Getting to The Heart of Why We Write

Gina Soldano-Herrle

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Getting to The Heart of Why We Write

Everyone has a story tell and the people on this show have published theirs. I talk to authors about the stories they write and the underlying fire at the heart of their writing. What is it that brings writers to the page? Is it contagious? Permanent? Listen along to find out as authors of all sorts from children's fiction to adult nonfiction share why they write.

17 JAN

Accepting Imperfection and Embracing Courage with Author Gabriella Aldeman

Please welcome author Gabriella Aldeman to the show! Some Highlights: Nerding out about language. Writing in English when it’s your second language. Joining a professional kidlit organization as a translator and getting inspired to write her own stories. A love of writing.🖋️ “Embracing imperfection is the first step towards having courage.” Abuela’s talkative parrot in her latest book.🦜 Celebrating mistakes along your learning journey.💃💃💃💃 The joy and energy in author visits. The options clause–pay attention to it! You can narrow it!! Why Write: “Writing has always been the way I process my emotions and figure things out….But I do revise for young readers.” Links Mentioned🔗: Gabriella’s website Gabriella on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Book Recommendations📚: Squawk of Spanish by Gabriella Aldeman, illustrated by Romina Galotta on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes & Noble (It’s also available in Spanish!) Paula’s Patches by Gabriella Aldeman, illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza A Flicker of Hope by Cynthia Harmony, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth (Also available in Spanish!) How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz Feed by M.T. Anderson

34 min
9 JAN

Nurturing Your Soul with Writing and Zombie Manuscripts with Author Jolene Gutiérrez

Please welcome author Jolene Gutiérrez to the show! Her latest book, Mamiachi and Me just released on January 7. Congratulations, Jolene! And grab your copy now while it’s still hot off the press!♨️🔥📚📚 Some Highlights: Publishing her first books on her teacher’s typewriter in elementary school. Denise Vega’s author visit at Jolene’s school in 2008 and the spark it ignited. –“If you want to be a writer, why aren’t you now? Why not today?” Nurturing your soul with writing. Do something for yourself before anyone else. Following what brings joy as a parent, showing your children that it is okay to do that. Let them know they need to follow their own joy—but you have to follow your own first. Teaching as a librarian. Kidlit zombie manuscripts. Why write: I can’t not write. “If this ever stops bringing me joy, I can walk away.” The importance of choice and joy in creative endeavors. Co-writing picture books with her children. High school mariachi inspiration. Links Mentioned🔗: Jolene’s website Jolene on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) The Author’s Guild KidLitCollective #KidlitZombieWeek Picture Book Gold Book Recommendations📚: Mamiachi and Me: My Mami’s Mariachi Band by Jolene and Dakota Gutiérrez, illustrated by Mirelle Ortega on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble The Ofrenda That We Built by Jolene and Shaian Gutiérrez, illustrated by Gabby Zapata Too Much! An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutiérrez, illustrated by Angel Chang Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks by Jolene Gutiérrez Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader by Jolene Gutiérrez, illustrated by Heather Bell Thank you and thank you, Jolene! Stay tuned for the next interview with author Masha Sapron.💃💃💃💃

36 min
3 JAN

Lifelong Critique Partners and Tangible Joy with Author Christine Evans

Please welcome author Christine Evans to the show! Christine and I met in 12x12 and this episode has been a long time coming–thank you all for your patience!! Some Highlights: The perfect time to start a new career–when you have small children.😂 Growing up reading classics, not knowing “author” was a real job one could do. Starting with picture books before moving on to chapter books. Starting with Googling–highly underrated. Lifelong critique partners. The joy of reading the story you wrote aloud to young listeners. The tangible joy of creating stories.📖 When stuck, taking herself away from the work for a while. Change of scenery. And community.♥️ Tackling grief in picture books. At the end of the day, the writing itself is what’s most important. Why Write: Because I can’t imagine not writing. I write to figure things out for myself sometimes too. I write to find things out. That’s my creative outlet. It’s a bonus that it’s more than that as well. Early advice: Be patient. Wait until you’re ready. There’s no rush. Links Mentioned 🔗: Christine’s Website Christine on Twitter and Instagram Susannah Leonard Hill The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Book Recommendations 📚: Dear Mr. G. by Christine Evans, illustrated by Gracey Zhang on Amazon, Bookshop, Linden Tree Books, and Barnes and Noble The Wish Library by Christine Evans, illustrated by Patrick Corrigan Christine all books The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly Luigi, The Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes Ava Lin by Vicky Fang Thank you so much to Christine for being on the show and you for listening! Stay tuned for the next interview with author Jolene Gutierrez!💃💃💃💃

