Podcast appearances and mentions of Junior Library Guild

Are you ready for the next YA book series to completely obsess over!? That's what's in store for you when you pick up Lauren Magaziner's latest book, The Incorruptibles! Lauren stopped by the show this week to share her background as an author, working on this (among many other) projects, and some of her favorite memories writing this book. Check it out!   About Lauren Magaziner Lauren is the internationally bestselling author of the Case Closed series, The Mythics series, the upcoming series The Incorruptibles (June 10, 2025), and three other stand-alone books for middle grade readers. Her books are available in 12 languages, have been Junior Library Guild selections, have been on the Indie Next List, been an Amazon bestseller, earned starred reviews, been on state lists, and have been optioned for a TV movie with Nickelodeon. She has also contributed short stories to Storyworks magazine and a middle grade mystery anthology called Super Puzzletastic Mysteries. Lauren grew up in New Hope, Pennsylvania. After receiving a B.A. in Creative Writing and Philosophy at Hamilton College, Lauren Magaziner worked on two delightful Scholastic magazines, where many of her coworkers didn't believe her last name was real. She currently lives in Philadelphia, where she writes full time. About 'The Incorruptibles' Fiora Barrowling lives in a world where sorcerers rule over humans. After surviving an encounter with The Radiance—the very worst of the sorcerers—she's whisked away to the incredible Incorruptibles (“Inc”) Academy, a school for resistance fighters in training. But most of the other students think Fiora hasn't earned her place there, and when things start to go wrong and it seems the sorcerers have a spy in the academy, all eyes are on Fiora. With all odds stacked against her, can Fiora prove that she belongs?   Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload.   With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale)   Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life!    At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care.    Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com  

In our conversation, Lindsay Zier-Vogel lays out the creative threads she wove together to create her second novel, The Fun Times Brigade, which included some people's lacklustre response to her work writing children's books, the silly (and often inappropriate) songs her husband has been making up as long as she's known him, grieving the loss of creative partners, and the overwhelming pressure and isolation of new motherhood, for which she borrowed inspiration from Lydia Kiesling's novel The Golden State. We talked about paying literary homage to those messy newborn days, why her breastpump scene was essential to the text, and her fascinating research for the book, which included interviews with Canadian children's entertainment legends Sharon & Bram, and THE Fred Penner (who wrote new songs for every single one of his shows!). We talk about whether or not children are discerning, the majesty of Sharon and Lois's costumes, and also reflect back on how we met twenty years ago in the UofT Creative Writing MA Program, when we thought we knew everything but in fact knew very little at all (especially about formatting dialogue!!). From acclaimed author Lindsay Zier-Vogel comes an insightful and heart-rending exploration of motherhood, grief, and the search for identity.Amy is a new mother, navigating the fog of those bewildering early days and struggling with a role she feels ill-prepared for. It's the first time in a decade that she hasn't been living the busy life of an acclaimed children's musician, and her sense of self is unravelling. To make matters worse, her bandmates have seemingly abandoned her.In flashbacks, we see Amy's journey to success—her stumblings as a solo singer-songwriter and her eventual rise to fame as a member of the Fun Times Brigade. But as the novel progresses—and Amy grapples with a devastating loss—we come to understand how precarious definitions of artistic success can be.The Fun Times Brigade examines the enduring challenges of reconciling being an artist with being a mother. It is also a timely reflection on forgiveness and what it really means to have a good life in a world that demands we have—and be—it all, and asserts that amidst the chaos, we can find our way back to our genuine selves.LINDSAY ZIER-VOGEL is a Toronto-based author and the creator of the internationally beloved Love Lettering Project. After studying contemporary dance, Zier-Vogel received her MA in Creative Writing from the University of Toronto. She is the author of the acclaimed novel Letters to Amelia, and her first picture book, Dear Street, was a Junior Library Guild pick, a Canadian Children's Book Centre book of the year, and was nominated for a Forest of Reading Blue Spruce Award in 2024. The Fun Times Brigade is her second novel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit kerryreads.substack.com/subscribe

What do YOU really know about Climate Science? What if your kids could explain it to you in an easy-to-understand way? That's the premise of Ruth Spiro's latest book 'How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up" and her entire 'how to explain' series! Ruth stops by the show this week to discuss her latest books and how we can empower kids and use their love of knowledge to help explain things to us, grown-ups, which we typically might not be able to wrap our mind around. It's a great conversation and I can't wait for you to hear it, enjoy! About Ruth Spiro Ruth Spiro is the author of more than 30 children's books, with over one million copies in print worldwide. Her bestselling Baby Loves Science board books are the groundbreaking originals that introduce big ideas to the littlest listeners in an age-appropriate and engaging style. The series has been praised by the Los Angeles Times, NPR, TODAY, Popular Science, Working Mother, and more. Fans who have publicly shared their love of her books include former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, Chelsea Clinton, and Chance the Rapper. The enthusiastic response to the Baby Loves Science books inspired a new picture book series perfect for early elementary readers, How to Explain Science to a Grown-Up. In addition, Ruth is the author of picture books including Made by Maxine, Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever, Love Grows, and One Small Spark: A Tikkun Olam Story, which received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus. Ruth graduated with a B.S. in Communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and earned an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago. She worked for advertising agencies in both account management and broadcast production, and coordinated a large-scale research grant at DePaul University funded by the National Institutes of Health. Her articles and essays have been published in FamilyFun, The Writer, CHILD, and Chicago Parent. Ruth's stories have also been included in popular anthologies, notably The Right Words at the Right Time, edited by Marlo Thomas, and several Chicken Soup for the Soul titles. Ruth's work has won awards and recognition from the National Science Teaching Association, the Mathical Book Prize, Junior Library Guild, Science Friday, Bank Street College of Education, Illinois Reads, Purdue Engineering, Willamette Writers, and Writer's Digest. A frequent speaker at schools and conferences, Ruth's previous appearances include Windy City Live on ABC-TV, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, World Science Festival, Chicago Tribune Printer's Row LitFest, Children's Festival of Stories, and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She hopes her books inspire kids to observe the world, ask questions, and when it comes to their futures, DREAM BIG!   About 'How to Explain Climate Science to a Grown-Up' Do you want to know a secret? Sometimes grown-ups need YOU to explain things to THEM. Like climate science! In this tongue-in-cheek guide, an in-the-know narrator instructs kid readers in the fine art of explaining climate science to a grown-up. Both children and their adults learn: The difference between weather and climate. How climate scientists collect data. What causes climate change. What we can do to reverse course and repair the planet. Fun and fact-filled, the How to Explain Science to a Grown-Up series will empower kid experts to explore complex scientific concepts with any grown-up who will listen. Make sure to check out the Dtalkspodcast.com website! Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast! Nostalgia is something everyone loves and Empire Toys in Keller Texas is on nostalgia overload.   With toys and action figures from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and today, Empire Toys is a one-stop-shop for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reclaim what was once yours (but likely sold at a garage sale)   Check out Empire Toys on Facebook, Instagram, or at TheEmpireToys.com AND Thanks to Self Unbound for this episode of the podcast: Your quality of life: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, is a direct reflection of the level of abundant energy, ease, and connection your nervous system has to experience your life!    At Self Unbound, your nervous system takes center stage as we help unbind your limited healing potential through NetworkSpinal Care.    Access the first steps to your Unbound journey by following us on Facebook, Instagram, or at www.selfunbound.com

Send us a textIn today's episode, Alex and Tara chat with prolific writer, Kasie West, author of YA books such as The Fill-In Boyfriend, P.S. I Like You, Listen to Your Heart, and her newest: Better Than Revenge. Her books have been named ALA-YALSA Quick Picks, Junior Library Guild selections, and ALA-YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults books. When not writing, Kasie loves binge-watching television shows, reading, and traveling.  Listen as they discuss everything about her new book, Better Than Revenge, how her teens help her write for teens, how she can craft such unique and interesting subplots, her biggest goals for the future, and her advice for aspiring writers. Due to character limitations, please find a full version of the show notes with applicable content warnings and links on our website at: https://www.tarakross.com/podcast-1→  Connect with Kasie on her Instagram or visit her website → Buy Better Than Revenge HEREThe Hope Prose Podcast's InstagramAlex's Instagram Tara's Instagram

Here are some highlights from our conversation with NYTimes-bestselling, award-winning author Jasmine Warga!: Excavating not simply WHAT your characters want, but WHY they want it The necessity of internal contractions  Becoming a collector of ideas and moments throughout the drafting and revision process How images drive her plotting process The role of alchemy in storytelling The consistent theme at the root of her stories, and writing for our inner 10-year-olds The art of crafting the twist Jasmine Warga is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of middle grade novels Other Words For Home, The Shape of Thunder, A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall and A Rover's Story. Other Words For Home earned multiple awards, including a John Newbery Honor, a Walter Honor for Young Readers, and a Charlotte Huck Honor. The Shape of Thunder was a School Library Journal and Bank Street best book of the year, a finalist for the Barnes & Noble Children's and YA Book Award, and has been named to several state award reading lists. A Rover's Story, her latest novel, was an instant New York Times bestseller, a Indie Next List and a Junior Library Guild selection, and was named a best book of the year by Publishers Weekly and The Washington Post. She is also the author of young adult novel, My Heart and Other Black Holes, which has been translated into over twenty different languages. Originally from Cincinnati, she now lives in the Chicago-area with her family in a house filled with books.

Episode 435 - Amy True - From Swoony Romance Novels to Young Adult Historical NovelAmy Trueblood grew up in Southern California only ten minutes from Disneyland which sparked an early interest in storytelling.Her debut YA Historical novel, NOTHING BUT SKY was a Junior Library Guild selection and was called, “An action-packed first novel exploring the post-World War I époque with visceral period detail” by Publishers Weekly. Her second novel, ACROSS A BROKEN SHORE, also a JLG selection, was named a Best Feminist Book in Children's Literature by the American Library Association. It also won the Gold Medal for Historical Fiction in both the Independent Publisher Book Awards and Moonbeam Children's Awards.Under the name Amy True, she writes swoony romance novels with both heat and heart. The first book in her new Ivy Falls series, Meet Me in Ivy Falls, debuts this summer with another book following in late fall.Now living in Arizona, Amy spends most of her time trying to stay out of the sizzling heat which means hiding in cool little coffee shops, sipping on her favorite iced tea, and dreaming up her next novel.Amy also writes as Amy TrueNew Book: Meet Me in Ivy FallsBook 1: Ivy Falls SeriesIn the gorgeous small town of Ivy Falls, Torran is putting all her passion into building her new career in house restoration, trying desperately to help the town keep its identity and charm. She has no time for love but when her childhood sweetheart, Beck, comes back to town and outbids her on her dream house at auction, sparks fly. This man broke her heart. Can she ever trust him again?For Beck, Ivy Falls means trauma and loss. He knows his sudden departure hurt Torran badly but there are things she doesn't know. He never intended to return to Ivy Falls so why is he there, bidding on his childhood home? His feelings for Torran are as strong as ever but Torran means Ivy Falls and Beck can't go back there. Can he find a way to heal his past and find his future?https://www.amytruebloodauthor.com/Support the show___https://livingthenextchapter.com/podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

During this episode of On the Air with Florenza, Margot Harrison co-hosts to discuss her newly released debut adult novel, The Midnight Club. "The Midnight Club" (September 2024) is Margot's adult novel, besides her four young adult thrillers. The Killer in Me, her initial YA novel, was chosen as an Indies Introduce pick and made it to the finals of the Vermont Book Award. It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly as well. Her second book, The Glare (Little, Brown, 2020), was highly praised by Kirkus Reviews and Booklist. We Made It All Up (Little, Brown, July 2022), her third book, was selected by the Junior Library Guild and made it to the finals of the Vermont Book Award. Her fourth book, Only She Came Back, was selected by the Junior Library Guild and acclaimed by the School Library Journal for its gripping and timely plot. She lives in Vermont and spends too much time reviewing vintage YA books and making skits about her weird childhood on TikTok. She also occasionally tweets and chronicles her reading on Instagram. Margot loves hearing from readers! #GraydonHouseBooks #Margot_Harrison #MargotFHarrison #Florenzadeniselee #onetheairwithflorenza #books #authorinterview #psychologoicalthriller #crimefiction #crime #booksofinstagram #authorinterview #gettingtoknowtheauthor #thestorybehindthestory #WordstoPonder #TimeTravelNovels

During this episode of On the Air with Florenza, Margot Harrison co-hosts to discuss her newly released debut adult novel, The Midnight Club. "The Midnight Club" (September 2024) is Margot's adult novel, besides her four young adult thrillers. The Killer in Me, her initial YA novel, was chosen as an Indies Introduce pick and made it to the finals of the Vermont Book Award. It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly as well. Her second book, The Glare (Little, Brown, 2020), was highly praised by Kirkus Reviews and Booklist. We Made It All Up (Little, Brown, July 2022), her third book, was selected by the Junior Library Guild and made it to the finals of the Vermont Book Award. Her fourth book, Only She Came Back, was selected by the Junior Library Guild and acclaimed by the School Library Journal for its gripping and timely plot. She lives in Vermont and spends too much time reviewing vintage YA books and making skits about her weird childhood on TikTok. She also occasionally tweets and chronicles her reading on Instagram. Margot loves hearing from readers! #GraydonHouseBooks #Margot_Harrison #MargotFHarrison #Florenzadeniselee #onetheairwithflorenza #books #authorinterview #psychologoicalthriller #crimefiction #crime #booksofinstagram #authorinterview #gettingtoknowtheauthor #thestorybehindthestory #WordstoPonder #TimeTravelNovels

