spoilers for The Magicians from 12:21 onwards Note: Jen’s audio is a little off in this because she used airpods like a dumb dumb, so our apologies for that. You can listen to the episode here. Thank you to everyone who has ever donated on Ko-Fi! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in This Episode: The Magicians (SyFy) A Marvelous Light by Freya Marske The Untamed (Netflix) The Robber Girl by Frannie Billingsley The Elemental Logic series by Laurie Marks A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/20630318

Episode 78: Fling it Into the Void 08/04/2021

Episode 78: Fling it Into the Void In this episode, Bridget and Jen take you through the submission process, talk about publishers decentralizing from NYC post-pandemic, and discuss why that second book is just such a pain in the a** to write. Note: Jen’s audio is a little off in this because she used airpods like a dumb dumb, so our apologies for that. Thank you to everyone who has ever donated on Ko-Fi! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! - we are going to be discussing this article next time. - Sarah Rees Brennan - Connie Willis /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/20033096

Episode 77: Vibes Only 06/03/2021

Episode 77: Vibes Only In this episode Bridget & Jen critique twitter pitches, discuss Jen’s weird hate for movie comps, talk about Ea Nasir’s historical perfidious copper sales, and more! Please enjoy the moment at 36:53 where we lose our damn minds. Question topics include New Adult, the essential worker’s trauma, and the looming Godzilla vs. Kong situation of the Big 4 vs the Big 5! Special thanks to Angeline for the generous donation on KoFi! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Mur Lafferty - /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/19345928

Episode 76: Do you remember second locations? 05/20/2021

Episode 76: Do you remember second locations? Recorded Tuesday, May 18. It’s been 84 years dot gif. In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss Jen’s new career move, favorite pandemic reads, how deeply weird socializing is going to be post-panorama, and more! Question topics include getting to narrate your own audiobooks, how many rejections are enough to give up on a manuscript, unreliable narrators, our thoughts on a certain very late author, and more! Special thanks to everyone who has donated to KoFi ever, but especially to the folks who donated during the panini. Some of these folks we thanked in our previously-aired episode, but guess what - they’re getting thanked again! Thank you to rothmg86, Lorna, Lauren, Jared, MH, CC, wickedgoblinking, Rie, and Jessica. And CONGRATULATIONS, Jessica, on your multiple offers of representation! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: Naomi Novik - His Majesty’s Dragon Naomi Novik - Black Powder War Naomi Novik - Empire of Ivory Tamzyn Muir - Gideon the Ninth Tamzyn Muir - Harrow the Ninth Casey McQuiston - Red White and Royal Blue Maggie Tokuda-Hall - The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea Erika Swyler - The Book of Speculation Wu Ming-Yi - The Man with the Compound Eyes 墨香銅臭 Mo Xiang Tong Xu (MXTX) - 天官賜福 Heaven Official’s Blessing /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/19185119

Episode 75: Omegaverse is in the New York Times 06/10/2020

Episode 75: Omegaverse is in the New York Times In which Bridget and Jen discuss copyright law, plagiarism, and why published authors won’t read your fic, for legal reasons. Also! Cookbook photography, dead parents in YA, and more! Thanks to this week’s donors: Lorna, Lauren, Jared, and MH! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: by Alexandra Alter Arkady Martine - A Memory Called Empire Tamsyn Muir - Gideon The Ninth Ngaio Marsh - Enter A Murderer Carrie S. Allen - Michigan Vs. The Boys Meryl Wilsner - Something To Talk About Amanda Sellet - By The Book Lee Gjertsen Malone - Camp Shady Crook /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/14777690

