Podcast

picture_book_podcast_Jennie Dunham
July 22, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Jennie Dunham

picture_book_podcast_Jennie Dunham

Today’s episode showcases literary agent Jennie Dunham, founder of Dunham Literary Inc. Jennie shares insight on what agents do, what they don’t do, and how to prepare for working with an agent.

Jennie Dunham has been a literary agent since 1992 and founded Dunham Literary, Inc. in 2000. She represents literary fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Her clients’ books have appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers lists and have won numerous awards including: New York Times Best Illustrated Book, The Schneider Family Award, Boston Globe Horn Book Honor, and Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist.

Wondering what an agent really does and what they’re really looking for? Jennie Dunham’s here to give you The Agent’s Perspective.

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Katie Davis - procrastination and your first 1000 readers
July 6, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Positive Procrastination

Katie Davis - your first 1000 readers

You vow again and again, “Today I will work on my book!” But something just keeps getting in the way. In this episode, Katie Davis shares insights and tips for avoiding procrastination and getting your “BIC” or Butt In Chair. Listen in for a few tricks that will give you the motivation needed to complete your next draft or revision.

Katie Davis is the author/illustrator of over a dozen traditionally published books for children (picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels). She edited and self-published How to Write a Children’s Book and How to Promote Your Children’s Book, both debuting  at #1 on Amazon.

Katie is a co-founder of Picture Book Summit and is the former director of the Institute of Children’s Literature and its sister school, the Institute for Writers, where, as of this writing, over 470,027 people have taken college-level writing courses and learned to write for both children and adults.

If you’re ready to stop procrastinating and start writing, check out today’s podcast episode!

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Ruth Spiro
June 22, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Ruth Spiro

Ruth Spiro

Nonfiction picture books are one of the fastest-growing segments of the market today, but how do you make them accessible and fun, even for the youngest of audiences? In this episode, award-winning author Ruth Spiro explains how to introduce complex scientific topics in a way that makes them understandable and engaging for younger readers, and even babies. Listen in to sharpen your skills related to STEM-based writing for children.

Ruth Spiro is the author of the Baby Loves Science board book series, published by Charlesbridge. Titles include Baby Loves Aerospace Engineering, Baby Loves Coding and Baby Loves Green Energy. Ruth’s STEM-themed picture book series, Made by Maxine, is about an inspiring young Maker who knows that with enough effort, imagination, and recyclables, it’s possible to invent anything.

If you’ve been wanting to write STEM or STEAM picture books and/or board books, let Ruth introduce you to concepts that will help you connect with your young readers

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Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Emma-Walton-Hamilton
June 15, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Is Your Manuscript Truly Submission Ready?

Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast_feature_image_Emma-Walton-Hamilton

Is your manuscript submission ready? In this episode, Picture Book Summit Co-Founder Emma Walton Hamilton helps us figure out if our manuscripts are really ready to be sent to an agent or editor with specific things to be looking for in the craft of your story and in the details of your query letter and submission. What’s necessary and what’s not? Emma’s got your covered.

Emma Walton Hamilton is a best-selling children’s book author, editor and writing coach.  With her mother, actress/author Julie Andrews, Emma has co-authored over thirty children’s books, eight of which have been on the NY Times Bestseller list, including The Very Fairy Princess series. She is Director of the Children’s Lit Fellows program at Stony Brook University and co-host of the Julie’s Library Podcast.

If you are questioning whether your story is ready to be out on submission, take a listen. If you’re sending out your manuscript and not getting a lot of response, do not miss this episode. You will find Emma’s tips to be invaluable on your submission journey.

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Laura Backes - Picture Book Summit Podcast
May 18, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Creating Memorable Characters

Laura Backes - Picture Book Summit Podcast

In this episode, Picture Book Summit Co-Founder Laura Backes gives us insight into creating memorable characters for picture books by discussing the cognitive development of kids in the picture book audience. You’ll look at your main characters and how you develop them in a whole new way after this mind-opening episode.

Laura Backes publishes Children’s Book Insider, The Children’s Writing Monthly. Laura and her husband Jon Bard co-own WritingBlueprints.com. She has edited and critiqued thousands of picture book manuscripts. Her credits include Best Books for Kids Who (Think They) Hate to Read (Random House) and articles for Writer’s Digest, The Writer and Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market. She was also the technical editor of Writing Children’s Books for Dummies. Recently, you may have seen Laura on her weekly Kidlit Distancing Socials.

Check out this whole new perspective on creating memorable characters in ways kids can naturally understand.

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Katie Davis - procrastination and your first 1000 readers
April 27, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Digging for Diamonds

Katie Davis - your first 1000 readers

In this fun episode, Picture Book Summit co-founder Katie Davis show us how to dig into research and make our writing sparkle! Did you know research is a integral component in writing fiction and nonfiction? Katie uses two fiction picture books, Renato and the Lion by Barbara DiLorenzo and Shark Nate-O by Becky Cattie and Tara Luebbe, to illustrate how research in fiction can bring a whole new layer to your manuscripts—and maybe a few surprises!

