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Send us a textHow did a humorous military anecdote about a mysterious Dorothy evolve into an enlightening nonfiction picture book about LGBTQIA history? Author Kyle Lukhoff and illustrator Levi Hastings share the creative journey behind Are You a Friend of Dorothy? Kyle and Levi discuss the challenges and joys of representing complex identities in children's literature, emphasizing the importance of these narratives in today's world.In this episode, we also explore the diverse paths that led Kyle and Levi to champion LGBTQIA representation through their art. From Kyle's transition from librarian to full-time writer (Kyle is a Newbery Honor winner, National Book Award finalist, and Stonewall Award winner!!!), fueled by a passion for connecting with young readers, to Levi's shift from graphic design to illustrating children's books, their stories are as captivating as the tales they create. Discover their approach to portraying historical figures like Gavin Grimm and Baron von Steuben, and learn about their recent works, including a Jewish fantasy adventure and a book about pride. Stay tuned as they share their future plans and invite you to follow their artistic endeavors as they continue to enrich the literary landscape.(0:00:03) - Are You a Friend of Dorothy? We explore the origins of the phrase "Are You a Friend of Dorothy?" and its significance in the LGBTQIA community. Kyle and Levi share insights into their creative process and the importance of historical narratives in understanding current struggles.(0:15:36) - Adventures in Learning with Kyle and Levi Learn more about Kyle and Levi's journeys in writing and illustration, highlighting their transitions to full-time careers in children's literature. (0:26:42) - Recent Works and Future Plans Pre-order Are You a Friend of Dorothy? (out 4/29/25)Follow Kyle Lukhoff on Instagram and FacebookFollow Levi Hastings on Instagram and FacebookDon't miss this engaging episode as we uncover the artistry and advocacy behind Are You a Friend of Dorothy? Preorder your copy today and share it with someone who needs to hear its important message. Your support helps bring diverse stories to life and fosters understanding across communities.Support the showSubscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts! *Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.
Brix Schaumburg ist mit Alina verheiratet, er erzählt die unspektakuläre Geschichte ihres Kennenlernens und über sein spektakuläres Leben, vor allem über den Familienmanagerzirkus von Selbständigen. Wir sprechen darüber, einander als Menschen zu begegnen, ohne Vorurteile und Interpretationen, mit der Offenheit für Fehler, Veränderungen und Hoffnungen. Wir unterhalten uns über die Filmbranche und die Schwierigkeiten beim Casting. Brix sagt zum Beispiel, dass er, solange es noch Benachteiligungen aufgrund des Geschlechts bei der Besetzung gibt, weiterhin sagen wird, dass er der erste Transschauspieler ist, der sich geoutet hat. Wir sprechen über sein Engagement für die Queer- und Trans-Community. Er startet zum 3. Mal seine "Que(e)r durchs Land"-Tour. Diesmal radelt er zusammen mit Robin Scheerbaum für einen guten Zweck durch Deutschland. Er erhält den Soul of Stonewall Award für Engagement für Zusammenhalt in der Community durch den Berliner CSD im Juli 2024. Shownotes: Fotocredit: Sven Serkis Brix auf Instagram: @treesoul Kinderbuch von Brix: Mein kleiner großer Herzensmensch. Für alle Papas und ihre Kinder Brix als Schauspieler, Comedian und Künstler: http://www.brixschaumburg.de Que(e)r durchs Land könnt Ihr hier supporten: https://www.startnext.com/queerdurchsland
Part 2 of Dennis's conversation with author Abdi Nazemian focuses on his latest book Only This Beautiful Moment, which recently won the Stonewall Award from Young Adult Literature. Abdi talks about drawing inspiration for the multigenerational story from his own family, how he was able to write scenes set in Iran despite having left there when he was a child and the longing he feels for the country and it's people. He also talks about what it feels like to have his two most recent books banned in many schools, how that affects his bottom line and how he learned the hard way not to engage with online trolls. Other topics include: being an Associate Producer on the film Call Me By Your Name, going back to school to get his MBA, the power of telling the truth instead of chasing what you think the market wants, why young people give him hope, the perils of social media and why he chose to set a scene in the men's room of the late great Silver Lake piano bar The Other Side. https://www.abdinazemian.com
In this installment of their special “Rom Com Road-Trip” series, Chelsea shoves Madison into the car alongside a group of queer documentary filmmakers as they set out on a cross-country bar crawl. But you know what they say: It's all fun and gay until you're drunk in a motel room...and there's only one bed. Starring Stephanie Allynne and Roberta Colindrez, it's a sexy romp that'll give you both the warms and the fuzzies. And if you're Stonewall Award-winning author Ashley Herring Blake, let's collab on your next novel: Bea Somebody Doesn't Do Something (title tentative)! Connect With Us - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveatfirstscreening/ - Email: loveatfirstscreening@gmail.com Production - Hosts: Chelsea Ciccone and Madison Hill - Music: Madison Hill - Artwork: Chelsea Ciccone --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/loveatfirstscreening/message
