SCBWI - Podcast Details

Shows

SCBWI PodcastsMaintaining Momentum as a Creative with Nova Ren SumaIn this week's episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Nova Ren Suma!Nova Ren Suma is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling The Walls Around Us and A Room Away from the Wolves, which were both finalists for the Edgar Award. She also wrote Imaginary Girls and 17 & Gone and co-edited the story & craft anthology Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA. She has an MFA in fiction from Columbia University and has taught creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and Vermont College of Fine Arts...2025-05-291h 02

SCBWI PodcastsWriting Poetry while Hiking with Kate MessnerIn this week's episode of the SCBWI Podcast we are joined by Kate Messner. New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books that encourage kids to wonder, too. Kate's titles include both fiction and nonfiction; she writes award-winning picture books, easy readers, chapter book series, and novels for young readers. Her books are frequently nominated for state book award lists and have been honored with the E.B. White Read Aloud Award, Golden Kite and Crystal Kite Awards, Riverby Award for Natural History Writing, and Nerdy Book Club Awards. Kate's science themed b...2025-05-1659 min

SCBWI PodcastsAn Artist's Process with Barbara McClintockIn this weeks episode we are joined by Barbara McClintock!Barbara McClintock is an American illustrator and author of over 40 books for children. Her books have received numerous awards and citations, including five New York Times Best Illustrated Picture Book Awards, four ALA Notable Book Citations, a Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Award, a China Times Best Illustrated Books Award, and a British Fantasy Award. One of her books is a best-selling title in Japan.Her artwork has been exhibited and is in the collections of libraries, museums and galleries around the world....2025-05-0953 min

SCBWI PodcastsA Conversation with Kyle Lukoff and Levi Hastings, the duo behind the picture book: Are You A Friend of Dorothy?This week we are joined by author Kyle Lukoff and illustrator Levi Hastings! From Newbery Honor and Stonewall Book Award–winning author Kyle Lukoff and celebrated picture book illustrator Levi Hastings comes an “approachable, engaging” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) picture book about how people found community in a time when they had to keep their true selves secret.“Are you a friend of Dorothy?”In a time when the LGBTQ+ community was forced to hide in the shadows, a woman named Dorothy helped her people find each other in th...2025-05-0241 min

SCBWI PodcastsSlowing Down with Donna Barba HigueraIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast we are joined by Donna Barba Higuera!Donna grew up in Central California surrounded by agricultural and oil fields. As a child, rather than dealing with the regular dust devils, she preferred spending recess squirreled away in the janitor’s closet with a good book. Her favorite hobbies were calling dial-a-story over and over again, and sneaking into a restricted cemetery to weave her own spooky tales using the crumbling headstones as inspiration. Donna's Middle Grade and Picture Books are about kids who find themselves in odd or scar...2025-04-1255 min

SCBWI PodcastsDoing the Right Thing with Maria van LieshoutIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast we are joined by Maria van Lieshout!Maria is a Dutch-American illustrator and graphic novelist.She was born and raised near Amsterdam, and studied Visual Communications at George Washington University in DC. Maria has illustrated and written 15 picture books for kids. Her graphic novel Song of a Blackbird is inspired by historic events, including those that affected her own family, during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. Maria lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their son.Buy here latest novel: https...2025-04-041h 06

SCBWI PodcastsFrom Picture Books to Fantasy Novels with Authors Against Book Bans founding member, Maggie Tokuda-HallIn this episode of the podcast we are joined by Maggie Tokuda-Hall!Maggie Tokuda-Hall has an MFA in creative writing from USF, and BA in art from Scripps College. She’s the author of numerous award winning, best-selling children’s and young adult books including Love in the Library, The Mermaid the Witch and The Sea duology, Squad, and The Worst Ronin. She has been called “... one of the most unflinching voices in contemporary genre literature.”Maggie is a founding member and national leader of Authors Against Book Bans. She is the co-host of the F...2025-03-281h 03 $Adventures in the Heart of Children\'s Book Authors Podcast$ Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors PodcastUnveiling the Challenges and Triumphs of a Military Spouse Children's Book AuthorMonica Voicu Denniston joins us to discuss her engaging children's book, "Maggie the Military Rat," which explores the unique experiences of military children. Central to our conversation is the inspiration behind Maggie, a character that resonates with the challenges and resilience of those navigating military life. Monica shares her journey, from her early love of storytelling to the trials of publishing amidst the demands of a military lifestyle. We delve into the intricacies of character development, mainly how Maggie embodies the spirit of perseverance, and the importance of fostering empathy through literature. 2025-03-111h 11

