Shows
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 Ep 10: Blending science and fantasy in The Secrets of Underhill by Kali WallaceMessages about caring for the world we live in cannot come at more important time in our lives-and this is book is a great way to discuss environmentalism.We met with Kali Wallace and discussed writing in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and environmental fantasy, as well as pacing, plotting, and maybe…not plotting. (Really, finding what works for you!)Here are a few of our favorite lines from her book. You’ll see that we chose two very different quotes, yet they illustrate Kali’s talents as a writer in the way she can be...2025-07-3154 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 Ep 9: Character Development in Brandon Hoàng's YA novel Gloria Buenrostro is Not My GirlfriendLooking for an entertaining read full of awkward teen love and friendships? Gloria Buenrostro is Not My Girlfriend is that book.Join us as we talked with Brandon Hoàng about writing strong characters, choosing an audience for your story, and more on writing and creating. Here were a few of our favorite lines that stood out to us as we read:* Alexis: Her fingers touching mine. Her warmth cut through the cold dough. Her fingertips trickled over my knuckles as if in slow-motion. This wasn’t a graze or a brushing. This was...2025-06-3045 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 Ep 8: The lunch room is still hard...even on the moon-Middle Grade Sci-Fi with Michelle BarrySecret Garden + Divergent = Moongarden.Join us as we talked with Michelle A Barry about writing her science fiction series, Moongarden. We touched on plotting, planning, magic systems, and tying middle school life into it all in our latest podcast. Here were a few of our favorite lines that stood out to us as we read:* Brittany: “The public will never accept a garden.”* Alexis: “I turn in a circle marveling at what my magic can do even if it don’t know how I’m doing it.”Share your favorite lin...2025-05-2828 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 Ep 7: Packing a punch and being purposeful with your language plus more writing insight with Allie MillingtonPlotting, outlines, multiple points of view, and developing distinct characters are some of the things we talked with Allie Millington about today after reading her latest Middle Grade novel, Once for Yes.Here were a few of our favorite lines that stood out to us as we read:* Alexis: “Friendships are like water leaks. Who knows how they start.”* Brittany: “But sometimes it’s the things you lose that are the heaviest to hold.”Share your favorite lines!Further down in the description you can read more about the book, wher...2025-04-3035 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 Ep 6: "If you write a great story, no one cares about the rules"-Elly SwartzTackling tough topics, book banning, current events, prologues, and growth. These are some of the things we talked with Elly Swartz about today after reading her latest Middle Grade novel, Same Page.Here were a few of our favorite lines that stood out to us as we read:* Alexis: “Kids can handle more than we’re given credit for. Books are a good way to learn and talk about stuff that’s hard. They’re way better than sitting alone, scrolling for information and answers on our phones.” I pause. “Trust me.”* Brittany: Bess says: “Wh...2025-03-3057 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 Ep 5: Reinventing the Vampire with Kalynn BayronWriting characters with unique voices, staying in the middle grade voice with dialogue, and using a timeless character such as vampires, but putting your own spin on it, are some of the topics we discussed with Kalynn Bayron.As we read, there were two passages that stood out to us:* Brittany: I toss my phone onto my bed and go find my mom, who tells me she thinks folding laundry is kind of relaxing and I just don’t get why she lies to me like that.* Alexis: I tabbed so many lines th...2025-03-0135 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 Ep 4: Dominoes, Not Hurdles-Building tension with Sam SubityDragon elements with history, character goals, and navigating multiple POVs in a story are some of the writing themes we talked about with Sam Subity.As we read, we noticed two passages that really stood out to us.* Brittany: “Maybe, even, they are miles and miles away beside the same river. I let my fingertips trail into the water and imagine they are doing the same and our fingers touch.” pg. 105 * Alexis: “Would the thaw bring enemy soldiers flooding over their border like a river swollen with melting snow?” pg. 8Further down in t...2025-02-0132 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 Ep 3: Digging Up a Good Story with Taryn SoudersPlaying with language, building a town of characters, and blending history and fiction are some of the topics we covered with Taryn Souders. You can listen to the podcast above or on Apple Podcasts. We also have transcripts available if listening is not for you. Note: Transcripts on Substack are only available in the web version, not the app.Further down in the description you can read more about the book, where to buy your own copy, and what we are doing next.We would love to hear what you thought of the...2024-12-1636 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 Ep2: Try the Next New Thing with Lindsay CurrieLindsay Currie discusses taking a chance when something captures your attention, being inspired by other writers, and how she wrote The Mystery of Locked Rooms!Twelve-year-old Sarah Greene wants nothing more from her seventh-grade year than to beat the hardest escape room left in her town with her best friends, West, and Hannah. But when a foreclosure notice shows up on Sarah's front door, everything changes. Since her father became ill two years ago, things have been bad, but not lose your house bad...until now. Sarah feels helpless until the day Hannah mentions a t...2024-11-0937 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS2 E1: Spooky Settings with Wendy ParrisWe are so excited to kick off Season 2 with you all. Our first guest this season is Wendy Parris-author of two spooky middle grade novels. Today we focused on her latest release, Stage Fright.Further down in the description you can read more about the book, where to buy your own copy, a writing challenge, and what we are doing next.You can listen to the podcast above or on Apple Podcasts. We also have transcripts available if listening is not for you. Note: Transcripts on Substack are only available in the web version, not...2024-09-3032 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E10: Joy McCullough and Trusting Your IntuitionToday we welcome Joy McCullough. Joy debuted with a young adult novel in verse, Blood Water Paint, which went on to win numerous awards and honors. Since then, she has written picture books, middle grade, and more young adult. She’s also a playwright! Her latest novel is a middle grade