ButchBarflys – das klingt als ob es extra für den Butchfunk erfunden wurde. Gerade haben sie den „Soul of Stonewall“ Award des Berliner CSD für ihre Verdienste für die lesbische Community erhalten. Von dem ehrenamtlich arbeitenden Veranstaltungskollektiv sind Miss Sam und Nadine Königsmann bei Manuela Kay zu Gast. Beide arbeiten, neben vielem anderen, auch als DJs und wissen, welche Bedeutung Musik für das Ausgehverhalten und die Stimmung in einer Bar hat. Sie erklären, warum lesbische Begegnungsstätten wichtig sind und, dass die Gäste Getränke konsumieren müssen, um Orte am Leben zu erhalten! Im Stylingtipp wird nach der sexyness von Jogginghosen gefragt und die Butch des Monats ist eine 18-jährige Ausnahmefussballerin. ButchBarflys auf Instagram und auf Facebook
EPISODE 1522: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to the author of WE CAN HEROES, Paul Burston, about his survival story as a prominent British gay activist, journalist and novelist Paul Burston was born in York, raised in South Wales and now divides his time between London and Hastings. From the age of 23, he was an AIDS activist with ACT UP London and also worked for the gay police monitoring group GALOP before becoming a journalist. For 20 years he edited what became known as the LGBT section at Time Out London, documenting the changing cultural and political landscape. In 1994 he co-founded Attitude Magazine. He has written for many other publications including the Guardian and the Times. He also wrote and presented documentaries for Channel 4. His books include 'Shameless' (shortlisted for the State of Britain Award 2001), 'Lovers and Losers' (shortlisted for the Stonewall Award 2007), 'The Gay Divorcee' (2009, optioned for television) and 'The Black Path' (long listed for the Guardian's Not The Booker Prize, 2016) His latest novel is the social media psychological thriller 'The Closer I Get'. His memoir 'We Can Be Heroes' will be published by Little A on June 1, 2023 and is available to preorder now. The podcast 'We Can Be Heroes with Paul Burston' is available now on Acast, Apple, Spotify and other platforms. He is the founder of Polari literary salon and The Polari Book Prize for LGBTQ+ writing. Visit his website at www.paulburston.net Follow him on Twitter @paulburston or Instagram @paulburston1. For information on Polari and the Polari Prize awards, please visit www.polarisalon.com 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of Words on a Wire we're here to bring you a very special show, a tribute to American poet and writer Benjamin Alire Saenz. This show is a compilation of the most memorable moments of the event, back in April of the present year at the El Paso Community Foundation. Featuring writers Daniel Chacón, Alessandra Narvaez Varela, Tim Z. Hernández, Lee Merrill Byrd and Bobby Byrd, Alfredo Corchado and Former US Poet Laureate, Juan Felipe Herrera as the principal guest speakers of the event.A big thank you to our team of producers Claudia Flores, Ana Llurba and Iliana Pichardo Urrutia and to the entire team that made this episode posible. Our Sound Editor: Facundo Torrieri. Script writer: Iliana Pichardo and our KTEP Producer Paul Castro and his team for helping us recording this wonderful event. We would also like to thank the El Paso Community Foundation, former, Dean of the college of Liberal arts at UTEP Denis A. O'Hearn and his team for making this event possible. And lastly to the Creative Writing Team from the Creative Writing Department at UTEP, for helping with the organization and marketing of the event.Benjamin Alire Sáenz is an author of poetry and prose for adults and teens. He was the first Hispanic winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and a recipient of the American Book Award for his books for adults. He is the author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, which was a Printz Honor Book, the Stonewall Award winner, the Pura Belpré Award winner, the Lambda Literary Award winner, and a finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award, and its sequel, Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World. His first novel for teens, Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood, was an ALA Top Ten Book for Young Adults and a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His second book for teens, He Forgot to Say Goodbye, won the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award, the Southwest Book Award, and was named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. He lives in El Paso, Texas.
Public interest attorneys are charged with advancing justice for all, but according to Washington Supreme Court Justice G. Helen Whitener, the practice of public interest law has lost its focus since the 1960s. Solving the intersecting inequities that face underrepresented communities requires that we reckon with our history and commit to creating new solutions together. Justice Whitener was appointed by Governor Inslee to the Washington State Supreme Court in April 2020 and retained by voters in November 2020. Honored by the American Bar Association with the 2022 Stonewall Award, Justice Whitener uses her lived experiences as a multiple minority to continually raise awareness of matters of race, justice and equity and act as a voice for marginalized communities. In April 2022, Justice G. Helen Whitener gave opening remarks at UW Law's Public Interest Law Association gala in support of the theme, “Personal Identity in Public Interest Law: How Me Becomes We.” In this episode, Justice Whitener shares her poetry and wisdom on the importance of transcending the biases and stereotypes that come with labels, unlocking our individual and collective potential by creating action plans for our dreams, and developing a new movement to solve old problems, so we can move forward as a society.