SCBWI PodcastsA Conversation with Erin Entrada KellyIn this episode we are joined by Erin Entrada Kelly!Erin Entrada Kelly has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including the 2025 Newbery Medal for The First State of Being, 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, a 2021 Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, the 2023 NAIBA Book of the Year Award for Those Kids From Fawn Creek, and 2017 APALA Award for The Land of Forgotten Girls, among many other honors. She is also a National Book Award Finalist and author/illustrator of Marisol Rainey and Felix Powell, stand-alone stories for younger readers. Her books...2025-03-0636 min

SCBWI PodcastsImmersive Storytelling with Neal ShustermanIn this episode we are joined by Neal Shusterman!Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than fifty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, including Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award, Courage to Dream, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book, Scythe, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book, the Unwind Dystology, which won more than thirty domestic and international awards, and the highly acclaimed novels, Dry, and Roxy which he co-wrote with his son, Jarrod For his body of work, N...2025-02-2850 min

Educational Equity EmancipationEpisode 135: Celebrating Black History and Futures Through StorytellingSend us a textIn this episode, host Dr. Almitra Berry welcomes author Tonya Duncan Ellis, the brilliant creator of the bestselling Sophie Washington book series and the picture book "They Built Me for Freedom." Tonya shares how her personal experiences and the rich history of Black culture inspired her work, which celebrates identity and engages young readers in meaningful conversations about freedom. The discussion explores the vital role of storytelling in shaping our understanding of America's Black history and the importance of representation for children of color.Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the...2025-02-1032 min

SCBWI PodcastsThe Life of an Artist with Paul O. ZelinskyIn this episode we are joined by Paul O. Zelinsky!Paul O. Zelinsky grew up in Wilmette, Illinois, the son of a mathematics professor father and a medical illustrator mother. He drew compulsively from an early age, but did not know until college that this would be his career. As a Sophomore in Yale College he enrolled in a course on the history and practice of the picture book, co-taught by an English professor and Maurice Sendak. This experience inspired Paul to point himself in the direction of children's books. His first book appeared in 1978, since which...2024-12-201h 02

SCBWI PodcastsAround the World with Translator Oliver LatschIn this episode we are joined by Oliver Latsch!Translator and agent Oliver Latsch grew up bilingual in German and English in East Africa and Germany. He trained to be a scientist and had just completed his PhD in Biology in the U.K. when he was asked to help get some best-selling German children’s books published in English. This led to a career as a literary agent and translator. Since then, he has accumulated 17 published book translations both from German to English and vice versa. His translation of Cornelia Funke's The Thief Lord from German in...2024-11-141h 00

Heart to Heart with AbagabaTonya Duncan Ellis: Author of the Bestselling Sophie Washington Children's Chapter Book SeriesJoin me in a heart-to-heart with Tonya Duncan Ellis.:She is the author of the bestselling Sophie Washington children’s chapter book series and THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM (Balzer + Bray an imprint of Harper Collins, 2024) She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, Black Creators in KidLit, and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation-sponsored, Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort. In 2021, she won the Austin SCBWI Cynthia Leitich Smith Writing Mentor Award. She is a 2022 SCBWI’s Independently Published Book Launch Marketing Grant winner. As represented by Sara Megibow of KT Li...2024-10-2628 min

SCBWI PodcastsSocial Media Marketing 101 with Erin LeeIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Erin Lee!Erin Lee is an elementary school teacher and artist living in Long Sault, Ontario. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with an Honors degree in Fine Arts, Visual Arts. Erin has published three award-winning children’s books: Benjamin and the Backyard Beast, Out of Season, and Maggie the Magnificent. Erin has written short stories and novels since she was a child. As a young student, she idolized authors such as Robert Munsch, Dr. Suess, and Roald Dahl. Having adventures of her own tha...2024-10-251h 21

SCBWI PodcastsMaking the World a More Beautiful Place with John ParraIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by artist John Parra!John Parra is an award-winning artist, illustrator, author, and educator, best known for his, Latino themed, children’s picture books. His work on, Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos, was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. His MTA artcard poster, Birdhouse Subways, was displayed throughout NYC subways and his art was seen on six U.S. Forever Postage Stamps titled: Delicioso. He regularly speaks as a visiting artist at schools and literary conferences across the country, advocating art...2024-10-1849 min

