SCBWI Podcasts

SCBWI
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The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conversations with publishing pros, and award-winning and bestselling writers and illustrators who inform and inspire about the ins and outs of the children's book industry. Find out about the craft and creative process behind young adult novels, picture books, middle-grade fiction, graphic novels, and nonfiction. 

  1. 6d ago

    The Many Lives of Dr. Seema Yasmin

    In this week's episode we are joined by Dr. Seema Yasmin Seema Yasmin is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, medical doctor, professor and the author of five books and three forthcoming books. She is director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative, clinical assistant professor in Stanford University’s Department of Medicine, and visiting professor at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA where she teaches crisis management and communications. She is a popular keynote speaker and has been invited to speak at the Vatican, White House, Aspen Ideas Festival, and Skoll World Forum.  Yasmin was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in breaking news in 2017 with a team from The Dallas Morning News for coverage of a mass shooting. She is the recipient of two awards from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Her reporting appears in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, WIRED, Scientific American, and other outlets. She is a medical analyst for CNN and a correspondent for Conde Nast Entertainment. Her scholarly work focuses on the spread of health misinformation and disinformation, the growth of medical and news deserts, and the impact on public health. She teaches creative nonfiction including health and science journalism, global health storytelling, practicing medicine with empathy and compassion, and advanced clinical communication skills. Her unique combination of expertise in epidemics, science communication and journalism has been called upon by the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, the Aspen Ideas Festival and the Skoll World Forum. Buy her latest book here: bookshop.org/a/19191/9781665953429 Check out her website here: seemayasmin.com Follow her on IG here: www.instagram.com/drseemayasmin Support the show

  2. May 15

    Experimenting with Visual Styles featuring Claudia Rueda

    In this week's episode we are joined by Claudia Rueda.  Claudia Rueda is a Colombian author and a New York Times Best Seller illustrator of over thirty picture books. Rueda's books have been published in the United States, Mexico, and Spain and have been translated into seventeen different languages. She’s a 2016 Hans Christian Andersen and Astrid Lindgren Awards nominee. Claudia went to Law and Art school and worked as a political cartoonist in Colombia. She then studied Children’s Book Illustration at UC Berkeley and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Claudia lives in New York City and teaches a course on picture books at the School of Visual Arts.  Buy her latest book here: bookshop.org/a/19191/9781536236583 Check out her website here: claudiarueda.com Follow her on IG here: @claudiarueda Support the show

  3. May 7

    Writing for the Kids Who Need It with Torrey Maldonado

    In this week's episode we are joined by Torrey Maldonado. Torrey Maldonado was born and raised in Brooklyn, growing up in the Red Hook housing projects. He has been a teacher for New York City public schools for nearly 25 years and his fast-paced, compelling stories are inspired by his and his students’ experiences. His popular novels for young readers include What Lane?, which garnered many starred reviews and was cited by Oprah and the New York Times for being an essential book to discuss racism and allyship; Tight, which won the Christopher Award, was an ALA Notable Book, and an NPR and Washington Post Best Book of the Year; and his very first novel, Secret Saturdays which has been in print for over ten years. Connect on Instagram @torreymaldonado Buy Torrey's latest book here: bookshop.org/a/19191/9780593624968 Check out all of Torrey's books here: bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Torrey+Maldonado Visit his website here: torreymaldonado.com Support the show

  4. Mar 26

    How Jason Reynolds Creates

    In this week's episode we are joined by Jason Reynolds. Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of many award-winning books, including Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), Long Way Down, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (with Ibram X. Kendi), Stuntboy, in the Meantime (illustrated by Raúl the Third), and Ain’t Burned All the Bright (with artwork by Jason Griffin). The recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors, Reynolds is also the 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. He has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America, and various media outlets. He is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing for Young People MFA Program and lives in Washington, DC. Buy Jason's latest book here: bookshop.org/a/19191/9798347102372 Check out Jason's website here: www.jasonwritesbooks.com Check out Heirloom Literary here: www.heirloomliterary.com www.instagram.com/jasonreynolds83/ www.instagram.com/heirloom_literary/ Support the show

  5. Mar 12

    The Life of a Storyteller with Selina Alko

    In this week's episode we are joined by Selina Alko.  Selina Alko is an award-winning author and illustrator known for blending lyrical storytelling with vibrant mixed-media art. Raised in Vancouver by a Turkish Jewish father and Jewish mother, she grew up immersed in culture, creativity, and diverse perspectives that continue to shape her work. Selina has a degree in art history from University of British Columbia and a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts. She has created more than twenty-five acclaimed children's books, with features in The New York Times, NPR, People, and Time Out New York Kids. A two-time National Jewish Book Award winner, her titles have also been honored as Junior Library Guild Gold selections and Bank Street Best Books of the Year. She is the recipient of the Mills Tannenbaum Award for Excellence in Children’s Literacy. Buy her latest book here: https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9780316570633 Check out the rest of her work here: https://www.selinaalko.com/ Support the show

  6. Feb 27

    The Real Deal with Kate DiCamillo

    In this week's episode of the SCBWI Podcast we are joined by Kate DiCamillo! In her own words, here is her bio: "I was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, raised in Clermont, Florida, and currently live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I write for both children and adults and I like to think of myself as a storyteller. Here are a few more facts about me: I am short. And loud. I hate to cook and love to eat. I am single and childless, but I have lots of friends and I am an aunt to three lovely children (Luke, Roxanne, and Max) and one lovable dog (Franklin). I think of myself as an enormously lucky person: I get to tell stories for a living." Buy her books here: https://bookshop.org/beta-search?keywords=Kate+DiCamillo Check out her website here: www.katedicamillo.com Support the show

  7. 12/12/2025

    Trusting the Story with Shannon Messenger

    In this week's episode we are joined by Shannon Messenger. Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts where she learned—among other things—that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She’s studied art, screenwriting, and television production, but realized her real passion was writing for kids and teens. She’s the internationally, New York Times, and USA Today bestselling author of the award-winning middle grade series, Keeper of the Lost Cities, as well as the Sky Fall young adult series. Her books have been featured on multiple state reading lists, published in numerous countries, and translated into many languages. She lives in Southern California with her family and an embarrassing number of cats. Find her online at shannonmessenger.com and on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @sw_messenger. Buy her latest book here: https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9781534463400 Support the show

  8. 12/05/2025

    How to Keep Kids Reading with Dan Gutman

    In this week's episode, we welcome back Dan Gutman! New York Times best-selling and award-winning author Dan Gutman has written more than 190 books for readers from kindergarten through middle school. Dan’s My Weird School series includes 100+ titles, and has sold more than 35 million copies globally over the past 20 years. Dan also is the author of the best-selling Genius Files series, the Baseball Card Adventure series, and many more. Dan’s books have been named Junior Library Guild Selections and Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year, and have been awarded numerous state book awards, including: The California Young Reader Medal, the Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, and the Iowa Children’s Choice Award, among others. When he’s not writing books, Dan loves to ride his bike, play pickleball, throw Frisbees, and explore New York City where he lives with his wife Nina. To find out more, follow Dan on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can follow him on IG @dangutmanbooks Purchase his latest book here: https://bookshop.org/a/19191/9780823453856 Check out his website here: https://dangutman.com/ Support the show

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About

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators conversations with publishing pros, and award-winning and bestselling writers and illustrators who inform and inspire about the ins and outs of the children's book industry. Find out about the craft and creative process behind young adult novels, picture books, middle-grade fiction, graphic novels, and nonfiction. 

Information

  • Creator
    SCBWI
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 SCBWI Podcasts
  • Show Website
    SCBWI Podcasts

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