Gregory Blair joined us to share his experience with acting, writing, and directing, and how each of these skills feed each other. Award-winning actor/writer/director/producer Gregory Blair was born and bred in Southern California. He studied throughout Los Angeles--including UCLA--as well as abroad at Cambridge University. He is the recipient of a Geoffrey Award for Best Character Actor, an EOTM Award for Best Director and a Claw Award for Best Screenplay. He is also the author of the Stonewall Award winning novel "Spewing Pulp", "The Ritual", and "Little Shivers" as well as the stage plays "Cold Lang Syne" and "Nicholas Nickleby". He is known for his animated manner, quirky intensity and expressive eyebrows. His IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2489045/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
Hosts, Tim Z. Hernández and Daniel Chacón get together to talk to award-winning American poet, novelist and writer Benjamin Alire Sáenz.His first book of poems, Calendar of Dust, won an American Book Award in 1992. His first novel, Carry Me Like Water was a saga that brought together the Victorian novel and the Latin American tradition of magic realism and received much critical attention. His novel Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, a coming-of-age story about two Mexican-American boys growing up in El Paso, Texas, was a Printz Honor Book, the Stonewall Award winner, the Pura Belpré Award winner, the Lambda Literary Award winner, and a finalist for the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award. Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World (2021) is the well-awaited sequel.
Logan Rozos (he/him) is a 20 year-old actor and gay Black trans man. He made his professional acting debut in 2019 on the Peabody-nominated television drama David Makes Man, and voiced the audiobook of Stonewall Award-nominated author Kacen Callender's 2020 book Felix Ever After. He was an honoree in Teen Vogue's inaugural 20 Under 20 Queer Artists and Activists To Watch and a recipient of the 2019 Parity Award for outstanding work by LGBTQ people of faith. He is currently working on a documentary about trans masculinities and mental health called What Will I Become? You can check out Logan on Instagram @loganrozos, his poetry @thedelinquentporpoise, and his documentary @whatwillibecome_doc Access the transcript here. Learn everything you need to know about the Colors of Hope project here: http://disciplesallianceq.org/colors-of-hope/
Author Kyle Lukoff tells the story of how he persisted in publishing and finally landed his dream agent, Saba Sulaiman, who joins him on the podcast. We discuss how they revised Kyle’s newest, TOO BRIGHT TO SEE, how they submitted it to editors, sold it at auction, and are now promoting it as well as selling Kyle’s future novels. We also chat about writing trans characters, the controversy surrounding Kyle’s books about them, being cautious when staying in haunted houses, the terrible truth about Roald Dahl’s THE WITCHES, and so much more. Saba Sulaiman is an agent at Talcott Notch Literary Services, a boutique agency located in Milford, CT. She holds a BA from Wellesley College and an MA from the University of Chicago, where she studied modern Persian literature. In children’s fiction, she is building her Picture Book, Middle Grade and Young Adult lists, and is particularly (although not exclusively) interested in contemporary realistic stories. Being an immigrant who is constantly negotiating her own identity and sense of belonging in a place she now calls “home,” she is committed to highlighting more diverse voices with compelling stories to tell; stories that demonstrate the true range of perspectives that exist in this world, and address urgent and often underexplored issues in both fiction and non-fiction with veracity and heart. Follow her on Twitter @agentsaba and learn more about her at sabasulaiman.com Kyle Lukoff writes books for kids and other people. Right now you can pre-order his debut middle grade novel TOO BRIGHT TO SEE, due out 4/20/2021! Books you can read today include A STORYTELLING OF RAVENS, WHEN AIDAN BECAME A BROTHER (which won the 2020 Stonewall Award!), the MAX AND FRIENDS series, and EXPLOSION AT THE POEM FACTORY. Kyle spent eight years as an elementary school librarian, but now he writes full time, assists in sensitivity readings and consultations, and presents on children’s and youth literature all across the country. He got hired at a bookstore when he was sixteen, which means he’s been working at the intersection of books and people for well over half his life. Kyle is represented by Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch. Find him on Twitter at @Shekels_Library and Facebook at fb.me/kylelukoffwrites.
