Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson

JoAnn M. Dickinson Author
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Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson is the podcast for children’s book authors, illustrators, and creatives who want to learn how to write, publish, and market children’s books. Hosted by award-winning children’s book author JoAnn M. Dickinson, each episode features interviews with authors, illustrators, editors, and indie publishing experts. Discover writing tips, self-publishing advice, marketing strategies, and inspiring stories that show the power of children’s literature to build confidence, empathy, and imagination.

  1. 2d ago

    Can Early Reader Chapter Books Teach Adventure, Literacy, and STEAM Learning

    Can early reader children's chapter books do more than entertain?In this episode, Children's Book Author and preschool director Danielle Simone discusses how her Adventures of Sid series combines adventure, literacy, STEAM (STREAM) learning, environmental awareness, and real-world exploration to create meaningful reading experiences for young readers.Danielle shares the inspiration behind her children's chapter book series, how real locations such as the Appalachian Trail, Wash Woods, Bone Cave, and Tangier Island became the backdrop for her stories, and why educational fiction can help children connect reading with science, nature, engineering, and critical thinking.We also discuss:📚 Writing early reader children's chapter books🌎 Environmental education through storytelling🔬 STEM, STEAM, and STREAM learning for children🐾 Creating memorable characters inspired by real life🏕️ Outdoor adventure children's books for kids🏫 Educational resources for teachers and homeschool families✍️ Hybrid publishing and the author journey🏆 Children's Book awards and marketing strategies for children's authorsWhether you're a parent, teacher, librarian, homeschool educator, aspiring author, or children's book enthusiast, this conversation offers valuable insights into how children's chapter books can build literacy skills while inspiring a lifelong love of learning.🌐 Learn more about Danielle Simone:https://www.daniellesimoneauthor.com https://www.bookawardpro.comIG: https://www.instagram.com/1914gooseAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DRTJMQDX/allbooks _____________________________________________________ 📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: https://linktr.ee/joannmdickinsonauthor 🌐 Visit my website: ⁠https://www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com⁠ 📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/joann.dickinson.author/ 📘 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/JoAnnDickinsonAuthor/ 📺 YOUTUBE “Watch full episodes on YouTube and Subscribe” https://www.youtube.com/@JoAnnMDickinsonAuthor?sub_confirmation=1 🎧SPOTIFY “Listen On The Go”: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mjhykL1T0fAuSJzcw6Tia

    30 min

  2. 6d ago

    How Do You Teach the Five Senses to Children?

    How do you teach the five senses to children?In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, children's author and former kindergarten teacher Stacy Taylor shares how storytelling can help young readers learn sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch through her Moose Tracks Tales series.As a former kindergarten teacher, Stacy understands how young learners discover the world through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. We discuss her children's books The Moose Smooch and Moose Nose Knows, and how the Moose Tracks Tales series uses memorable characters, humor, and imagination to make sensory learning fun for preschool and elementary-age children.Stacy also shares her self-publishing journey, her experience writing educational children's books, and why stories can be such a powerful tool for teaching important concepts in early childhood education. https://www.moosetrackstales.com

    20 min

  3. 6d ago

    Why Family Connection Matters in Children's Books | Bria Freitas

    How can children's books strengthen family connections while helping kids learn and grow?Children's book author, educator, and founder of Bright Little Pages, Bria Freitas, shares how she creates family-friendly, faith-based children's books that encourage reading, learning, creativity, and meaningful time together.Bria discusses her popular children's books, including Rosie Mae and Mama B's Banana Pudding, Brighton's Cocoa Day, and her growing seasonal collection that teaches children about family traditions, faith, literacy, and everyday life experiences. She also shares how her experiences as a teacher and mother inspire her stories, activity pages, discussion questions, and educational resources for families, homeschoolers, and classrooms. https//www.brightlittlepages.com

    30 min

  4. May 12

    A Child Wrote a Space Adventure Children's Book! STEM Learning, Imagination & Self-Publishing

    What happens when a child’s imagination becomes the heart of a published children’s book? In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, I sit down with author Darya Gunay to talk about the inspiring story behind Dani the First Kid in Space — a fun and imaginative STEM adventure about a young boy who travels through a portal and explores the planets in our solar system. Darya shares how her son, Dani, came up with the story idea, how she helped him organize his thoughts, and what the creative process looked like as they turned his imagination into a finished children’s book. We also talk about encouraging kids to write, dream big, explore science, and believe their ideas are worth sharing. This conversation is perfect for parents, educators, children’s book authors, and self-published authors who want to inspire young readers through creativity, storytelling, and STEM learning. In this episode, we discuss: • How Dani came up with the children’s book story idea• Turning a child’s imagination into a published children’s book• Using storytelling to teach kids about planets and the solar system• Why STEM learning belongs in children’s books• The self-publishing process behind Dani the First Kid in Space• Encouraging kids to write, create, and believe in their ideas If you love children’s books, STEM education, space adventures, or behind-the-scenes author stories, this episode will inspire you. Connect with Darya Gunay: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darya_gva/ Dani’s Author Page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dani-Gunay/author/B0GT63Q7MF Darya’s Author Page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Darya-Gunay/author/B084MJVVTM Google Play Book — English eBook: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=19fVEQAAQBAJ ________________________________________ LET’S STAY CONNECTED: https://linktr.ee/joannmdickinsonauthor 🌐Visit my website: ⁠https://www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com⁠ 📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/joann.dickinson.author/ 📘Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/JoAnnDickinsonAuthor/ 📺YOUTUBE “Watch full episodes on YouTube and Subscribe” https://www.youtube.com/@JoAnnMDickinsonAuthor?sub_confirmation=1 #selfpublishing #childrensbooks #authoradvice #publishedauthor #steamlearning