SCBWI PodcastsLessons in Storytelling with Michael DiMartino, co-creator of Avatar: The Last AirbenderIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Michael Dante DiMartino!Michael Dante DiMartino is an American animator, producer, writer, and director. He is best known, together with Bryan Konietzko, as the co-creator of the animated TV series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, both on Nickelodeon.He has also written for podcasts and has authored novels. You can purchase his latest, Both Here And Gone on his website: https://www.michaeldantedimartino.com/product-page/both-here-and-thenFollow him on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/mike_d...2024-10-1056 min

SCBWI PodcastsBetter Must Come with Desmond HallIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Desmond Hall!Desmond Hall was born in Jamaica, West Indies, and moved to Jamaica, Queens. He has worked as a high school biology and English teacher in East New York, Brooklyn; counseled teenage ex-cons after their release from Rikers Island; and served as Spike Lee’s creative director at Spike DDB. Desmond has served on the board of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and the Advertising Council and judged the One Show, the American Advertising Awards, and the NYC Downtown Short Film Fe...2024-10-041h 02

Getting to The Heart of Why We WriteRocky Mountain Community and Sartorial Librarians with Author Paul VinelliPlease give a big welcome to one of my favorite kidlit people and dear friend, Paul Vinelli! Some Highlights: Bereavement books and crossing genres. Collaborating with an artist to bring your book to life. Physically staging the scenes of your book. Taking a book to an art show. Finding creative purpose. Creating the story through staging and writing the text after the images. What animal would you choose to be you in an anthropomorphic world? Taking theater production as inspiration for...2024-09-1039 min

Holly Cotton ConversationsTurning Pages: Redefining Literature through diversityIn this episode, host Holly Cotton and author Tonya Duncan Ellis discuss her success as an author. She shares how she started writing with a book series for kids and her most recent book by a major publisher. Tonya gives tips on how to be successful as an author, how to get your book published and marketed on major platforms, lessons learned, and advice for other authors. Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM: THE STORY OF JUNETEENTH AND HOUSTON’S EMANCIPATION PARK (HarperCollins, Balzer + Bray, 2024) and the SOPHIE WASHINGTON chi...2024-08-0531 min

Symposium by Pipeline ArtistsTown Hall: An Intro to KidLit with the SCBWISouthern Breeze Co-Regional Advisors of the acclaimed SCBWI answer your Kidlit questions.If you are dabbling in KidLit, Co-Regional Advisors Lisa Lowe Stauffer and Melissa Miles want you to know about SCBWI.The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is the preeminent membership organization for children’s book creators. A global community of writers, illustrators, translators, publishers, librarians, advocates, and other industry professionals working to establish a more imaginative and inclusive world through the power of children’s literature. The SCBWI mission is to support the creation of an abundance of quality childr...2024-07-2358 min

SCBWI PodcastsFinding Your Writer's Voice with Margaret FinneganIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Margaret Finnegan!Margaret Finnegan is the author of the Junior Library Guild Selections Sunny Parker Is Here to Stay, New Kids and Underdogs, We Could Be Heroes, and Susie B. Won’t Back Down. Her work has appeared in FamilyFun, the Los Angeles Times, Salon, and other publications. She lives in South Pasadena, California, where she enjoys spending time with her family, walking her dog, and baking really good chocolate cakes. Visit her online at MargaretFinnegan.com.Purchase her book here: https://bo...2024-07-1951 min

SCBWI PodcastsCelebrating the 100th My Weird School book “Miss Nichol Is In a Pickle!” with Dan GutmanIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Dan Gutman!New York Times best-selling and award-winning author Dan Gutman has written more than 190 books for readers from kindergarten through middle school. Dan’s My Weird School series includes 100+ titles, and has sold more than 35 million copies globally over the past 20 years. Dan also is the author of the best-selling Genius Files series, the Baseball Card Adventure series, and many more.Dan’s books have been named Junior Library Guild Selections and Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year...2024-07-1157 min

SCBWI PodcastsBuilding Empathy Through Storytelling with Dr. Amra Sabic-El-RayessIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Sabic-El-Rayess !Dr. Sabic-El-Rayess first became a teacher as a young teen during the Bosnian Genocide. In a letter written by President Joe Biden himself, he wrote: “I am inspired by the bravery and strength you have shown in the face of heartbreaking tragedy and persecution.” Reflecting on Dr. Amra Sabic-El-Rayess’ award-winning memoir The Cat I Never Named (Bloomsbury, 2020), the President described her as “the very idea of America” itself. As a Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) woman and survivor of the Bosnian Genocide, who immigr...2024-06-211h 01

