Getting to The Heart of Why We Write

Please put your digital hands together for kidlit author-illustrator Jenny Alvarado! Her two debut genres came out within the last 10 days and I’m sure she’s in debut overload at the moment. Fortunately, we recorded this months ago! I hope you enjoy hearing our conversation about craft, art, story, inspiration, and alternate timelines.🎧💃

Some Highlights:

Writing with friends in grade school – inspiring each other.✏️

How the writing community can be a great place to connect IRL when working from home.

Sneaking a note to your past self, only without the domino effect on the future.

Capturing ideas before they disappear.

Never being too old to learn.

Links Mentioned🔗:

Jenny’s website

Jenny on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Storyteller Academy

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

Book Recommendations📚:

Pencil and Eraser: We Have a Dull-Emma! By Jenny Alvarado, buy it on Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble 

Agent Unicorn by Jenny Alvarado, buy it on Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble

Nell of Gumbling by Emma Steinkellner

Apple Crush by Lucy Knisley
Stargazing by Jen Wang

Stay tuned for next week's episode with author Melissa Trempe and an extra special bonus episode with author Jill Dana!

Please welcome my friend and fellow Picture Book Peep, author Roxanne Chester! If you’re a writer looking for a bit of encouragement, light, and connection, look no further!

Some Highlights:

The joy of community and connection within the writing world.

How stories unite all of us with shared feelings.

Finding a way to forgive yourself when you don’t have the headspace or heartspace to push through and come back to writing afterward.

Being kind to yourself as a writer.

The benefits of creative expression.

More about This is My Bag: An unhoused person carries a bag through the streets, to a shelter, to a house, to the subway, and the park. With each changing location, the protagonist and their bag also changes, reflecting the various faces and reasons for homelessness and asking the reader to contemplate themes of community, self-reliance, and the meaning of "home."

Links Mentioned🔗:

Roxanne’s website

This is My Bag: A Story of the Unhoused illustrated by Abraham Matias on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

NY Writers Coalition Black Writers Program

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

Picture Book Peeps on Instagram and Substack (new podcasts monthly!)

Book Recommendations📚:

This is My Bag illustrated by Abraham Matias

Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Talents, her short writings

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Speeches

Thank you so much to Roxanne for coming on the show and to you for listening! Stay tuned for the next episode with kidlit author-illustrator Jenny Alvarado!

Please 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 telling stories.

The trust process between an illustrator and picture book author.

The benefits of mentorship and the relationships

How much Paul and I love our writing community and some of those people who’ve had the biggest influence on us♥️♥️♥️:

Susan Wroble (Co-RA of Rocky Mountain SCBWI)

Stan Yan (Co-RA of Rocky Mountain SCBWI

Laura Perdew (Connect Leader for Boulder, CO)

Julie Rowan-Zoch (Connect Leader for Northern CO)

Beth Anderson (her blog is SO HELPFUL)

Kaz Windness (author-illustrator and AMAZING educator)

Laurent Linn (art director and author)

Lynn Becker (author)

Debbie Ridpath Ohi (the kidlit bluesky fairy godparent also author-illustrator)

Christiana Doucette (author)

Claire Noland (author)

Pattie Toht (author)

Karen Grencik (literary agent)

Harold Underdown (author, illustrator, publisher, educator)

Eileen Robinson (editor, educator)

Pamela Courtney (author, educator)

Valerie Bolling (author)

Links Mentioned🔗:

The Sartorial Librarians Podcast on Apple and Spotify

Paul on Instagram and Bluesky

SCBWI – Rocky Mountain – Central California

The Highlights Foundation

Wolverine Farms in Fort Collins, CO

Mary Krienke at Sterling Lord Literastic

Michelle Begley Mentorship

Picture Book Gold

Put your hands together for today’s guest, kidlit author-illustrator Lea Maryanow! I met Lea through 12x12 and had already unknowingly read her beautiful book nearly a year before! 

I hope you enjoy our chat and hearing some much needed words of encouragement (speaking for myself here😂).

For a boost to your writing week or season in life, here are a couple quotes from the interview that I might just get embroidered on throw pillows for my office:

 “Because I hope that what I have to say, the world needs. And I say that as humble as I can because why would anyone want to know what I have to say? I’m just this one human.”