26 min
11/11/2024

Author Rachel Funez on Neurodivergence, Wordplay, and Super Duper Disasters

Please welcome author Rachel Funez to the show! Her recent release, Sonia and the Super Duper Disaster, illustrated by Kelly Kennedy came out in July of this year. I met Rachel through the Rocky Mountain chapter of the SCBWI where she is very active as the critique coordinator and doing so many fabulous things. Please enjoy! Some Highlights: Mysteries, puns, and wordplay. Putting yourself out there as neurodivergent. The necessity of community.♥️ Life coaches for writers.🖊️ Enjoy the ride–enjoy the process. All the many things she does in the writing world–SHE IS PHENOMENAL! Links Mentioned🔗: Rachel’s website Rachel’s Substack newsletter The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge Courage to Create Book Recommendations📚: Sonia and the Super Duper Disaster by Rachel Funez, illustrated by Kelly Kennedy on Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes and Noble Wretched Waterpark (Book one of The Sinister Summer Series) by Kiersten White Thank you so much for listening and thank you, Rachel, for coming on the show! Stay tuned for the next interview with children’s book author Christine Evans.

17 min
05/11/2024

Author Illustrator Meg Auchenbach on Wild Acorns and Character Worlds

I hope you enjoy this episode with author illustrator Meg Auchenbach. It was such a delight to hear about her artistic journey and the inspiration behind her book, If You Are an Artist. Please enjoy!💃💃💃💃 Some Highlights: Drawing on the family dog…with markers.🐕 Nerding out about meditation and mindfulness. What would your character wear? Read? What does your character’s world look like to them? Processing emotions through stories as a kid. Be patient. Take your time learning the craft. There’s no reason to race through. Illustrating death in a beautiful way. There’s no one way to be an artist. Links Mentioned🔗: Meg’s link.tree Meg’s website Meg on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Kidlit411 on Facebook The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge Book Recommendations📚: If You Are An Artist by Meg Auchenbach on Bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Aaron’s Books, and Amazon Acorn Was a Little Wild by Jen Arena, illustrated by Jessica Gibson Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall The Longest Letsgoboy by Derick Wilder, illustrated by Catia Chen Thank you so much, Meg, for the much needed dose of inspiration. And thank you, listener, for being here. Stay tuned for your next regularly scheduled interview with author Rachel Funez.

21 min
28/10/2024

Author Leslie Eva Tayloe on Invasive Vines and Patience as a Practice

Please welcome author Leslie Eva Tayloe to the show today! In this episode we talk about inspiration, patience, community, and more. Enjoy!!🎧🎧🎧 Some Highlights: Stories developing from one sentence. Inspiration from life experience. Finding strength and connection through community.♥️📚 Staying in motion, keep going–if you face an obstacle, work on another aspect of author life. Learning to write in new genres. “I think forming a story is a type of craft.” Developing patience–it’s crucial as a writer but also so hard! Don’t hit the send button too soon!!🔘 A rejection letter 3 years after submission.😮 Picking, plucking, and pulling invasive vines off trees.🌲 Spooky attic doors.👻 Links Mentioned🔗: Leslie’s website The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge Inked Voices Children’s Book Insider Book Recommendations📚: I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today by Leslie Eva Tayloe, illustrated by Austen MaCauley Team on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop Save the Trees by Leslie Eva Tayloe, illustrated by Lintang Pandu Pratiwi on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop The Attic Door by Leslie Eva Tayloe, illustrated by David Barrow on Amazon Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham Lord of the Flies by William Golding Grandpa and The Kingfisher by Anna Wilson, illustrated by Sarah Massini Thank you, Leslie, and thank you, listener! Stay tuned for your next regularly scheduled podcast interview with author-illustrator Meg Auchenbach.💃💃💃💃