SCBWI PodcastsBooks, Baseball, and Everything In Between with Phil BildnerIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Phil Bildner!Phil Bildner is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for young people including the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor-winning middle grade novel, A High Five for Glenn Burke, the Margaret Wise Brown Prize-winning picture book, Marvelous Cornelius, and the Texas Bluebonnet Award-winning picture book Shoeless Joe & Black Betsy. Phil is also the author of A Whole New Ballgame, Rookie of the Year, Tournament of Champions, and Most Valuable Players in the critically acclaimed middle grade Rip & Red series. His other picture...2024-05-2444 min

BookSmittenConference Takeaways from SCBWI Marvelous MidwestMentioned in this episode:SCBWI Marvelous Midwest 2024Gary D. SchmidtSherri L. SmithJames Solheim Interviewees:Aaron Fox (MO)Debbie Gonzales (MI)Kat Higgs-Coulthard (MI)Leslie Helakowski (MI)Danielle Defoe (MI)Kathy Halsey (OH)Amy Flynn (OH)Sheila Willobee (MI)Kathy Groth (WI) - Sunken Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan, Ocean Party (Illustrated by Becca Hart)Joyce Uglow (WI) - Stuck: The Story of the La Brea Tar Pits (Illustrated by Valerya Milovanova )Our Books for Children and Young Adults:2024-05-1514 min

SCBWI PodcastsPublicity 101 with Tracy van StraatenIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Tracy van Straaten!TRACY VAN STRAATEN, Founder and PresidentFounded in 2019, TvS Media Group LLC is an award-winning boutique public relations and consulting firm specializing in book publishing, entertainment, and brand management, with particular expertise in children's and young adult media. Founder and President Tracy van Straaten has more than 30 years of publicity, communications, and marketing experience, and she has created hundreds of campaigns for bestselling, award-winning, and debut authors, as well as beloved characters, celebrities, and brands.Over the c...2024-05-101h 01

SCBWI PodcastsAlways Pushing Forward with Debbie Ridpath OhiIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Debbie Ridpath Ohi!Debbie Ridpath Ohi is a children’s book author and illustrator who has helped create over 20 books for young people. She loves her job. She is the author and illustrator of I WANT TO READ ALL THE BOOKS, WHERE ARE MY BOOKS?, and SAM & EVA (Simon & Schuster). Her illustrations have appeared in books by Judy Blume, Michael Ian Black, Linda Sue Park, and others. You can find Debbie on Bluesky, SubStack, Instagram, her Bookstagram, Facebook, YouTube, X,https://debbieohi.co...2024-04-2650 min

SCBWI PodcastsThe Craft of Writing Very Cool Novels with F. T. LukensIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by F.T. Lukens!F.T. Lukens is a New York Times bestselling author of YA speculative fiction including the novels Spell Bound, So This Is Ever After (2023 ALA Rainbow Booklist; 2022 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee), In Deeper Waters (2022 ALA Rainbow Booklist; Junior Library Guild Selection), and the forthcoming Otherworldly as well as other science-fiction and fantasy works. F.T. resides in North Carolina with their spouse, three kids, three dogs, and three cats.Buy Otherworldy here:https://bookshop.org/p/books/otherworldly-f-t-lukens/20163013?ean=9781665916257 2024-04-1946 min

SCBWI PodcastsCatching up with Cece BellIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by renowned illustrator/cartoonist/graphic novelist Cece Bell!Cece Bell has written and illustrated many books for children, among them the beloved Sock Monkey books, the Geisel Award-winning Rabbit and Robot: The Sleepover, and the Newbery Honor-winning graphic novel El Deafo. She and her husband, author Tom Angleberger, have also collaborated on the picture book Crankee Doodle and the Inspector Flytrap chapter book series. She lives in Virginia with her family.Check out Animal Albums here:https://animalalbums.com/Purchase it here: 2024-04-1253 min

SCBWI PodcastsTurning Your Heart Inside Out with John SchuIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by John Schu aka Mr. Schu!John Schu has made a career out of advocating for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, and the people that connect them. He was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker for his dynamic interactions with students and his passionate adoption of new technologies as a means of connecting authors, illustrators, books, and readers. He is the children’s librarian for Bookelicious, a part-time lecturer at Rutgers University, and shares his love of reading with countless educators an...2024-04-0453 min