First Draft Episode #281: David Levithan David Levithan is editorial director at Scholastic and the author of many young adult novels, including Boy Meets Boy, Every Day, and co-author with Rachel Cohn of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares. Sips By is the only mutl-brand, personalized monthly tea subscription box, which makes discovering tea fun and affordable! Use the code “firstdraft” for 50% off your first Sips By box at www.sipsby.com. On the Remember Reading podcast, discover the tales behind these beloved children’s book classics. Hear from award-winning authors like Meg Cabot, Katherine Paterson, and Tiffany Jackson, and guests as they uncover the unique story behind each story. Links and Topics Mentioned In This Episode The Babysitters Club series by Anne M. Martin David launched PUSH, the Scholastic imprint still there today Jean Feiwel, Senior Vice President and Publisher, Feiwel & Friends, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, Swoon Reads, Square Fish Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Dan Ehrenhaft, author of The Last Dog on Earth, Friend is Not a Verb, and That’s Life, Samara Brooks Sarah Mlynowski, author of Just a Boy and a Girl in a Little Canoe, I See London, I See France, and co-author of Upside-Down Magic The New York City Teen Author Festival Nancy Garden, author of Annie on My Mind, The Year They Burned the Books, and Endgame. Francesca Lia Block, Francesca Lia Block, author of more than 25 books, including seminal YA novel WEETZIE BAT, talks about her most recent book, THE THORN NECKLACE, a memoir-driven guide to healing through the craft of writing. (listen to her First Draft interview here) Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award and Newberry Honor winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming, Another Brooklyn, Miracle’s Boys and many more Brent Hartinger’s Geography Club Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of of several YA novels, including 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Suite Scarlett, The Name of the Star, and Truly Devious: A Mystery. She has also done collaborative works, such as Let It Snow (with John Green and Lauren Myracle), and The Bane Chronicles (with Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan). (Listen to my interview with Maureen Johnson here) Lauren Myracle’s Kissing Kate Alex Sanchez’s The Rainbow Boys series Sara Ryan’s Empress of the World David edits Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games David edits Garth Nix, author of the Sabriel series, Angel Mage, and many more Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (movie) Bill Clegg, a literary agent formerly with WME and now at The Clegg Agency Gingerbread by Rachel Cohn Will Grayson, Will Grayson which David co-wrote with John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars and Looking For Alaska You Know Me Well with Nina LaCour (listen to her First Draft episodes here and here) Maggie Stiefvater, author of the The Raven Boys series, Shiver, and The Scorpio Races Alex Gino’s Stonewall Award-winning George I want to hear from you! Have a question about writing or creativity for Sarah Enni or her guests to answer? To leave a voicemail, call (818) 533-1998 or send an email to mailbag @ firstdraftpod dot com! Subscribe To First Draft with Sarah Enni Every Tuesday, I speak to storytellers like Veronica Roth, author of Divergent; National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Jason Reynolds; Leigh Bardugo, author of Ninth House and the Grishaverse series; Creator of Sex and the City Candace Bushnell; YouTube empresario and author Hank Green; Actors, comedians and screenwriters Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham; author and host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast Linda Holmes; Bestselling authors and co-hosts of the Call Your Girlfriend podcast, Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow; Michael Dante DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last Airbender; John August, screenwriter of Big Fish and co-host of the Sciptnotes podcast; or Rhett Miller, musician and frontman for The Old 97s. Together, we take deep dives on their careers and creative works. Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Track Changes If you’re looking for more information on how to get published, or the traditional publishing industry, check out the Track Changes podcast series, and sign up for the Track Changes weekly newsletter. Support the Show Love the show? Make a monthly or one-time donation at Paypal.me/FirstDraft. Rate, Review, and Recommend Take a moment to rate and review First Draft with Sarah Enni in Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Your honest and positive review helps others discover the show -- so thank you! Is there someone you think would love this podcast as much as you do? Just click the Share button at the bottom of this post! Thanks again!
Enjoy our presentation of George written by Alex Gino and published by Scholastic. When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy, she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.George won a Lambda Literary Award, a Stonewall Award, as well as a Children's Choice Book Awards for Debut Author.George is recommended for ages 10 and up. Please see Common Sense Media for more information and reviews. http://bit.ly/George_ReviewsThis title is available as an audiobook on Hoopla.Hoopla Audiobook - http://bit.ly/George_HooplaAudioPlease visit www.calvertlibrary.info for more information.Music: Dub the Uke (excerpt) by Kara Square (c) copyright 2016. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/mindmapthat/53340
Es geht um Winkel, grüne Nelken, den Hanky Code und unsere Flaggen. Der flotte Dreier Spricht über schwule und queere Symbolik und alles was dazu gehört. Unter anderem sprechen Mirko, Micha und Lars auch noch mit Dastan von Pink Summits der jüngst den Soul of Stonewall Award gewonnen hat. Warum er welche Berge besteigt, was queere Symbolik damit zu tun hat und warum Micha sein Deli nicht mehr aus dem Kopf bekommt, dass hört ihr hier!
Hey there word nerds! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Brandy Colbert, the critically acclaimed author of several YA and Middle Grade novels. Her books include Pointe, Stonewall Award winner Little & Lion, Finding Yvonne, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, and her 2020 releases, The Only Black Girls in Town, and The Voting Booth. Her short fiction and essays have also been published in several critically acclaimed anthologies for young people. Born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, Brandy spent a few years living in Chicago before relocating permanently to Los Angeles. She is very active on social media and also works as a copy editor for magazines and books. She is also on faculty at Hamline University’s MFA program in writing for children. In this episode Brandy and I discuss: The inspiration behind The Revolution of Birdie Randolph Exploring black friendships and experience in The Only Black Girls in Town How books can functions as both mirrors and windows Exploring the theme of family over multiple books Grappling with race in the context of a contemporary story Moving into middle grade after writing YA Plus, her #1 tip for writers. For more info and shownotes: www.diymfa.com/298
Award-winning actor/writer/director/producer Gregory Blair was born and bred in Southern California. He studied throughout Los Angeles--including UCLA--as well as abroad at Cambridge University. He is the recipient of a Geoffrey Award for Best Character Actor, an EOTM Award for Best Director and a Claw Award for Best Screenplay. He is also the author of the Stonewall Award winning novel "Spewing Pulp", "The Ritual", and "Little Shivers" as well as the stage plays "Cold Lang Syne" and "Nicholas Nickleby". He is known for his animated manner, quirky intensity and expressive eyebrows.He recently wrote and directed "Garden Party Massacre."Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/thejhorton)
We're trying something new here: a short review by one panelist. We're hoping to release these shorter takes in between longer discussions. We hope they are just as illuminating as our hour-long discussions, but more digestible (for when you need a short nibble and not a full meal). In our inaugural attempt, Lindsey talks about Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution, a companion/sequel to the Stonewall Award winning Fat Angie by e.E. Charlton-Trujillo.
