This week on the final episode of the season of Storymix: Craft and Conversation, Maame Blue and Azi Farni chat extensively with children’s literary agent Davinia Andrew-Lynch about what it really means to be a literary agent, industry expectations, and answering the constant question: how do you get a seat at the publishing table? Listen, share and get into the conversation!

Useful Links:

• Davinia Andrew-Lynch at Curtis Brown
• The Fab Prize
• Follow Davinia on Twitter @nocturnalreader and Instagram @andlynlit

Credits
www.storymix.co.uk
Hosts: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi
Recorded at Dream Factory

This week on Storymix: Craft and Conversation, in our final Craft episode of the season, Maame Blue takes you through the crucial steps needed to get your stories out of your head and into the hands of agents and publishers. Plus, our 5 Minute Mentor Jasmine Richards shares some great tricks for writing the elevator pitch for your story idea! Listen, share and get into the craft!

Useful Links:

• Writers and Artists Yearbook
• SCBWI Illustrator Gallery

Credits
www.storymix.co.uk
Host: Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi
Recorded at Dream Factory

This week on Storymix: Craft and Conversation, Maame Blue and Azi Farni sit down with author and teacher J. T. Williams - who wrote The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries - to discuss how research can play a part in story development, what it takes to create characters from real figures in history, and how to navigate the question: How do I tackle big topics like slavery and racism when writing for children? Listen, share and get into the conversation!

Useful Links:

• J. T. Williams books
• Follow JT Williams on Instagram (@lizzie_and_belle) and Twitter (@ojibrown73)

Credits
www.storymix.co.uk
Hosts: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi
Recorded at Dream Factory

This week on Storymix: Craft and Conversation, Maame Blue explains the differences in creating stories for children depending on their age, with the help of three Storymix Studio books! Plus, our 5 Minute Mentor Jasmine Richards breaks down publisher expectations and rules around the age ranges of books for children! Listen, share and get into the craft!

Useful Links:

• Age levels for children’s books
• Books:
  • Magic Faces: Heroes of the Pirate Ship written by Esi Merlah & illustrated by Abeeha Tariq
  • Secret Beast Club: The Unicorns of Silver Street written by Robin Birch & illustrated by Jobe Anderson
  • The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Portraits and Poison by J. T. Williams

Credits
www.storymix.co.uk
Host: Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi
Recorded at Dream Factory

This week on Storymix: Craft and Conversation, Maame Blue and Azi Farni take a closer look into dialogue, language and heritage, in conversation with Tania Tay - the author writing as Crystal Sung on the upcoming middle grade series Spellcasters. From research to personal history and more, the question is: How do I use slang or foreign words authentically when writing for children? Listen, share and get into the conversation!

Useful Links:

• Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
• Book: Spellcasters by Crystal Sung
• Follow Tania on Instagram (@taniatay88) and Twitter (@taniatay88)

Credits
www.storymix.co.uk
Hosts: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi
Recorded at Dream Factory

This week on Storymix: Craft and Conversation, Maame Blue is discussing dialogue! How to make it sing, how to make it ring true, and what to avoid, especially when writing for kids. Screenwriter and author E. L Norry will be doing a reading of her brand new middle grade book Fablehouse, and our 5 Minute Mentor Jasmine Richards - writer, editor and screenwriter - will be back with some invaluable tips on dialogue inspired by her experience in the scriptwriting world! Listen, share and get into the craft!


Useful Links:

• Dialogue with Storygrid
• Book: Fablehouse by E. L. Norry
• Follow E. L. Norry on Instagram (@elnorry_writer) and Twitter (@elnorry_writer)

Credits
www.storymix.co.uk
Host: Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi
Recorded at Dream Factory

This week on Storymix: Craft and Conversation, Maame Blue and Azi Farni dig deep into the world of children’s illustration with the help of illustrator Selom Sunu, who discusses diversity in children's book characters, how to decide what to draw, and tackles the question: How do I avoid creating white characters that are just shaded in? Listen, share and get into the conversation!

Useful Links:

• Line of Action - Practice Tools for Artists
• Book: The Marvellous Granny Jinks And Me written by Serena Holly & illustrated by Selom Sunu
• Follow Selom on Instagram (@selomsunu86) and Twitter (@mrsunu)

Credits
www.storymix.co.uk
Hosts: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi

This week on Storymix: Craft and Conversation, Maame Blue takes the helm of another Craft episode, this time to help you find inspiration for creating authentic characters that reflect your reader's worlds - that is, the world of children. With a reading from The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger from author J.T. Williams, and an immersive journey back to your childhood bedroom from our 5 Minute Mentor Jasmine Richards, this one requires multiple replays! Listen, share and get into the craft!

Useful Links:

• Writers & Artists Yearbook: On creating your cast of characters
• Book: The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger by J. T. Williams
• Follow JT Williams on Instagram (@lizzie_and_belle) and Twitter (@ojibrown73)

Credits:
www.storymix.co.uk
Host: Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi

This week on Storymix: Craft and Conversation, Maame Blue and Azi Farni get into the Conversation with Storymix Founder, author and editor Jasmine Richards to explore the question: How do you reflect your heritage without resorting to stereotypes when creating children's books? Listen, share and get into the conversation!

Useful Links:

• Create for Storymix
• Jasmine’s books
• Follow Jasmine on Instagram (@writeonauthor) and Twitter (@jrichardsauthor)

Credits
www.storymix.co.uk
Hosts: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi

Welcome to the first ever episode of Storymix: Craft & Conversation! In our first Storymix Craft episode, host Maame Blue shares some tips on differentiating between Stereotypes and Archetypes when creating stories for children. Plus, we'll hear a reading by Storymix author Isaac Mckenzie, one of the writers behind Future Hero: Mission To The Shadow Sea. And on top of all of that, our fearless Storymix leader Jasmine Richards joins us for our 5 Minute Mentor segment - talking about different ways to find mentorship! Listen, share and get into the craft!

Useful Links:

• https://storygrid.com/hero-archetype/
• https://write-mentor.com/
• Book: Future Hero: Mission to The Shadow Sea by Remi Blackwood
• Follow Isaac on Instagram (@isaac.mckenzie) and Twitter (@IsaacHMcKenzie)

Credits:
www.storymix.co.uk
Host: Maame Blue
Producers: Azi Farni and Maame Blue
Music by @Alexthetruefoodie on Instagram
Socials: @storymixstudio @maame_blue @art.by.azi