Getting to The Heart of Why We Write

Today, I have a fun interview for you with author Megan Woodward. Her upcoming debut picture book, This Book is Definitely Not Cursed, illustrated by Risa Rodil is available for pre-order now and hitting shelves near you on June 25, 2024.

We talked about all sorts of fun things like hugging trees, making fools of ourselves reading books, the compulsion to write, and what it’s like to juggle writing in several genres at a time.

Today I have the pleasure of talking with author LD Green. I met LD through Kids Comics Unite (a super fun community for comic and word nerds/creators, linked below). Immediately I felt like we could have talked for hours about all the things! We talk about all sorts of things in today’s episode from tree-hugging to word clouds, so please enjoy!

Some highlights:

The slam poetry world 

Collaborating with other authors

Parallel writing/working with author friends

Telekinesis stories

Advocacy through writing–being an artivist (my new favorite word)

How to have an immersive reading experience with both a physical book and audiobook

The benefits of tree-hugging on your writing

The power of atmosphere in recharging your creative batteries

The joy of seeing your words turned into pictures when collaborating with an illustrator

Today we’re in for a treat with abstract artist and children’s book author Meghana Narayan, of the newly released A Little Bit of Everything illustrated by Michelle Carlos.

Meghana and I cover a lot of ground from what apps we use to catch random ideas to the magic of sharing parts of yourself through your writing. 

Grab a cup of tea, settle in and enjoy the episode! 🙂

Highlights:

She’s spent a lifetime crafting stories, since she was a child.

The origin of her debut picture book as a love letter to her future children, embracing every part of themselves and their unique identity.

How she journaled her way through different ideas, turning them into stories.

Her experience with her unique identity as one spread between two worlds.

“I feel like I’m writing those stories that I so deeply craved as a child–that I didn’t really realize I needed. In a lot of ways, I’m writing for–the children out there who are also waiting to see themselves in a book.”

Teach for the Change–Meghana started this originally as a blog after her first daughter was born in 2020 and later turned it into an Instagram account and more. With all the heaviness in the world at the time, she felt incredibly disconnected from her passion (as a teacher), working alongside young children. Through this she found a way to stay connected to education and create a space that offers resources for “raising racially and socially conscious children who are compassionate and care about this world.”

The power of pause–pausing and acknowledging you don’t know the answer to a big question when a child asks it. Not knowing the answer is okay and important in making ourselves vulnerable with our children. You can even create a wonder wall like she talks about!

Links:

Today I’d like to welcome C.S. Boyll to the show! This week on “Getting to the Heart of Why We Write,” Cindy and I talk about everything from kidnapped midwives to Cincinnati Ohio chili. 

It was so much fun talking with Cindy who has been writing across genres for many years. I love meeting other multi-genre writers and hearing about their journeys and passion for different projects! 

I was lucky enough to connect with Cindy through the Rocky Mountain SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and was happy to find out our paths cross in many ways. 🙂

Here are some highlights and favorite quotes:

“We have to work it in, don’t we?”

I couldn’t believe how many places we’d been in parallel. We chatted about the chili culture of Cincinnati, Ohio and the lovely people in SCBWI Rocky Mountain region.

The benefits of making friends within all age groups–learning from each generation.

The beauty of unexpected connections through writing, unexpected riches in the real world.

“I just take a deep breath and try to go over the obstacle or through the obstacle in the best ways I can. And, of course, you try to get help from other people if you can, too.”

“Sometimes, don’t you see reality that is so off the wall you can’t put it into your fiction?”

Some final words of advice from C.S. Boyll:

Guard your writing. Even if it’s just a half hour a week. That’ll add up after a year. Don’t think you’ll have more time later to do your work. If you’re healthy…you’ll always be busy.

Be consistent. But if you miss a day, just start again.

Get past the voices. There will be a lot of voices wherever you are in your journey that will make it seem impossible. You can get past them, having community makes it easier.

Her latest two books are linked below. Read on for more info about each one. 

Always Flying Bobby—a multigenerational story about flying to be enjoyed by the whole family (picture book).

Unexpected Riches–Puritans, kidnapping, midwifery, the open seas. If any of those things interest you, check out her YA historical fiction linked below!

One of the best ending quotes I could imagine:

“You are seen. You are loved. What you do is important.”

Links

Please welcome Jessica Santiesteban to “Getting to The Heart of Why We Write!” Today we are hosting an illustrator takeover edition. 

Jessica and I talk about her background in art and story. After having her first art show at 21, she later had her daughters and from there grew the seed of inspiration that sparked her first story.

She published her first book, My Favorite Fairy, originally in Spanish before later translating it into English. Her recent book which she illustrated is Always Flying Bobby written by C.S. Boyll.

If you’re anything like me and enjoy using planners, bullet journals, or stickers, check out the link to Jessica’s site and Etsy below where she offers her custom stickers, journals, and more! 

I so enjoyed talking with Jessica about creativity, rules, and breaking them when needed. We covered a lot in this episode, check out some highlights below and enjoy listening. 🙂

Highlights:

Starting from an image that wouldn’t let her go to the floodgates opening and the rush of creativity and story.

Continuing to create and build her career as an illustrator and author while moving with her children from Mexico to the United States. 

The supportive and beautiful community of the Rocky Mountain SCBWI.

Doing the thing you want to do even when you’re afraid and not sure you can do it.

Reading entrepreneurial nonfiction to manage an author career and inspire creativity.

How obstacles can be a good thing.

“Obstacles may slow you down, but maybe they’re good because they show you different paths to take. They’re just a challenge. I’m very perserverant…And maybe it’s just me, but I think I’m often my greatest obstacle.”