novel, Basil and Dahlia: A Tragic Tale of Sinister Sweetness. We discuss how this was her first novel on submission (but not first to publish), writing a loose fairy tale retelling, unique narrators, and the power of trusting your gut. Further down in the de...2024-08-0440 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastBONUS EPISODE! Shane Cluskey: The Book Cover and Interior Illustrations ArtistOur July read, Basil & Dahlia: A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness has an eye catching cover and fun illustrations sprinkled throughout the novel. We decided we had to have Shane Cluskey, the illustrator, on our show. This episode will give you a glimpse into the process of book covers and artwork in books as well as a look at how Shane creates his art.You can listen to our talk with author, Joy McCullough in our previous episode - Season 1 Episode 10.You can listen to the podcast above or on Apple Podcasts. We also have...2024-08-0418 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E9: Jasmine Warga and Stretching Your Limits By Setting Limits Jasmine Warga, author and winner of countless awards, including a John Newbery Honor, a Walter Honor for Young Readers, and a Charlotte Huck Honor joined to discuss the writing process behind her acclaimed middle grade novel, A Rover’s Story.You can listen to the podcast above or on Apple Podcasts. DiscussionWe would love to hear from our readers! What is your biggest takeaway from the podcast?Writing ChallengeJasmine Warga talks about the limitation of writing a novel with a non-human main character. We challenge our listeners to...2024-06-2327 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E8: Dan Gemeinhart on "Turning things up and getting the tone right"Today we talked with middle grade author Dan Gemeinhart about writing, specifically with his novel, The Midnight Children.Dan Gemeinhart is an award winning and bestselling author known for his heartfelt stories including Some Kind of Courage, The Honest Truth, Scar Island, Good Dog, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise and most recently, Coyote Lost and Found. Dan is here with us today to discuss his middle grade novel, The Midnight Children, a tale whose plot and tone are seeped in secrets and mystery and of course, heart! You can listen to the podcast above...2024-06-0137 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E7: Chris Baron and Naomi Milliner on the importance of finding your people and sharing your passion.Today we talked with two of the editors for the anthology On All Other Nights, Chris Baron and Naomi Milliner. Joshua S Levy is the third editor, but he was not able to join us.On All Other Nights is a joyful middle-grade anthology centered around Passover—from an exciting array of bestselling and award-winning Jewish creators.Welcome to Passover, a Jewish holiday that has been celebrated for thousands of years. The heart of Passover is the seder—a meal full of rituals, special foods, and songs—where we gather together to retell the story of the...2024-05-0334 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E6: Real Kids and Punchy Chapters with Barbara DeeToday’s guest writes books that are best described with these words: Award Winning. Real Challenges. Resilience. Humor. Barbara Dee is the author of 14 middle grade novels and is the QUEEN (in our opinion) of capturing that middle grade voice as well as depicting tough topics in an accessible way for kids. Our talk with Barbara Dee was full of strategies on how to write authentic voices, chapter titles, and keeping tension solid throughout the book to keep readers turning pages.You can listen to th...2024-04-0638 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E5: Knocking on the Door of Zetta Elliott’s Writing WorldToday’s guest is Black feminist writer and poet, Zetta Elliott. Zetta’s poetry has been published in numerous anthologies and additionally, she has written numerous essays (including the Children’s Literature Association’s Article Award winning 2014 essay, “The Trouble with Magic: Conjuring the Past in New York City Parks.”). Zetta also has published two middle grade novels-one of which we are talking about today! Dragons in a Bag is a middle grade fantasy book that the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) named a Notable Children’s Book and it was selected for the 2021 Global Read Aloud. The fifth and...2024-02-291h 01
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E4: Jennifer A Nielsen and IcebergToday’s episode is with middle grade author, Jennifer A Nielsen. Her newest novel, ICEBERG, is a thrilling middle grade historical fiction about Hazel Rothbury- a young stowaway onboard the Titanic will need all her courage and wits to stay alive. The Read to Write KidLit Book Club read closely to notice what Nielsen did to bring us in to her story and then asked her questions about writing craft. Our goal is to learn more about writing craft through discussions with each other, our reading, and our discussion with the author. We hope you also learn mor...2024-01-3039 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E3: Megan E Freeman and AloneToday’s episode is with middle grade author, Megan E Freeman. The Read to Write Kidlit book club read Alone this month. We read closely to notice what Megan did to bring us in to her story and then asked her questions about writing craft. Our goal is to learn more about writing craft through discussions with each other, our reading, and our discussion with the author. We hope you also learn more about writing after this podcast.We are also on Apple Podcasts.Thank you for listening! If you are interested in joining our bo...2023-12-1153 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E2: Kate Albus and Nothing Else But MiraclesToday’s episode is with middle grade author, Kate Albus. The Read to Write Kidlit book club read Nothing Else But Miracles this month. We read closely to notice what Kate Albus did to bring us in to her story and then asked her questions about writing craft. Our goal is to learn more about writing craft through discussions with each other, our reading, and our discussion with the author. We hope you also learn more about writing after this podcast.We are also on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening! If you are interested in...2023-10-2838 min
Read to Write Kidlit PodcastS1 E1: Mariama J Lockington Discusses Writing In the Key of UsToday’s episode is with middle grade author, Mariama J Lockington. The Read to Write Kidlit book club read In the Key of Us this month. We read closely to notice what Mariama did to engage us in her book and then asked her questions about writing craft. Our goal is to learn more about writing craft through discussions with each other, our reading, and our discussion with the author. We hope you also learn more about writing after this podcast.We are also on Apple Podcasts. Thank you for listening! If you are interested in...2023-09-2745 min