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio, hosts Horace Mo and Erica Valdez bring together diverse voices to discuss current efforts to address climate change. Horace Mo speaks with Ann E Burg, a celebrated author known for compelling historical novels for young readers, about her newly published novel “Force of Nature–A Novel of Rachel Carson” which opens a new door for readers to experience the life of Carson, a well-known environmental pioneer in the US, by reading her field notes and Ann's innovative writing. Erica Valdez discusses the American fossil fuel divestment movement, highlighting the work of younger generations. She has a conversation with Aly Horton, another student taking the initiative to promote the fossil fuel divestment movement on their campus at Northern Arizona University. In the Resilience Corner, Tamara Staton speaks on mastering the banjo and how this uniquely relates to addressing climate change. Finally, we have a Good News story from Peterson Toscano regarding South Africa's energy supply. Ann E Burg Explores Rachel Carson's Life In this episode, author Ann E Burg dives into her latest work, “Force of Nature.” This novel is inspired by Rachel Carson's groundbreaking environmental book Silent Spring. It is beautifully illustrated by Sophie Blackall. After World War II, DDT became a common pesticide in neighborhoods and farms; however, it had dire consequences for ecosystems, entering the food chain and harming various species. This alarming situation inspired Rachel Carson to write and publish her now-famous book, “Silent Spring”, in 1962. Ann E Burg tells us how Carson's book "explored DDT but also started with a fable for tomorrow. It suggested what life would be like if spring came and no birds were there to sing."   Ann E. Burg considers Rachel Carson a role model for her scientific rigor and environmental advocacy. Carson's ability to illuminate the beauty and complexity of nature-inspired Burg to see the world differently. This novel, “Force of Nature,” is not merely a recounting of Carson's life but an immersive experience of her world. Burg hopes readers will see the world through Carson's eyes and appreciate the interconnectedness of all life. About Ann E Burg Ann E Burg's debut novel, “All the Broken Pieces,” was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Jefferson Cup award winner, and an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, among its many honors. Her subsequent novels in verse have garnered multiple awards and starred reviews. “Serafina's Promise” was named an ALA Notable, a Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner, and an NAACP Image Award finalist. “Unbound” won the New York Historical Society Children's History Book Prize, the Christopher Award, and an Arnold Adoff Poetry Honor. “Flooded–A Requiem for Johnstown” was a Bank Street College Claudia Lewis Award winner, a Bank Street College Best Children's Book (with outstanding merit), and a Junior Library Guild selection. Before becoming a full-time writer, Burg worked as an English teacher for ten years. She lives in Rhinebeck, New York, with her family. To learn more about Ann E Burg, visit her online at anneburg.com The Student-Led Drive for Fossil Fuel Divestment Erica Valdez discusses the fossil fuel divestment movement, highlighting the efforts on her campus, Northern Arizona University (NAU). Climate change is a human-caused phenomenon in which the fossil fuel industry plays a significant role. Erica dives into what divestment is and how it may be one of the most effective steps that institutions can take to slow climate change. Erica invites Aly Horton, president of Fossil Free NAU, a student-led group demanding complete divestment. Aly explains the club's efforts and goals to hold the university accountable to its environmental commitments.  Aly and Erica also discuss recent pushback from the university administration. Nevertheless, Fossil Free NAU remains determined to continue its mission because it is just a small chapter of an international movement. Although it may be difficult, many institutions have already divested from fossil fuels. Aly shares inspiring advice to organizers worldwide who are working towards divestment. Resilience Corner For this month's Resilience Corner, Tamara Staton draws parallels between her desire to master the banjo and the overwhelming task of addressing climate change. When practicing banjo, she faces common emotional barriers like fear, perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and information overload. We also face these barriers when we talk about climate change. Tamara discusses why it is important to recognize these feelings, encouraging listeners to embrace imperfections and persistent efforts. To learn more about building resilience in the face of climate challenges, visit the Resilience Hub. You can also email Tamara at radio @ citizensclimate.org or text or leave a message at 619-512-9646. Good News! Peterson Toscano shares a good news story from Limpopo Province, South Africa, where earlier this month he was staying in a game reserve. He reflects on the progress in South Africa's energy sector since his previous stay, highlighting the severe scheduled power outages known as load-shedding issues caused by unreliable coal-powered plants. He notes that significant changes have occurred since President Cyril Ramaphosa raised the licensing threshold for private power generation, leading to over 1,000 registered renewable energy projects. These projects, primarily solar and wind, are now providing nearly 4,500 megawatts of new capacity, significantly reducing power outages and transforming the country's energy landscape. Take a Meaningful Next Step Each month, we will suggest meaningful, achievable, and measurable next steps for you to consider. We recognize that action is an antidote to despair. If you are struggling with what you can do, visit our Action Page Listener Survey We want to hear your feedback about this episode. After you listen, feel free to fill in this short survey. Your feedback will help us make new decisions about the show's content, guests, and style. You can fill it out anonymously and answer whichever questions you like. You can also reach us by email: radio@citizensclimatelobby.org  Special Thanks to the following people and groups for the ways they promote us through social media: Robert D. Evans, Pete Marsh, Bill Nash, 1.5, EG Hibdon, Mats Söderlund, Justin D'Atri, and last month's guest, Rob Hopkins.Earthbased.Soul, FCWC, CCL Alameda, Alaska, and the CCL Young Conservative Caucus.  We Want to Hear from You Email: radio @ citizensclimate.org Text/Voicemail: 619-512-9646 Production Team: Written and produced by Horace Mo, Erica Valdez, with assistance from Peterson Toscano. Technical Support: Ricky Bradley, and Brett Cease. Social Media Assistance: Flannery Winchester. Music is provided by epidemicsound.com Social Media: Follow us on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok.

HILMAA WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NEW GEORGESWORDS BY KATE SCELSAMUSIC BY ROBERT M. JOHANSONDIRECTED BY MORGAN GREENJune 4–23, 2024The early 20th century queer mystic and artist Hilma af Klint channeled hundreds of paintings through messages from otherworldly forces, hoping to communicate the mysteries of the universe. Only recently rediscovered and hailed as one of the first-ever abstract artists, she worked in obscurity during a time that was not yet ready to receive her message. This contemporary opera – with a score that mixes genres including opera, rock, pop, and musical theater– wrestles with the hubris and humility that fueled one woman's spiritual quest.Kate Scelsa – BOOKS: “Fans of the Impossible Life” (HarperCollins, 2015 Indie Next and Junior Library Guild pick), “Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches”(HarperCollins), “Luminary” (Simon&Schuster), “The Mortal Year” (forthcoming from Abrons). THEATER: “Everyone's Fine With Virginia Woolf” (published by Dramatists Play Service, produced by Elevator Repair Service), New Georges 2017 Audrey Resident, Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation grant recipient for playwriting, performing member of Elevator Repair Service Theater since 2002 (“Gatz,” “The Sound and the Fury,” “The Select”). MUSIC: The Witch Ones (eponymous album) in collab with Robert M. Johanson and Gavin Price. For Mom.LEARN MORE ABOUT HILMA AF KLINT: https://wilmatheater.org/blog/dramaturgy-hilma/FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: https://wilmatheater.org/event/hilma/

Award-winning author Ann E. Burg discusses her latest book Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson.ANN E. BURG's debut novel, All the Broken Pieces, was named an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, a Jefferson Cup award winner and an IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, among its many honors. All of her subsequent novels in verse have garnered multiple awards and starred reviews. Serafina's Promise was named an ALA Notable, a Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner, and an NAACP Image Award finalist. Unbound was the winner of the New-York Historical Society Children's History Book Prize, the Christopher Award, and an Arnold Adoff Poetry Honor. Flooded was a Bank Street College Claudia Lewis Award winner, a Bank Street College Best Children's Book (with outstanding merit), and a Junior Library Guild selection. Burg worked as an English teacher for ten years before becoming a full-time writer. She lives in Rhinebeck, New York, with her family. Visit her online at annburg.com.

Cindy Baldwin is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Where the Watermelons Grow, Beginners Welcome, The Stars of Whistling Ridge, and No Matter the Distance (a Junior Library Guild selection). Her book Where the Watermelons Grow is the Hillsboro Reads 2024 selection for young readers. Find Where the Watermelons Grow in the catalog here: https://wccls.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S143C3312070 Hillsboro Reads 2024 runs from March 10th-14th. Learn more about Hillsboro Reads selections and events here: https://www.hillsboro-oregon.gov/our-city/departments/library/events-and-programs/hillsboro-reads

Debut author of a Jane Austen meets To All The Boys I've Loved Before tale, Priyanka Taslim joins us on Am I Write to talk about beloved retellings, keeping them fresh, and how she conquered those dark nights of doubt. Get some great resources and look forward to her upcoming projects!Resourcespriyankataslim.comhttps://linktr.ee/priyankataslimhttps://twitter.com/bhootbabehttps://www.instagram.com/bhootbabeAbout PriyankaPriyanka Taslim is a writer, educator, and lifelong New Jersey resident. Having grown up in a bustling Bangladeshi diaspora community, surrounded by her mother's entire clan and many aunties of no relation, her writing often features families, communities, and all the drama therein.Priyanka tells all kinds of stories about Bangladeshi characters. Her writing usually stars spunky Bengali heroines finding their place in the world...and a little swoony romance, too. THE LOVE MATCH, out now from Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is her debut YA novel and has been praised in mediums such as Teen Vogue, USA Today, Pop Culturalist and more. It was a Junior Library Guild gold standard selection and one of Amazon's best young adult novels of January 2023. Her adult debut, FROM MUMBAI, WITH LOVE, will be published by St. Martin's Griffin in 2025, and she has future novels in the works with both publishers.NEW MERCH SHOP! Be a PROUD Word Wizard.https://www.etsy.com/shop/LlamaDoodle/

Mia Wenjen blogs at PragmaticMom.com. She is also the co-creator and president of Read Your World, celebrating Multicultural Children's Book Day. Her debut picture book, Sumo Joe (Lee and Low, 2019) was selected as a Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year. Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World releases spring of 2023 through Barefoot Books and is a Junior Library Guild selection. The Slants (Red Comet Press) and Boxer Baby (Eifrig Publishing) releases in 2024. Follow her @pragmaticmom on social media.

EPISODE 1773: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Elana K. Arnold, author of THE BLOOD YEARS, about book banning, book burning and what we can learn from Second World War books about good and evilELANA K. ARNOLD is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children's books, including the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat and its sequels. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalog of feminist titles for young readers. Elana teaches in Hamline University's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and lives in Southern California with her family and menagerie of pets. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.

Award-winning authors Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko's co-authored book Dogtown showcases how fiction can help instill empathy and compassion, especially in fun stories that involve animals. They discuss the immeasurable and inspiring power of literature. Their work is a testament to the fact that stories can have a meaningful impact on the human experience. Dogtown encourages us to take the time to stop and consider the world around us and to become more aware and empathetic members of our community. Katherine Applegate is the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of beloved and award-winning books for young readers, including Odder, Home of the Brave, Crenshaw, Wishtree, Willodeen, and The One and Only Ivan, for which she won the Newbery Medal. She is also the author of the Animorphs series, and a beginning reader series, Doggo and Pupper, illustrated by Charlie Alder. Katherine Applegate lives in Southern California with her family. Gennifer Choldenko's best known Tales from Alcatraz series has been called “A cornerstone series in contemporary children's literature.” Al Capone Does My Shirts―the first book in the series―was a Newbery Honor Book and the recipient of twenty other awards. All four books in the series were Junior Library Guild selections and garnered many starred reviews. Gennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her loyal husband and naughty dog. Transcription: You can read the transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review (coming soon)⁠. Order a Copy: Dogtown on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠⁠⁠. Resources: You can find out more about Katherine Applegate at https://katherineapplegate.com/. You can find out more about Gennifer Choldenko at https://www.choldenko.com/. Discussion Topics: Katherine and Gennifer talk about: Their love of dogs, writing, and, of course, Dogtown Katherine's struggles with sitting down to write and how she uses the Pomodoro method to help her get started How they connected over their love for middle grade readers and collaborated on writing Dogtown Research for Dogtown, including volunteering at a pet shelter and training dogs for therapy work How the idea of robot dogs versus real dogs came about for the story The main characters Metalhead and Chance and what they represent Wallace West's illustrations in the book and how he brought it to life with his quirky and original style The importance of fiction in developing empathy and compassion, and how stories about animals (like Dogtown) can inspire kids to cherish and appreciate their furry companions --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/support

In this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Katherine Marsh!Katherine Marsh is an award-winning author of novels for middle-grade readers including The Lost Year (coming January 2023!); Nowhere Boy, winner of the Middle East Book Award; The Night Tourist, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery; Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, a New York Times Notable; and The Door By The Staircase, a Junior Library Guild selection. Katherine grew up in Yonkers, New York in the home of her Ukrainian grandma who taught her to love stories and borscht. A former journalist and managing editor of The New Republic, Katherine lives in Washington, DC with her husband, two children and an astonishing array of pets.https://katherinemarsh.com/https://www.instagram.com/katherinemarshauthorBuy  The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Faminehttps://bookshop.org/p/books/the-lost-year-katherine-marsh/18231657?ean=9781250313607and check out the rest of her books here:https://bookshop.org/contributors/katherine-marshSCBWI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/SCBWI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scbwiBecome an SCBWI member today: https://www.scbwi.org/join-scbwi/Shop the SCBWI Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/SCBWISupport the show

