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Summary

Maryna Doughty tells us about her middle-grade book Sincerely Diary, which explores friendships and relationships in middle school. She shares her inspiration for the book, including her own experiences with betrayal and deception. Maryna also talks about the devotional resource accompanying the book, which covers topics such as self-acceptance, peer pressure, and forgiveness. She emphasizes the importance of honesty and discernment for young readers. Maryna discusses her journey as an author and her favorite books. She also gives a sneak peek of her upcoming book, Confessions of a Stepsister. Listeners can find more information about Marina and her books on her website.

Takeaways

Sincerely Diary is a middle-grade book that explores friendships and relationships in middle school.

The book addresses important topics such as self-acceptance, peer pressure, and deception.

A devotional resource accompanies the book, providing biblical perspectives on friendship, honesty, and forgiveness.

Marina Doughty's upcoming book, Confessions of a Stepsister, delves into themes of sabotage, forgiveness, and identity.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Middle School Experience

02:03 Understanding Friendships and Relationships

03:09 Inspiration for the Book

05:07 The Devotional Resource

07:45 The Relevance of the Book for Young Readers

11:16 Lessons and Themes in the Book

15:40 Becoming an Author and Favorite Books

19:48 Upcoming Book: Confessions of a Stepsister

22:49 Release Date and Where to Find More Information

24:21 Conclusion 


About Me | Maryna Doughty

Sincerely, Diary: A middle grade magical realism novel: Doughty, Maryna, Yang, Kaitlin: 9798989035915: Amazon.com: Books

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Summary

 Abbi Lee, author of Geocache Club, Ghost Town Treasure Hunt, discusses her book and the concept of geocaching. Geocaching is a modern-day treasure-hunting activity where participants hide and find containers, called geocaches, using GPS coordinates. Abbi shares her personal experiences with geocaching and explains the different types of geocaches. She also talks about the inspiration behind her book and how it incorporates themes of friendship, history, and dealing with change. Abbi discusses her journey as an author and her favorite books. She also gives a sneak peek into the upcoming books in the Geocache Club series.

Takeaways

 Geocaching is a modern-day treasure-hunting activity where participants hide and find containers using GPS coordinates.

The Geocache Club book series explores themes of friendship, history, and dealing with change.

Abbi Lee drew inspiration from the story of Forrest Finn, who hid a treasure chest in the Rocky Mountains and combined it with her love for geocaching.

The books in the Geocache Club series aim to encourage kids to explore their towns, discover hidden gems, and appreciate history.

Abbi Lee is currently working on the second and third books in the Geocache Club series.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Geocache Club and Abbi Lee

03:36 Friendship, History, and Change in Geocache Club

04:55 Inspiration and Kansas in Geocache Club

05:23 The Journey of an Author: Abbi Lee

09:05 Favorite Books and Impactful Reads

12:05 What's Next in the Geocache Club Series?

Abbi Lee Books – Children's Author (wordpress.com)

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Summary
In this episode of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews Amanda Cleary Eastep, author of the Tree Street Kids series. Amanda shares her inspiration for her recent trip to India and how it influenced her writing. She discusses the fifth book in the series, The Beastie of Brambly Bald, and the themes of family dynamics and curiosity that are explored. Amanda also talks about engaging middle-grade readers and the importance of playfulness and humor in children's literature. She shares her favorite books, To Kill a Mockingbird and A Wrinkle in Time, and the impact they had on her. Finally, Amanda discusses her future projects and where to find more information about her and her books.

Takeaways
Travel experiences can inspire and influence writing.
Engaging middle-grade readers requires playfulness and curiosity.
Children's literature should explore themes of family dynamics and different perspectives.
Books have the power to impact and inspire readers.
Future projects include continuing the Tree Street Kids series and exploring new adventures.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Random Question
01:25 Inspiration for Trip to India
03:40 Inspiration for Book: The Beastie of Brambly Bald
07:05 Engaging Middle Grade Readers
10:27 Writing Playful and Curious Stories
15:07 Themes in The Beastie of Brambly Bald
17:01 Exploring Relationships and Different Perspectives
18:26 Favorite Books: To Kill a Mockingbird and A Wrinkle in Time
21:36 Impact of Books and Writing
23:36 Future Projects
25:03 Where to Find More Information
26:00 Conclusion

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Summary

 Carolyn Leiloglou discusses her middle-grade series, The Restorationists, and the inspiration behind it. The series takes place in a world where art is powerful and paintings are portals. The first book, Beneath This Rolling Sky, follows Vincent as he discovers his family's role as Restorationists and tries to protect his sister. The second book, Between Flowers and Bones, shifts to Georgia's perspective as she grapples with her own insecurities and learns the value of her unique gifts. Carolyn shares her own journey as a writer and the impact of books like The Chronicles of Narnia. She also emphasizes the importance of creativity and encourages kids to embrace their own creative abilities.

