In this episode, Jennifer chats with Rex Ogle to talk about his journey from working behind the scenes in publishing to becoming one of the most beloved authors writing for young readers. Their conversation explores the importance of normalizing discussions around mental health, and why it's crucial to have more books that help boys navigate what it truly means to “be a man” in a world that too often rewards toxic masculinity.
Show notes, episode transcripts and other goodies can be found here.
Introduction and Friendship GoalsReading Preferences and HabitsWriting Process and OrganizationCommunity and Support in KidlitExploring Difficult Topics in WritingUnderstanding Complexity in Human BehaviorLessons from Family and Personal GrowthThe Journey of Writing and RejectionConnecting with Readers and Their ExperiencesThe Impact of Sharing Personal StoriesNavigating Mental Health and Personal HealingThe Importance of Representation in LiteratureCreating Stories for Boys and Challenging Norms