In our animated discussion, Martin Lemelman and I discuss his latest graphic novel, The Miracle Seed (Eerdmans Young Readers, 2023), which was published only two months ago. It is the thrilling true story of an ancient plant, wonderfully reborn in the modern era through the hard work of two female scientists. It is a Junior Library Guild, as well as, a PJ Library Selection. Martin Lemelman, the child of Holocaust survivors, is the author of two award winning graphic memoirs. His first, Mendel's Daughter (Free Press/ Simon & Schuster) was ranked by Entertainment Weekly as number eight in their 10 Greatest Graphic Novels. His graphic memoir, Two Cents Plain: My Brooklyn Boyhood (Bloomsbury USA) was selected as one of the best memoirs of 2010 by Kirkus Reviews and was a winner of the 2010-2011 New York City Book Award. Martin is retired from the Communication Design Department at Kutztown University where he was Full Professor. He lives in Florida with his wife Monica. They are the proud parents of four sons and nine grandchildren. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In our animated discussion, Martin Lemelman and I discuss his latest graphic novel, The Miracle Seed (Eerdmans Young Readers, 2023), which was published only two months ago. It is the thrilling true story of an ancient plant, wonderfully reborn in the modern era through the hard work of two female scientists. It is a Junior Library Guild, as well as, a PJ Library Selection. Martin Lemelman, the child of Holocaust survivors, is the author of two award winning graphic memoirs. His first, Mendel's Daughter (Free Press/ Simon & Schuster) was ranked by Entertainment Weekly as number eight in their 10 Greatest Graphic Novels. His graphic memoir, Two Cents Plain: My Brooklyn Boyhood (Bloomsbury USA) was selected as one of the best memoirs of 2010 by Kirkus Reviews and was a winner of the 2010-2011 New York City Book Award. Martin is retired from the Communication Design Department at Kutztown University where he was Full Professor. He lives in Florida with his wife Monica. They are the proud parents of four sons and nine grandchildren. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katherine Marsh - The Lost Year: A Survival Story of the Ukrainian Famine. This is episode 567 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.  Katherine Marsh is an award-winning author of novels for middle-grade readers including The Lost Year; Nowhere Boy, winner of the Middle East Book Award; The Night Tourist, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Juvenile Mystery; Jepp, Who Defied the Stars, a New York Times Notable; and The Door By The Staircase, a Junior Library Guild selection. Katherine grew up in Yonkers, New York in the home of her Ukrainian grandma who taught her to love stories and borscht. A former journalist and managing editor of The New Republic, Katherine lives in Washington, DC with her husband, two children and an astonishing array of pets. Awesome talk! Lots to learn... Before you go... Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on, and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be so cool. Thanks! If you are listening on Apple Podcasts on your phone, go to the logo - click so that you are on the main page with a listing of the episodes for my podcast and scroll to the bottom. There you will see a place to rate and review. Could you review me? That would be so cool. Thank you! Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for listening! Connect & Learn More: nighttourist@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/katherinemarshauthor/ https://twitter.com/MarshKatherine https://www.facebook.com/katherinemarshauthor Length - 42:27

In this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Elana K. Arnold!ELANA K. ARNOLD is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children's books, including the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat and its sequels. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalog of feminist titles for young readers. Elana teaches in Hamline University's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and lives in Southern California with her family and menagerie of pets. Follow Elana K. Arnold on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elanakarnold/Buy An Ordinary Day here:https://bookshop.org/p/books/an-ordinary-day-elana-k-arnold/218301?ean=9781481472623SCBWI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/SCBWI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scbwiBecome an SCBWI member today: https://www.scbwi.org/join-scbwi/Shop the SCBWI Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/SCBWISupport the show

I was lucky enough to get Children's Book Author Darcy Pattison on the show this week, who has published more than 50 children's books under her own publishing house - Mims House. We talk about how to write a non-fiction picture book, exploring merchandise opportunities for your books, marketing, school visits and so much more! Enjoy the episode and enjoy my intro where I talk all about pushing yourself as an author to write more words!MORE ABOUT DARCY:Children's book author and indie publisher Darcy Pattison writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Her works have received starred PW, Kirkus, and BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, two Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book, two Junior Library Guild selections, two NCTE Notable Children's Book in Language Arts, a Notable Social Studies Trade Books, and an Arkansiana Award. She's the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children's literature.Always active, before her tenth birthday, she (almost) climbed the Continental Divide, turning back at the last twenty yards because it was too steep and great climbing shoes hadn't been invented yet. Before COVID, she rode a bicycle down a volcano in Bali, Indonesia and hiked in the U.S. Rockies. On her bucket list is kayaking the Nā Pali Coast of Hawaii and eating curry in Mumbai.LINKS:https://www.darcypattison.comhttps://mimshousebooks.comBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

In this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Shadra Strickland!Shadra Strickland studied, design, writing, and illustration at Syracuse University and later went on to complete her M.F.A. at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. She won the Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Award for New Talent in 2009 for her work in her first picturebook, Bird, written by Zetta Elliott. Strickland co-illustrated Our Children Can Soar, winner of a 2010 NAACP Image Award. She has published with Lee and Low Books, Simon and Schuster, Random House, Candlewick, Chronicle Books, and Little Brown. Her books have received recognition from the American Library Association, Junior Library Guild, and other prominent literary organizations. Shadra currently teaches illustration at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. Her  online picture book course, The Art of the Picturebook is available at Craftsy.com.https://www.jumpin.shadrastrickland.com/Follow Shadra Strickland on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadrieka/Buy Jump In here:https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/jump-in-9781619635807/SCBWI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/SCBWI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scbwiBecome an SCBWI member today: https://www.scbwi.org/join-scbwi/Shop the SCBWI Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/SCBWISupport the show

Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter talks to Jessixa and Aaron Bagley, the author and artist of DUEL. Jessixa Bagley is a children's book author and illustrator with a background in fine arts and comics whose work appears in such publications as New American Paintings, Highlights Magazine, and my personal hometown, alt-weekly, the Chicago Reader. Her work includes the award-winning Boats for Papa and many other Junior Library Guild selections, many of which feature animals and emotional themes, often inspired by her own experiences. She teaches and speaks about writing and illustration, and lives in Seattle with her husband, Aaron Bagley, who is also here to talk about, Duel. Aaron Bagley is an illustrator who has created pieces for The Stranger, The Seattle Review of Books, and the Virginia Quarterly Review, and he's a frequent collaborator with Jessixa, including the picture book, Vincent Comes Home from 2018. As you probably guested, he too lives in Seattle. Thank you so much for being here today, Jessixa and Aaron.

Tracey Baptiste is a New York Times bestselling author of seventeen books and several short stories for children. She is best known for The Jumbies series which have been Junior Library Guild selections, We Need Diverse Books "Must Read" titles, New York Public Libraries Staff Picks, and Best Books of the year by Bank Street Books and NPR. Her latest book, MERMAID AND PIRATE is available now

In this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Jessixa Bagley!JESSIXA BAGLEY grew up in Portland, OR. Upon becoming an adult, she decided to follow her childhood dreams of being a picture-book maker. Her debut picture book, Boats for Papa, has earned many accolades and awards, including a Junior Library Guild selection, 2016 ALA Notable, the SCBWI 2016 Golden Kite Award for Best Picture Book Text, as well as the 2016 Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award. Her recent picture book Laundry Day was a Junior Library Guild Selection and also received a 2018 Ezra Jack Keats Award Honor. She lives in Seattle, WA, with her husband, son, and a slew of houseplants that all have names.http://www.jessixa.com/Follow Jessixa Bagley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessixabagley/Buy Courage Hats here:https://www.chroniclebooks.com/products/courage-hatsSCBWI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/SCBWI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scbwiBecome an SCBWI member today: https://www.scbwi.org/join-scbwi/Shop the SCBWI Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/SCBWISupport the showSupport the show

Cat Urbigkit is an author and photographer based in Wyoming. In addition to her career as a newspaper reporter, Urbigkit became a full-time book author in 2005. She's been a devoted reader, writer, and library user since she was in third grade. Cat continues to write books and report for various news outlets. The author lives on a working sheep ranch in western Wyoming with her family and her livestock guardian animals, including guardian dogs and burros. Urbigkit shares the beauty of rural life through her nonfiction books for children. Her books have received honors from the International Reading Association, Junior Library Guild, National Science Teachers Association, Society of School Librarians International, and numerous state reading associations. In her nonfiction books for adults, Urbigkit often writes about big predators, and life on western rangelands shared by these species. http://paradisesheep.com/index.html https://www.facebook.com/cat.urbigkit

Today on The Neil Haley Show, Neil "The Media Giant" Haley and Cowbiy 347 will interview New York Times Best Selling Author Tracey Baptiste.    Tracey Baptiste is a New York Times bestselling author of seventeen books and several short stories for children. She is best known for The Jumbies series which have been Junior Library Guild selections, We Need Diverse Books "Must Read" titles, New York Public Libraries Staff Picks, and Best Books of the year by Bank Street Books and NPR. Her novel Minecraft: The Crash debuted at #5 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2018   About the illustrator: Leisl Adams is a Director, Storyboard Artist and Illustrator. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, she graduated from the Classical Animation program at Sheridan College in 2002, then moved to Halifax Nova Scotia. She has worked in television and film storyboarding for clients like Amazon and Disney Junior, also directing Season 2 of American Girl's Wellie Wishers for Mattel in 2018, and the short film  he Elephant in The Waiting Room, for The Empathy Project at NYU. Besides drawing, Leisl also loves baking. She went to London to study at the Peggy Porschen Academy, earning a diploma in Cake Design. To this day she has been known to push her creations on unsuspecting neighbors and co-workers. Leisl lives with her husband, and two sons in Ottawa, Ontario   https://twitter.com/TraceyBaptiste https://www.workman.com/products/mermaid-and-pirate/hardback  

Today on The Neil Haley Show, Neil "The Media Giant" Haley and Cowbiy 347 will interview New York Times Best Selling Author Tracey Baptiste.    Tracey Baptiste is a New York Times bestselling author of seventeen books and several short stories for children. She is best known for The Jumbies series which have been Junior Library Guild selections, We Need Diverse Books "Must Read" titles, New York Public Libraries Staff Picks, and Best Books of the year by Bank Street Books and NPR. Her novel Minecraft: The Crash debuted at #5 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2018   About the illustrator: Leisl Adams is a Director, Storyboard Artist and Illustrator. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, she graduated from the Classical Animation program at Sheridan College in 2002, then moved to Halifax Nova Scotia. She has worked in television and film storyboarding for clients like Amazon and Disney Junior, also directing Season 2 of American Girl's Wellie Wishers for Mattel in 2018, and the short film  he Elephant in The Waiting Room, for The Empathy Project at NYU. Besides drawing, Leisl also loves baking. She went to London to study at the Peggy Porschen Academy, earning a diploma in Cake Design. To this day she has been known to push her creations on unsuspecting neighbors and co-workers. Leisl lives with her husband, and two sons in Ottawa, Ontario   https://twitter.com/TraceyBaptiste https://www.workman.com/products/mermaid-and-pirate/hardback

The enchanting Kate Scelsa stops by the podcast to talk about her hilarious parody adaptation titled Everyone's Fine With Virginia Woolf. In this episode, we discuss:How her play was a love letter to Albee's classic, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf and that it was also written bespoke for actors at Elevator Repair ServiceJust how much Kate is obsessed with WAOVW, particularly the character of MarthaThe abundance of Easter eggs and the annotated list she provides in the scriptWhat writers can do to cope with rejectionAnd more!Resources MentionedEveryone's Fine With Virginia WoolfElevator Repair Service TheaterLuminary: A Magical Guide to Self-CareImprobable Magic for Cynical WitchesSNL Skit - "Dinner with the Dean"About Our GuestKate Scelsa is a novelist, playwright, and songwriter. Her debut young adult novel Fans of the Impossible Life was a Fall 2015 Indie Next pick, a Junior Library Guild pick, a 2016 Rainbow List Top Ten Pick, and has been published in ten languages. She is also the author of Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches, a new YA novel from HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray, and Luminary: A Magical Guide to Self-Care from Simon & Schuster. A recipient of a Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation grant for playwriting, Kate has worked for many years with New York experimental theater company Elevator Repair Service, including a decade spent performing in “Gatz,” their eight-hour-long version of The Great Gatsby. Her play Everyone's Fine with Virginia Woolf was produced in NYC and Dublin in 2018 and has been published by Dramatists Play Service. Kate also writes songs and performs Connect with host Melissa Schmitz***Sign up for the 101 Stage Adaptations Newsletter***101 Stage AdaptationsFollow the Podcast on Facebook & InstagramRead Melissa's plays on New Play ExchangeConnect with Melissa on LinkedInWays to support the show:- Buy Me a Coffee- Tell us your thoughts in our Listener Survey!- Give a 5-Star rating- Write a glowing review on Apple Podcasts - Send this episode to a friend- Share on social media (Tag us so we can thank you!)Creators: Host your podcast through Buzzsprout using my affiliate link & get a $20 credit on your paid account. Let your fans directly support you via Buy Me a Coffee (affiliate link).