Episode 74: In Plague-Adjusted Terms 05/01/2020

Episode 74: In Plague-Adjusted Terms In this episode Bridget and Jen talk *waves vaguely* the State Of Things, UK vs ANZ vs US, and how many clients is too many! **ANNOUNCEMENT!!** We'll be answering your questions on a very special Instagram Live session on Thursday, May 7 at 7pm EST! Thanks to this week's donors, Sue, Joy, and Michael! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: bookshop.org Tamsin Muir - Gideon the Ninth Ken Dryden - The Game Lucy Ellman - Ducks, Newburyport /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/14241086

Episode 73: The Book Equivalent of a Weighted Blanket 04/23/2020

Episode 73: The Book Equivalent of a Weighted Blanket In this episodes, Bridget and Jen talk bad contracts, manuscript requests, how to avoid brown-nosing and more! Thanks to our editor, Cheyna Roth, for her help with this episode! A VERY SPECIAL THANKS to our donor Jessica!!!!! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: Margot Rabb - Kissing In America Frances Mary Hendry - Quest for a Maid Nancy Atherton - Aunt Dimity’s Death /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/14121011

Episode 72: I Would Marry These Potatoes In A House Of God 03/27/2020

Episode 72: I Would Marry These Potatoes In A House Of God In this episode Bridget and Jen discuss *waves vaguely* The Situation, the Simon & Schuster sale, living with our parents, and cheaply priced Texas ciders. (Hit us up, Austin EastCider!) Thanks to our editor, Cheyna Roth, for her help with this episode! A VERY SPECIAL THANKS to our donors Awesome Shades Anon and March! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: Lyssa Kay Adams - The Bromance Book Club Patricia Wrede & Carolyn Stevermer - Sorcery & Cecilia Sarah Dessen - Once and For All Robert Jackson Bennet - Foundryside /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/13729352

Episode 71 - I'm In This Picture And I Don't Like It 03/06/2020

Episode 71 - I'm In This Picture And I Don't Like It In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss career planning or the occasional impossibility thereof, catch up on thanking donors, and generally continue the discussion from Episode 70! A VERY SPECIAL THANKS to our wonderful backlog of donors! Jenn, Andrew, Lana, Kristen, Joy, Teresa, MH, Cool Shades Anon, Ruth, and Hamilton! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: Miss Fisher & The Crypt of Tears huck Wendig - Wanderers Ellen Goodlett - Rule Ellen Goodlett - Rise Emily Duncan - Wicked Saints Francisco A. Flores - Tears of the Truffle-Pig Roberto Bolaño - 2666 /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/13440050

Episode 70 - It's Been A Long, Long Time 03/06/2020

Episode 70 - It's Been A Long, Long Time In this episode, recorded on Jan. 22 after a *coughcough* three month involuntary hiatus, Bridget and Jen discuss realistic expectations, the American Dirt fiasco, the RWA fiasco, and picking up the can. Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: Amanda J. Sellet - By The Book Julia Drake - The Last True Poets Of The Sea Susan Casey - The Wave: In Pursuit of the Monsters of the Ocean aureen Johnson - The Hand On The Wall Amor Towles - A Gentleman in Moscow Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone - This Is How You Lose The Time War /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/13440011

Episode 69: Nice :) 02/27/2020

Episode 69: Nice :) Leigh Bardugo - The Ninth House /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/13328180

Episode 68: A Simple Village Goose 11/08/2019

Episode 68: A Simple Village Goose In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss self-care for authors (and agents,) burnout, and give a shoutout to nanowrimo! Thank you to John, this week’s donor! Hope you’re enjoying IN THE WOODS. CW: In this episode there is a frank discussion of health issues. Please do not send us advice, however well-intentioned! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: John Hodgman - Medallion Status Casey McQuiston - Red White & Royal Blue Julia Drake - The Last True Poets of the Sea Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone - This Is How You Lose The Time War Leigh Bardugo - The Ninth House Alexander Chee - How To Write An Autobiographical Novel /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/11959214

