This week we talk to Catholic author and Word on Fire Votive editor, Haley Stewart, about what makes stories good (for children and adults), why good stories matter, and how they shape us. We also put together a fantastic summer reading list that is not AI generated!

Haley Stewart is the author of seven books: three books for adults, a series of books for children (the Sister Seraphina Mysteries), and most recently, The Catholic Kids C. ookbook: Holy Days and Heavenly Food. She also hosts the Votive podcast, where she explores the world of writing for children, and writes here on Substack. A mother of four, she lives with her children in Tallahassee, Florida.

The Catholic Kids Cookbook: Holy Days and Heavenly Food by Haley Stewart and Clare Sheaf

The Pursuit of the Pilfered Cheese: A Sister Seraphina Mystery by Haley Stewart

Strange Sound by the Sea: A Sister Seraphina Mystery by Haley Stewart

The Curious Christmas Tale: A Sister Seraphina Mystery by Haley Stewart

Books by Tommy dePaola

Books by Jan Brett

The Ox Cart Man by Donald Hall

Barbara Cooney

Demi

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary Schmidt

The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams by Daniel Naveri

Everything Sad is Untrue by Daniel Naveri

“On Fairy Stories” by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Way Things Work by David Macaulay

Past Watchful Dragons R. J. Sheffler

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows

Jane Austen novels

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

River of Darkness by Buddy Levy

American Legend: The Real Life Adventures of David Crockett by Buddy Levy

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Charis and the World of Wonders by Marly Youmans

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris

Piranesi by Susanna Clark

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