This week, we're talking with Alex Gino about what it means to be an ally. Alex is the author of the award-winning book George, about a transgender girl who wants the world to see her the way she sees herself. We talk with them about the importance of that message, as well as the messages readers will find in their latest book, You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!, about a girl who learns to be an ally, a sister, and a friend, understanding that life works in different ways for different people. Guest: Alex Gino loves glitter, ice cream, gardening, awe-ful puns, and stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of being alive. George was their first novel. George was a winner of the Children's Stonewall Award, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Children's Choice Book Awards, among a host of others. George was also featured on several Best of the Year lists. For more about Alex, please visit alexgino.com. Additional resources: Learn more about George Learn more about You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P! Learn more about Alex Gino Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan Produced by Emily Morrow
This week, we're talking with Alex Gino about what it means to be an ally. Alex is the author of the award-winning book George, about a transgender girl who wants the world to see her the way she sees herself. We talk with them about the importance of that message, as well as the messages readers will find in their latest book, You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P!, about a girl who learns to be an ally, a sister, and a friend, understanding that life works in different ways for different people. Guest: Alex Gino loves glitter, ice cream, gardening, awe-ful puns, and stories that reflect the diversity and complexity of being alive. George was their first novel. George was a winner of the Children's Stonewall Award, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Children's Choice Book Awards, among a host of others. George was also featured on several Best of the Year lists. For more about Alex, please visit alexgino.com. Additional resources: Learn more about George Learn more about You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P! Learn more about Alex Gino Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan Produced by Emily Morrow
Today we have award winner Brian Katcher on to talk about writing for young adults, starting new, starting over, and really killing your darlings -- like, whole project kind of darlings -- and how to move on from disappointment and celebrate success. We also talk research and balancing work with a day job.Brian is a school librarian and the author of five books for young adults, including the Stonewall Award winner Almost Perfect, which also was named one of the American Library Association's 2010 Best Books for Young Adults. His debut novel, Playing With Matches, was an ALA 2009 Best Book for Young Adults, and his most recent novel is Deacon Locke Went to Prom. For more information about Brian, visit his website, briankatcher.com. As always, we'd love for you to take a minute to rate and review us in your podcast app, as this helps other listeners find the show. Visit our website, marginallypodcast.com, for complete show notes and to get in touch. Find us on Instagram @marginallypodcast Theme music is "It's Time" by Scaricá Ricascá
Award-winning actor/writer/director/producer Gregory Blair was born and bred in Southern California. He studied theater at various locations throughout Los Angeles--including UCLA--and also studied abroad at Cambridge University. He is a Geoffrey Award winning actor, EOTM Award winning director, Stonewall Award winning novelist and multi-produced and award-winning screenwriter and playwright. As an actor, Gregory has graced the stage (Sylvia, Working, Six Degrees of Separation, etc.) the big screen (Ooga Booga, Fang, Look Back, etc.), and the small screen (Escape The Night, Love That Girl!, Amazing Sports Stories, etc.); as a writer he has been represented on stage (Cold Lang Syne, The Last Banana and Nicholas Nickleby), in prose (The Ritual, Little Shivers and Spewing Pulp) and in screenplays, including the original script resulting in Heretiks (due out this year), the award-wining Garden Party Massacre and Deadly Revisions, now available via SGL Entertainment. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/mimosaswithmichael/support
Award-winning author Bill Konigsberg joins us in the studio for this week's episode, just in time to celebrate Pride Month. Bill is the author of Openly Straight, which won the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, the Stonewall Award-winning The Porcupine of Truth, and most recently, Honestly Ben, a follow-up novel to Openly Straight. He talks about why he decided to write Honestly Ben several years after Openly Straight's release. Bill also shares what his life was like growing up as a gay teen in New York City during a time when there were little to no books in which he could see himself, his experiences, or even any role models. Later in the episode, we also talk with Scholastic librarian Deimosa Webber-Bey and art director Jeremy Goodwin about their recent experiences when Bill came to a meeting of the Scholastic Employee Book Club while they were discussing Honestly Ben. Additional Resources: Read an excerpt of Openly Straight, Honestly Ben, and The Porcupine of Truth Get a free copy of Bill Konigsberg's novella, Openly, Honestly here See more of our recommendations for great Pride Month reads Follow along with our #ReadWithPride campaign on Twitter and Instagram Guests: Bill Konigsberg is the author of novels including Openly Straight, which was named to the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults list, and The Porcupine of Truth, which won the Stonewall Book Award and the PEN Center Literary Award. Bill lives in Arizona with his husband. Visit him online at billkonigsberg.com and follow him at @billkonigsberg. Deimosa Webber-Bey is the Library Manager at Scholastic and is responsible for the corporate archive, readers advisory, cataloging, and the employee book club. She also taught for several years in public schools in Queens, Brooklyn, Albuquerque, and the Pueblo of Jemez. Jeremy Goodwin is the Art Director for Scholastic's Corporate Communications department. He works on maintaining and elevating the equity of the Scholastic corporate brand across the many divisions of the company. He's been in the design industry for more than 10 years and is an avid reader and independent artist. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan Produced by Emily Morrow
