Highlights from our conversation with NYTimes bestselling and award-winning author Claribel A. Ortega:

• The #1 way to connect to your audience
• Claribel's tried and true mantra in publishing
• Risks and benefits of sharing your writing journey online
• Why writing your interests into your stories is a smart bet
• The joys of trolling (not the kind you may be thinking) and why she loves receiving "hate mail" from readers
• The brilliant approach to making self-promo work for you
• Why supporting the writing community is everything, and focusing on online conversation vs. discourse
• Ways to cultivate in-person community
• What it's like drafting in Windings 3...

New York Times Bestselling and award-winning author, Claribel A. Ortega is a former reporter who writes middle-grade and young adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she's not busy turning her obsession with eighties pop culture, magic, and video games into books, she’s co-hosting her podcast Bad Author Book Club. Claribel is a Marvel contributor and has been featured on Buzzfeed, Bustle, Good Morning America and Deadline. Claribel’s NYT Bestselling debut middle grade novel Ghost Squad is being made into a feature film. Her latest book Witchlings (Scholastic) was an Instant NYT and #1 Indie Bestseller. Her graphic novel Frizzy with Rose Bousamra was winner of the 2023 Pura Belpré Award for Children's Text and an Indie Bestseller.    Instagram, X and Tiktok @Claribel_Ortega Twitch @radbunnie Website at claribelortega.com