I’ve got a sneak peek at something new you might want to know about…

Writing for Children Podcast Episode 000 (a little preview)

Hi, I’m Katie Davis. I started Brain Burps About Books back in 2010 and continued it for 6 years and 247 episodes.

I wanted to give you a little head’s up that I’m creating a new show now. As the Director of the Institute of Children's Literature, I wanted to do a show focusing more on craft. This show will be shorter, have tips and links to great resources for children’s writers, whether you write for pre-k, mg, teens or inbetween.

Yes! We will have weekly downloadable transcripts, something my previous subscribers always wanted, and they’ll include extra tips and links! 

We’ll have a weekly Q&A, and if your question is featured on the show, you’ll receive our heavy canvas tote with the gorgeous new ICL logo embroidered on the pocket. 

We’ll be having a huge giveaway to celebrate the launch, with prizes worth almost $2,000. If you want to know when that happens, go to writingforchildren.com and sign up so you won’t miss a thing (and as a ty for signing up, you get the first two chapters of How to Write a Children's Book FREE)!

I’m super excited about this and hope you’re going to love it, and learn from it too! Again, sign up at writingforchildren.com.

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #247

Snappsy the Alligator Did Not Ask for Brain Burps to End

An Interview with Debut Author Julie Falatko

Announcements

• Just a quick note to let you know that I’m starting a new podcast soon called Writing for Children (if I haven’t already started by the time you hear this). Want to know more? It’s going to be pretty awesome and very different from this show. Go to writingforchildren.com to learn more.
• This is the last Brain Burps About Books Podcast. But I'll be back! The Writing for Children podcast will focus solely on the craft of writing. Sign up to find out when it launches: writingforchildren.com
• Check out my new book How to Write a Children's Book. CLICK HERE

• I wanted to give you a little head’s up that I’m creating a new show now. As the Director of the Institute of Children's Literature, I wanted to do a show focusing more on craft. This show will be shorter, have tips and links to great resources for children’s writers, whether you write for pre-k, mg, teens or in-between.

  Yes! We will have weekly downloadable transcripts, something my previous subscribers always wanted, and they’ll include extra tips and links!

  We’ll have a weekly Q&A, and if your question is featured on the show, you’ll receive our heavy canvas tote with the gorgeous new ICL logo embroidered on the pocket. 

  We’ll be having a huge giveaway to celebrate the launch, with prizes worth almost $2,000. If you want to know when that happens, go to writingforchildren.com and sign up so you won’t miss a thing (and as a ty for signing up, you get the first two chapters of HTWCB free)!

   I’m super excited about this and hope you’re going to love it, and learn from it too! Again, sign up at writingforchildren.com.

This week my guest is Julie Falatko

Julie and I talk about

• Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in this Book).
• when Julie started doing reviews for the podcast.
• Illustrator Tim Miller.
• how cool it is to have your own book poster!
• Julie's editor at Viking, Joanna Cardenas.
• secret book covers.
• illustrator notes.
• fun surprises when you see the illustrations for your manuscript for the first time.
• why it's important to make a picture book dummy.
• keeping all your writing notes.
• Milk, Eggs, Vodka.
• how I wish I would've written this Snappsy!
• where the idea for Snappsy came from.
• where the idea for Who Hops? came from.
• how Julie's moxie got her the job as picture book reviewer on Brain Burps.

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #246

Time to Celebrate Picture Book Month!

An Interview with Dianne de Las Casas

Announcements

Just a quick note to let you know that I’m starting a new podcast soon called Writing for Children (if I haven’t already started by the time you hear this). Want to know more? It’s going to be pretty awesome and very different from this show. Go to writingforchildren.com to learn more.

If you liked this episode, please review it on iTunes by doing this:

1. Open the show's page in iTunes store here.
2. Click on the "View in iTunes" button under the logo.
3. You will see the list of episodes. Scroll past them to "Customer Reviews" and "Write a Review" is right under that.

Thank you.