SCBWI PodcastsTaking Risks with Cátia ChienIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Cátia Chien!Cátia Chien is a children's book illustrator from Sao Paulo, Brazil. She is currently working in New York City. She graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California in 2004. She has produced work for several publishing companies, including Random House, Penguin Books and Candlewick Press.Buy The Bear and the Moon here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-bear-and-the-moon-matthew-burgess/14350474?ean=9781452171913and her other books here: https://bookshop.org/contributors/catia-chien-00827b04-86e9-47f1-8...2024-03-2842 min

SCBWI PodcastsImaginative Empathy with Richard Jesse WatsonIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Richard Jesse Watson!Port Townsend painter, illustrator, and sculptor, Richard Jesse Watson, has received numerous awards and several of his books were New York Times Bestsellers. His paintings hang in museums, corporate and private collections internationally. Watson is an accomplished artist and perpetual experimenter. He often breaks out of boxes in his quest for originality. "His work is a process of thinking: …to balance and nod to the extremes on either end of an idea.” Kristin Tollefson, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.2024-03-2156 min

SCBWI PodcastsFrom the Mothership of Illustration with James RansomeIn this Podcast Replay, we are joined by James Ransome, the iconic illustrator of classics like Before She Was Harriet (written by Lesa Cline-Ransome), Uncle Jed's Barbershop, Visiting Day, and so many more incomparable titles. James never does the same thing twice, and in our expansive and focused conversation, we discussed ways of seeing, color and quilts, his mentorship with the great Jerry Pinkney, and how his love of Parliament Funkadelic keeps him experimenting.Follow James on Instagram: jransomillustrFollow James on Facebook: James Ransome IllustrationJames's Website: https://jamesransome.comSupport the...2024-02-161h 05

Writers With WrinklesThe Big Picture Part 3—Navigating the Picture Book Publishing Maze: Tips, Resources & EncouragementSend us a textThis week we dived deep into the picture book publishing process. Whether you're at the beginning of your journey, stuck in the middle, or just looking for that extra nudge, we've covered everything you need to know to navigate this challenging yet rewarding path.Our Picture Book Journey: We share the latest on Cat's Rule and the unagented submission process. Despite the silence from publishers, we're just at the beginning!Dealing with Submissions: We talked about the frustration of unresponsive publishers. Yet, there's hope in...2024-02-1130 min

SCBWI PodcastsBalancing Writing and Parenting with Kwame MbaliaIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Kwame Mbalia!Kwame is a husband, father, writer, a New York Times bestselling author, a former pharmaceutical metrologist, and a publisher with Freedom Fire Books, an imprint of Disney-Hyperion. His debut middle-grade novel, TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY was awarded a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, and it—along with the sequels TRISTAN STRONG DESTROYS THE WORLD and TRISTAN STRONG KEEPS PUNCHING—is published by Rick Riordan Presents/Disney-Hyperion. He is the co-author of LAST GATE OF THE EMPEROR with Prince Joel Makonnen, from...2024-02-0253 min $New Books in Children\'s Literature$ New Books in Children's LiteratureTalk to the Literary Agent: A Discussion with Victoria SelvaggioFor Victoria Selvaggio, books have always played an important role in her life. From an early age, she could easily be found reading in a corner with stacks of books or the opposite, crafting her own.Victoria was introduced to SCBWI (The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). Once again, she was hooked! Like all passions, Victoria immersed herself in all things publishing. She volunteered for her local SCBWI chapter and subsequently became a Regional Advisor, a role that also empowered her and provided a new path of becoming a literary agent.After int...2024-01-311h 01

SCBWI PodcastsGenre-Bending with Eugene YelchinIn this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by Eugene Yelchin!Eugene Yelchin is a graduate of the Academy of Theater Arts in St. Petersburg, Russia where he designed sets and costumes for stage productions until his immigration to the United States. In Los Angeles, CA, he earned his graduate degree from the USC School of Cinematic Arts after which, he went on to direct television commercials and illustrate advertising campaigns (designing the original polar bears for Coca Cola). His first character designs were for the animated movie Rango, which won the Academy A...2024-01-2656 min

SCBWI PodcastsVashti Harrison Made It HappenTheo Baker talks with the chart-busting illustrator and book creator, Vashti Harrison, about how she anticipated success, and built her incredible career. Theo even got in a few questions about experimental film. For all the latest on Vashti, head over to her website www.vashtiharrison.com, and follow her on Twitter at @VashtiHarrison and Instagram at @vashtiharrison. For more info about the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, please visit SCBWI.org. Support the show 2024-01-2453 min