Award-winning author Bill Konigsberg joins us in the studio for this week's episode, just in time to celebrate Pride Month. Bill is the author of Openly Straight, which won the Sid Fleischman Award for Humor, the Stonewall Award-winning The Porcupine of Truth, and most recently, Honestly Ben, a follow-up novel to Openly Straight. He talks about why he decided to write Honestly Ben several years after Openly Straight's release. Bill also shares what his life was like growing up as a gay teen in New York City during a time when there were little to no books in which he could see himself, his experiences, or even any role models. Later in the episode, we also talk with Scholastic librarian Deimosa Webber-Bey and art director Jeremy Goodwin about their recent experiences when Bill came to a meeting of the Scholastic Employee Book Club while they were discussing Honestly Ben. Additional Resources: Read an excerpt of Openly Straight, Honestly Ben, and The Porcupine of Truth Get a free copy of Bill Konigsberg's novella, Openly, Honestly here See more of our recommendations for great Pride Month reads Follow along with our #ReadWithPride campaign on Twitter and Instagram Guests: Bill Konigsberg is the author of novels including Openly Straight, which was named to the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults list, and The Porcupine of Truth, which won the Stonewall Book Award and the PEN Center Literary Award. Bill lives in Arizona with his husband. Visit him online at billkonigsberg.com and follow him at @billkonigsberg. Deimosa Webber-Bey is the Library Manager at Scholastic and is responsible for the corporate archive, readers advisory, cataloging, and the employee book club. She also taught for several years in public schools in Queens, Brooklyn, Albuquerque, and the Pueblo of Jemez. Jeremy Goodwin is the Art Director for Scholastic's Corporate Communications department. With the mission of elevating the brand under a unified message, he contributes to high-level projects across the divisions of Scholastic. An alumnus of Parsons School of Design, he has been in the industry for over ten years and is also an avid reader and independent artist. Special thanks: Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan Produced by Emily Morrow
Intro Hi and welcome to Books Between - a podcast for teachers, parents, librarians, and anyone who wants to connect middle grade kids to books they will love. I’m your host, Corrina Allen - a mom of two young daughters, a 5th grade teacher, and… whew - coming off a tiring couple of weeks. How are you all holding up? I feel like I’ve been through the wringer, honestly. But - even though my entire family (and half my students) are battling colds and respiratory things and the news has been…. um..concerning, there have been some much needed bright spots. I took my first trip ever to DC last Saturday, and I watched the Youth Media Awards live webcast with my students last Monday morning. This is Episode #16 and Today we are discussing the Youth Media Awards and the featuring the 4 books that won Newbery Awards. Main Topic - 2017 Youth Media Awards Last Monday morning at 8am, I sat with my 18 pajama clad 5th graders and we had donuts and watched the Youth Media Awards live through the American Library Association website. They had their favorites that they were rooting for - The Wild Robot and Pax among them. But honestly, the day wasn’t really about the ultimate winners of those awards. To me, it was about honoring ALL children’s literature and showing my students that books for THEM, for an audience of children and teens are worthy of stopping everything and making a big deal of it. And, they learned about a lot of great books while they watched. They knew about the Caldecott and the Newbery, but now they know about the Alex Award, the Schneider Award, the Coretta Scott King Award and so many others that recognize the diversity in children’s literature. There were gasps when March got its fourth award and suddenly, every kid in that room wanted to know - wow, what is THAT book about? And when they learned about the Stonewall Award and that one of their all-time favorite authors, Rick Riordan, had won it for Magnus Chase - there were some opened minds that morning. Some of our favorites didn’t win - but that wasn’t really the point. The point is having a favorite that you are passionate about and discovering new books and authors that are going to stay with you forever. Book Talk - 2017 Newbery Award Books For our book talk segment this week, I’m going rebroadcast the two segments about the Newbery books that I have already featured on the show and then talk about the two others that earned recognition this past week. The novel that won the Newbery Award this year was Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon. And - yeah - I think I may screamed a tad when it was announced. Here’s what I had to say about this book back on episode 15. The Girl Who Drank the Moon Our second featured book today is The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. This is also an adventure survival story but a fairy tale fantasy with powerful witches, a poetic swamp monster, and a seemingly small dragon. The start of this story takes place in a gloomy village along a bog called The Protectorate run by a group of unscrupulous men called The Council of Elders. Each year, on the Day of Sacrifice, these elders take the youngest baby in the village and leave it in the woods. They do this, they claim, to appease an evil witch. Well, it turns out that there is actually a witch, a kind witch named Xan, who rescues these poor babies and feeds them on starlight while she