What happens when a bestselling YA author bets on herself right as the world shuts down?

In this episode of the Women in Entertainment Podcast, Stephanie Garber takes us behind the scenes of her first adult novel, Alchemy of Secrets, a project she sold in early 2020 and spent five years bringing to life. Known for the beloved Caraval universe, Stephanie shares the honest, strategic reasons she made the leap into adult fiction along with the creative freedom that came from writing a technicolor, noir-tinged Los Angeles filled with hidden magic, treasure hunts, and hope.

Stephanie reflects on growing up loving movies, building LA as a living, breathing character, and why she believes adult stories can, and should, still be fun. She also opens up about craft: why she no longer believes in “standalones with series potential,” how romance beats shaped her longer arcs, and what it means to write with intention rather than fear.

The conversation takes an exciting turn as Stephanie recounts the unforgettable moment she learned that Julie Plec, the visionary behind The Vampire Diaries, had read Alchemy of Secrets. From fangirling to forging a partnership with Universal, Stephanie shares why this adaptation journey has left her feeling optimistic, supported, and deeply grateful.

Listen to learn:

- Why Alchemy of Secrets took five years and why that time mattered

- How career strategy and creative passion can coexist

- What makes Los Angeles the perfect setting for an adult treasure hunt

- How to think about series vs. standalones without breaking your heart

- Why hope is the one ingredient Stephanie always writes into her stories

The Women in Entertainment Podcast presents thoughtful conversations with leaders across entertainment from film and television, to media and gaming, and everything in between; as we talk about what it takes to make your mark in the industry, lessons these incredible people have learned along the way, and how they have found their way in an ever-changing environment.

With in-depth conversations and pre-submitted listener questions, each episode provides candid advice for navigating today’s entertainment industry, giving listeners an inside look at how key players got their start, and guidance for building the necessary toolkit to bring careers to life in film, TV, music, theater, graphics, writing, animation, and beyond.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Listen on Audible: ⁠https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a85...

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