Getting to The Heart of Why We Write

Hear all about aquatic monsters and ghost towns with author Lynn Becker.

You can learn more about Lynn and find her books at the link below.

⁠Lynn Becker Books

Tune into my new feed: Nerd Out With Gina and never miss another episode!

Tune in to hear author Frances Bonney Jenner share an alternative to the macho myth of this western gunslinger.

You can learn more about Frances at the link below and check out her historical fiction novel, Sing to Me Billy The Kid.

⁠Sing to Me Billy The Kid on Bookshop⁠

⁠Learn more about Frances and connect with her on her website.

New podcast alert! I do still have 2 historic episodes of Getting to the Heart of Why We Write that I plan to drop here in the next few weeks, but stay tuned for my new podcast: Nerd Out with Gina.

Each episode is a different topic to geek out about. A few on my list are Monsters, Billy the Kid, and Biological Warfare. It will be dropping in a new feed with the show's title. But, I'll put the first one or two on here so you can check it out before heading over there.

Thank you to everyone who was on Getting to the Heart of Why We Write. I loved doing this show and spending so many hours talking to authors about their passion for writing. I stepped away due to some family issues and am hoping to now be back on a semi-regular podcasting schedule.

Hopefully those of you who enjoyed this show will want to nerd out with me over at my new feed. Thank you!

Please welcome author Gabriella Aldeman to the show!

Some Highlights:

Nerding out about language.

Writing in English when it’s your second language.

Joining a professional kidlit organization as a translator and getting inspired to write her own stories.

A love of writing.🖋️

“Embracing imperfection is the first step towards having courage.”

Abuela’s talkative parrot in her latest book.🦜

Celebrating mistakes along your learning journey.💃💃💃💃

The joy and energy in author visits.

The options clause–pay attention to it! You can narrow it!!

Why Write: “Writing has always been the way I process my emotions and figure things out….But I do revise for young readers.”

Links Mentioned🔗:

Gabriella’s website

Gabriella on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook

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

Book Recommendations📚:

Squawk of Spanish by Gabriella Aldeman, illustrated by Romina Galotta on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes & Noble (It’s also available in Spanish!)

Paula’s Patches by Gabriella Aldeman, illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza

A Flicker of Hope by Cynthia Harmony, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth (Also available in Spanish!)

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz

Feed by M.T. Anderson

Please welcome author Jolene Gutiérrez to the show! Her latest book, Mamiachi and Me just released on January 7. Congratulations, Jolene! And grab your copy now while it’s still hot off the press!♨️🔥📚📚

Some Highlights:

Publishing her first books on her teacher’s typewriter in elementary school.

Denise Vega’s author visit at Jolene’s school in 2008 and the spark it ignited.

–“If you want to be a writer, why aren’t you now? Why not today?”

Nurturing your soul with writing. Do something for yourself before anyone else.

Following what brings joy as a parent, showing your children that it is okay to do that. Let them know they need to follow their own joy—but you have to follow your own first.

Teaching as a librarian.

Kidlit zombie manuscripts.

Why write: I can’t not write.

“If this ever stops bringing me joy, I can walk away.” The importance of choice and joy in creative endeavors.

Co-writing picture books with her children.

High school mariachi inspiration.

Links Mentioned🔗:

Jolene’s website

Jolene on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook

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

The Author’s Guild

KidLitCollective

#KidlitZombieWeek 

Picture Book Gold 

Book Recommendations📚:

Mamiachi and Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band by Jolene and Dakota Gutiérrez, illustrated by Mirelle Ortega on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble

The Ofrenda That We Built by Jolene and Shaian Gutiérrez, illustrated by Gabby Zapata

Too Much! An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutiérrez, illustrated by Angel Chang

Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks by Jolene Gutiérrez

Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader by Jolene Gutiérrez, illustrated by Heather Bell

Thank you and thank you, Jolene! Stay tuned for the next interview with author Masha Sapron.💃💃💃💃

Please welcome author Christine Evans to the show! Christine and I met in 12x12 and this episode has been a long time coming–thank you all for your patience!!

Some Highlights:

The perfect time to start a new career–when you have small children.😂

Growing up reading classics, not knowing “author” was a real job one could do.

Starting with picture books before moving on to chapter books.

Starting with Googling–highly underrated.

Lifelong critique partners.

The joy of reading the story you wrote aloud to young listeners.

The tangible joy of creating stories.📖

When stuck, taking herself away from the work for a while. Change of scenery. And community.♥️

Tackling grief in picture books.

At the end of the day, the writing itself is what’s most important.

Why Write: Because I can’t imagine not writing. I write to figure things out for myself sometimes too. I write to find things out. That’s my creative outlet. It’s a bonus that it’s more than that as well.

Early advice: Be patient. Wait until you’re ready. There’s no rush.

