Today we get to share a conversation with the delightful Lauren Wolk, Newbery Honor and Caldecott winning author who crafts stories for middle-grade readers. We discuss her story development process, finding connection to place, her lyrical use of language.

The stories we cherished in our childhood seem to have a magical spark to them. How can we capture that spark in our writing today? And do you really need to write differently for kids than adults? Spoiler alert: it’s all about being true to oneself and letting the characters speak their truth, no matter how complex or dark the themes may get!

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 09:05 - Writing for Younger Readers or Older
• 23:18 - Exploring Themes with Story
• 29:11 - Letting Characters Develop
• 45:10 - Candle Island
• 48:18 - Supporting Young Readers

Lauren's Information:

Lauren Wolk is best known for her novels, including the New York Times bestselling novel Wolf Hollow, which won a 2017 Newbery Honor, the 2016 New England Book Award, a 2017 Jane Addams Honor, the 2018 Massachusetts Book Award, and other honors.

Wolk's latest novel, Candle Island, published in 2025, was a finalist for the New England Book Award. 

Collectively, her books have won over 50 state book awards. Lauren is also the Massachusetts Reading Association’s 2024 Children’s Literature Award winner and the author of two new picture books, currently in production.

She is also as a visual artist  represented by the Larkin Gallery (Provincetown and Harwich Port, Massachusetts), an award-winning poet, and a filmmaker. 

laurenwolk.com

Lauren's Books:

• Beyond the Bright Sea or audiobook
• Wolf Hollow or audiobook
• My Own Lightning or audiobook
• Echo Mountain or audiobook
• Candle Island or audiobook

Links:

islandreadersandwriters.org

Lauren's headshot photo credit: Robert Nash

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