Katie Davis is the author/illustrator of over a dozen traditionally published books for children (picture books, middle grade, and young adult novels). She edited and self-published How to Write a Children’s Book and How to Promote Your Children’s Book, both debuting  at #1 on Amazon.

Katie is a co-founder of Picture Book Summit and is the former director of the Institute of Children’s Literature and its sister school, the Institute for Writers, where, as of this writing, over 470,027 people have taken college-level writing courses and learned to write for both children and adults.

In this episode, Katie uncovers the diamonds in picture book research.

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Matthew-Cordell
April 13, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Matthew Cordell

Matthew-Cordell

In The Bridge Between Pictures and Story, Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell helps us find the magic of picture books as he explores the bridge between text and image .

Matthew Cordell has illustrated many books for children including works of poetry, novels, and picture books including The Only Fish in the Sea by Philip Stead and the Justin Case series by Rachel Vail. He has written and illustrated several picture books himself including King Alice, Hello! Hello!, Wish, Dream, Explorers, and Hello, Neighbor. Matthew’s books have been recognized as Best of the Year selections by the New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe, and his first wordless picture book, Wolf in the Snow, was awarded a 2017 Boston Globe-Horn Book honor award and the 2018 Caldecott Medal.

Listen in as Matthew Cordell breaks down a few of his favorite award-winning picture books to find that special connection between words and images. Matthew even shares his struggle with finding the bridge in his early work. Join us for this magical ride.

 

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Emma Walton Hamilton and Laura Backes - Revision First Steps
March 30, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Revision First Steps

Emma Walton Hamilton and Laura Backes - Revision First Steps

In Revision First Steps, Laura Backes and Emma Walton Hamilton team up to give you tips on approaching the first big revision of your first draft.

Emma Walton Hamilton is a best-selling children’s book author, editor and writing coach.  With her mother, actress/author Julie Andrews, Emma has co-authored over thirty children’s books, eight of which have been on the NY Times Bestseller list, including The Very Fairy Princess series. She is Director of the Children’s Lit Fellows program at Stony Brook University and co-host of the Julie’s Library Podcast.

Laura Backes is the publisher of Children’s Book Insider, The Children’s Writing Monthly, and co-owner of WritingBlueprints.com (along with husband Jon Bard). Laura has edited and critiqued thousands of picture book manuscripts. Her credits include Best Books for Kids Who (Think They) Hate to Read (Random House); articles for Writer’s Digest, The Writer and Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market; and technical editor of Writing Children’s Books for Dummies.

Listen as they dig deep into revision first steps by taking you on a tour of the first act of a fiction picture book and a nonfiction picture book to show what your manuscript needs at the beginning of the story to get started on a firm foundation.

 

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Brenda Bowen - Picture Book Summit Podcast
March 17, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Brenda Bowen

In today’s episode, we feature literary agent Brenda Bowen and snippets from her appearance at Picture Book Summit.

As an agent at Greenberger Associates, Brenda represents authors and illustrators who are national and international bestsellers, as well as winners of Newbery and Caldecott awards. Before becoming a literary agent in the summer of 2009, Brenda held a variety of positions during her 25-plus years in children’s publishing. She has been editorial director of Henry Holt & Books for Young Readers, Scholastic Press, Disney/Hyperion, and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

In Brenda Bowen’s presentation, she spoke with her author hat on about how she finds and develops ideas and how, sometimes, necessity can be the mother of invention. She also touches on the key components that agents look for in a successful query letter.

Don’t miss getting the inside scoop from this successful author and literary agent.

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Kate McMullan Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast
March 2, 2021 In Podcast

Podcast – Kate McMullan

Kate McMullan Picture-Book-Summit-Podcast

Kate McMullan, bestselling author of over 100 books for children, uncovers sources of inspiration for picture books. Drawing from her own creative process and interviews with contemporary and classic picture book writers, she provides tools you can use to tap your own muse.

After teaching grade school in Los Angeles and Germany, Kate McMullan moved to New York City and became an author. To date, she has written more than 100 books for kids, including the I STINK! series, illustrated by her husband, Jim McMullan. “The Stinky & Dirty Show,” now streaming on Amazon, was inspired by their book collaboration. Kate’s first writing love is picture books, and she currently has five in the works: I’M TOUGH!, How Do YOU Take a Bath?, How Do YOU Go to Sleep?, This Is the Tree We Planted, an Earth Day story, and As Warm as the Sun, starring the McMullan French bulldogs, Toby and Pinkie.

In today’s episode, Kate talks about inspiration, where you can find it and how to capture it when it strikes.

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