    31 min

  5. Apr 21

    From Idea to Published Book: What New Authors NEED to Know

    Writing a book is only the beginning.Author coach, and publisher Brenda Cortez shares the biggest mistakes new authors make and the most important lessons she teaches writers before they publish their first book.Brenda works with authors from the earliest idea stage all the way through editing, layout, publishing, and bringing books to market. Through BC Books, she and her team of editors, illustrators, and designers help authors transform their ideas into professionally published books—while allowing authors to keep full rights to their work.In this conversation, we discuss:• The most important advice every new author needs• The biggest mistakes first-time authors make• What writers need to understand about editing and publishing• How working with a professional team can simplify the publishing process• The ripple effect a book can have on readers and communitiesIf you're writing a book, thinking about writing one, or navigating the publishing journey, this episode offers practical insight and encouragement from someone who has helped many authors turn their ideas into published books.To learn more about Brenda: https://www.bcbooksllc.com/coaching__________________________________ 📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: https://linktr.ee/joannmdickinsonautho 🌐 Visit my website: ⁠https://www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com⁠ 📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/joann.dickinson.author/ 📘 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/JoAnnDickinsonAuthor/ 📺 YOUTUBE “Watch full episodes on YouTube and Subscribe” https://www.youtube.com/@JoAnnMDickinsonAuthor?sub_confirmation=1 🎧SPOTIFY “Listen on the go”: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mjhykL1T0fAuSJzcw6Tia LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR: https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorHarleighRose #selfpublishing #indieauthor #childrensbooks #writingtips #kidlit

    34 min

  6. Apr 14

    Writing Chapter Books for Kids: Building a Series Young Readers Return To

    In this episode children’s author Leigh Ann Hughes shares her inspiring journey back to writing after years away. Leigh Ann opens up about how motherhood reignited her creativity and how she builds engaging elementary chapter book series like Cob & the Kingdom and the Hart Girls Adventure Series. This conversation dives deep into chapter book writing for young readers, pacing, character development, and what it takes to create stories kids want to return to again and again. A must-watch episode for aspiring and established children’s authors.https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BJXHJ9HB/allbooks___________________________________________📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: https://linktr.ee/joannmdickinsonautho 🌐 Visit my website: ⁠https://www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com⁠ 📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/joann.dickinson.author/ 📘 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/JoAnnDickinsonAuthor/ 📺 YOUTUBE “Watch full episodes on YouTube and Subscribe” https://www.youtube.com/@JoAnnMDickinsonAuthor?sub_confirmation=1 🎧SPOTIFY “Listen on the go”: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mjhykL1T0fAuSJzcw6Tia LEARN MORE ABOUT BECOMING A CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR: https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorHarleighRose #selfpublishing #indieauthor #publishedauthor #writingtips

    46 min

  7. Apr 7

    Successful Brand Building for Children’s Books | Elizabeth Retter

    How does a children’s book character grow beyond the page and into a bigger brand? In this episode, I sit down with award-winning Elizabeth Retter, creator of the beloved Easton series, to talk about brand expansion, animation, stuffed toys, school visits, and the heart behind her mission. Elizabeth shares how Easton’s children's books grew into a plush toy, how she used AI to create animation, why consistency matters when creating author products, and how her work with rescue animals continues to shape her stories. We also talk about what authors really need to know about building a successful children’s book business — one rooted in connection, purpose, and long-term growth. If you’re a children’s author, self-published creator, educator, or parent, this episode is packed with insights on storytelling, business, and building a world readers connect with deeply. Website:https://elizabethretter.com/ ______________________________________________________ LET’S STAY CONNECTED: https://linktr.ee/joannmdickinsonautho 🌐 Visit my website: ⁠https://www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com⁠ For FREE downloads! 📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/joann.dickinson.author/ 📘 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/JoAnnDickinsonAuthor/ 📺 YOUTUBE“Watch full episodes on YouTube and Subscribe” https://www.youtube.com/@JoAnnMDickinsonAuthor?sub_confirmation=1 #ChildrensBooks #SelfPublishing #kidlit #brandbuilding

    29 min

  8. Mar 31

    Blending Faith, Farm Life, and Science in Children’s Books | Author Sarah Philpott

    How do faith, farming, and science come together in a children’s book? Award-winning author Sarah Philpott, PhD, talks about how life on her family’s cattle farm inspired her new lift-the-flap board book Wake Up, Little Seed. Sarah is an ECPA award nominee and Selah Book of the Year winner, and she shares how her experiences as a farm mom, author, and PhD graduate in education shape the way she writes for children. http://allamericanmom.net/IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarahlphilpott/ 📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: https://linktr.ee/joannmdickinsonautho 🌐 Visit my website: ⁠https://www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com⁠ 📸 Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/joann.dickinson.author/ 📘 Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/JoAnnDickinsonAuthor/ 📺 YOUTUBE“Watch full episodes on YouTube and Subscribe” https://www.youtube.com/@JoAnnMDickinsonAuthor?sub_confirmation=1 🎧SPOTIFY“Listen on the go”: https://open.spotify.com/show/7mjhykL1T0fAuSJzcw6Tia

    31 min
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About

Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson is the podcast for children’s book authors, illustrators, and creatives who want to learn how to write, publish, and market children’s books. Hosted by award-winning children’s book author JoAnn M. Dickinson, each episode features interviews with authors, illustrators, editors, and indie publishing experts. Discover writing tips, self-publishing advice, marketing strategies, and inspiring stories that show the power of children’s literature to build confidence, empathy, and imagination.

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