Episode 67: Inappropriate Seasons 10/16/2019

Episode 67: Inappropriate Seasons In which Bridget and Jen discuss the seasons of love er, publishing, query length, POV and tense, and more! Thank you to this week's donors, Kristin and Joy! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: Discussed in this episode: Publishing is Hard by Dongwon Song Susannah Clarke - Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Susannah Clarke - The Ladies of Grace Adieu Susannah Clarke - Paranesi Jenn Wilde - Queens of Geek Jurgen Tempke - A Perfidious Distortion of History Maureen Johnson - Truly Devious /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/11672381

Episode 66: Money Talks 09/28/2019

Episode 66: Money Talks In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss That Article, money in publishing, and asking questions. Thank you to this week’s donors, John, Jen, and Lana! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: Emily Suvada - This Mortal Coil Brittany Cavallaro - A Study In Charlotte Jia Tolentino - Trick Mirror Jurgen Tampke - A Perfidious Distortion of History: The Versailles Peace Treaty and the Success of the Nazis /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/11430857

Episode 65: Parental Warnings for Swears 08/30/2019

Episode 65: Parental Warnings for Swears In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss trigger warnings, author responsibilities, and rapid release scheduling, among other things. Thank you to this week’s donors, Alice, Alison, and Alyssa! Thank you also for arranging your names alliteratively. Thank you to Michael for writing in with your great writers block tip! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed in this episode: Leigh Bardugo - The Ninth House R. F. Kuang - The Poppy War Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games Leigh Bardugo - Six of Crows Rory Power - Wilder Girls Jen’s newsletter A Faster No Rick Riordan - Percy Jackson Wynonna Earp Emma Mills - Foolish Hearts W.L. Goodater - Breach Emma Mills - First & Then Spoilers for Schitt’s Creek from 55:00 onwards /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/11059907

Episode 64: Incitement & Stakes 07/28/2019

Episode 64: Incitement & Stakes In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss inciting incidents, raising the stakes, word count, comp titles, and more! This episode’s topic was suggested by John Appel on twitter! Got suggestions for beating writer’s block? We’d love to hear them for our next episode! Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Thank you to Sigrid and Daniel, our latest donors! Discussed in this episode: Lois McMaster Bujold - The Curse of Chalon Richard Kadrey - The Grand Dark Melissa Caruso - The Tethered Mage Casey McQuiston - Red White and Royal Blue Helen Hoang - The Kiss Quotient Emma Mills - First & Then Naomi Novik - Spinning Silver Knives Out (Trailer) L.M. Montgomery - Anne of Green Gables Tracy Townsend - The Nine Sarah Kuhn - Heroine Complex Juliet Grames - The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna Chuck Wendig - The Wanderers Jenny Odell - How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy Charlie Jane Anders - City in the Middle Of The Night /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/10682729

Episode 63: The Slow Realization That Nothing Makes Sense 07/10/2019

Episode 63: The Slow Realization That Nothing Makes Sense In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss world building- how to do it, what not to do, and examples of when it’s done right. Also, typos, covers, and more! This episode’s topic suggested by on twitter. Like the podcast? You can support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Thank you to Anonymous, our latest donor! Discussed in this episode: .M Waggoner - Unnatural Magic Emily Duncan - Wicked Saints Zen Cho - Sorcerer to the Crown W.L. Goodwater - Breach Ngozi Ukazu - Check Please! Dylan Meconis - Queen of the Sea N.K. Jemisin - The Fifth Season Robert Jackson Bennett - City of Stairs ois McMaster Bujold - The Vorkosigan Saga Suzanne Collins - The Hunger Games Tim Powers - The Anubis Gates Kate Racculia - Bellwether Rhapsody Ellen Raskin- The Westing Game /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/10470677

