Dazzling Debuts! The Real Story Behind First Novels | Book Lounge by Libby Season 3 Episode 1

Welcome to Season 3 of Book Lounge by Libby! We’re kicking things off with a celebration of debut authors; the moment when years of writing, revising, and hoping finally turn into a book on shelves. 

Joe is joined by Casey Scieszka, Katie Bernet, and Leia Ham to talk about what it really takes to publish a first novel. From early drafts and rejections to finding an agent, navigating edits, and seeing their books in the world for the first time, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the debut experience. 

They also dive into the emotional side of publishing: imposter syndrome, creative pressure, and the surreal moment of becoming a “published author.” Whether you’re an aspiring writer or just love discovering new voices, this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at where every author’s journey begins. 

Make sure you’re following the show so you don’t miss our next episode where we give you debut recommendations! 

Who’s in this episode: 

• Casey Scieszka - website
  • The Fountain
• Katie Bernet - website
  • Beth is Dead
• Leia Ham - website
  • The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia

Time stamps:  

00:00:00 Title  
00:00:23 Updates for Season 3
00:02:26 Intro
00:10:13 Sharing your book with the world
00:28:15 Getting into book two
00:42:17 What do you want most for your first release?
00:48:35 Does being a published author feel different?
00:52:04 Lightning Round
00:59:43 Farewell to our debut guests
01:00:10 Outro 

Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can add these titles to their digital collections for free in OverDrive Marketplace and Kanopy. Check out our Cumulative List for the whole season! 

Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog! 

We hope you enjoy this episode of Book Lounge by Libby. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can watch the video version of our show on the Libby App YouTube channel. Keep up with us on social media by following the Libby App on Instagram!  

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