journeys across the dangerous volcanic mountain to find a new home for them. Except one year, she accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight and enmagicks the child who grows to be uncontrollably powerful. The rest of the story is about Xan’s attempts to help her adoptive granddaughter harness that power, and what happens to the villagers left behind in The Protectorate - including a young Elder-in-Training named Antain who starts to have doubts, and the girl’s mother who ends up going mad and being locked in a tower with secrets of its own. It is beautiful and powerful. And here are three more things I loved about Kelly Barnhill’s The Girl Who Drank the Moon: The magic. This is not your typical sparkly, wand summoned magic. It’s earthy and primal and often exists as something almost separate from the characters. Flowers spring from footsteps. And there is a flock of paper birds that swarm and cut and lead and protect in a way that is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. I loved how unique the magic in this book was. The love you feel for the characters. Somehow Barnhill has written them in a way where you feel this deep sense of warmth and protectiveness and empathy for them. Xan, the witch, is getting older and she desperately wants to impart all of her knowledge that she can to her granddaughter, who she’s named Luna. But that same spell that protects her makes it so that she can’t get through to her. And you keep hoping that Luna will discover who she is and maybe be reunited with the mother she was so brutally ripped away from. And all the people in the village - especially Antain and his wife - who are under the thumb of the Council of Elders. I just felt so much love for this characters. What this story has to say about truth and power. In this book, there are some who feed off of other people’s misery. Those who raise themselves by putting others below them, by controlling what stories get told, and by spinning lies. But - there comes a time when the people start to realize how much power they actually have when they band together to use it. Loved it. The Girl Who Drank the Moon is lush and quirky and whimsical and funny and full of adventure. And I can’t wait to read everything else Kelly Barnhill has ever written because this was one powerhouse of a book. Freedom Over Me The first Newbery honor book announced was Freedom Over Me by Ashley Bryan. Well, I was totally wrong when I predicted that a picture book would not be included this time. And I’ll admit that this gorgeous and powerful picture book slipped by me this year. When I got this book, one of the first things I noticed was the cover featuring the images of eleven enslaved black men, women and children whose faces appear in the links of circled chain. Wow. And then flipping open the book and skimming, my heart stopped when I noticed the prices under each face. $300, Stephen age 32. Or $400, Charlotte, age 30 and her child, Dora, age 8. Whew - I hadn’t even read the text yet and this book had struck me. Before I talk about the text, the illustrations are gorgeous bright yellows and purples and greens in a Van Gogh style where you can see the swirls and textures on the each page. And in the background of several of the pages are images of legal documents showing the sale of these people as property. Okay - the text. Freedom Over Me is a book of poems - each one from the point of view of an enslaved man, woman, or child who live on the same plantation and are about to be sold. They share remembrances of their homes and childhood in Africa, their work on the plantation, and their hopes and dreams for the future. What’s fascinating is that the seeds of this book came from real slave-related documents that the author had acquired and his wish to honor the humanity of these people lost to history. It’s beautiful, and moving, and just stays with you a long time. Also receiving a Newbery Honor this year was the incredible The Inquisitor’s Tale. Here’s what I had to say about this book back in Episode #10. The Inquisitor’s Tale Our final book featuring an abundance of surprising twists is The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz. I have been texting, tweeting, and talking about this book so much in the past month that when I type the letter I into my phone, it automatically suggests “Inquisitor” as the first option. This novel is a medieval adventure story about three magical children (and a dog) who are pursued by various agents of the Inquisition. The first is a young girl named Jeanne (sort of like a young Joan of Arc) who has fits and sees visions. Then we meet the talkative and tall monk-in-training, William - an eleven year old whose unusual dark skin is likely the result of a relationship between his crusading father and a North African woman. Since this is 1242 France, his appearance and supernatural strength immediately have people seeing him as dangerously different. And finally, there’s little Jacob - a wise Jewish boy reeling from the recent death of his parents and just starting to realize his powers to heal others. Eventually all three are both hailed and condemned as saints and have to outwit and outrun their pursuers. The story is so gorgeously detailed and interconnected that any description I give you of this novel is NOT going to do it justice. You just have to get it and read it yourself. The fact is there are so so many big and little things I loved about this book, but I have committed to limiting myself to three. I have to start with the illustrations. Just like many real medieval texts had illuminations in the margins, The Inquisitor’s Tale includes dozens and dozens of intricate sketches by Hatem Aly. There is so much to explore there but I think what is most fascinating is the note at the beginning of the novel explaining that the drawings might actually contradict or question the text. That profound mix of humor, philosophy, and yes - savagery. There are gross jokes galore in this book. And I love how that is mixed in with deep philosophical and religious discussions between the children. At one point, Jacob asks that eternal question: Why would a good God let bad things