Takeaways

 The Restorationists is a middle-grade series that explores a world where art is powerful and paintings are portals.

The first book, Beneath This Rolling Sky, follows Vincent as he discovers his family's role as Restorationists and tries to protect his sister.

The second book, Between Flowers and Bones, shifts to Georgia's perspective as she grapples with her own insecurities and learns the value of her unique gifts.

Carolyn emphasizes the importance of creativity and encourages kids to embrace their own creative abilities.

Books like The Chronicles of Narnia have had a profound impact on Carolyn's life and inspired her own writing journey.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Random Question

03:00 The Restorationists: A Middle-Grade Adventure

08:02 Embracing Creativity: Lessons from The Restorationists

11:46 The Power of Art: Inspiration and Impact

21:37 Future of The Restorationists and Where to Find Carolyn

Home - Carolyn Leiloglou

Amazon.com: Between Flowers and Bones (The Restorationists): 9780593579572: Leiloglou, Carolyn, To, Vivienne: Books

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Summary
In this bonus episode, Valerie interviews several contributors to the Go Bible project, including author Amy Parker. They discuss their favorite Bible stories, the importance of the Go Bible project, and their motivation to read the Bible. The Go Bible is a comprehensive resource for children that includes color illustrations, special pages with activities and devotional stories, and memory verses. The contributors emphasize the power of the Word of God and the transformative impact it can have on children's lives.

00:30- Amy Parker
01:45- Amy Parker's Favorite Bible Story
07:30- Amy Parker's Joy in working on the Go: Bible's Special Pages and Highlighted Bible Verses
14:07- Joshua Cooley ( Interview about Joshua's Book Can't Believe my Eyes )
14:27- Joshua's Favorite Bible Story
17:57- Joshua Cooley Intentional added to a team that work on the Introductions to each book of the Bible.
21:18 - Tama Fortner ( Interview about Tama's book God I Feel Scared)
21:46 - Tama's Favorite Bible Story
25:14 - Tama added to the Know and Grow Sections of the Go: Bible
29:14 - Jesse Florea
30:12 - Jesse Florea's Favorite Bible Story
36:26- Jesse Florea added his love of God's word to the Introduction sections of each book of the Bible as well as a Seek and Find Challenge
40:45 - Xochitl Dixon (Interview about Xochitl's books What Color is God's Love )
41:21 -Xochitl Dixon's favorite Bible Story
47:41 -Xochitl added her love and wisdom to the Choose to Change elements of the Go Bible
51:01- Conclusion 

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Summary

 In this episode, Valerie interviews John Hendrix, a New York Times bestselling illustrator and author of children's books. They discuss his latest book, 'The Mythmakers,' which explores the friendship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and their impact on storytelling and literature. They also talk about the power of myth and fantasy, the complexities of friendship, and the importance of community for artists. John shares his advice for parents of creative children and gives a sneak peek into his upcoming projects.

Takeaways

The Mythmakers explores the friendship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and their influence on storytelling and literature.

Myth and fantasy have the power to convey truth and engage readers of all backgrounds.

Friendship can be complex, and it's important to have mutual respect and love even when disagreements arise.

Artists should embrace their interests and create work that is interesting and engaging, regardless of whether it is explicitly faith-based.

Encourage children's creativity by providing them with art supplies and opportunities to practice and share their work.

Art doesn't have to be perfect; it's about the process and expression.

Community is essential for artists, and being part of a supportive creative community can enhance one's work.

John Hendrix has upcoming projects, including the release of The Mythmakers and a follow-up to his book Drawing is Magic.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

04:47 The Power of Myth and Fantasy in Storytelling

12:45 Navigating the Complexities of Friendship

23:30 Encouraging Children's Artistic Journey

28:13 Upcoming Projects: 'The Mythmakers' and More

Keywords

John Hendrix, illustrator, author, children's books, The Mythmakers, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, friendship, storytelling, literature, myth, fantasy, art, community, creativity, parents, advice

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Summary

 In this Replay from Season Two of the Bookworthy podcast, Valerie Fentress interviews Anna Cook, the author of Brynn and Amir in the Magical Map. They discuss Anna's favorite thing about winter, her age and accomplishments as a 15-year-old published author, and the challenges she faced while writing the book. Anna shares the inspiration behind the story and how her faith has grown throughout the writing process. They also talk about the unlikely partnership between the main characters, Brynn and Amir, and the message Anna hopes kids will take away from the book. Anna reveals her plans for future books in the series and her dream travel destination. Overall, the conversation highlights Anna's passion for writing and her desire to inspire young readers.

Takeaways

 Anna Cook, a 15-year-old author, shares her experience of writing and publishing her debut book, Brynn and Amir in the Magical Map.

The book follows the adventures of Brynn and Amir as they discover a magical map that takes them to different countries, starting with Mexico.

Anna hopes that kids will be inspired to make a difference and be open-minded about other cultures after reading her book.