Episode 62 of the Stories to Love podcast is up! Here with me today is Gloria ChaoGloria Chao is an acclaimed author and screenwriter. Her novels include American Panda, Our Wayward Fate, Rent a Boyfriend, and When You Wish Upon a Lantern. Her award-winning books have received starred trade reviews; were Junior Library Guild, Indie Next List, YALSA Teens' Top 10, and Amelia Bloomer List selections; and were featured on the “Best of” lists of Seventeen, Bustle, Barnes & Noble, PopSugar, Paste Magazine, Booklist, Chicago Public Library, Bank Street, and more.After a brief detour as a dentist, she is now grateful to spend her days in fictional characters' heads instead of real people's mouths. When she's not writing, you can find her on the curling ice, where she and her husband are world-ranked in mixed doubles.Visit her tea-and-book-filled world at GloriaChao.wordpress.com and find her on Twitter and Instagram @GloriacChao.In this episode we discussed how Gloria set out to write a hopeful book in WHEN YOU WISH UPON A LANTERN balancing writing grief and hope. She talked about the sense of belonging while writing her small town setting. We dipped into her transition from health care to authoring, her involvement in NaNoWriMo writers board. And we even talked about her current hybrid system of drafting, and writing college stories within the YA space. Links discussed:First year Orientation - anthology This Time it's Real by Ann LiangIf You Could See the Sun by Ann LiangJulian Winters  - As You Walk On ByNever Vacation With Your Ex - Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka***Preorder Tif's next book WHEN JASMINE BLOOMS, a contemporary fiction inspired by Marmee of Little Women, about a woman who suffers a great tragedy, wonders 'what if' and it comes true.Note: some links are affiliate linksContact Tif at tif@tifmarcelo.comPlease check out her website for podcast submissions

Hippos named Fiona, whether robots feel afraid, stories as gateways for building empathy and compassion, broadening what is perceived as diverse literature, and creatively avoiding silos. We talk about all of that and more with Newbery Honor winner Jasmine Warga on today's episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast. Jasmine Warga is The New York Times best selling author of middle grade novels Other Words for Home, The Shape of Thunder, and A Rover's Story. Other Words For Home earned multiple awards, including a John Newbery Honor, a Walter Honor for Young Readers, and a Charlotte Huck Honor. The Shape of Thunder was a School Library Journal and Bank Street best book of the year, a finalist for the Barnes & Noble Children's and YA Book Award, and has been named to several state award reading lists. A Rover's Story, her latest novel, was an instant New York Times bestseller, a Indie Next List and a Junior Library Guild selection, and was named a best book of the year by Publishers Weekly and The Washington Post. And I will say I laughed and cried all the way through this beautiful book, so run and grab it. She's also the author of young adult novel My Heart and Other Black Holes, which has been translated into over 20 different languages.[03:00] What do baby hippos have to do with resilience?[04:12] Resilience and A Rover's Story[09:37] Storytelling and STEM Connections to A Rover's Story[13:29] Diversity and Storytelling[17:17] Do you remember the first story that you were told or that you read that really stuck with you?[19:38] Did those family stories inform Other Words for Home?[21:36] What were the books that influenced you growing up?[30:53] Given all of the book banning challenges, what would you tell teachers and librarians who are in the trenches right now?"But I think recognizing that by and large, the kids are with you. And I think by and large, most of the community is with you. And so just getting the kids the books they can the best that you can, and sort of, I think, trying to proceed with sort of radical empathy and kindness of sort of advocating for these books, but through the lens of why these books are so great."[35:17] What are your hopes for the future?Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast laun Start for FREEDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showRead the full show notes, visit the website, and check out my on-demand virtual course. Continue the adventure at LinkedIn or Instagram. *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Gin Phillips has written six novels, and her work has been sold in 29 countries.Her debut novel, The Well and the Mine, won the 2009 Barnes & Noble Discover Award. Her novel Fierce Kingdom was named one of the Best Crime Novels of 2017 by the New York Times Book Review. It was also named one of the best books of the year by NPR, Publishers Weekly, Amazon, and Kirkus Reviews. A Kirkus starred review called it “poignant and profound,” adding that "this adrenaline-fueled thriller will shatter readers like a bullet through bone.” The New York Times called the novel “expertly made…clever and irresistible,” noting that “Phillips…beautifully captures the quirks, tedium and magic of parenting a young child.”Gin's novels also have been named as selections for Indie Next, Book of the Month, and the Junior Library Guild.Born in Montgomery, Al., Gin graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a degree in political journalism. After time spent in Ireland, New York, and Washington, D.C., she currently lives with her family (plus a schnoodle and a mini golden mountain doodle) in Birmingham.Learn more at Ginphillips.com

Teatime with Miss Liz coming to the table is the fabulous Natasha Deen AWARD winning Author of children's books One story at a time to impact lives. She is a Children's and YA author, tea drinker, and cupcake annihilator. November 24th, 7 PM EST LIVE SHOW ON MISS LIZ'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL & MULTIPLE PODCASTS PLATFORMS Award-winning author NATASHA DEEN writes for kids, teens, and adults. She believes the world is changed one story at a time, and as a Guyanese-Canadian whose family immigrated to Canada, she's seen first-hand how stories have the power to shape the world. When she's not writing, Natasha enjoys visiting schools, libraries, and other organizations to help people to find and tell the stories that live inside of them. She also spends an inordinate amount of time trying to convince her pets that she's the boss of the house. Natasha is the author of the Lark Ba series (CCBC Best Pick for Kids & Teens, Starred Selection) and the Guardian series (Moonbeam Award, Sunburst Award nominee, Alberta Readers' Choice nominee). Her latest novel, In the Key of Nira Ghani, is a Junior Library Guild selection and a Barnes and Noble Top 25 Most Anticipated Own Voices novel. Visit Natasha at www.natashadeen.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/misslizsteatimes/message

Carrie Finison writes picture books with humor and heart, including Dozens of Doughnuts (Putnam, 2020), a Junior Library Guild selection, Don't Hug Doug (Putnam, 2021), an ALA Notable Children's Book, which received starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, and Lulu & Zoey: A Sister Story (Running Press Kids, 2022). In our interview we talk about her career and celebrate her most recent picture book Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School! (Random House Studio, 2022) in which Little Tortoise tries his best to arrive to school in time, and not be the last one there. Carrie lives outside of Boston with her husband, son, and daughter, and two cats who permit her to work in their cozy attic office. Visit her online here and or follow her on Twitter & Instagram @CarrieFinison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Carrie Finison writes picture books with humor and heart, including Dozens of Doughnuts (Putnam, 2020), a Junior Library Guild selection, Don't Hug Doug (Putnam, 2021), an ALA Notable Children's Book, which received starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, and Lulu & Zoey: A Sister Story (Running Press Kids, 2022). In our interview we talk about her career and celebrate her most recent picture book Hurry, Little Tortoise, Time for School! (Random House Studio, 2022) in which Little Tortoise tries his best to arrive to school in time, and not be the last one there. Carrie lives outside of Boston with her husband, son, and daughter, and two cats who permit her to work in their cozy attic office. Visit her online here and or follow her on Twitter & Instagram @CarrieFinison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, I'm excited to share an interview with author, actor, and activist Maulik Pancholy. Pancholy's debut middle grade novel, The Best At It, was a Stonewall Honor Award winner and is in development for television at HBO Max. His second novel, Nikhil Out Loud is available now and is a Junior Library Guild gold selection.

Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series, where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Learner Publishing Group. Tameka Fryer Brown is the author of several picture books, including Around Our Way on Neighbors' Day, My Cold Plum Lemon Pie Bluesy Mood, and Brown Baby Lullaby, winner of the 2021 Anna Dewdney Award. She is also a contributor to The Brown Bookshelf, an award-winning website whose mission is to promote awareness of Black children's book creators and their work. Not Done Yet is Tameka's first picture book about a real-life figure . . . and she hopes it won't be her last. To learn more about Tameka, visit tamekafryerbrown.com. Nina Crews's picture books include: Seeing Into Tomorrow: Haiku by Richard Wright, One Hot Summer Day, The Neighborhood Mother Goose, and A Girl Like Me. Her work has been recognized by the ALA Notables Committee, National Council of Teachers of English, Cooperative Children's Book Council, Junior Library Guild, Bank Street College of Education, and numerous others. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and son. www.ninacrews.com

You are going to love hearing the story of how Alice's Farm, A Rabbits' Tale came to life through the imagination of Maryrose Wood!  I'm absolutely over the moon in love with the imagery in this story.  The theme of the interconnectedness we share between humans, animals, and nature is beautiful.  This book is a great reminder that even the most vulnerable have the capability of making big changes.  And whether we see eye to eye in real life, we can all set our differences aside to make positive strides toward the common good.You can enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Alice's Farm by signing up for the email list at TeamKindHumans!According to maryrose.com, "Maryrose's latest book is Alice's Farm, A Rabbits' Tale, a critically lauded middle-grade novel which the New York Times called “delightful and quirky and full of good will…necessary for some kids right now.” This tale of a wild rabbit who joins forces with a human boy in order to save their shared farmland home was named a Charlotte Huck recommended book by the NCTE. Newbery medalist Rebecca Stead called it “tender and wonderful. It's a fantasy, it's real, it's just a joy. And absolutely a book for our times."Maryrose is best known as the author of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, the acclaimed middle-grade series about a teenaged governess and her three raised-by-wolves pupils, published by Balzer + Bray. Titles in the six-book series have appeared on “Best Children's Books of the Year” lists from NPR, Christian Science Monitor, Kirkus, and others. They've been Junior Library Guild selections and received multiple starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, and Booklist. (The fun with Miss Penelope Lumley and her wolfish pupils continues at The Swanburne Academy, an online community for incorrigibly curious families who love to learn and grow, together.)Maryrose has published seven novels for young adults, including My Life: The Musical (Delacorte) and Why I Let My Hair Grow Out (Berkley Books). Her personal essays and short fiction appear in Recycle This Book: 100 Top Children's Book Authors Tell You How to Go Green (Random House), Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories (HarperCollins), Who Done It? (Soho Teen), and Starry-Eyed (Running Press).She started her creative career in the theater, appearing in the original Broadway cast of Merrily We Roll Along, the cult flop-turned-beloved Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical featured in the 2016 documentary, Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened (now streaming on Netflix). She studied acting and film and television writing at NYU, and comedy writing and improv with the Groundlings. Her work as a lyricist/librettist for musical theatre has made her a three-time winner of the Richard Rodgers Award, administered by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.An unabashed story structure nerd, Maryrose is a deep believer in the power of well-structured, gorgeously written narratives to have a lasting impact. She offers training and mentorship for writers through her own program, called Path of the Storyteller. She's taught fiction writing at CUNY-Lehman College and NYU's Gallatin School, and is proud to serve on the faculty of the Stony Brook Children's Literature Fellows program.Maryrose is a native New Yorker with Long Island roots who now lives and writes in Southern California, delightfully near the beach. She has two grown offspring, two Bronx-born cats, and is working on something new. "

Today, Tes talks with Gae Polisner. Gae is the award-winning author of six novels including the multi-award winning THE MEMORY OF THINGS which is used in schools around the country. A family law attorney and mediator by trade, but a writer by calling, Gae lives on Long Island with her husband, two sons, and a suspiciously-fictional-looking small dog she swore she'd never own. She is an avid swimmer and, when not writing, can be found in the open waters of the Long Island Sound. Her next book is forthcoming from Henry Holt in 2022. You may follow her on twitter and Instagram @gaepol, on facebook at gaepolisnerauthor, and find her books wherever books are sold. SEVEN CLUES TO HOME "... a modern-day Bridge to Terabithia." - Booklist. Junior Library Guild selection, now available from Alfred A Knopf/RHC. JACK KEROUAC IS DEAD TO ME "... consider her to be the best voice in the YA contemporary space." - YA Books Central. Now available Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press. Also on audiobook! IN SIGHT OF STARS, from Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press. Booklist, Starred Review. Winner, 2018 AudioFile Earphones Award; 2020 Keystone to Reading nominee; 2019 Wisconsin State "Just One More Page" selection; 2019 Teen Choice Book Award nominee. THE MEMORY OF THINGS, Winner, 2019 Golden Archer Wisconsin's Children's Choice Book Award; 2017 Wisconsin State "Just One More Page" selection; repeat NYLA Three Apples Book Award finalist; Keystone to Reading Book Award finalist; Nerdy Book Club Best, 2016; New York Times, Huffington Post, and New York Daily News, reviews. Now out on audio! Check out all my books here: http://gaepolisner.com/ Follow Gae Polisner: IG: @gaepol Twister: @gaepol Facebook: https://www.gaepolisner.com/

Author Nancy Churnin discusses the power of having a pen, paper, and something to say. Dear Mr. Dickens, 2021 National Jewish Book Award winner for children's picture book. In Eliza Davis's day, Charles Dickens was the most celebrated living writer in England. But some of his books reflected a prejudice that was all too common at the time: prejudice against Jewish people. Eliza was Jewish, and her heart hurt to see a Jewish character in Oliver Twist portrayed as ugly and selfish. She wanted to speak out about how unfair that was, even if it meant speaking out against the great man himself. So she wrote a letter to Charles Dickens. What happened next is history. Nancy Churnin is the author of Dear Mr. Dickens, the 2021 National Jewish Book Award children's picture book winner and 2022 Sydney Taylor Honor winner; A Queen to the Rescue, the Story of Henrietta Szold, Founder of Hadassah, a 2022 Sydney Taylor Notable and many more picture books about people who persevered to achieve their dreams and make the world a better place. Among her honors: Junior Library Guild selections, starred reviews, National Council for the Social Studies Notables, Silver Eureka Awards, Mighty Girl lists, Sydney Taylor Notables, Notable Book for a Global Society, Anne Izard Storytellers Choice Award and the South Asia Book Award. A native New Yorker, Nancy now lives in North Texas with her family, which includes a dog named Dog and two cantankerous cats. You'll find free teacher guides, resources and projects for each book on her website at nancychurnin.com.

