Getting to The Heart of Why We Write

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.

I am so excited to share this episode of Getting to the Heart of Why We Write with you featuring author Christine J. Ko! She is a part of Picture Book Peeps with me and appears regularly on our shared podcast, The Curious Compassionate. 

Please enjoy hearing about her writing journey and her book, Sound Switch Wonder illustrated by Katie Crumpton, which she co wrote with her son, Owen Whang. So cool!

Some Highlights:

Links Mentioned🔗:

Christine’s website, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram

Sound Switch Wonder on Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Turner Publishing, and Amazon

See Hear Feel (Christine’s podcast)

Picture Book Peeps on Instagram and Substack

A recent episode of The Curious Compassionate featuring Christine

The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge

Book Recommendations📚 (and film):

Chinese Comfort Women: Testimonies from Imperial Japan's Sex Slaves by Peipei Qiu, Su Zhiliang, Chen Lifei

Nia’s Rescue Box by Gina Soldano-Herrle (me!🥲😂) illustrated by Abi Joy Eaton

CODA (movie)

Thank you so much, Christine! And thank you for listening! Stay tuned for next week with author illustrator Ana Velez!💃💃💃

I was so fortunate to meet Beth Anderson through the Rocky Mountain chapter of SCBWI years ago and today I get to share her with all of you!! 

Beth is such an encouraging, helpful, and kind presence in the kidlit world. Her blog is a wonderful resource and her books will lead you down all the rabbit holes of history you never knew you needed to explore.

Some Highlights💃:

Encouraged to become a writer by her final class of students. “The surprising reality of the world.”

Picture books are relatable and great to share with all ages, middle school, even high school.

“How can I tell them to go after their dreams if I’m afraid to do it?” -going for your dreams as a teacher

The fear of telling grownups that you’re a writer vs. telling kids. So much scarier!

Boom! Brain explosions.

“It’s kind of a solitary endeavor to write but it’s not because you can’t write alone.”

How to correctly pronounce ‘Huzzah!’

The fallacy of perfection, even with founding fathers!

Links Mentioned🔗:

Beth’s website

Beth’s Blog filled with all kinds of writing and education resources

Full list of Beth’s books and links to educator resources

Beth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest

Thomas Jefferson’s Battle for Science: Bias, Truth, and a Mighty Moose! Illustrated by Jeremy Holmes on Bookshop, IndieBound, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million

Lizzie Demands a Seat: Elizabeth Jennings Fights for Streetcar Rights illustrated by E.B. Lewis on Bookshop, Indiebound, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million

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

Book Recommendations📚:

Pedal, Balance, Steer: Annie Londonderry, the First Woman to Cycle Around the World by Vivian Kirkfield, illustrated by Alison Jay

The Day the River Caught Fire: How the Cuyahoga River Exploded and Ignited the Earth Day Movement by Barry Wittenstein, illustrated by Jessie Hartland

One Day This Tree Will Fall by Leslie Barnard Booth, illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman

Darwin’s Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular by Polly Owen, illustrated by Gwen Millward

Whale Fall: Exploring an Ocean-Floor Ecosystem by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey

No World Too Big: Young People Fighting Global Climate Change edited by Lindsay H. Metcalf, Keila V. Dawson, and Jeanette Bradley; illustrated by Jeanette Bradley

The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His Mother by James McBride

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Facing the Mountain: A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II by Daniel James Brown

Thank you, Beth!!! Stay tuned for next week with author and doctor Christine J. Ko!

Please welcome to today’s episode author Diana I. Kline, Ph.D. Diana has taught in higher education for over thirty years in a variety of subjects including computer science, psychology, math, and education. While teaching computer science courses, she always reminded her students to recycle old computer equipment; otherwise, those items could remain on this Earth much too long! 

I met Diana through the OH Central South SCBWI chapter and was immediately intrigued by her book, A SOLAR SYSTEM CHAT illustrated by Susan and Chris Cornetet which has the earth speak directly to other planets including what is going on with her environment and other problems that need to be solved. 

It was fascinating to hear about her writing experience and knowledge about the Earth and conservation that inspired her to write this book. Please enjoy!

Some Highlights:

Links Mentioned🔗:

A Solar System Chat by Diana I. Kline illustrated by Susan and Chris Cornetet on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble

SCBWI OH Central - South

Diana on Facebook and Instagram

Book Recommendations📚:

Dumpster Doll: The Early Years by Michelle Mays & Michelle Moone

Marie Benedict’s Books
Thank you for listening and stay tuned for next week’s episode with author Beth Anderson!

I’d like to introduce you to author Jessica Stremer for today’s episode! I’ve known Jessica since the very beginning of my kidlit journey. She was part of one of my first critique groups back in 2020. She quite literally helped shape my manuscript for my published picture book and many others. 

I had the joy of seeing many of the manuscripts she brought for critiques become published books out in the world including GREAT CARRIER REEF (a NY Public Library Best Book of the Year and JLG Gold Standard selection), LIGHTS OUT: A Movement to Help Migrating Birds, and FIRE ESCAPE: How Animals and Plants Survive Wildfires (a JLG Gold Standard selection).

Jessica is an award winning author and actively encouraging presence in the kidlit world. I hope you enjoy today’s interview and feel a spark of inspiration and excitement to fuel your own journey.

Some Highlights:

Links Mentioned🔗:

Book Recommendations📚📚:

THE GOLDEN DOOR (The Three Doors Series #1) by Emily Rodda

THE SWIFTS: A DICTIONARY OF SCOUNDRELS (The Swifts #1) by Beth Lincoln illustrated by Claire Powell

THE CARREFOUR CURSE by Dianne K. Salerni

THE LAW OF BIRTHDAYS by Brenna Jeanerret illustrated by Marina Kondrakhina
Thank you, Jessica, for taking the time to talk with me. And thank you, listeners, for listening! Up next week we have author Diana I Kline.

Please welcome author Erin Chesnut to the show! I found Erin through Writer Moms Inc. on Facebook (link is below) and had so much fun talking with her about conversing with characters, choreographing movement, and just sitting down and doing the hardest part of all–writing the words. Please enjoy!
Some Highlights:

Links Mentioned🔗:

The Improbable Meet Cute Series (book 1)