In this episode of the SCBWI Podcast, we are joined by #1 New York Times Bestselling author, Ruta Sepetys! Listen as Ruta details her writing process, music inspiration, research methods, and, of course, how SCBWI helped her get to where she is today. 

Follow Ruta on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rutasepetysauthor/
Follow Ruta on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RutaSepetys
Purchase I MUST BETRAY YOU (2022): https://bookshop.org/books/i-must-betray-you-9781432895389/9781984836038

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From Songwriting to Historical Fiction: with YA author, Ruta Sepetys

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conversations with publishing pros, and award-winning and bestselling writers and illustrators who inform and inspire about the ins and outs of the children's book industry. Find out about the craft and creative process behind young adult novels, picture books, middle-grade fiction, graphic novels, and nonfiction.

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Books

In 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.com/

PreOrder Debbie's Book Here:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/i-want-to-read-all-the-books-debbie-ridpath-ohi/21108507?ean=9781481416306

and check out the rest of Debbie's books here:
https://bookshop.org/contributors/debbie-ridpath-ohi-f05414b5-6e3d-4c1b-b0e0-74bae07489b5 
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Always Pushing Forward with Debbie Ridpath Ohi

In 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

and check out the rest of F.T.'s  books here:
https://bookshop.org/contributors/f-t-lukens

Follow them on IG here:
@ftlukens

F.T.'s website:
https://www.ft-lukens.com/ Support the show

The Craft of Writing Very Cool Novels with F. T. Lukens

In 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: 
https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9781536226249

and check out the rest of her books here:
https://bookshop.org/contributors/cece-bell-74593ea1-f31a-48fa-9d96-63a49686525b

Follow her on IG here: 
@cecebellbooks

Cece's website
cecebell.wordpress.com

Twitter @CeceBellBooks.

A transcript of this episode is available here or if you are a member under Member Resources:  https://scbwiprdstorage.blob.core.windows.net/scbwiprdfiles/attachments/Cece_Bell_Transcript_Final.pdf


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Catching up with Cece Bell

In 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 and students around the world. He served as the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs for almost 6 years.  He is the author of This Is a School (Candlewick Press, 2022) illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison, This Is a Story (Candlewick Press, 2023) illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist Lauren Castillo, Louder Than Hunger (Candlewick, 2024) and The Gift of Story: Exploring the Affective Side of the Reading Life (Stenhouse, 2022). He is a contributor to The Creativity Project (Little, Brown, 2018), edited by Colby Sharp. John Schu lives in Naperville, Illinois. 

Buy Louder Than Hunger Here: https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9781536229097

and check out the rest of John's books here:
https://www.johnschu.com/

Follow him on IG here: 
https://www.instagram.com/mrschureads/ Support the Show.

Turning Your Heart Inside Out with John Schu

In 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=9781452171913
and her other books here: 
https://bookshop.org/contributors/catia-chien-00827b04-86e9-47f1-82d2-fbf0ddba864e

and check out the rest of her art here:
https://www.catiachien.com/

SCBWI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scbwi/
SCBWI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scbwi
Become an SCBWI member today: https://www.scbwi.org/join-scbwi/
Shop the SCBWI Bookshop.org page: https://bookshop.org/shop/SCBWI Support the Show.

From Songwriting to Historical Fiction: with YA author, Ruta Sepetys

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