On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, we’re celebrating a special occasion: The 10th Anniversary of The Princess in Black series!

Shannon and Dean Hale are here to talk about how The Princess in Black got started, where they get their inspiration from and why this series is so important in the reading lives of so many children. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/09/02/celebrating-ten-years-of-the-princess-in-black-with-shannon-and-dean-hale/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

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In this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Robin Newman.

Robin is the author of the middle grade Wilcox and Griswold series, Hildie Bitterpickles Needs Her Sleep, Don’t Call Me Fuzzybutt and Who’s Writing This Story?

Today, we talk about the unexpected inspiration for her first book, how she continues to explore the craft of writing and what’s coming next.

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/08/29/exploring-craft-whos-writing-this-story-with-robin-newman/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

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In this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Violet Duncan.

Violet is the author of multiple picture books, including I am Native,  When We Dance and Let’s Hoop Dance. Today, she’s talking with us about her newest middle grade novel: Buffalo Dreamer. 

This book is all the things: powerful and emotional, eye-opening and heart-opening, unsettling yet hopeful. It’s a story that begs to be read by all. 

Today, we talk about the inspiration behind her writing, the themes you’ll find inside the book and her hopes for readers.

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/08/26/illuminating-stories-buffalo-dreamer-with-violet-duncan/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/   

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In this episode, I’m talking with New York Times best-selling author James Ponti.

James is the author of four incredibly popular middle grade book series: City Spies, Framed and his newest: The Sherlock Society.

Come listen as we talk about his journey to writing for middle grade readers, how he plots, envisions and writes his books and what his newest book is all about. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/08/22/suspense-history-the-sherlock-society-with-james-ponti/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/   

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Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Hena Khan about her newest middle grade graphic novel: We Are Big Time.

Hena is the author of multiple books that center on Pakistani American and Muslim characters for over 2 decades. Books like Amina’s Voice, Amina’s Song, More to the Story and Behind My Doors have captivated readers’ hearts.

Today, we talk about the single encounter that set her on the path to writing children’s books, the power of both being seen and seeing through the books we read and telling our stories.

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/08/19/shifting-the-conversation-we-are-big-time-with-hena-khan/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/   

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In this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Naseem Hrab, author of my favorite Otis & Peanut graphic novel series and other beautiful picture books.

Listen as we talk about the one thing that finally gave her the confidence to write, the pieces of her that live inside her books and take a closer look inside the Otis & Peanut series.

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/08/16/a-blend-of-humor-heart-otis-peanut-with-naseem-hrab/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/   

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On this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Ritu Hemnani about her debut middle novel in verse: Lion of the Sky. It’s an incredible historical novel about the British Partition of India. 

This book was such an experience. It often stopped me in my tracks and took my breath away as I savored the beauty of the words and the emotion on the page.

Come listen as we talk about the book and how the idea for it was born, the beautiful language I couldn’t wait to lift off the page and the powerful messages that every reader will find an entry point into. 

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/08/12/sharing-untold-stories-lion-of-the-sky-by-ritu-hemnani/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/   

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

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In this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Polly Holyoke.

Polly is the author of the award-winning Neptune Trilogy and acclaimed Skyriders series. She’s here today to talk about the inspiration behind her work, how she creates vivid, believable new worlds for her novels and how important it is to respect young readers.

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/08/09/creating-new-worlds-for-readers-skyriders-with-polly-holyoke/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/   

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

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Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit

Today on this bonus episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Victoria J. Coe and Cheryl Lawton Malone, children’s literature authors with books we know and love. 

Together, they have written two books designed to launch your writing dreams and fast-track your progress…and I can say from experience that their method WORKS. I’ve already written my first draft of a picture book and am happily revising and tinkering. 

Come listen as they each share their own publishing journey, give us their top tips for taking action on our writing dreams and even give me a little personalized coaching on my own non-fiction picture book draft.

You’ll be ready to write in no time!

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/08/05/from-dream-to-reality-writing-kidlit-with-victoria-j-coe-cheryl-lawton-malone/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/   

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In this episode of the KidLit Love podcast, I’m talking with Kao Kalia Yang and Khou Vue, the author and illustrator team behind Caged, a stunning, powerful picture book.

Listen as we talk about Caged, the cool connection both of their daughters have in contributing to their careers and how they get to meet for the first time live on KidLit Love. =)

You’ll find the show notes for the episode with links to all of the books and resources mentioned right here: https://www.alitlife.com/2024/08/02/freedom-resilience-caged-with-kao-kalia-yang-khou-vue/

Join me inside my Facebook community for bookish people! There, we talk about all things books and reading and writing and notebooking, too! You'll get updates for this podcast, along with my other Get Lit(erate). podcast and build your literate community for adult and children's literature: https://www.facebook.com/groups/getliterate

If you’d like to support the podcast, consider purchasing some KidLit Love merchandise from my Zazzle store: https://www.zazzle.com/store/alitlife 

All earnings are funneled right back into the podcast expenses and maintenance fees. Thanks for your support!

Follow Stephanie:

Website: http://www.alitlife.com/   

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AffinitoLit

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AffinitoLit

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AffinitoLit