happen? This is a book about saints and at some point it dawns on the children that most saints are martyred. In high school, I worked evenings in the rectory (the office) at St. Cecelia’s church and during down times, I would read this dusty old copy of Lives of the Saints. And the stories in there were appallingly gruesome - and this novel doesn’t really shy away from the awfulness of that. But, it does give some hope that people with intensely different beliefs might still find a way to work together and be friends. The character twists! I don’t want to say too much and ruin it, so I’m really holding a lot back here, but all throughout this book, you meet the most vile, nastiest characters and then suddenly… it flips and one of the narrators helps you see their point of view. And even if they’ve still DONE terrible things, you have more empathy for them. Then you realize that one of the key characters that have been telling you this story - You. Can’t. Trust. Ahhhh! I LOVED it - this book had me gleefully yelling at the pages. The Inquisitor’s Tale would make a fantastic read aloud, and I’ve heard the audio version is phenomenal. I think this novel is probably best suited for upper middle grade readers about ages 10-14 but I am sure any teen or adult who likes an historical adventure with some awesome fart jokes thrown in is going to really love it! Wolf Hollow And finally, the third Newbery honor book is one that you will not soon forget - Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk. I think just about every librarian I knew had this book in their hands at some point over the past year, and I finally started it last week and immediately knew I should have read it months ago. For some background, it’s an historical fiction set in 1943 rural Pennsylvania. And it’s about a 12 year old girl named Annabelle whose steady life gets derailed when this vicious, manipulative girl, Betty, arrives in town. She’s horrendous. You hate to speak ill of a child - even a fictional one, but - errr - she is clearly a sociopath or emotionally disturbed. The chain of lying that starts when this girl comes to town is tragic and yet - you could see it coming. I’ve got to say that I adored this book, but there were some times in the beginning that I had to put it down for bit when it got too intense. I can handle almost anything, but when kids are in danger - especially children the same age as my own - I have a bit of a tough time. There are these heart-rending moments when Annabelle is faced with moral dilemmas that would have adults cowering. And - it’s small but there’s this scene where Annabelle is in a clearing in the woods near her home and looking at this large stone with clear quartz veins running through it. And it suddenly hits her that this rock has been there long before her and everyone she knows and will be in the same place long after everyone is gone. And her life is nothing more than a flicker in time. It’s that moment of cosmic realization that we all eventually go through. I’ll just read a small passage from that page: “And I decided that there might be things I would never understand, no matter how hard I tried. Though try I would. And that there would be people who would never hear my one small voice, no matter what I had to say. But then a better thought occured, and this was the one I carried away with me that day: If my life was to be just a single note in an endless symphony, how could I not sound it out for as long and as loudly as I could.” That’s the line that I’m carrying forward with me today, this week, and for a long, long time. Closing Thank you so very much for taking the time to join me this week. You can get find a transcript of this show and all of our previous episodes at AlltheWonders.com. And lots of other fantastic resources to lighten your heart and connect the children in your life to books they’ll love. Thanks again and see you in two weeks! Bye!
In this Special Report, Deputy General Counsel to the Oregon State Bar Mark Roberts and ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Director Malcolm ‘Skip’ Harsch stop by to discuss the Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity’s Stonewall Awards and introduce the 2016 award honorees. The Stonewall Award is named after the 1969 Stonewall Riots that took place in New York City and recognizes lawyers, members of the judiciary, and legal academics who have affected real change to remove barriers on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the legal profession. This year's honorees, Talmadge Fitzpatrick Tribe partner Thomas Fitzpatrick, Nashville attorney Abby Rubenfeld, and Freedom to Marry Founder and President Evan Wolfson, sit down with Legal Talk Network producer Laurence Colletti to discuss their hard work and accomplishments in the fight for LGBT rights.
Kathryn interviews Time Magazine's 'Gay Marriage Already Won' kissing couple Kristen and Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson. With the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) decision set to be made in June, married lesbian couple Kristen and Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson is no stranger to the front lines of the fight for marriage equality. Named one of Go Magazine's Most Captivating Couples of 2012, these women are well known for their advocacy and powerful opinions. Both Kristen and Sarah-Kate were nominated for a prestigious Stonewall Award and have been quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Huffington Post.
Kathryn interviews Time Magazine's 'Gay Marriage Already Won' kissing couple Kristen and Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson. With the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) decision set to be made in June, married lesbian couple Kristen and Sarah Kate Ellis-Henderson is no stranger to the front lines of the fight for marriage equality. Named one of Go Magazine's Most Captivating Couples of 2012, these women are well known for their advocacy and powerful opinions. Both Kristen and Sarah-Kate were nominated for a prestigious Stonewall Award and have been quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Huffington Post.