If you've ever daydreamed about writing a novel between grading essays, this one’s for you. In this episode, we chat with former English teacher turned YA author Katie Bayerl about her newest book, What Comes After—a laugh-out-loud, heart-tugging story about grief, identity, and the afterlife. Katie shares her journey from the classroom to the writing world, her process for weaving humor into heavy themes, and how her novel can spark deep, inquiry-based conversations in your classroom. Plus, we’ve got ideas for book pairings and plenty of student writing tips!

Resources:

• Join Camp BNT: Summer 2025
• What Comes After, by Katie Bayerl: Bookshop.org | Amazon
• Katie's website
• Katie's Instagram

More Camp BNT Episodes:

• Episode 260, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1
• Episode 261, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 2
• Episode 262, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 1
• Episode 263, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 2
• Episode 264, Aaron H. Aceves: A Conversation About This is Why They Hate Us

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode266

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