Do you love elephants? Yeah, we do too! Join Tracy as she interviews author Kim Tomsic, discussing her incredibly moving book, The Elephants Come Home. Kim Tomsic is a word wrangler, exclamation point enthusiast, and parallel parking champion who loves animals, especially her dog Sushi. Kim is the author of the Crystal Kite award-winning novel, The 11:11 Wish, followed by The 12th Candle both published by Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins. Her critically acclaimed nonfiction picture book, Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World! illustrated by Brett Helquist, was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Texas Topaz list selection, a New York Public Library Best Book of 2019, and a National Science Teachers Association Best STEM book of 2019. Her 2021 nonfiction picture book, The Elephants Come Home published by Chronicle Books and illustrated by Hadley Hooper, is a CYBILS Finalist and won the Norman A. Sugarman Biography Honor. Kirkus calls it "lovely, tender, and moving" and Horn Book Magazine says the story has "flawless, gentle pacing" and "riveting details." Kim's next novel, The Truth about 5th Grade is co-written with Reuben Award-winning cartoonist, Mark Parisi, and will be published by HarperCollins in Summer 2023.

Do you love elephants? Yeah, we do too! Join Tracy as she interviews author Kim Tomsic, discussing her incredibly moving book, The Elephants Come Home. Kim Tomsic is a word wrangler, exclamation point enthusiast, and parallel parking champion who loves animals, especially her dog Sushi. Kim is the author of the Crystal Kite award-winning novel, The 11:11 Wish, followed by The 12th Candle both published by Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins. Her critically acclaimed nonfiction picture book, Guitar Genius: How Les Paul Engineered the Solid Body Electric Guitar and Rocked the World! illustrated by Brett Helquist, was a Junior Library Guild selection, a Texas Topaz list selection, a New York Public Library Best Book of 2019, and a National Science Teachers Association Best STEM book of 2019. Her 2021 nonfiction picture book, The Elephants Come Home published by Chronicle Books and illustrated by Hadley Hooper, is a CYBILS Finalist and won the Norman A. Sugarman Biography Honor. Kirkus calls it "lovely, tender, and moving" and Horn Book Magazine says the story has "flawless, gentle pacing" and "riveting details." Kim's next novel, The Truth about 5th Grade is co-written with Reuben Award-winning cartoonist, Mark Parisi, and will be published by HarperCollins in Summer 2023.

Children's book author and indie publisher Darcy Pattison writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Her works have received starred PW, Kirkus, and BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book, two Junior Library Guild selections, two NCTE Notable Children's Book in Language Arts, and a 2021 Notable Social Studies Trade Books. She's the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children's literature.In this episode, you'll learn:How to market a self-published children's bookWhether you should write for children, teachers, or parents/guardiansHow to grow your children's fiction-writing skillsShow notes:00.00 – Introduction01.50 – Come and join the gang!02.30 – Interview with Darcy Pattison.03.20 – Why go Indie as a children's author?04.30 – What has changed in the indie publishing industry in the last 8 years?06.10 – Does being a teacher help?07.25 – Mindset is the most important factor in learning to build your writing business.08.10 – Getting to know your audience.10.15 – Why focus on recent publications?11.10 – Working with short attention spans.13.50 – Do children's books get marketed towards the readers or their parents/teachers?16.00 – Why is that adult reader this story in particular?17.45 – How do you market children's books?22.00 – Trying different marketing methods.23.50 – Which book changed Darcy's life?27.20 – Where can you find out more about Darcy?Links:Darcy's websiteFree Facebook group

The incredible Caroline Starr Rose joins us to talk about how she wrote her nonfiction picture book, A RACE AROUND THE WORLD: THE TRUE STORY OF NELLIE BLY AND ELIZABETH BISLAND (illustrated by Alexandra Bye). Caroline has so much wisdom to share about the different levels of historical fiction, thinking of yourself as a storyteller rather than an authority, and allowing curiosity to shape your projects. We had so much fun recording this conversation and we hope you love it! Caroline Starr Rose is a middle grade and picture book author whose books have been ALA-ALSC Notable, Junior Library Guild, ABA New Voices, Kids' Indie Next, Amazon's Best Books of the Month for Kids, and Bank Street College of Education Best Books selections. In addition, her books have been nominated for almost two dozen state award lists. Caroline was named a Publisher's Weekly Flying Start Author for her debut novel, May B. She spent her childhood in the deserts of Saudi Arabia and New Mexico and taught social studies and English in four different states. Caroline now lives with her husband and two sons in New Mexico. Sign up for her wonderful newsletter! Follow her on Twitter! Books that Caroline mentions in this episode: THREADS OF PEACE: HOW MOHANDAS GANDHI AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CHANGED THE WORLD by Uma Krishnaswami MAUD: A NOVEL INSPIRED BY THE LIFE OF L.M. MONTGOMERY by Melanie J. Fishbane EIGHTY DAYS: NELLIE BLY AND ELIZABETH BISLAND'S HISTORY-MAKING RACE AROUND THE WORLD by Matthew Goodman BAD NEWS FOR OUTLAWS: THE REMARKABLE LIFE OF BASS REEVES, DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie

Elana K. Arnold and I talk about the virtue of islands and plotting a mystery without knowing the ending in her newest novel, JUST HARRIET. We also discuss her series, A BOY CALLED BAT, writing about autism, questions of power, theme, the over prioritizing of plot, how to generate more ideas, making readers feel safe without patronizing them, how we all contain multitudes, author vs reader responsibilities, the random penguin slaughter of 2012, werewolves, an illegal ferret, and so much more. Elana K. Arnold is the author of critically acclaimed and award-winning young adult novels and children's books, including the Printz Honor winner Damsel, the National Book Award finalist What Girls Are Made Of, and Global Read Aloud selection A Boy Called Bat and its sequels. Several of her books are Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on many best book lists, including the Amelia Bloomer Project, a catalog of feminist titles for young readers. Elana teaches in Hamline University's MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program and lives in Southern California with her family and menagerie of pets.

Rob Rufus is an author, musician, screenwriter, and advocate. He is the recipient of the American Library Association's prestigious ALEX Award. His literary debut, Die Young With Me, was named one of the Best Books of the Year by Hudson Booksellers and is currently being developed as a major motion picture. His follow-up, The Vinyl Underground, was named one of the Junior Library Guild's Gold Standard Selections. He lives with his dog in East Nashville, Tennessee. Catch him on the road with his bands The Bad Signs or Blacklist Royals, and learn more at www.robrufus.net In this episode, Rob talks about:    His first book - Die Young With Me    The power of artistic expression    His 2nd and 3rd book: The Vinyl Underground and Paradise, WV    Touring with his band The Blacklist Royals    The “Band Drummer” vs the “Working Drummer”    Realities of being a working creative    Facing down cancer that gave him a new outlook on life

Jennieke Cohen stops by with a delicious Earl Grey Glory to discuss her fabulous historical YA My Fine Fellow. This book is ALL sorts of things - a gender-swapped retelling of My Fair Lady, a Food TV meets historical fiction romance AND an alternate history YA. But at it's core it's a nuanced and fascinating look at bigotry and privilege. We have SO MUCH to talk about!Jennieke Cohen is a Filipina-American author of young adult historical fiction. Her debut novel, DANGEROUS ALLIANCE, was a Junior Library Guild selection and has been translated into multiple languages. Jennieke studied English history at Cambridge University and has a master's degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California. She has worked as a nonfiction ghostwriter, a literary agent's assistant, and as a writing consultant to Silicon Valley tech companies. When not writing or researching little-known corners of history, you'll find her cooking and baking up a storm, singing show tunes, over-analyzing old movies, or getting outside to enjoy the sun in her native Northern California. Read more on Jennieke's website http://JenniekeCohen.com or say hi on Twitter or Instagram @Jennieke_Cohenhttps://bookshop.org/books/my-fine-fellow-9798200851430/9780063047532…https://barnesandnoble.com/w/my-fine-fellow-jennieke-cohen/1139214120?ean=9780063047532&st=AFF&2sid=HarperCollins%20Publishers%20LLC_7310909_NA&sourceId=AFFHarperCollins%20Publishers%20LLC…https://harpercollins.com/products/my-fine-fellow-jennieke-cohen?variant=39314548391970…https://amzn.to/3qq1uXI

Veera Hiranandani is the author of several novels for young people and the chapter book series, Phoebe G. Green. Her most recent middle-grade novel, How to Find What You're Not Looking For, has received starred reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, Publisher's Weekly, and is a Junior Library Guild selection. The Newbery Honor winning, The Night Diary, also received the 2019 Walter Dean Myers Honor Award, the 2018 Malka Penn Award for Human Rights in Children's Literature, and several other honors and state reading list awards. The Night Diary is a New York Times Editor's Choice Pick, and was chosen as a 2018 Best Children's Book of the Year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Amazon, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews. Her first novel for young readers, The Whole Story of Half a Girl, was named a Sydney Taylor Notable Book and a South Asia Book Award Finalist. She earned her MFA in fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College. A former book editor at Simon & Schuster, she now teaches creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College's Writing Institute and is working on her next novel. You can find Veera on Twitter @veerahira and Instagram @veerawrites. Get to know her with #11Questions! Follow @11QuestionsPod on Instagram & Twitter for more. https://www.instagram.com/11questionspod https://www.twitter.com/11questionspod

Travis interviews author Fonda Lee about Jade Legacy, the third and final book in the award-winning Green Bone Saga trilogy from Orbit Books. The epic family saga of the Kaul siblings takes an intergenerational turn in this stunning conclusion to the series. This episode is spoiler free! Fonda and Travis discuss the nitty gritty of her worldbuilding process, how to craft an impactful action scene, and how in invest readers in morally grey characters. Want your message featured on the podcast? Find out more here. About Fonda Lee: Fonda Lee is the author of the epic urban fantasy Green Bone Saga (beginning with Jade City and continuing in Jade War and the forthcoming Jade Legacy) _and the science fiction novels _Zeroboxer, Exo and Cross Fire. Fonda is a winner of the World Fantasy Award, as well as a three-time winner of the Aurora Award (Canada's national science fiction and fantasy award), and a multiple finalist for the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and the Oregon Book Award. Her novels have garnered multiple starred reviews, been included on numerous state reading lists, named Junior Library Guild selections, and appeared on Best of Year lists from NPR, Barnes & Noble, Syfy Wire, and others. Jade City has been translated in multiple languages and optioned for television development. In addition, she has written acclaimed short fiction and comic books for Marvel. She is a frequent speaker and instructor at writing workshops including Viable Paradise and Clarion West. Fonda is a former corporate strategist and black belt martial artist who loves action movies and Eggs Benedict. Born and raised in Canada, she currently resides in Portland, Oregon. Find Fonda Lee on Twitter, Patreon, or her website fondalee.com. Find Us Online: Blog Discord Twitter Instagram Support Us: Become a Patron Buy Us a Coffee Music: Intro: "The Legend of Iya" courtesy of https://philter.no Outro: "A Quest Unfolds" courtesy of https://philter.no This episode of The Fantasy Inn podcast was recorded in the unceded territory of the S'atsoyaha (Yuchi) and ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᏱ Tsalaguwetiyi (Eastern Cherokee Band) peoples. Some of the links included in these show notes are affiliate links and support the podcast at no additional cost to you. If it's an option for you, we encourage you to support your local bookstores! The blog post accompanying this episode can be found at https://thefantasyinn.com, along with fantasy book reviews, author interviews, and more fantasy content.

Y'know, the thing about the world is... It isn't static! It changes, all the time, and if you want your invented world to feel real and full of life, a great way to do that is to make sure it also changes. But how do you build societal change into your fictional world? Guest Fonda Lee joins us to discuss cultural diaspora, temporal shifts, geopolitical cross-pollination, and other exciting ways to show the natural shifts and turns of society. We also discuss how sci-fi seems to incorporate the idea of diaspora and change more readily than fantasy has often done, and we examine how magic might affect ideas of cultural shifts across space and time. Transcript for Episode 64 (Thank you, scribes!) Our Guest: Fonda Lee is the author of the epic urban fantasy Green Bone Saga (beginning with Jade City and continuing in Jade War and the forthcoming Jade Legacy) and the science fiction novels Zeroboxer, Exo and Cross Fire. Fonda is a winner of the World Fantasy Award, as well as a three-time winner of the Aurora Award (Canada's national science fiction and fantasy award), and a multiple finalist for the Nebula Award, the Locus Award, and the Oregon Book Award. Her novels have garnered multiple starred reviews, been included on numerous state reading lists, named Junior Library Guild selections, and appeared on Best of Year lists from NPR, Barnes & Noble, Syfy Wire, and others. Jade City has been translated in multiple languages and optioned for television development. In addition, she has written acclaimed short fiction and comic books for Marvel. She is a frequent speaker and instructor at writing workshops including Viable Paradise and Clarion West. Fonda is a former corporate strategist and black belt martial artist who loves action movies and  Eggs Benedict. Born and raised in Canada, she currently resides in Portland, Oregon.