Episode 62: Cool For The Summer 06/13/2019

Episode 62: Cool For The Summer In this episode Bridget & Jen discuss what the F happens in publishing during the summer (spoiler alert: the same thing that happens every other time of the year, except it’s warmer), answer reader questions, and talk about HBO’s Chernobyl! Fun times! Thanks to Annaka, who donated this week! Discussed in this episode: Ellen Goodlett - Rise Megan Bannen - The Bird & The Blade Alan Higginbotham - Midnight In Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster Svetlana Alexeivich - Voices From Chernobyl, translated by Keith Gessen /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/10141885

Episode 61: The belt says "I Love Them" 05/31/2019

Episode 61: The belt says "I Love Them" In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss author self-advocacy, navigating cliques, and general author survivalship. Special thanks to our donors this week, L.T., Bridget, and Maria! Discussed in this episode: Lana Wood Johnson - Technically, You Started It Daniel Mallory Ortberg - Texts From Jane Eyre Blair Thornburgh - Ordinary Girls Megan Bannon - The Bird and the Blade Karen Thompson Walker - The Dreamers Cyril Hare - With A Bare Bodkin N.K. Jemisin - The Inheritance Trilogy Nick Hornby - Ten Years in the Tub Rebecca West - Black Lamb and Gray Falcon /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/10001975

Episode 60: U Up? 05/06/2019

Episode 60: U Up? In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss what the heck happened midway through episode 59, what happens when an agent moves agencies, contingency plans for becoming George RR Martin famous, and more! Thanks to this week’s donors, Felicity and Debbie! Discussed in this episode: “Sometimes things that are expensive are worse.” Goon (Movie) Laura Sebastian - Ash Princess Ellen Goodlett - Rule Alex White - A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe Rory Power - Wilder Girls Jeff Vandermeer - Annihilation Jeff Vandermeer - Finch Connie Willis - To Say Nothing Of The Dog Connie Willis - Doomsday Book Victoria Dennault - Score L.A. Witt - Rebound /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/9668609

Episode 59: Things That Matter Except When They Don't 04/23/2019

Episode 59: Things That Matter Except When They Don't In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss awards nominations, six figure deals, how much we love fake dating, Jen’s sputtering rage and fascination about Theranos, and more! This is a bit of a silly episode, for reasons that we will be able to tell you about soon, so bear with us if we’re a little tipsier than usual towards the end. Thanks to Katie and an anonymous donor for your support this episode! /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/9505172

Episode 58: Pitch Contests, How Does It Work? 03/19/2019

Episode 58: Pitch Contests, How Does It Work? In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss the merits, drawbacks, and etiquette of twitter pitch contests, talk about when to leave your agent (again??) and the relative usefulness of constant vigilance. Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) You can also support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed In This Episode: #DVPit #PitMad Jean Webster - Daddy Long Legs | | Lana Wood Johnson – Technically, You Started It | | d Lisa A. Nichols – Vessel | Oliver Sachs – An Anthropologist On Mars | | N.K. Jemisin – The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms | | Robert Jackson Bennet – City of Miracles | | Mary Robinette Kowal – The Calculating Stars | | Ling Ma – Severance | | Rebekah Wetherspoon – Rafe: A Buff Male Nanny | | Christopher Logue – War Music | | IndieBound /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/9067463

Episode 57: Dig Two Graves 03/07/2019

Episode 57: Dig Two Graves In this episode Jen and Bridget discuss SurveyGate, finding the right agenting fit as an author, and more! Thank you to this week's donor, Caroline! Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (Currently only Indiebound.) You can also support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/8920520

Episode 56: Summarize This 01/31/2019

Episode 56: Summarize This In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss synopses, writing on proposal, and how freaking cold it is outside. Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) You can also support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Thank you to Jim, our latest donor! Discussed In This Episode: Anna Todd – After | | Beth Reekles – The Kissing Booth | | Caleb Roehrig – Last Seen Leaving | | Martine Fournier Watson – The Dream Peddler | | Renee Denfeld – The Child Finder | | Elizabeth Wein – Code Name Verity | | Melissa Albert – The Hazel Wood | | Charlie Jane Anders – All The Birds In The Sky | | Marlon James – Black Leopard, Red Wolf | | Evan Connell – Mrs. Bridge | | Anna Seghers – Transit | | Laura van den Berg – Find Me | | Ling Ma – | | Maureen Johnson – The Vanishing Stair | | Leigh Bardugo – King Of Scars | | Leigh Bardugo – /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/8473661

