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Bestselling YA fantasy author and native Floridian Bethany Baptiste takes us inside her extraordinary journey—from dropping out of high school at 16 to becoming a nationally recognized voice in young adult fantasy. Her debut novel, The Poisons We Drink—described as Practical Magic meets Breaking Bad—follows a young witch brewing love potions in Washington, D.C., where magic, politics, and power collide. Born out of Baptiste’s frustrations with the 2016 election and social justice issues, the book carved out bold storytelling rooted in identity, resilience, and truth.

But Baptiste’s career quickly became entwined with larger cultural battles. Her Disney/Pixar Lightyear tie-in novel, which featured queer representation in Buzz Lightyear’s world, famously angered Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, sparking his public feud with Disney over LGBTQ+ inclusion. Many point to this flashpoint as part of the escalating tensions that would later shape Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law. Baptiste also became caught up in the Cait Corrain review-bombing scandal, in which Corrain—a white author—used fake Goodreads accounts to boost her own book while leaving one-star reviews to drag down debut authors of color, including Baptiste. The fallout highlighted how bias and bad-faith attacks in publishing disproportionately harm marginalized voices.

Through it all, Baptiste shares with unflinching honesty the obstacles she’s faced as a Black author in publishing, her breakthrough moment after 25 rejections, and the craft practices that sustain her: writing emotional beats over plot points, treating world-building as character-building, and reframing productivity around time instead of word count. She also emphasizes the importance of community—fellow authors, beta readers, and industry allies—who helped her navigate both creative and systemic challenges.

Listen in for a conversation that blends craft, controversy, and courage—and walk away with practical strategies to strengthen your own writing practice.

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🎙️ Craft Chat Chronicles with J.D. Myall
Candid conversations on writing, publishing, and creative life — featuring bestselling authors, MFA students, and writers at every stage of the journey.

About J.D. Myall
J.D. Myall is the co-chair of Drexel University’s MFA Alumni Association and a publishing and library professional. She is the creator and host of Craft Chat Chronicles, where she interviews authors, agents, and industry insiders about the art and business of writing.

Her work has appeared in Ms. Magazine, Writer’s Digest, and HuffPost. Her debut novel, Heart’s Gambit, releases with Wednesday Books/Macmillan in February 2026.

When she’s not conjuring magic, murder, and mayhem on the page, J.D. mentors emerging writers through workshops and alumni programs, fostering community among aspiring and published authors alike.

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