Welcome back to New Reads November 2021! This week, L.C. Rosen's Camp takes center stage. In Camp, main character Randy navigates the ups and downs of a relationship with his longtime camp crush… under less than transparent circumstances. The conversation on Episode 169 explores questions of changing yourself for relationships, identity, internalized homophobia, and keeping the people you love safe. Alli and her guest also chat about complicated characters, the degree to which teen characters are forced to stay connected to their families of origin, and their own camp experiences. Dahlia Adler is an editor of mathematics by day, the overlord of LGBTQReads by night, and a young adult author at every spare moment in between. She is the editor of several anthologies, including Junior Library Guild selection His Hideous Heart, and the author of many novels, including Indie Next pick Cool for the Summer. She lives in New York with her family and an obscene number of books. Find her on Twitter (@MissDahlELama) and Instagram (@missdahlelama).

In the early morning of June 1, 1921, a white mob marched across the train tracks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and into its predominantly Black Greenwood District—a thriving, affluent neighborhood known as America's Black Wall Street. They brought with them firearms, gasoline, and explosives. In a few short hours, they'd razed thirty-five square blocks to the ground, leaving hundreds dead. The Tulsa Race Massacre is one of the most devastating acts of racial violence in US history. But how did it come to pass? And why are the events unknown to so many of us today? Award-winning author Brandy Colbert's Black Birds in the Sky is a searing nonfiction account of the Tulsa Race Massacre. It is part of a legacy of white violence that can be traced from our country's earliest days through Reconstruction, the Civil Rights movement in the mid–twentieth century, and the fight for justice and accountability Black Americans still face today. The Tulsa Race Massacre went largely undocumented and has rarely been taught in schools. The ambitious and intimate Black Birds in the Sky seeks to shed long-overdue light on this shameful moment in American history, and by showing us our past, points to a way forward. Brandy Colbert is the critically acclaimed author of several books for children and teens, including The Voting Booth, The Only Black Girls in Town, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, Stonewall Book Award winner Little & Lion and The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. Her books have been chosen as Junior Library Guild selections, and have appeared on many best of lists, including the American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults and Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

In the early morning of June 1, 1921, a white mob marched across the train tracks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and into its predominantly Black Greenwood District—a thriving, affluent neighborhood known as America's Black Wall Street. They brought with them firearms, gasoline, and explosives. In a few short hours, they'd razed thirty-five square blocks to the ground, leaving hundreds dead. The Tulsa Race Massacre is one of the most devastating acts of racial violence in US history. But how did it come to pass? And why are the events unknown to so many of us today? Award-winning author Brandy Colbert's Black Birds in the Sky is a searing nonfiction account of the Tulsa Race Massacre. It is part of a legacy of white violence that can be traced from our country's earliest days through Reconstruction, the Civil Rights movement in the mid–twentieth century, and the fight for justice and accountability Black Americans still face today. The Tulsa Race Massacre went largely undocumented and has rarely been taught in schools. The ambitious and intimate Black Birds in the Sky seeks to shed long-overdue light on this shameful moment in American history, and by showing us our past, points to a way forward. Brandy Colbert is the critically acclaimed author of several books for children and teens, including The Voting Booth, The Only Black Girls in Town, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, Stonewall Book Award winner Little & Lion and The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks. Her books have been chosen as Junior Library Guild selections, and have appeared on many best of lists, including the American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults and Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.

Welcome to the second and final part of this interview with Amy Elizabeth Bishop.LINKSWriterly Lifestyle Free NewsletterArticle and Full TranscriptAmy's Agency PageQuery ManagerManuscript Wish ListConnect with her on TwitterBIOAmy joined Dystel Goderich & Borret literary agency in 2015 after interning for them in 2014. At DG&B, she's cultivating a wide-ranging list in literary and upmarket fiction, expert-driven narrative nonfiction, and select YA, with a special interest in the voices of BIPOC authors. Her list includes titles such as The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim (a Reese's Book Club selection and NYT bestseller), The Silence of Bones by June Hur (a Junior Library Guild selection and Edgar Award nominee), and Living Brave by Shannon Dingle (published Summer 2021). Before diving into the world of publishing, she graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in Creative Writing. Though she grew up upstate, she currently resides in Astoria, Queens. You can find her on Twitter at @amylizbishop.If you're a writer thinking about submitting to Amy, be sure to listen for what she represents. More importantly, think about what she's looking for because she provides a pretty clear message on what she wants!If you want to be a literary agent, think about how Amy finds her clients. I think it's so interesting when she talks about what she looks for in stories she wants to represent. 3 BIG TAKEAWAYSDiversity in publishing allows everyone to have a seat at the tableMake sure you understand your story thematicallyAgents aren't as scary as they seemFavorite Quote:"...we're [agents] not as scary as we seem...we're all just people who have books and want to have a conversation about books."Next week, I'm going to be talking to bestselling author Grady Hendrix about his new book, The Final Girl Support Group, plus his previous bestseller, The Southern Book Clubs Guide to Slaying Vampires, as well as his multiple projects in production coming to a screen near you! We discuss his projects and film production, what it's like to write the screenplay based on your own book. And what it's like to pass your book on to someone else to be adapted. So make sure you check it out!

Welcome to part 1 of this 2 part interview. Today, I'll be talking to Amy Elizabeth Bishop.LINKSWriterly Lifestyle Free NewsletterArticle and Full TranscriptAmy's Agency PageQuery ManagerManuscript Wish ListConnect with her on TwitterBIOAmy joined Dystel Goderich & Borret literary agency in 2015 after interning for them in 2014. At DG&B, she's cultivating a wide-ranging list in literary and upmarket fiction, expert-driven narrative nonfiction, and select YA, with a special interest in the voices of BIPOC authors. Her list includes titles such as The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim (a Reese's Book Club selection and NYT bestseller), The Silence of Bones by June Hur (a Junior Library Guild selection and Edgar Award nominee), and Living Brave by Shannon Dingle (published Summer 2021). Before diving into the world of publishing, she graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a degree in Creative Writing. Though she grew up upstate, she currently resides in Astoria, Queens. You can find her on Twitter at @amylizbishop.If you ever wondered what it was like to be a literary agent, Amy takes us on quite the tour through her day to day life, but also how she got to where she is. It's important to remember that people don't become agents 3 Big TakeawaysGet book or media industry experience under your beltStructure your day around your brain powerReach out to professionals in the career you want.Favorite Quote:"[As an agent] you work in the service of your clients, and their best interests, and if people get mad at you about that, that's not your problem. Your clients come first, and always first. And so you're going to ruffle some feathers sometimes but like that's, you know, we want to be courteous and polite at all times if possible, but you can't be faulted for doing what is in the best interest of your clients."In part two of this interview, Amy and I will be talking about what she's looking for now, why it's helpful to go with newer agents, trends in publishing, twitter pitch parties, and Amy's tips for writers. Be sure to check that out next week!

Carmen Oliver grew up in Manitoba, Canada, surrounded by lakes and prairie grass where she built tree forts, caught tadpoles, and sailed on homemade rafts. She is the author of the picture book series Bears Make the Best Buddies (Reading, Math, Writing, and Science) as well as the nonfiction picture book biography A Voice for the Spirit Bears: How One Boy Inspired Millions to Save a Rare Animal, a Junior Library Guild spring 2019 pick. She's also the author of the forthcoming picture books The Twilight Library and The Favio Chavez Story. Carmen's work has been shortlisted for the Rainforest of Reading Award, The Writers' League of Texas Awards and the CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards for Early Literacy. In 2014, she founded the Booking Biz, a boutique style agency that brings award-winning children's authors and illustrators to schools, libraries, and special events. When she's not writing, she loves gardening, cheering on her kids from the sidelines and blue-sky days. Carmen lives in Round Rock, TX with her family. Kristin Lessard has worked for the National Park Service since 2008, serving in varied professional roles across multiple disciplines. In her current position, Kristin oversees the park's visitor service operations and engagement initiatives, which include history and fine art education programming for approximately 40,000 visitors a year, as well as dynamic youth and volunteer programs. Kristin graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management and has extensive training in public programming and 21st-century visitor engagement techniques. Write Out (#writeout) is a free two-week event, led by the National Writing Project and the National Park Service. The event is organized as a series of online activities where educators, students, and the public are invited to explore national parks and other public spaces to connect and learn through place-based writing and sharing. The theme of this year's event is “Palettes, Storyboards, and Cadences” and will run from October 10-24, 2021 (which includes the National Day on Writing on October 20).

Carmen Oliver grew up in Manitoba, Canada, surrounded by lakes and prairie grass where she built tree forts, caught tadpoles, and sailed on homemade rafts. She is the author of the picture book series Bears Make the Best Buddies (Reading, Math, Writing, and Science) as well as the nonfiction picture book biography A Voice for the Spirit Bears: How One Boy Inspired Millions to Save a Rare Animal, a Junior Library Guild spring 2019 pick. She's also the author of the forthcoming picture books The Twilight Library and The Favio Chavez Story. Carmen's work has been shortlisted for the Rainforest of Reading Award, The Writers' League of Texas Awards and the CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards for Early Literacy. In 2014, she founded the Booking Biz, a boutique style agency that brings award-winning children's authors and illustrators to schools, libraries, and special events. When she's not writing, she loves gardening, cheering on her kids from the sidelines and blue-sky days. Carmen lives in Round Rock, TX with her family.Kristin Lessard has worked for the National Park Service since 2008, serving in varied professional roles across multiple disciplines. In her current position, Kristin oversees the park's visitor service operations and engagement initiatives, which include history and fine art education programming for approximately 40,000 visitors a year, as well as dynamic youth and volunteer programs. Kristin graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management and has extensive training in public programming and 21st-century visitor engagement techniques.Write Out (#writeout) is a free two-week event, led by the National Writing Project and the National Park Service. The event is organized as a series of online activities where educators, students, and the public are invited to explore national parks and other public spaces to connect and learn through place-based writing and sharing.The theme of this year's event is "Palettes, Storyboards, and Cadences" and will run from October 10-24, 2021 (which includes the National Day on Writing on October 20).

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Sara Cassidy, whose book Genius Jolene is a finalist for the 2021 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. In their conversation Sara talks about why she wrote about food and the joy of eating, and how she learned a bit about what it's like to travel in an 18-wheeler. ABOUT SARA CASSIDY: Sara Cassidy's books have been short-listed for many awards, including the Chocolate Lily Award for both Black Gold and Blackberry Juice, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for A Boy Named Queen and the Bolen Books Children's Book Prize for Skylark. Additionally, both A Boy Named Queen and Double Play were Junior Library Guild selections. Her poetry, fiction and nonfiction for adults have been widely published. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia. ABOUT MEGAN COLE: Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based on the territory of the Tla'amin Nation. Megan writes creative nonfiction and has had essays published in The Puritan, Untethered, Invisible publishing's invisiblog, This Magazine and more. She has her MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King's College and is working her first book titled Head Over Feet: The Lasting Heartache of First Loves. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com ABOUT THE PODCAST: Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen. Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

Join Marsha Casper Cook on Thursday, September 23 at 4EST 3CST 2MT 1PST when her guest will be Shirley Reva Vernick a novelist, essayist, and writing mentor. The American Library Association named Shirley's debut novel, The Blood Lie, to its list of Best Fiction Books for Young Readers. The Blood Lie also won the Simon Wiesenthal Once Upon A World Book Award and earned a director's mention in the Langum Prize for American Historical Fiction. The Blood Lie was named an Honor Book in the Los Angeles Unified School District Awards, the Skipping Stones Award, and the Sydney Taylor Book Awards.  Remember Dippy won the Dolly Gray Literature Award from the Council for Exceptional Children. The Black Butterfly is a Junior Library Guild selection. Falling Stars will be released in 2021. Shirley's shorter work has appeared in Salon, Cosmopolitan, Highlights, Good Housekeeping, and several literary journals.  Shirley graduated from Cornell University, where she won the university's Fleischman Scholarship for Writing Achievement. She continues her connection to her alma mater by participating in the university's Prisoner Express program, which creates opportunities for incarcerated men and women to practice creative self-expression. Marsha's Website Shirley's website

Episode 189 - Fern Schumer Chapman. Dan Sterenchuk and Tommy Estlund are honored to have as our guest, Fern Schumer Chapman. Critically acclaimed Chicago-based writer Fern Schumer Chapman has written several award-winning books. Her recent book, Brothers, Sisters, Strangers: Sibling Estrangement and the Road to Reconciliation is part-memoir, part research. An earlier memoir, Motherland — a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, and a BookSense76 pick — is a popular choice for book clubs. Two of her other books, Is It Night or Day? and Like Finding My Twin, are used in middle school classrooms. In 2004, the Illinois Association of Teachers of English (IATE) named Chapman the “Illinois Author of the Year.” Twice, Oprah Winfrey shows have featured her books. The Junior Library Guild named her two most recent books, Stumbling on History and Three Stars in the Night Sky, as August 2017 and August 2018 selections. Recently, she published two picture books, Happy Harper Thursdays and The Return of Happy Harper Thursdays. She gives dozens of presentations each year at schools and events. New book: Brothers, Sisters, Strangers: Sibling Estrangement and the Road to Reconciliation Fern understands the pain of sibling estrangement firsthand. For the better part of forty years, she had nearly no relationship with her only brother, despite many attempts at reconnection. Her grief and shame were devastating and isolating. But when she tried to turn to others for help, she found that a profound stigma still surrounded estrangement, and that very little statistical and psychological research existed to help her better understand the rift that had broken up her family. So she decided to conduct her own research, interviewing psychologists and estranged siblings as well as recording the extraordinary story of her own rift with her brother–and subsequent reconciliation. Brothers, Sisters, Strangers is the result–a thoughtfully researched memoir that illuminates both the author's own story and the greater phenomenon of estrangement. Chapman helps readers work through the challenges of rebuilding a sibling relationship that seems damaged beyond repair, as well as understand when estrangement is the best option. It is at once a detailed framework for understanding sibling estrangement, a beacon of solidarity and comfort for the estranged, and a moving memoir about family trauma, addiction, grief, and recovery. Buy book: https://www.lakeforestbookstore.com/book/9780525561699? Fern's website: https://fernschumerchapman.com/ Fern is also co-host with Ali-John Chaudhary of the Brothers, Sisters, Strangers Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrYnLlBEddg&list=PLGy0-oL_AxZ4HHNPZanWxDRYFHkvOfAm6 Note: Guests create their own bio description for each episode. The Curiosity Hour Podcast is hosted and produced by Dan Sterenchuk and Tommy Estlund. The Curiosity Hour Podcast is listener supported! The easiest way to donate is via the Venmo app and you can donate to (at symbol) CuriosityHour (Download app here: venmo.com) The Curiosity Hour Podcast is available free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Soundcloud, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podbean, Overcast, PlayerFM, Castbox, and Pocket Casts. Disclaimers: The Curiosity Hour Podcast may contain content not suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion advised. The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are solely those of the guest(s). These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Curiosity Hour Podcast. This podcast may contain explicit language. The Public Service Announcement near the beginning of the episode solely represents the views of Tommy and Dan and not our guests or our listeners.