Links mentioned: 

Please join me in welcoming Paulina S. Cossette Ph.D. of Acadia Editing Services to the show! Paulina has 15+ years of experience and so much to share, I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Here are some highlights of things we talked about:

• The joy in exploring new subjects through copy editing, learning something new each time a manuscript comes across your desk.

• Mohawk artist Shelley Niro and other inspiring subjects.

• How even though it’s scary to start a new career, we can do scary things.

• Her background in academia and the similarities and differences between editing and being a professor.

• The importance of relationships and community even across fields.

• The benefits of fresh air to maintaining balance, including how gardening can be an emotional outlet.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from our conversation:

“I get to meet people I never would have heard of or learned about or talked to and I get to read their work. When I dig into a manuscript I get to play around with it. I take very seriously that this is someone’s passion project that they’ve worked hours and hours on but I get to tweak it and help make it better–to help them get their message out. That’s really rewarding and I really enjoy those relationships I build with my clients.”

“You’re going to make mistakes. You won’t do everything well. But just keep trying. You’re going to have problems. There are things you’re going to do not well. You’ll make mistakes but keep coming back at it, keep trying, and be kind to people.”

Talking with Paulina was inspiring, fun, and a total joy. I particularly enjoyed hearing about the why of her editing work–to help. She works primarily with academics editing academic and nonfiction manuscripts. Most of her clients are professors who lead busy lives like she did in her own professorship before she started Acadia Editing Services. 

So, she started editing to help lighten the load. With the whole contents of the book in one place (even if it’s not tidy), she can clean it up. That way she makes life a little bit easier for her clients one manuscript at a time.

Some parting advice from Paulina: don’t listen to that little voice in your head that says you can’t. You are worth more than you know. In editing (and writing) we often undercharge because we don’t believe in ourselves or our worth. Know your worth, believe in yourself, and remember that this is your business.

Also, editors aren’t here to tear everything down with their red pens, they’re here to help your writing shine a little brighter.

Links mentioned:

Please join me in welcoming Jo Renfro to “Getting to the Heart of Why We Write” in today’s episode! You may notice today’s show is out on a Friday instead of a Thursday–we’ve got the cold season blowing through my house so we’re moving a bit slower in general. 

It’s giving me a chance to practice being patient through this season of life, just like Jo advises in the episode!

Jo is the author and illustrator of the picture book, Peg Gets Crackin’. Peg’s adventures will continue, just as Jo’s own adventures will (hiking the Appalachian trail and more!). So stay tuned for more books! 

Some Highlights:

The joy of sharing your in-home library with extended family.

Starting small to build your community in a new place.

Sparking ideas with fresh air and fresh colors.

How texture can inspire writing.

Final words of wisdom:

Life is a journey, it’s happening now because that’s how it’s supposed to happen. Be patient with your journey, live it!

Links mentioned:

I couldn’t be more excited to introduce Stacy Juba to you today. She has written books about ice hockey, teen psychics, U.S. flag etiquette for kids, and determined women sleuths. Stacy is an author, editor, and teacher with 30 years of experience. 

Here are some highlights from our chat:

Today’s guest is Laura Roettiger, author of two picture books including the recently published An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story illustrated by Debbi Palen.

Laura is a reading specialist with a background in teaching and curriculum creation. Her superpower as a teacher is encouraging curiosity in children, which she has brought into the stories she now writes. 

We covered a lot of topics in our short time together and I hope you enjoy listening!

Here are some things we cover in today’s interview:

• The benefits dancing can offer your writing.

• The generosity and friendliness in the kidlit world, especially in the Rocky Mountains.

• The best of times hearing readers laugh with enjoyment over your words, when the words just click, and when a child tells you that your book is their favorite.

• If things aren’t working, sometimes you just need to walk away. 

• When obstacles arise and writing is impossible, how can you stay connected?

Links mentioned:

Today we have an interview with Jilanne Hoffmann, author of A River of Dust illustrated by Eugenia Mello.

Favorite Quotes:

• “We went out with our first manuscript, A River of Dust, to auction. I don’t recommend that to anybody! Afterward there was a long dry spell.”

• “I daydream and that can fill the [creative] well. I just look out the window and can disappear.’”

• “I love the challenge [of writing]. It’s making something from nothing. It’s like alchemy.”

• Our chat about the similarities between meditation and writing.

• How writing is like boot camp.

• • “Everyone has their own voice and the world needs their stories.”
  • “After you have a finished draft, think about it critically. Read your own writing critically as you would others.”

  Links:

Sorry for my lateness with today’s podcast! It is Friday but I am here and with another sparkling author interview on “Getting to The Heart of Why We Write.” Today, we have Lisa Rogers whose recent book Beautiful Noise: The Music of John Cage illustrated by Il Sung Na has received starred reviews from Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and more!

I cannot thank Lisa enough for sharing her time with me, or you for taking the time to listen along with us and share the journey we’re all on in this writing life.

Links mentioned:

Thank you, Sharon, for sharing your time with me! Today's episode was filled with so many great topics, the benefits of libraries, critique groups, and celebrating each other's success within the writing community. Here's a list of further resources to check out and links mentioned:

Natasha was so much fun to have on the show and I couldn't have asked for better parting words, "Have fun on the journey" creating stories for children. Stay curious!

In today's episode, I had the opportunity to interview a pillar in the kidlit community, Vivian Kirkfield!

In this episode, Rebecca and I talk about community, rhyme, her writing mantras and so much more! Some of the resources she mentioned and places to find her and her books are below.