Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson

JoAnn M. Dickinson Author
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

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. 5h ago

    How a Self-Taught Creator Writes, Illustrates & Makes Music for Children’s Books | Derek Allen

    What happens when a reluctant reader grows up to become a writer, illustrator, musician, and creator of more than 700 short stories? In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, I’m joined by children’s author and self-taught artist Derek Allen, creator of the Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams trilogy. Derek shares the fascinating journey behind his creative work—from a dream that sparked the beginning of his short stories and poems to teaching himself Procreate and learning how to illustrate his own characters and books. But Derek’s creativity doesn’t stop with writing and art. He also creates original music for his videos and has released music on iTunes, bringing writing, illustration, characters, and music together to create a world that extends beyond the pages of his books. We talk about being a reluctant reader, learning new creative skills without formal training, writing hundreds of stories, developing memorable characters, and how Derek continues to expand the imaginative world of Moonbeams and Rhyme Dreams. 📚🎨🎵 If you’re interested in writing children’s stories, illustrating with Procreate, creating children’s book characters, or finding new ways to bring your stories to life, you’ll enjoy Derek’s wonderfully creative journey. Follow Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson for more conversations with children’s authors, illustrators, educators, and publishing professionals. Website: https://www.derekallenbooks.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/authorderekallen/_______________________________________ 📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 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

  2. Sep 29

    Turning National Parks Into Magical Children’s Adventure Books | Kathy Arnold Cherry

    What happens when a love of national parks, wildlife, and nature becomes the inspiration for an imaginary world of adventure and magic? In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, I’m joined by award-winning children’s author Kathy Arnold Cherry, creator of the Erutuf National Park children’s book series. Kathy shares how her own experiences visiting national parks inspired her to create Erutuf—an imaginary national park where siblings Reese and Dean encounter talking animals, solve mysteries, overcome challenges, and work together to protect the park. We talk about the real-life inspiration behind books including Turtle Tube, Bison Blog, and Polar Post, including the unforgettable moment Kathy and her husband turned a corner while hiking in Yellowstone National Park and found themselves facing a massive bison. Kathy also takes us behind the scenes of writing her children’s adventure books, researching real wildlife and landscapes, building a recognizable book series, working with editors and book designers, and some of the lessons she has learned through self-publishing. Plus, Kathy gives us a peek at what’s coming next for the Erutuf National Park series. 🦒 If you love children’s books, national parks, wildlife, nature, imaginative adventures, or hearing the stories behind the books, join us for this fun conversation about turning real-world inspiration into magical stories for young readers. 🎧 Follow Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson for more conversations with children’s authors, illustrators, educators, and publishing professionals. https://kathycherrybooks.com/about-kathy-arnold-cherry-author/ ____________________________________________ LET’S STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 Visit my website: ⁠https://www.joannmdickinsonauthor.co📸 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 #selfpublishing #childrensbooks #middlegradebooks #NationalParks #NatureBooksForKids

  3. Sep 22

    How Grief & Faith Inspired Unshaken | Author Janie Nichols’ Story

    Sometimes the books that mean the most begin in places we never expected.In this heartfelt episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, I sit down with first-time author Janie Nichols to talk about the deeply personal story behind her new book, Unshaken: 365 Days of Hope, Faith, and Eternity.After walking alongside her beloved husband, George, during his battle with ALS, Janie turned to something she had done for much of her life—journaling. During those difficult months, she recorded their experiences, reflected on Scripture, and wrote about the faith that helped carry them through one day at a time.Those journals eventually became the foundation for Unshaken, a 365-day Christian devotional created to offer hope, encouragement, comfort, and faith to readers facing grief, hardship, uncertainty, or seasons of waiting.Janie shares what it was like to continue writing after George’s passing, why she chose a daily devotional rather than a traditional memoir, and the meaning behind the title Unshaken.We also go beyond the story to talk about Janie’s unexpected journey as a first-time self-published author—from finding an editor and building a publishing team to choosing the deeply personal photograph that became the book’s cover.One of the most touching moments in our conversation comes when Janie reads a note of gratitude her daughter, Christina, wrote to George shortly before his passing—a note Janie chose to preserve inside Unshaken. 📖 Unshaken: 365 Days of Hope, Faith, and Eternity by Janie NicholsWebsite: https://www.janienicholsauthor.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/janiemerklenichols/______________________________________ 📲 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 #Unshaken #ChristianDevotional #FaithThroughGrief #ChristianAuthor #selfpublishedauthor

  4. Sep 15

    How to Write Children’s Books Kids Want to Read Again & Again | Kelly Riera

    What makes kids want to read a children’s book again and again? In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, I’m joined by children’s author Kelly Riera, creator of the What They Love series and founder of Bright Voyage Books. Kelly shares the story behind What Trucks Love to Do: Wreck and Build Construction Crew and her newly released What Trucks Love to Do Too: Help and Serve Crew. We talk about writing rhyme and meter, creating memorable characters, working closely with an illustrator, and what Kelly has learned from reading her books to children and seeing their reactions firsthand. Kelly also gives us a peek at what’s next for the series, including the upcoming holiday book, What Santa Loves to Do. Whether you’re a children’s book author, aspiring writer, or simply love discovering the story behind a book, this conversation is full of creativity, practical insights, and a whole lot of trucks! 🚚📚 Listen in and discover what goes into creating children's books kids love to read again and again. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0FDBLJWPG/allbooks Website: https://BrightVoyageBooks.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/kellyrieraauthor/ _______________________________________ 📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 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 #childrensbookauthor #selfpublishing #authortube #writingtips