25 min
19/10/2024

Author Emily Dangremond on Mangrove Forests, Plant Literacy, and Trees

Please welcome author Emily Dangremond to the show today! Talking with her is always a joy and I could seriously talk to her for hours on end about trees, consciousness, and more. I hope you enjoy hearing what she has to say and it gives your day a boost. You are here. You are a writer. You don’t need to wait for it to be in your job title. 💜 Highlights: Increasing plant literacy.🌱🌲🌼 The difference between knowing flowers versus the trees in your neighborhood. Dutchman’s Breeches–the flower, and other fun Spring plants! Find your plant ephemerals. Graphic novels about trees?📕🌳 The more we learn the more we realize we don’t know.📖 You aren’t going to see animals when you go outside–they’re going to be hiding. You’re going to see leaves and trees.🌱🌲 Mangrove forests. Taking a break and coming back to your writing afterward. Accountability vibes. Writing to process feelings. What makes a writer–when do you own the identity? You can be a something AND a something else. We all have more than one identity. Writing out the anxiety to move on after periods of our life. Links Mentioned🔗: Emily’s website Emily on Instagram and Twitter Kid’s Questions Answered Podcast The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Picture Book Peeps on Substack and Instagram The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge Book Recommendations📚: Meet the Trees by Emily Dangremond, illustrated by Summer Morrison on Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. Thank you Emily, and thank you, listener! Stay tuned for next week’s episode with author Leslie Eva Tayloe.💃💃💃💃🎧

33 min
15/10/2024 · BONUS

Author-Illustrator Jena Benton on Oral Storytelling, Jungle Fowl, and More!

Today’s guest is author-illustrator Jena Benton. Talking with her was so inspiring, I had to stop myself from writing down everything she said as a quote to share. Please enjoy her love of language, books, Alaska, community, and creativity. Some Highlights: The impact teachers can have early on, whether to encourage or discourage our creativity. Writing play manuscripts in high school. “Networking is about the friends you make along the way.” Soundproof kid’s corners for loud reading. Book recommendation love and kidlit obsession. Alaskan road systems. The traveling bard revival and why we need more oral storytellers. Cheesecake moments. It is important to have a community to support you through obstacles and let yourself experience the obstacles–be sad–but have a deadline to get back up and keep going. Listening to the music of words. Links Mentioned🔗: Jena’s website Jena on Redbubble Jena on Youtube, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Simply7 Interviews Romance Writers of America Sisters in Crime (Mystery Writers) The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) – she is the Illustrator Coordinator for her Alaskan chapter The 12x12 Picture Book Challenge Book Recommendations📚: Kauai’s Call by Jena Benton, illustrated by Kristi Petosa-Sigil only available HERE. Best in Show by David Elliott, illustrated by many people Counting Winter by Nancy White Carlstrom, illustrated by Claudia McGehee The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Renata Liwska Interstellar Cinderella Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Meg Hunt The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by LeUyen Pham A big thank you to Jena for coming on the show and another big thank you to you, listener! Stay tuned for your regularly scheduled podcast later this week with author Emily Dangremond.

34 min

Everyone has a story tell and the people on this show have published theirs. I talk to authors about the stories they write and the underlying fire at the heart of their writing. What is it that brings writers to the page? Is it contagious? Permanent? Listen along to find out as authors of all sorts from children's fiction to adult nonfiction share why they write.

Creator

Gina Soldano-Herrle
Years Active

2024 - 2025
Episodes

52
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Gina Soldano-Herrle
Show Website

Getting to The Heart of Why We Write