Covering Jennifer Laughran’s running start as a (now senior) agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, the importance of sharing a vision with her author and illustrator clients, the elements of building a career, the years behind some “overnight successes,” creates a lively discussion with Theo Baker.

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New York Times Bestselling Author Stephanie Garber sits down with host Theo Baker.  

Part One: Garber shares about her influences, her publishing (and emotional) journey, and her writing process.

Part Two: Garber talks world-building, the evolution of writing Caraval, and shares her advice for other authors.

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Host Theo Baker delves into conversation with author Stephanie Garber about her publishing journey, her writing process, and the success of her debut YA fantasy, Caraval, that hit the New York Times bestseller list.

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Theo Baker’s discussion with Caldecott Medal-winning, Coretta Scott King Award-Winning, and New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Javaka Steptoe.

Part One: Steptoe shares about growing up in New York City, going to art school, his process, and the role of curioisty in everything he does.

Part Two: Steptoe speaks about building his career, how he moved forward from his first book winning the Coretta Scott King award, and the evolution of the idea and the art of Radiant Child, his picture book biography of Jean-Michel Basquiat that recently won the Caldecott medal.

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Javaka Steptoe’s art education (both in-school and out) as well as his creative process and the role of curiosity are part of the conversation with Theo Baker and the Caldecott-winning, Coretta Scott King Award-winning, and New York Times bestselling author/illustrator.

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Theo Baker’s discussion with  Zareen Jaffery, editor of Salaam Reads, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Part One: Jaffrey shares about the challenges of being an editor, the importance of world-building, how to handle beginnings, and the impetus behind creating Salaam Reads.

Part Two: Jaffrey shares her passion behind creating an imprint that focuses on publishing books about Muslim children and families, distinguishes between “accuracy readers” and “sensitivity readers”, and advises the thing to keep top-of-mind when writing diverse characters.

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Spanning the challenges of being an editor, thoughts on world-building and character, and insight into the founding of the Salaam Reads imprint of Simon & Schuster, Zareen Jaffery’s conversation with Theo Baker overflows with her passion for increasing the diversity of children’s literature and smart advice about how to be part of the solution.

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Children’s book illustrator, artist, and author Sean Qualls sits down with host Theo Baker. 

Part One: Qualls’ journey to becoming a children’s book creator, getting his first jobs illustrating picture books, and how working on Dizzy (a picture books about jazzy legend, Dizzy Gillespie) was “magical.” (31:18)

Part Two: Qualls speaks about sponteaneity, his creative process, collaborating with his wife Selena Alko, and  more with Theo Baker.

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Sean Qualls talks about his journey to becoming a children’s book creator, what inspired him, and how his own style evolved. An award-winning children’s book illustrator, artist, and author, Qualls’ talk with Theo Baker is packed with insights about his process, his collaborations, and much more.

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Theo Baker’s talk with Allyn Johnston, Vice-president and publisher of Beach Lane Books.

Part One: Johnston’s journey to become an editor, and then publisher, and her focus on long-term relationships with her authors and illustrators. 

Part Two: Johnston shares the questions she asks of a project’s creator, the “high wire act” of editing, and shares stories of working with Beach Lane Books’ world-class authors and illustrators.

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