Alicia D. Williams, author of Nani and the Lion (Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books), illustrated by Anna Cunha, joins Matthew to talk about protecting our joy through what we cultivate and what we believe.

Visit Alicia D. Williams online at www.aliciadwilliams.com

Other helpful links:

• Alicia D. Williams at Boyds Mills

• Alicia D. Williams Scholarship - The Alicia D. Williams Scholarship provides funds to support a Boyds Mills scholarship for a single parent. As a single parent, Alicia knows how hard it can be to find the time and space to get writing accomplished. This scholarship is meant to support a single writer by providing an opportunity to focus on their writing—whether through a Boyds Mills workshop or course, or a Personal Retreat at Boyds Mills.

• Whole Novel Workshop: An In-Person Retreat for Novelists (October) - This intensive, transformative Whole Novel Workshop offers writers the rare opportunity to have the entire draft (up to 85,000 words) of a novel read by faculty, with detailed written feedback and two private consultations provided.

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

Matthew Cordell, author illustrator of 102 (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), shares what is giving him hope today: being around a younger generation.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

Visit Matthew Cordell online at www.matthewcordell.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.

Debbi Michiko Florence, author of The Mastermind's Trap (Aladdin), joins Matthew to talk about finding a way to get back home.

Visit Debbi Michiko Florence online at debbimichikoflorence.com

Other helpful links:

• Debbi Michiko Florence at Boyds Mills

• Community Retreat with Grace Lin and Debbi Michiko Florence: Celebrating Asian and Asian American Stories (May) - Work alongside community members and spend time creating, dreaming, and discovering the many beautiful contributions made by Asian and Asian American voices in the children's book field.

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

Cátia Chien, illustrator of Fireworks (Clarion Books), written by Matthew Burgess, shares what is giving her hope today: the small acts of kindness and love that we give to the world.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

Visit Cátia Chien online at catiachien.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.

Steph Littlebird, author illustrator of You Are The Land (Nancy Paulsen Books), joins Matthew to talk about overcoming doubt and remaining hopeful.

Visit Steph Littlebird online at www.stephlittlebird.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

Debbi Michiko Florence, author of The Mastermind's Trap (Aladdin), shares what is giving her hope today: young people and the connectors of readers to books.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

Visit Debbi Michiko Florence online at debbimichikoflorence.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.

Steve Light, author illustrator of Gus & Sully All Week Long (Candlewick), joins Matthew to talk about distilling ideas to their most accessible and truest forms for our youngest readers.

Visit Steve Light online at stevelightart.com

Other helpful links:

• Steve Light at Boyds Mills

• Summer Camp for Writers and Illustrators: Session Two! - Get away for five days at our Summer Camp for fiction and nonfiction storytellers who are looking for inspiration, guidance, mentorship, community, fun, creativity, and…a place to dream!

• Steve Light Scholarship - Steve Light and Christine Cincotta have established a scholarship to support attendance at our Summer Camp in Illustration.

• Steve light & Christine Cincotta Cabin (Whiskers Hollow) at Boyds Mills - Honoring Illustrators. Steve Light and Christine Cincotta are frequent visitors to our Retreat Center and Steve has been part of our faculty for illustration workshops.

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

*This episode is a rebroadcast. The original episode aired April 26, 2025 .

Lil Miss Hot Mess (Make Your Own Rainbow: A Drag Queen's Guide to Color) shares what is giving her hope today: drag. Drag is all about changing how we look and how we show up in the world as a way of making the world more fabulous and more just and joyful for everyone in it.

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org.

Visit Lil Miss Hot Mess online at lilmisshotmess.com

Matthew Burgess and Cátia Chien, author and illustrator of Fireworks (Clarion Books), join Matthew to talk about becoming a mirror for feelings and experiences in their ode to a summer day.

Visit Matthew Burgess online at matthewjohnburgess.com

Visit Cátia Chien online at catiachien.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

Jordyn Taylor, author of The Rebel Girls of Rome (HarperCollins), shares what is giving her hope today: remembering that even small acts of bravery can make a big difference.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

Visit Jordyn Taylor online at jordynhtaylor.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.