“The journey is the destination.”

Final Advice: “To slow down.To acknowledge and realize there’s a lot to learn. You don’t need to and you cannot know everything at once and that’s okay. You are not alone. Every author has gone through this. It’s a process. And taking breaks is okay. It’s necessary.”

Some Highlights:

Balancing writing for adults teaching children and writing for children.🖊️

Getting started in the picture book world, 12x12 and SCBWI.

Inspiring stories through bilingualism and bicultural living.

The key to letting go of finding the right answer when writing.🔑

Links Mentioned🔗:

Stripes by Lea Maryanow on Bookshop, Petunia’s Place, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble

Lea’s website

Lea on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky 

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

Book Recommendations📚:

The Boo Crew Needs You by Vicky Fang

Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed

Wishes by Mượn Thị Văn, illustrated by Victo Ngai

Thank you, Lea! Stay tuned for next week’s episode with author Roxanne Chester and a possible bonus episode! 🎧🎧🎧

Please give a virtual welcome to kidlit author-illustrator Molly Cranch on this special bonus episode!

With her recent picture book debut, Hide and Seek, available on shelves now, it was a delight to hear about her journey as a storyteller, weaving words alongside her illustrations.

More about Hide and Seek: A book about the wondrous camouflage techniques of animals around us. For detectives ages 3 years and up. (Also available in Dutch through Clavis!)

Some Highlights:

Arts integration in curriculum and the intersection between art and science.

Crossing from the realm of illustration to weaving in narrative.

What came first, the pictures or words?

Inspiration found through working with kids and seeing them learn new things.

The social context of illustration.

Releasing a picture book while finishing a Master’s Degree in Illustration.

Links Mentioned🔗:

Molly’s website

Molly on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter

Picture Book Gold

Book Recommendations📚:

Hide and Seek by Molly Cranch on Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon

Illustrator Christian Robinson

Illustrator Isabelle Arsenault
Stay tuned for this week’s regularly scheduled interview with kidlit author-illustrator Lea Maryanow!

Please welcome kidlit author Kalee Gwarjanski to this episode of “Getting to the Heart of Why We Write!” 

I loved hearing about Kalee’s experience with the writing community, especially the support within her critique group. We had a lot to talk about from her background as a chef, to engineering, to the book she released this year (more about that below). I hope you enjoy this episode!

Some Highlights:

Personal chef turned kidlit author.🍲📚

Selling a book through Twitter!

Eating, the hidden art that is a part of every person’s life.🍽️🖼️

Writing groups, critique groups, therapy–what’s the difference in each?

Being a part of the joy in reading as an author, contributing to a world of books that’s given us so much.

“Not every good idea results in a good manuscript and that’s okay.” 

More about Miss MacDonald Has A Farm illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic: In this female-forward spin on the traditional children’s song “Old MacDonald”, readers can join Miss MacDonald on her vegetable farm and see all the work that goes into growing healthy and delicious produce.

Links Mentioned🔗:

Kalee’s website

Kalee on Twitter

Miss MacDonald Has A Farm at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shops, Penguin Random House, Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble

Get a Signed copy of Miss MacDonald here!

Storyteller Academy

The 12x12 Challenge

SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)

Book Recommendations📚:

Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finison, illustrated by Brianne Farley🍩

You Rule by Rilla Alexander📏

Wild Robot Series by Peter Brown🤖

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Thanks for listening and thanks to Kalee for being on the show. Stay tuned for next week with kidlit author-illustrator Lea Maryanow! Also keep an eye out for a special bonus episode featuring kidlit author-illustrator Molly Cranch!💃💃💃💃🎧🎧🎧

Please welcome author Ronni Diamondstein to this episode of “Getting to the Heart of Why We Write!” 💃💃💃

Ronni was on my blog last year talking about her journey and picture book, Jackie and The Books She Loved illustrated by Bats Langley. You can check out that interview here, but come back here afterwards to check out this continuation for a deeper dive into her writing journey.🎧🎧🎧

Some Highlights:

Links Mentioned🔗:

Ronni’s website and book extras for readers

Ronni on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, and Bluesky

Jackie and The Books She Loved illustrated by Bats Langley on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble

Maggie Mae Pup Reporter

Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival

12x12 Picture Book Challenge

SCBWI

Book Recommendations📚:

Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage by Lisa Jean LaBanca Rogers illustrated by Il Sung Na

Books by Nancy Churnin

The Power of Her Pen: The Story of Groundbreaking Journalist Ethel L. Payne by Lesa Cline-Ransome illustrated by John Parra

Before She Was Harriet Lisa Cline-Ransome illustrated by James E. Ransome

Dominic by William Steig

Thank you so much for listening and stay tuned for next week with author Kalee Gwarjanski and some other possible surprises!

Please welcome to the show, Anne Hanovich! On this episode of Getting to The Heart of Why We Write, we cooked up a pre-published author takeover edition. 

Highlights:

I loved chatting with Anne about her writing journey including the first story she wrote which was typed up on a typewriter with construction paper. Use what you got, people! 😂

Using that habit, whether it’s the smell of coffee, a specific chair, or white noise from a cafe, to perk up your brain and get writing. Having done this myself off and on in different iterations over the years, it does work. Even if it feels like all the words are garbage. 🗑️📚

We also touched on the importance of “being a person.” With all the talk out there about morning writing or doing it before your brain turns on (which I have done it that way and other ways), giving yourself time to become a person in the morning (if you have it), is a wonderful writing practice. ♥️♥️

I can’t wait for her book The Canon of Katrina Quinn to find its home out there in the world so all of us can read it. A fun, music-filled, YA rom-com filled with tension and hilarity. That sounds like exactly what I want in my hands right now, today! Thank you, Anne, for taking the time to come on the show!

Links included:

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) 

Anne on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedIn

Rachael Herron’s Podcast

Stay tuned for next week’s episode with author Cedar Pruitt. 

In the meantime, enjoy your weekend and catch up on any episodes of “Getting to The Heart of Why We Write” that you may have missed, like last week’s chat with Steena Hernandez, or this gem about wonder walls that I am still obsessed with (Meghana Narayan).

Please welcome author Jessica Speer to this episode of Getting to the Heart of Why We Write! Jessica is such a phenomenal human and I’ve enjoyed every time our paths have crossed in SCBWI events, seeing her present at panels and conferences. 

If you ever get the chance, sign up for one of her classes or presentations. Highly highly recommend!💯💯💯💯

Some Highlights:

Where we learn our relationship skills and how fiction can shape them.

Different ways the writing community can connect authors/illustrators/kidlit creators in the publishing world.

When you’re out of ideas and “overcooked” and need to take a break.🍲

Writing is really learning. Yes, we’re all nerds!📚

Find other things outside of writing that bring you joy. That is how you keep doing it.

How can you nurture yourself?🌱

We all need more fun, engaging self improvement activities.

Find a critique group you love. It’s like dating! You’ve got to find the right dynamic.♥️

Links Mentioned🔗:

Jessica’s website

Jessica on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram

The Phone Book on Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble

BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends): A Girl’s Guide to Happy Friendships on Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble

Middle School - Safety Goggles Advised on Familius, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble

SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)

Book Recommendations📚:

Look on The Bright Side by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann

Stay tuned for next week with author Ronni Diamondstein!

Please welcome author illustrator Ana Velez to the show!!!💃💃💃💃

I was blown away by her retelling of The Three Little Pigs in her book The Three Little Guinea Pigs and The Andean Fox. From the artwork to the beautiful story and characters, kind, encouraging take on a much-loved classic.

I hope you enjoy this episode and Ana’s words of encouragement and inspiration. If you like stories, fairy tales, or unexpected kindness in picture books, this is the interview for you!

Highlights:

Sharing her first stories with her students.

The value of outside perspectives and connecting with the writing community.

How magical Middle Grade and YA are for all ages.

The joy in finding your community within the writing world and how that continues to change and grow over the years.

The drive to create that’s inside all of us.

Final words of advice: Keep learning and keep practicing.

Links Mentioned🔗:

Book Recommendations📚:

Thank you so much, Ana, for coming on the show! And thank you for listening! Stay tuned for next week’s interview with author Jessica Speer.