  5. Sep 8

    Speech Therapist to Children’s Book Author | The Story Behind "Never Trust a Wobbly Broom"

    What happens when someone who has spent her career helping others find their voice decides to use her own voice to create stories for children?In this episode, I’m joined by debut children’s author, speech-language pathologist, and Yellow Rocket Press founder E.M. Wynne, author of Never Trust a Wobbly Broom.E.M. shares how writing first became a creative outlet in childhood, why she returned to storytelling years later, and how her professional background in speech and language shaped the rhythm, repetition, word choice, and read-aloud quality of her debut picture book.We also go behind the story of Never Trust a Wobbly Broom—from the inspiration behind Poppy and Cobweb to finding illustrator Maia Bhatumashvili and developing the whimsical visual world of the book.Our conversation also explores:• How children's books can help children find their voices• The powerful connection between music, memory, and communication• Why illustrations play such an important role in storytelling• Choosing self-publishing and creating an independent imprint• How E.M. built Yellow Rocket Press around the idea of “stories that launch imagination”• Why characters like Poppy can become an important part of an author’s brand• What E.M. is creating nextThis is a thoughtful conversation about creativity, communication, children’s literature, self-publishing, and what can happen when you give yourself permission to return to something you once loved.📚 Learn more about E.M. Wynne and Yellow Rocket Press at https://www.yellowrocketpress.com.IG: https://www.instagram.com/yellowrocketpress/🎙️ Subscribe to Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson for more conversations with children’s authors, illustrators, creators, and publishing professionals.____________________________________________📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 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 #ChildrensBooks #PictureBooks #SelfPublishing #ChildrensBookAuthor #authortube

  6. Sep 1

    The Superpowers Every Child Already Has: Building Emotional Intelligence Through A Children's Book

    , What if a child’s greatest superpowers weren’t flying or becoming invisible—but empathy, resilience, mindfulness, and logical thinking? In this episode of Beyond the Book, I’m joined by children’s book authors and school counselors Ashley Zomalt and Kacy Brubaker, creators of Captain Emotions and the SuperPower Pack, the first book in the We All Have SuperPowers series. Ashley and Kacy share how their years of working with children inspired them to transform important social-emotional skills into memorable characters, including Empathetic Eric, Resilient Rain, Mindful Mia, Logical Lexi, and Captain Emotions. We go behind the book to explore how research shaped the series, why emotions aren’t “good” or “bad,” and how storytelling can give children practical tools for navigating emotions, friendships, challenges, and everyday life, without making the story feel like a lesson. We also talk about the resources they’ve created for parents, teachers, and counselors, from conversation starters and mindfulness exercises to activities, lesson plans, and companion guides. And don’t miss the wonderful story of a young reader who remembered a grounding technique from the book and asked his mom to use it during a frustrating moment in real life. That’s when a children's book becomes more than a story, it becomes a tool a child can actually use. A thoughtful conversation for parents, educators, counselors, children’s book authors, and anyone interested in social-emotional learning and helping children recognize the superpowers they already carry within themselves. Website: https://weallhavesuperpowers.com/📚 Captain Emotions and the Super Power Pack:https://www.amazon.com/Captain-Emotions-SuperPower-Pack-SuperPowers/dp/1556200447📚 We All Have SuperPowers Series ______________________________________________ 📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 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 #childrensbookauthor #authoradvice #superpowers #writingtips

  7. Aug 25

    Reinventing How Kids Discover the Alphabet | Beyond A is for Apple

    What if learning the alphabet could feel more like an adventure? On this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, I’m joined by children’s author, educator, and licensed clinical social worker Ophra Ashur, author of Sailing the ABCs. We talk about her creative approach to bringing letters to life as lovable “Alpha-Besties,” the thoughtful learning concepts woven throughout the story, and the wonderfully detailed illustrations—including the very personal story behind the book’s newspaper origami sailboat. A fun and inspiring conversation about early literacy, creativity, learning through play, and thinking beyond “A is for Apple.” Sailing the ABCs by Ophra Ashur, Children's AuthorWebsite: https://www.ophraashur.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ophra_author/@ophra_authorFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ophra.Ashur.Author/ Amazon sales page: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G38T9D61 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244170795-sailing-the-abcs _________________________________________________ 📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 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 #selfpublishing #childrensbooks #authoradvice #publishedauthor #writingtips

  8. Aug 11

    How I Accidentally Built Two Book Brands | What Every Author Can Learn

    Have you ever stepped back and looked at everything you've created?While organizing my coloring books, I realized I hadn't created one children's book brand; I had built two completely different children's book brands.In this first episode of Building Your Children's Book Brand, I share how discovering those brands changed the way I market my books, organize my website, and help readers quickly recognize the children's books that are right for them.Whether you've published one children's book or an entire series, this video will help you discover patterns in your own work and begin building a memorable book brand.This week's Children's Book Branding Challenge:Lay out all of your books, or if you're writing your first book, write down three words that describe the experience you want readers to have. You might discover your brand is already taking shape. Book a 1:1 Coaching call with me: https://www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com/pages/book-a-coaching-call-with-joann________________________________________ 📲 LET’S STAY CONNECTED: 🌐 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 #selfpublishing #childrensbooks #authoradvice #publishedauthor #writingtips #branding

See All (92)

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.

Information