EP#176 Rainsong: Interview with Author, Lila Reisen

Welcome to the No, I Know Podcast, where we shed light on what we think we know. Since 2004,  I (Ilyana) have been performing  audio books and have talked on this podcast about what its like, definitely a marathon not a sprint!  Every narrator has their own way of connecting with a book and at the end of the day hopefully stays true to the author and story they are telling. On this podcast we have occasionally spoken to some of the authors I have worked with, some all the way from South Africa and todays guest who is in California! Lila Reisen,  Daughter of Afghan and Australian immigrants, Lila was raised in Bloomington, Indiana. In 2017, Lila graduated with a Master's degree in English literature and linguistics from the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Her debut YA novel, Free Radicals, was published in 2023. Her sophomore YA thriller, Rainsong, will be published by Knopf Books for Young Readers in 2026. Lila is a pluviophile who lives in sunny Southern California with her husband and toddler. We interview Lila and then she turns the tables and interviews us! Topics we will cover: *How did Lila become a writer? *How did she land on this genre of book? *What is her vision for her books and how does she want audiences to connect with them? *What was her inspiration for Rainsong? The location was like another character in this story, what is your connection to this area? The lead character, Zayn, what does she represent to you? *Lets talk about kickboxing/martial arts and your connection to it and how it appears in the book for main charcater Zayn. Lila asks Ilyana about: -- What was it like working on the Twilight books? How did you receive that role? -- What is your process for approaching a new manuscript? -- Ilyana gives her tips and tricks for vocal stamina and health in public speaking scenarios.  -- What is the most rewarding piece of feedback you've received from an audiobook listener? -- Did you have a fav section of Rainsong you really enjoyed narrating? *All music and lyrics in this episode written by Ilyana Kadushin and James Harrell.