Pillars For Purposeful MotherhoodMom, Achieve your Purpose Inside & Outside of MotherhoodJoin me as we hear from Best-Selling Author, Tonya Duncan Ellis. Tonya is author of the award-winning, 13-book, SOPHIE WASHINGTON children’s chapter series and THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM (HarperCollins, Balzer + Bray, 2024). She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, and the Brown Bookshelf’s Highlights Foundation-sponsored Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort. Tonya has spoken and taught at writing conferences at the Highlights Foundation and for SCBWI in New York City and for SCBWI Houston and Austin, TX chapters. A former journalist and freelance magazine writer, she holds a BA deg...2023-10-2625 min

My Creative Life for Artists and Creators187 Jyn Hall, Children's Book AuthorHi Everyone, my guest is Jyn Hall, children's book author and fellow SCBWI member. I met Jyn at the SCBWI Springmingle and wanted to share her amazing story from actress, producer, and writer. Here is more about Jyn. Jyn Hall has performed in theatre and with local and international troupes all over the U.S. and Europe, as well as toured the Southeast with Atlanta’s oldest professional theatre company - The Academy Theatre. Over the past couple years, Jyn has been casting, producing, and writing. She is also writing children's books. She is a...2023-10-0823 min

Inspirational Journeys: Stories that MatterThe Joy of Writing Educational and Entertaining Chapterbooks with Tonya EllisMy special guest and I have a fun and exciting conversation about our love of writing children’s books. Even though today’s episode is audio only for the most part, I get so excited to show off a new toy I made, that I forget that I don’t have my camera on, and turn it on for a brief second.so if you’re listening on YouTube, please disregard my split second video shot. For those of you listening, I’ll share the picture of the crocheted ice cream I talked about as part of the show notes blogpost o...2023-09-2925 min

My Creative Life for Artists and Creators184 Talk About Literary AgentsHi Everyone, I decided to share ways I've been figuring out how to find out more about literary agents. It's been a lot of research. By no means is this only way but there are probably other ways to find an agent. Too many to count! Here are resources for links that I mentioned during the podcast. Kidlit Events by Carolyn B. Fraiser: https://carolynbfraiser.com/kidlit/ Publisher's Marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/ SCBWI: https://www.scbwi.org/ Storyteller Academy:2023-09-1720 min

All things black podcastEmpowering Young Minds: Tonya Duncan Ellis - Award-Winning Author and Advocate for Diverse Children's Literature"Empowering Young Minds: Tonya Duncan Ellis - Award-Winning Author and Advocate for Diverse Children's Literature In this episode, we feature Tonya Duncan Ellis, a highly accomplished author known for her bestselling Sophie Washington children's chapter book series and her soon-to-be-released book, "THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM." Tonya's impressive literary journey is highlighted, including her memberships in prestigious organizations like the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), the Authors Guild, Black Creators in KidLit, and her participation in the Brown Bookshelf's Highlights Foundation-sponsored, Amplify Black Stories storyteller cohort. Listeners will also learn about Tonya's accolades, such...2023-09-1330 min

Get Your Book Seen and SoldAuthor Meg Oolders on Substack, Writing, Book Marketing, Pitch Contests, and more...Substack Titled Stock Fiction by Meg OoldersMeg Oolder’s popular Subtack titled, Stock Fiction, was born out of a cool idea. Use stock fiction pics as a writing prompt for fiction. Meg explains how she came up with the idea for her substack and how it attracts fans and a community of other fiction writers. Watt Pad Hosts YA Book, See Dot SmileMeg is the author of See Dot Smile, a steamy, YA, coming of age novel that sits on Watt Pad. She explains Watt Pad, a platform for authors to pu...2023-07-1955 min

Raising Wild HeartsDiscovering the Joy of Books with Children's Author Tonya Duncan EllisLooking for inspiration on how to encourage children to read and enjoy the process? Look no further! We had the pleasure of chatting with Tonya Duncan Ellis, the brilliant mind behind the award-winning 13-book Sophie Washington Children's Chapter series and They Built Me for Freedom. Tonya shared her journey to becoming a successful writer, the impact her books have had on kids, educators, and readers across the US, and her secrets for making reading exciting and engaging for young minds.Tonya also provided valuable insights on how to choose the right books and series that will keep...2023-06-2640 min