Episode 55: Stacks Of Cash 01/18/2019

Episode 55: Stacks Of Cash In this episode we discuss New Years’ Resolutions, Jen’s intense desire for compliments, throwing away all your books, and the authors we aren’t allowed to discuss anymore. Thanks to our donors: John, March, and Anon!! Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Indiebound.) You can also support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed In This Episode: Maureen Johnson – Truly Devious | | Maureen Johnson – The Vanishing Stair | | James S. A. Corey – The Expanse collection | | Marie Kondo – The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up | | Sarah Perry Melmoth | | Tana French – In The Woods | | Tana French – The Likeness | | Tana French – Broken Harbor | | Marlon James – Black Leopard Red Wolf | | Marlon James – A Brief History of Seven Killings | | Ryder Carroll - The Bullet Journal Method | | d Geoffrey Wawro – Sons of Freedom: The Forgotten American Soldiers Who Defeated Germany in WWI | | /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/8302814

Episode 54: Now Kiss! 01/01/2019

Episode 54: Now Kiss! In this episode Bridget & Jen discuss shipping, the Tumblrpocalypse, and face mites. Happy New Year! Thank you to our donor for this episode, Randee! /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/8095523

Episode 53: "Damn You, Elon Musk" 11/18/2018

Episode 53: "Damn You, Elon Musk" In this episode, an update on the nationwide Bevi shortage, Queries & How We Do Them, and a grab bag of questions from across the internet! /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/7604024

Episode 52: R&R&R 11/18/2018

Episode 52: R&R&R In this episode, Bridget & Jen talk career longevity, branding, R&Rs, and mental health disclosure. /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/7602884

Episode 51: Worldbuilding (Go You Huskies) 10/17/2018

Episode 51: Worldbuilding (Go You Huskies) In this episode, Bridget and Jen discuss world building likes/dislikes, DM etiquette, and what it means to be tall. Thank you to this week’s donors – Martine, Claire, Will, Ally, and Julia! *at one point in this episode, Jen says Mansfield Park when she means Sense & Sensibility. Listen to the episode here. Like the podcast? Support us by buying one of the books we mention in this podcast and using our affiliate links (below! Currently only Amazon and Indiebound.) You can also support us through , by subscribing to us on iTunes, or by leaving a review! Discussed In This Episode: Jenny Han – To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before | | Mary Ann Shaffer - Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society | | Martine Fournier Watson - The Dream Peddler | | State & Main | Anna Zabo – Takeover | Creed | JRR Tolkein – The Silmarillion | | Cat Valente – Space Opera | | Elizabeth Bishop – The Perilous Gard | | (*Jen received compensation to attend this conference, though she does not get any money for talking about it.) Brian Sykes - Saxons, Vikings, & Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland | | China Mieville – October: The Story of the Russian Revolution | | /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/7212776

Episode 50: Fifty and Fabulous 08/24/2018

Episode 50: Fifty and Fabulous Like the podcast? Support us by leaving a review, rating us on iTunes, or by using our affiliate links to purchase one of the books you’ve heard us talk about. NB: Affiliate links not working this week, except for Indiebound. You can also support us through . Thank you to this week’s donors! Discussed In This Episode: Tomi Adeyemi – Children of Blood & Bone | | Justina Ireland – Dread Nation | | Connie Willis – To Say Nothing Of The Dog | | Jared Diamond – Guns, Germs, and Steel | | Simon Sebag Montefiore – The Romanovs 1613-1918 | | /episode/index/show/shippingandhandling/id/6963085

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