Please welcome author Emily Dangremond to the show today! Talking with her is always a joy and I could seriously talk to her for hours on end about trees, consciousness, and more. I hope you enjoy hearing what she has to say and it gives your day a boost. You are here. You are...
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Author-Illustrator Jena Benton on Oral Storytelling, Jungle Fowl, and More!
Today’s guest is author-illustrator Jena Benton. Talking with her was so inspiring, I had to stop myself from writing down everything she said as a quote to share. Please enjoy her love of language, books, Alaska, community, and creativity. Some Highlights: The impact teachers can have early on, whether to encourage or discourage our...
Stacks of Book Recommendations and Owning Your Author Identity with Author Ellen Leventhal
Please put your hands together for kidlit author Ellen Leventhal! Ellen is an author and educator who features other kidlit creators on her blog. She is also a delightful human! Welcome, Ellen! 💃💃💃💃 Some Highlights: Pull ideas from your experiences, even when they don’t seem important at the time they’re happening. Using stories to...
Writing for Joy, Opening Doors to Community, and Hannukah Pajamakkahs with Author Dara Henry
Please welcome Dara Henry to this episode of Getting to the Heart of Why We Write! Her latest picture book, Hanukkah Pajamakkahs is out at a store near you now. It was so fun hearing about her community involvement and the connections and joy within the writing community. I hope you enjoy! Some Highlights:...
Leaning on Writing Community, Pursuing What You Love, and Ladybugs in Space with Author Melissa Trempe
Please give a warm welcome to kidlit author Melissa Trempe in today’s episode! Her picture book, Ladybug Launch: Inspired by A True Story of Chinitas in Space co written with Dr. Natalia Ojeda and illustrated by Manuela Montoya came out earlier this year. Enjoy! Some Highlights: The joy of morning writing when the world...
Butterfly Gardening, Silent Films, and Butternut Squash with Author Jill Dana
Hello and Happy Book Birthday to today’s kidlit author and extra special bonus episode guest, Jill Dana! Her latest book, Butternut and the Flying Butter illustrated by Anusha Santosh releases TODAY (September 24, 2024)!🎂🎉 Some Highlights: The origin of the name for “German chocolate cake.” What is butterfly gardening? Paying attention to what inspires...
Alternate Timelines, Writing for Laughs, and Double Debuts with Author-Illustrator Jenny Alvarado
Please put your digital hands together for kidlit author-illustrator Jenny Alvarado! Her two debut genres came out within the last 10 days and I’m sure she’s in debut overload at the moment. Fortunately, we recorded this months ago! I hope you enjoy hearing our conversation about craft, art, story, inspiration, and alternate timelines.🎧💃 Some...
Shared Humanity, Powerful Speeches, and Stories of The Unhoused with Author Roxanne Chester
Please welcome my friend and fellow Picture Book Peep, author Roxanne Chester! If you’re a writer looking for a bit of encouragement, light, and connection, look no further! Some Highlights: The joy of community and connection within the writing world. How stories unite all of us with shared feelings. Finding a way to forgive...
Rocky Mountain Community and Sartorial Librarians with Author Paul Vinelli
Please give a big welcome to one of my favorite kidlit people and dear friend, Paul Vinelli! Some Highlights: Bereavement books and crossing genres. Collaborating with an artist to bring your book to life. Physically staging the scenes of your book. Taking a book to an art show. Finding creative purpose. Creating the story...
Relinquishing Control, Bilingual Writing, and Boost of Encouragement with Author-Illustrator Lea Maryanow
Put your hands together for kidlit author-illustrator Lea Maryanow! I met Lea through 12×12 and had already unknowingly read her beautiful book nearly a year before! I hope you enjoy our chat and hearing some much needed words of encouragement (speaking for myself here😂). For a boost to your writing week or season in...