Claribel and Kat discuss how they make promo that’s fun for them and which incorporates their personalities. Then they talk to hilarious bestselling author Rita Williams-Garcia about what it was like when she first got started in publishing, how she goes back and forth between Middle Grade & Adult, and some great advice for authors at all level! BIO: Rita Williams-Garcia is the New York Times bestselling author of novels for young adults and middle grade readers. Her most recent novel, Gone Crazy in Alabama ends the saga of the Gaither Sisters, who appear in One Crazy Summer and PS Be Eleven. Her novels have been recipients of numerous awards, including the Coretta Scott King Award, National Book Award Finalists, Newbery Honor Book, Junior Library Guild, and the Scott O’Dell Prize for Historical Fiction. She served on faculty at the Vermont College of Fine Arts Writing for Children MFA Program and she resides in Queens, New York. • FOLLOW Rita: website | Twitter | Instagram BUY A Sitting in St. James • FOLLOW CLARIBEL: Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | TikTok • www.claribelortega.com • Check out all of Claribel’s books • Add Witchlings (2022, Scholastic) on Goodreads • FOLLOW KAT: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok • www.katchowrites.com • Add Once Upon a K-Prom (2022, Disney) on Goodreads • Check out Kat’s Books • FOLLOW WRITE OR DIE: Twitter | Instagram • Write or Die Episodes • Join our WorDie community! • Write or Die Teepublic Store --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/writeordiepodcast/support

This week’s ‘My Reading Corner’, I talk with bestselling author Tami Charles. Her newest YA novel, Muted has already received wide acclaim. Although considered a YA (Young Adult) author, her novels are meant to be read by parents and adults. With stress and social media, dreams and promises, Tami’s books are ones that help her young adult audience know that they’re not alone. For the older generation, they give insight into the minds of young adults. Muted brought back Tami’s time tasting fame in her teens and early twenties. She was a member of an all-girl R&B trio. How about performing for Boys II Men, BET and Showtime at the Apollo? The main character of Muted had to be a young girl searching for fame as a songwriter. Once Tami realized that, the words flowed and a powerful story was written. It’s a story of ambition, music and exploitation. And it’s the story of innocence lost and young women regaining their voices. Meet Tami Tami is the New York Times bestselling author of All Because You Matter. She’s written numerous books for children and young adults. Like Vanessa, her middle school debut book earned a Top 10 spot on the Indies Introduce and Spring Kids’ Next lists, three starred reviews and a Junior Library Guild selection. As a teen and into her early twenties, Tami unclicked the buttons, and was as loud as hell as a member of a 1990’s R&B singing group. Muted brought her back to the music industry and found her writing and singing her songs. Tami herself has said: We had a song on the radio that played at like 2 in the morning when everyone was sleeping. We didn’t make it to the grand stage, but those were the times of my life! ‘If hard work was what it was going to take to make it to the top, then that's exactly what I'd serve up - black girl mixed with grit stardust spice magic.’ A powerful conversation with Tami Charles: The all-girls R&B, fame and music Teenagers, dreams and asperations Ambition and exploitation Workplace violence and women Putting a lens on the music industry Young women regaining their voice Writing for young adults All Because You Matter – a picture book with love and a lullaby Muted – a YA novel-in-verse The audiobook, her songs and her voice

Shauna and Rebecca are thrilled to chat with Nelly Buchet, their first children's picture book author (illustrated by Andrea Zuill @zuillmonkey).  CAT DOG DOG is a deceptively simple story, but as you will hear in the interview, Nelly's vision was clear from the start.  This is a story for the whole family!   After the interview, Nelly said, “the coolest thing is the book is now considered an "early reader" because little kids are learning to read with CAT DOG DOG. One parent told me his daughter was so proud that she could finish a whole entire book on her own :).” According to her website, CAT DOG DOG has received the following accolades:   The Story of a Blended Family (Random House Kids, 2020) is a 2021 ALA Notable Children’s Book and Irma Black Award nominee. It is also a Junior Library Guild, Indie Next 2020 List, 2021 CCBC Best of the Year List, Amazon’s “Best of 2020 for ages 3-5,” Chicago Public Library “Best Fiction for Younger Readers of 2020” and Iowa Public Radio “Best New Books for Children and Teens” selection.

In this episode of "Keen On", Andrew is joined by Fern Schumer Chapman, author of "Brothers, Sisters, Strangers" to discuss understanding, coping with, and healing from the unique pain of sibling estrangement. Critically acclaimed Chicago-based writer Fern Schumer Chapman has written several award-winning books. Her memoir, Motherland — a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, and a BookSense76 pick — is a popular choice for book clubs. Two of her other books, Is It Night or Day? and Like Finding My Twin, are used in middle school classrooms. In 2004, the Illinois Association of Teachers of English (IATE) named Chapman the “Illinois Author of the Year.” Twice, Oprah Winfrey shows have featured her books. The Junior Library Guild named her two most recent books, Stumbling on History and Three Stars in the Night Sky, as August 2017 and August 2018 selections. Recently, she published two picture books, Happy Harper Thursdays and The Return of Happy Harper Thursdays. She gives dozens of presentations each year at schools and events. As a journalist and reporter, her work has appeared in many publications including the Chicago Tribune, Forbes, The Washington Post, U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, she has taught magazine writing and other seminars at both Northwestern and Lake Forest College. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode host Megan Cole talks to Sara Cassidy about her novel Nevers, which was nominated for the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. Sara discusses the complicated relationship between Odette and her mom Annalise, and how writing Nevers helped Sara develop a sense of belonging. ABOUT SARA CASSIDY: Sara Cassidy’s books have been short-listed for many awards, including the Chocolate Lily Award for both Black Gold and Blackberry Juice, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award for A Boy Named Queen and the Bolen Books Children’s Book Prize for Skylark. Additionally, both A Boy Named Queen and Double Play were Junior Library Guild selections. Her poetry, fiction and nonfiction for adults have been widely published. She lives in Victoria, British Columbia. ABOUT MEGAN COLE: Megan Cole the Director of Audience Development for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based in Powell River, British Columbia. She also works at the Powell River Public Library as the teen services coordinator where she gets to combine her love for books and writing with a love for her community. Megan has worked as a freelance journalist and is working on a memoir which tackles themes of gender and mental health. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com ABOUT THE PODCAST: Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen. Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

Brandy Colbert is the award-winning author of several books for children and teens, including The Voting Booth, The Only Black Girls in Town, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, and Stonewall Book Award winner Little & Lion. She is co-writer of Misty Copeland's Life in Motion young readers edition, and her short fiction and essays have been published in a variety of critically acclaimed anthologies for young people. Her books have been chosen as Junior Library Guild selections, and have appeared on many best of lists, including the American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults and Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. She is on faculty at Hamline University's MFA program in writing for children, and lives in Los Angeles. Brandy is the recipient of the 2018 Stonewall Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award, one of a set of three literary awards that annually recognize "exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience" in English-language books published in the United States. Brandy was born and raised in the Ozarks, in Springfield, Missouri, where she attended Glendale High School. The works of Dorothy West, Barthe DeClements, Jesmyn Ward, Colson Whitehead, and Zadie Smith were impactful to her writing career. She began working on what would be her debut novel, Pointe, in 2009, inspired by reports of long-term kidnapping cases.WHERE TO FIND BRANDY:Website - https://www.brandycolbert.comTwitter - https://twitter.com/brandycolbertInstagram - https://instagram.com/brandycolbert  BOOKS BY BRANDY COLBERT:The Voting Booth (2020) - https://bookshop.org/books/the-voting-booth/9781368053297The Only Black Girls in Town (2020) - https://bookshop.org/books/the-only-black-girls-in-town/9780316456388The Revolution of Birdie Randolph (2019) - https://bookshop.org/books/the-revolution-of-birdie-randolph/9780316448567Find Yvonne (2018) - https://bookshop.org/books/finding-yvonne/9780316349055Little & Lion (2018) - https://bookshop.org/books/little-lion/9780316349017Pointe (2015) - https://bookshop.org/books/pointe/9780147514417MEDIA REFERENCES:Tulsa Greenwood Race Massacre - https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/20/us/tulsa-greenwood-massacre.htmlSalvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward - http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/salvage-the-bones-9781608196265/Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead - https://www.colsonwhitehead.com/booksMake Me a World (Random House imprint) - https://www.makemeaworld.com

Brandy Colbert is an award-winning author who specializes in writing books of substance aimed at young adults. Her books have been chosen as Junior Library Guild selections, and have appeared on numerous “best of” lists, including the American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults and Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. In addition to her literary success, Brandy is also on the faculty at Hamline University teaching MFA students on writing for children. Brandy joins us to tell us all about her just released book. It’s called The Voting Booth and you are going to want to share this one with your older grandchildren, your friends and also keep a copy for yourself. This book is both an engaging and an important read because it centers around racism and voter suppression—two very timely topics. If you’re looking for a great read to share with your older grandchildren look no further! 

"My goal for this world was to bring together the western medieval-style fantasies I loved growing up with bits of my own cultural influences. Growing up, I didn’t think that characters that looked like me could have the happy ending." - Lori M. Lee Lori M. Lee was born in the mountains of Laos, but grew up in the far less tropical climate of Wisconsin where she still resides, although every winter makes her question why. She considers herself a unicorn aficionado, enjoys marathoning TV shows, and loves to write about magic, manipulation, and family. She is the author of several YA sci fi and fantasy books, including GATES OF THREAD AND STONE series, as well as a contributor to the anthologies COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES and A THOUSAND BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS. Her newest book, FOREST OF SOULS, released June 23 and is a 2020 Junior Library Guild selection. Connect with Lori on her website, Twitter, or Instagram. Lori's book recommendation: The Princess Will Save You by Sarah Henning Shop all our authors' books and book recommendations on our Bookshop.org page! -- We donate 5% of all our sales to a different feminist organization each month. Our July charity is Soul Fire Farm. Get $5 off your Feminist Book Club Box with the code PODCAST at feministbookclub.com/shop. Our July book of the month is WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo.   --   Website: http://www.feministbookclub.com Instagram: @feministbookclubbox Twitter: @fmnstbookclub Facebook: /feministbookclubbox Pinterest: feministbookclub Goodreads: Renee // Feminist Book Club Box and Podcast Email newsletter: http://bit.ly/FBCemailupdates Bookshop.org shop: Feminist Book Club Bookshop -- This podcast is produced on the native land of the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples.   Logo and web design by Shatterboxx  Editing support from Phalin Oliver Original music by @iam.onyxrose

"At the heart of any story about Black liberation is a story about Black joy, is about being able to move freely without fear of violence or prejudice." - Leah Johnson Leah Johnson is a writer, editor and eternal Midwesterner, currently moonlighting as a New Yorker. She is a graduate of the fiction writing MFA program at Sarah Lawrence College and currently teaches in their undergraduate writing program. Leah is a 2021 Lambda Literary Emerging Writers Fellow whose work has been published in BuzzFeed, Autostraddle, Catapult, and Electric Literature among others. Her bestselling debut YA novel, You Should See Me in a Crown was an Indies Introduce and Junior Library Guild selection. Her sophomore novel, Rise to the Sun is forthcoming from Scholastic in 2021. Connect with Leah on her website, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Leah's book recommendation: All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson   Shop all our authors' books and book recommendations on our Bookshop.org page! -- This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Small Moments. -- We donate 5% of all our sales to a different feminist organization each month. Our July charity is Soul Fire Farm. Get $5 off your Feminist Book Club Box with the code PODCAST at feministbookclub.com/shop. Our July book of the month is WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo.   --   Website: http://www.feministbookclub.com Instagram: @feministbookclubbox Twitter: @fmnstbookclub Facebook: /feministbookclubbox Pinterest: feministbookclub Goodreads: Renee // Feminist Book Club Box and Podcast Email newsletter: http://bit.ly/FBCemailupdates Bookshop.org shop: Feminist Book Club Bookshop -- This podcast is produced on the native land of the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples.   Logo and web design by Shatterboxx  Editing support from Phalin Oliver Original music by @iam.onyxrose

Alanna hosts our school library panel on the topic of developing a school library collection collaboratively. Our coast-to-coast #CollaboNation panel of experts Lila Armstrong, Sonja Clark, and Leigh Borden covers really nerdy topics including: the ratios of library resources to students, how to improve the collection with data, vigorous weeding, strategic cataloguing, budget advocacy and the precarious nature of gatekeeping. We talk about working to diversify the collection for culture, compassion, reading ability and mental health.Shoutouts to Follett Destiny, Junior Library Guild, Adrienne Gear, Stephen Krashen and Paul Fleischman.