She plans to continue the series and take Brynn and Amir on more adventures to different countries.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction

00:39 Favorite Thing About Winter

01:22 Not a Fan of Winter

01:48 Age and Accomplishments

02:33 Supportive Classmates

03:02 Inspiration to Write

03:50 Faith and Writing

04:43 Challenges of Writing a Book

05:40 Building Confidence

06:09 The Story of Brynn and Amir in the Magical Map

07:19 Choosing Mexico as the Setting

08:16 Unlikely Partners

09:01 Balancing Each Other Out

09:33 Impactful Books

10:03 Favorite and Most Impactful Books

11:04 Dreams of Becoming an Author

13:38 Childhood Career Aspirations

15:51 Favorite Children's Books

16:44 Message of Brendan Amir in the Magical Map

18:01 Future Plans for the Series

18:35 Dream Travel Destination

19:44 Where to Find More About Anna and Her Books

20:12 Conclusion

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Summary

 In this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast, Valerie Fentress interviews author Becca Wierwelle about her middle-grade adventure book, 'Road Trip Rescue.' They discuss their favorite road trips, the inspiration behind the book, and the importance of embracing differences. Bekah shares her journey to becoming an author and how she finds story ideas. They also talk about impactful books and the messages Bekah hopes to communicate to kids through her writing. The episode concludes with a discussion about future road trip plans.

Takeaways

 Embrace the differences that make you unique and extraordinary.

Children's books have a special place in our hearts and can shape us during our formative years.

Writing can be a way to process childhood experiences and emotions.

Asking 'why' and observing the world around you can lead to creative story ideas.

Reading to children is a great way to bond and introduce them to the joy of books.

Road trips can be a source of inspiration for writing and personal growth.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Favorite Road Trips

01:48 Introduction to 'Road Trip Rescue' and Kimmy's Journey

03:12 Inspiration for the Book and Writing About Personal Struggles

05:34 Writing for Children and Embracing Differences

08:29 Becoming an Author and Writing for Kids

11:55 Finding Story Ideas and Asking 'Why'

13:14 Favorite Books and Impactful Reads

14:45 Reading to Children and Impactful Books

17:18 Writing the Sequel and Road Trip to Guatemala

19:38 Themes in 'Road Trip Rescue' and Messages for Kids

20:43 Where to Find More About Becca's Books

21:27 Road Trip Plans

22:32 Conclusion

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Join Valerie Fentress as she chats with Illustrator and Author couple Liz and Jack Hagler.

We talk about their book series Patrick Wigglesworth's Bizarre Bible Tales, a graphic novel for fans of Dogman and Captain Underpants, but with a Christian worldview.

Find out more about Liz, Jack, and Patrick on the links below.

Happy Reading!

Bizarre Bible Adventure (patrickwigglesworth.com)

Amazon.com: Dangerous Dilemmas (Patrick Wigglesworth’s Bizarre Bible Adventure): 0031809133569: Hagler, Liz, Hagler, Jack: Books

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Summary

In this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast, Valerie Fentress interviews JJ Levan, the author of the picture book 'He Made You to Be You.' They discuss JJ's inspiration for writing the book, which focuses on a neurodiverse child and their exploration of their day. They also talk about the importance of normalizing neurodivergent experiences and the challenges faced by families with neurodivergent children. JJ shares her personal journey as a parent of a child with autism and offers advice for parents facing a new autism diagnosis. She also discusses her upcoming project, 'We Saw Mice,' which aims to promote understanding and acceptance of disabilities. Throughout the conversation, JJ emphasizes the importance of trusting in God and finding beauty in the midst of challenges.

Takeaways

The book 'He Made You to Be You' explores the experiences of a neurodiverse child and emphasizes the message that God is with them and loves them unconditionally.
Parents of neurodivergent children often struggle to find books that address their child's unique experiences. JJ Levan wrote the book she couldn't find, aiming to provide support and understanding for families in similar situations.
Acceptance and trust in God are crucial for parents facing a new autism diagnosis. It is important to remember that God hears and sees them, and he loves their child.
JJ Levan's upcoming project, 'We Saw Mice,' aims to promote awareness and acceptance of disabilities, particularly among children. The book will encourage readers to believe that friends with challenges can shine every day.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Favorite Things About Spring
03:10 Introduction to the Book 'He Made You to Be You'
08:21 Inspiration Behind Writing the Book
11:41 Supporting Neurodivergent Children and Siblings
16:23 Advice for Parents Facing a New Autism Diagnosis
20:04 JJ's Journey to Becoming an Author
23:49 The Most Impactful Book in JJ's Life
26:12 Upcoming Project: 'We Saw Mice'
28:10 Where to Find More Information about JJ and Her Books

Find out more about JJ LeVan and her book on the links below.

J. J. LeVan | Autism (jjlevan.com)

He Meant You to Be You - Kindle edition by LeVan, J. J. , Newton, James. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

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