Links Mentioned 🔗:

Christine’s Website

Christine on Twitter and Instagram

Susannah Leonard Hill

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

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

Book Recommendations 📚:

Dear Mr. G. by Christine Evans, illustrated by Gracey Zhang on Amazon, Bookshop, Linden Tree Books, and Barnes and Noble

The Wish Library by Christine Evans, illustrated by Patrick Corrigan

Christine all books

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

Luigi, The Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes

Ava Lin by Vicky Fang

Thank you so much to Christine for being on the show and you for listening! Stay tuned for the next interview with author Jolene Gutierrez!💃💃💃💃

Please welcome author Rachel Funez to the show! Her recent release, Sonia and the Super Duper Disaster, illustrated by Kelly Kennedy came out in July of this year. I met Rachel through the Rocky Mountain chapter of the SCBWI where she is very active as the critique coordinator and doing so many fabulous things. Please enjoy!

Some Highlights:

Mysteries, puns, and wordplay.

Putting yourself out there as neurodivergent.

The necessity of community.♥️

Life coaches for writers.🖊️

Enjoy the ride–enjoy the process.

All the many things she does in the writing world–SHE IS PHENOMENAL! 

Links Mentioned🔗:

Rachel’s website

Rachel’s Substack newsletter

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

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

Courage to Create

Book Recommendations📚:

Sonia and the Super Duper Disaster by Rachel Funez, illustrated by Kelly Kennedy on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble

Wretched Waterpark (Book one of The Sinister Summer Series) by Kiersten White

Thank you so much for listening and thank you, Rachel, for coming on the show! Stay tuned for the next interview with children’s book author Christine Evans.

I hope you enjoy this episode with author illustrator Meg Auchenbach. It was such a delight to hear about her artistic journey and the inspiration behind her book, If You Are an Artist. Please enjoy!💃💃💃💃

Some Highlights:

Drawing on the family dog…with markers.🐕

Nerding out about meditation and mindfulness.

What would your character wear? Read?

What does your character’s world look like to them?

Processing emotions through stories as a kid.

Be patient. Take your time learning the craft. There’s no reason to race through.

Illustrating death in a beautiful way.

There’s no one way to be an artist.

Links Mentioned🔗:

Meg’s link.tree

Meg’s website

Meg on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)

Kidlit411 on Facebook

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

Book Recommendations📚:

If You Are An Artist by Meg Auchenbach on Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Aaron’s Books, and Amazon

Acorn Was a Little Wild by Jen Arena, illustrated by Jessica Gibson

Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

The Longest Letsgoboy by Derick Wilder, illustrated by Catia Chen

Thank you so much, Meg, for the much needed dose of inspiration. And thank you, listener, for being here. Stay tuned for your next regularly scheduled interview with author Rachel Funez.

Please welcome author Leslie Eva Tayloe to the show today! In this episode we talk about inspiration, patience, community, and more. Enjoy!!🎧🎧🎧

Some Highlights:

Stories developing from one sentence.

Inspiration from life experience.

Finding strength and connection through community.♥️📚

Staying in motion, keep going–if you face an obstacle, work on another aspect of author life.

Learning to write in new genres.

“I think forming a story is a type of craft.”

Developing patience–it’s crucial as a writer but also so hard!

Don’t hit the send button too soon!!🔘

A rejection letter 3 years after submission.😮

Picking, plucking, and pulling invasive vines off trees.🌲

Spooky attic doors.👻

Links Mentioned🔗:

Leslie’s website

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

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

Inked Voices

Children’s Book Insider

Book Recommendations📚:

I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today by Leslie Eva Tayloe, illustrated by Austen MaCauley Team on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop

Save the Trees by Leslie Eva Tayloe, illustrated by Lintang Pandu Pratiwi on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop

The Attic Door by Leslie Eva Tayloe, illustrated by David Barrow on Amazon

Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Grandpa and The Kingfisher by Anna Wilson, illustrated by Sarah Massini

Thank you, Leslie, and thank you, listener! Stay tuned for your next regularly scheduled podcast interview with author-illustrator Meg Auchenbach.💃💃💃💃

Please welcome author Emily Dangremond to the show today! Talking with her is always a joy and I could seriously talk to her for hours on end about trees, consciousness, and more. 

I hope you enjoy hearing what she has to say and it gives your day a boost. You are here. You are a writer. You don’t need to wait for it to be in your job title. 💜

Highlights:

Increasing plant literacy.🌱🌲🌼

The difference between knowing flowers versus the trees in your neighborhood.

Dutchman’s Breeches–the flower, and other fun Spring plants!

Find your plant ephemerals.

Graphic novels about trees?📕🌳

The more we learn the more we realize we don’t know.📖

You aren’t going to see animals when you go outside–they’re going to be hiding. You’re going to see leaves and trees.🌱🌲

Mangrove forests.

Taking a break and coming back to your writing afterward.

Accountability vibes.

Writing to process feelings.

What makes a writer–when do you own the identity?

You can be a something AND a something else. We all have more than one identity.

Writing out the anxiety to move on after periods of our life.

Links Mentioned🔗:

Emily’s website

Emily on Instagram and Twitter

Kid’s Questions Answered Podcast

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

Picture Book Peeps on Substack and Instagram

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

Book Recommendations📚:

Meet the Trees by Emily Dangremond, illustrated by Summer Morrison on Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.

Thank you Emily, and thank you, listener! Stay tuned for next week’s episode with author Leslie Eva Tayloe.💃💃💃💃🎧