Are you letting the fear of rejection hold you back? If you have you ever let the word “No” stop you from making your dream a reality then today's episode is for you! I am joined by Ethan T. Berlin who shares his journey of working through the rejections to fulfilling his life-long dream of becoming a comedian.  We discuss: The big change he made in order to keep his happiness  Ethan's perspective on taking jobs that aren't in alignment with who you are and how to tell the difference The two steps you need to take in order for your idea to come to fruition    How derailments did not stop him from getting what he ultimately wanted  Ethan's top takeaways that can be applied to both improv and business  And so much more!   Ethan T. Berlin is an Emmy Award-nominated television comedy writer and a Junior Library Guild selected picture book author. His debut picture book, The Hugely-Wugely Spider, was called “a hilarious twist on an old fingerplay” by Kirkus Review. Ethan's TV credits include “Billy On the Street,” “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell,” and “Da Ali G Show.” He co-created IFC's comedy game show, “Bunk.”  Most recently, Ethan served as head writer and executive producer for TruTV's “Paid Off,” which was named as “Noteworthy” by The NY Times. He teaches comedy writing at NYU and SUNY Stonybrook.   Episode 2: The Book That Changed Paul C. Brunson's Life and How It Helped Him Make Millions Episode 25: Client Success Story: How Publicist Katie Riess Helps Entrepreneurs Grow Their Business While Scaling Her Own The Hugely-Wugely Spider   Join me in my FREE private Facebook community, the All-In entrepreneur: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theallinentrepreneur/Connect with me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/ritagoodroe 

It's that time again! We are opening a new box of books for the library! If you find one! Tweet at us @Amy_Stefanski or @DunlapHSLibrary. Books are provided by the Junior Library Guild's monthly subscription program. Books reviewed: Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer The House by Paco Rosa Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918 by Don Brown All American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah The Avant-Guards Volume One by Carly Usdin and Noah Hayes Flowers in the Gutter by K. R. Gassy Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Sick Kids in Love by Hannah Moskowitz Something Deeply Hidden by Sean Carroll Watched and Warnings by Ryan Wolf

Our guest today is author and illustrator Jerry Craft (@JerryCraft). He shares NEW KID, his new middle grade graphic novel about seventh grader Jordan Banks who loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in the prestigious Riverdale Academy Day School, where he is now one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worldsand not really fitting into either. Can he learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?During our conversation Jerry also shares his love of comics, art and how he co-founded the Schomburg Center's Annual Black Comic Book Festival. To learn more about NEW KID and its author and illustrator go to www.jerrycraft.net.Social MediaTwitter, Instagram and Facebook: @jerrycraftBio:JERRY CRAFT is an author and illustrator who has worked on numerous picture books, graphic novels, and middle grade novels. His newest book, New Kid, is a middle grade graphic novel that has earned four starred reviews, including one from Booklist Magazine that called it "Possibly one of the most important graphic novels of the year." Kirkus Reviews called it "An engrossing, humorous, and vitally important graphic novel that should be required reading in every middle school in America."Jerry's books have been Junior Library Guild selections, and he has won five African American Literary Awards. He is the creator of Mama's Boyz, an award-winning comic strip that was distributed by King Features Syndicate from 1995 - 2013. He is a co-founder and co-producer of the Schomburg's Annual Black Comic Book Festival which has drawn close to 50,000 fans since its inception in 2013. Jerry was born in Harlem and grew up in nearby Washington Heights. He is a graduate of The Fieldston School and received his B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts.

Our guest today is author and illustrator Jerry Craft (@JerryCraft). He shares NEW KID, his new middle grade graphic novel about seventh grader Jordan Banks who loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in the prestigious Riverdale Academy Day School, where he is now one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either. Can he learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? During our conversation Jerry also shares his love of comics, art and how he co-founded the Schomburg Center's Annual Black Comic Book Festival. To learn more about NEW KID and its author and illustrator go to www.jerrycraft.net. Social Media Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: @jerrycraft Bio: JERRY CRAFT is an author and illustrator who has worked on numerous picture books, graphic novels, and middle grade novels. His newest book, New Kid, is a middle grade graphic novel that has earned four starred reviews, including one from Booklist Magazine that called it "Possibly one of the most important graphic novels of the year." Kirkus Reviews called it "An engrossing, humorous, and vitally important graphic novel that should be required reading in every middle school in America." Jerry's books have been Junior Library Guild selections, and he has won five African American Literary Awards. He is the creator of Mama's Boyz, an award-winning comic strip that was distributed by King Features Syndicate from 1995 - 2013. He is a co-founder and co-producer of the Schomburg's Annual Black Comic Book Festival which has drawn close to 50,000 fans since its inception in 2013. Jerry was born in Harlem and grew up in nearby Washington Heights. He is a graduate of The Fieldston School and received his B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts.

Today’s episode is the result of a “driveway moment,” when I stayed in the car to finish listening to an interview with author Traci Sorell on KCUR, the local NPR affiliate. Traci was talking about her first book and its themes of gratitude, diversity, and inclusion—and I was hooked. Traci writes fiction and nonfiction books as well as poems for children. Her debut nonfiction picture book, We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga, features the universal value of gratitude through a panorama of modern-day Cherokee cultural practices and experiences across the four seasons. Illustrated by Frané Lessac and published by Charlesbridge Publishing, the book is a 2019 Orbis Pictus Honor Book, a Junior Library Guild selection, and featured on the 2018 Best Books lists for Kirkus, School Library Journal, NPR and Chicago Public Library. We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga has also received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, The Horn Book and Shelf Awareness.  Traci is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation and lives in northeastern Oklahoma, where her tribe is located. For more about Traci and her forthcoming works, visit www.tracisorell.com. #tracisorell, #otsaliheliga, #kidlit, #cherokee For more information about Radiate Wellness, our practitioners, services, classes, and events, visit us at radiatewellnesscommunity.com, “Like” us on Facebook as Radiate Wellness, LLC; and follow us on Twitter @RadiateKC.

On Tuesday, January 15th, Anna will be talking with Michael Bazzett about his translation of The Popul Vuh. the first English verse translation of the Mayan creation epic, this is a story of the generative power of language. A story that asks not only Where did you come from, but How might you live again? Michael Bazzett is the author of You Must Remember This, which received the 2014 Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry, and The Interrogation. Steve talks with Jacqueline West about her new middle grade fantasy The Collectors. She is also the author of the New York Times bestselling middle grade series The Books of Elsewhere and the young adult novel Dreamers Often Lie. Her debut, The Shadows, was a Junior Library Guild selection, an Indie Next List Top Ten Pick and a finalist for a Minnesota Book Award.

New Books coming from Junior Library Guild for December Diana and Amy chat about all the new books bought for the library at a recent fundraiser. So many great books! Books talked about: Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J Krosoczka Swing by Kwame Alexander Whiskey Words and a Shovel I and II by R.H. Sin A beautiful composition of broken by R.H. Sin Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobbs Royal Assassin by Robin Hobbs Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobbs Dear Martin by Nic Stone This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki Illustrated by Jillian Tamaki To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Illustrated by Fred Fordham Evicted by Matthew Desmond Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich and Steven Levenson The Tattooist of Auschwitz Heather Morris The Crossover by Kwame Alexander Lore Dreadful Places by Aaron Mahnke Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer The Sisters of Winter Wood Rena Rossner The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

Diana and Amy talk about the new books that have arrived in the library! Books provided by Junior Library Guild monthly subscription program. Books Talked about: The Opposite of Innocent by Sonya Sones Love a la Mode Stephanie Strohm Upon Further Review: The Greatest What Ifs in Sports by Mike Pesca 7 ½ deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton Anne Frank's diary: The graphic adaptation Ari Foreman What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl by Jean Thompson Assassins Guide to Love and Treason by Virginia Boecker Music Credit: Cheery Monday Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This week, we're talking with Varian Johnson, author of the new middle grade book The Parker Inheritance. Varian talks about his inspiration for the book, the research it took to dig back into his own hometown's past, and about social justice — how far we've come and how far we still have to go. Additional resources: More about The Parker Inheritance More about Varian Johnson Read the essay Varian Johnson wrote for Nerdy Book Club about his experience with police Guests: Varian Johnson is the author of nine novels, including The Parker Inheritance, which received four starred reviews and was named a Junior Library Guild selection and a Spring 2018 Kids' Indie Next List pick among other accolades. His middle grade caper novel, The Great Greene Heist, has been named to over twenty-five state reading and best-of lists. In addition, Varian has written for the Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts middle-grade fantasy series as well as novels and short stories for YA audiences.Varian was born in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. He later received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian lives outside of Austin, TX with his family. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson Produced by Emily Morrow

This week, we're talking with Varian Johnson, author of the new middle grade book The Parker Inheritance. Varian talks about his inspiration for the book, the research it took to dig back into his own hometown’s past, and about social justice — how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go. About The Parker Inheritance: The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's waiting for Candice Miller. When Candice finds the letter, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, who left Lambert in shame. But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the answers slip into the past yet again? Additional resources: More about The Parker Inheritance More about Varian Johnson Read the essay Varian Johnson wrote for Nerdy Book Club about his experience with police Guests: Varian Johnson is the author of nine novels, including The Parker Inheritance, which received four starred reviews and was named a Junior Library Guild selection and a Spring 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List pick among other accolades. His middle grade caper novel, The Great Greene Heist, has been named to over twenty-five state reading and best-of lists. In addition, Varian has written for the Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts middle-grade fantasy series as well as novels and short stories for YA audiences.Varian was born in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. He later received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian lives outside of Austin, TX with his family. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson Produced by Emily Morrow

Stacie Ramey is the author of The Sister Pact, a contemporary realistic Young Adult novel which was named a YALSA 2016 Popular Paperback and a 2015 PSLA Top 40. Her sophomore novel, The Homecoming was awarded the Bronze Medal in the Florida Book Awards. Kirkus called her third book, The Secrets We Bury "A sensitive, funny, and sometimes awkwardly romantic story of survival and self-awareness."  Jeff Strand is the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of over thirty books, five of which are for young adults. All of his YA novels have been Junior Library Guild selections; the most recent three have been selected for the Scholastic Book Club. Publishers Weekly has called his work "wickedly funny." His novel The Greatest Zombie Movie Ever, about high school kids making a movie, was made into a movie by high school kids, which screened at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival in November 2017. REMAINING TOUR DATES: March 20, 2018. McKay's Books. Nashville, Tennessee. 636 Old Hickory Blvd. 37209. 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM  March 21, 2018. Park Road Books. Charlotte, North Carolina. 4139 Park Road. 28209. 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM March 22, 2018: Fiction Addiction. Greenville, South Carolina. 175 Woods Crossing Rd. Ste 5. 29607. 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Jeff's Links: Website:  www.JeffStrand.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeffStrandAuthor Twitter: @jeffstrand Stacie's Links:  Website:  www.StacieRamey.com Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/stacie.ramey Twitter: @Stacieramey

Tony Abbott is a prolific children's book author. He has graciously agreed to visit us in Beantown to speak about his works and give advice to young writers. When he began reading bedtime stories to his children, the spark of writing he had had for so many years finally turned to children’s books. After many failures, his first published book, Danger Guys, was written while taking a writing class with renowned children’s author, Patricia Reilly Giff. DSC03371Since then Tony has written over ninety-five books for readers ages 6 to 14, including many series (The Secret of Droon, The Haunting of Derek Stone, Underworlds, Goofballs, to name a few) and novels for older readers, including Kringle, Firegirl, The Postcard, and Lunch-Box Dream. His publishers include HarperCollins, Hyperion, Scholastic, Random House, Little, Brown, Egmont, and Farrar Straus Giroux. Over 12 million of Tony’s books have been sold worldwide, and his series and novels have been translated into Italian, Spanish, Korean, French, Japanese, Polish, Turkish, Chinese, and Russian. Several of his books were named Children’s Book-of-the-Month Club selections and Junior Library Guild selections and have appeared on state reading lists, including the Texas Bluebonnet list, and the Great Lakes Great Award Master List, and Choose to Read Ohio. Firegirl won the Golden Kite Award for Fiction presented by the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. In the spring of 2009, The Postcard was honored with the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Allan Poe Award for best mystery in the juvenile category. He is currently a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Yale Center for British Art, and other esteemed arts organizations.  

Elisa Kleven, author and illustrator produced over thirty picture books.  She shares her inspiring stories and experiences by visiting schools, libraries and bookstores. Her books have received awards and honors from the American Library Association, The New York Times, The Junior Library Guild, School Library Journal, The American Booksellers Association and the American Institute of Graphic Arts. Her pictures from Abuela are part of "Storyland," a traveling, interactive exhibit of seven classic children's books featured at Children's Museums nationwide and her story, The Paper Princess, has been adapted for two theater productions, one at the world's largest arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland and the other in Northern California.  Join Elisa Kleven and me on Tuesday, December 17, 10-11 A.M. CT US for a conversation about her latest American Booksellers’ Association Best Book for Children titled, Cozy Light, Cozy Night. 

Aunt Betty gives background on her niece, Deborah B. Ford, who is the new Director of Library Outreach for Junior Library Guild and introduces a new JLG Service.