This week my guest is Dianne de Las Casas

Dianne and I talk about

• How Picture Book Month got started.
• Our own picture book memories.
• How picture books promote literacy.
• Elizabeth O. Dulemba's Picture Book Month Calendar.
• Marcie Colleen's curriculum guides for Picture Book Month.
• How to work picture books in to school curriculum.
• Free downloads available for Picture Book Month.
• Following #PictureBookMonth on Twitter.
• How picture books led Christmas sales last year.
• This month's Picture Book Month Champions• Sudipta Bardan-Quallen
  • David Biedrzycki
  • Paulette Bogan
  • Mike Curato
  • Matthew Gollub
  • Julie Gribble
  • Julie Hedlund
  • Carter Higgins
  • Molly Idle
  • Joe Kulka
  • Jennifer Gray Olson
  • Kathryn Otoshi
  • Anne Marie Pace
  • Rukhsana Khan
  • Robin Newman
  • Penny Parker Klostermann
  • Eric Litwin
  • Loren Long
  • Deb Lund
  • LeUyen Pham
  • Matt Phelan
  • Stephen Shaskan
  • Trisha Speed Shaskan
  • TJ Shay
  • Whitney Stewart
  • Holly Stone-Barker
  • Mo Willems
  • Natasha Wing
  • Matthew Winner
  • Paula Yoo

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #245

Stuff That Gets in the Way of Writing

Announcements

Just a quick note to let you know that I’m starting a new podcast soon called Writing for Children (if I haven’t already started by the time you hear this). Want to know more? It’s going to be pretty awesome and very different from this show. Go to writingforchildren.com to learn more.

• Learn to write and earn college credit with a home study course from our sponsor Institute for Children's Literature. Take the free aptitude test HERE.
• The Physics of Fantasy writing, a free word count chart and more in this week's newsletter from Jan Fields at the Institute for Children's Literature. Don't miss this great resource. Sign up HERE.

This week we're talking about stuff that gets in the way of writing

• Everyone has distractions:
  • Kids (of all ages!)
  • Moving
  • Tech issues
  • Illness - you or someone you love
• How can you find time to spend on your writing?
• How can you develop muscle memory for your writing muscles?
• What is Faker Syndrome and can you overcome it?

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #244

How to Get Author School Visits

Tips for getting author visits & what to do when you get there

Announcements

Just a quick note to let you know that I’m starting a new podcast soon called Writing for Children (if I haven’t already started by the time you hear this). Want to know more? It’s going to be pretty awesome and very different from this show. Go to writingforchildren.com to learn more.

If you liked this episode, please review it on iTunes by doing this:

1. Open the show's page in iTunes store here.
2. Click on the "View in iTunes" button under the logo.
3. You will see the list of episodes. Scroll past them to "Customer Reviews" and "Write a Review" is right under that.

Thank you.

Enter the Institute for Writer's PreK Writing Contest! There will be $1300 in prizes awarded and you could win. For all the details visit www.instituteforwriters.com/prekcontest or text PREKCONTEST to 33444. Submit your manuscript before October 31st for a chance to win.

Do you like the podcast? Want your questions answered on air? Want to make suggestions on future episodes? Come join the Brain Burps About Books Facebook Group HERE.

Still time to get in to my next live class where I can show you how to build your audience and I personally critique and offer advice how to improve your website, newsletter and freebies. Want more details? Sign up at  getyourfirst1000followers.com.

• This week we're talking about school visits and what to do when you book them

  • • Find Expert advice from Alexis O'Neill  at www.schoolvisitexperts.com.
    • Emma Walton Hamilton created a useful resource called School Visit Wizard.
    • Do you need a promo video and what should be in it?
    • What should you include on your site?
    • What if something happens while presenting?
    • What kind of visit will you do and for how many kids? What ages?
    • How do you get visit invitations?
    • What should you include in your visit packet?
    • Great sites to visits for samples of what author visit pages:
      • School Visit Experts: http://schoolvisitexperts.com/
      • Carolyn Crimi: http://carolyncrimi.com/pages/school.html
      • Lee Wardlaw: http://www.leewardlaw.com/presentation.htm
      • My adult presentation page: http://katiedavis.com/appearances
      • My author visit page: http://katiedavis.com/author-visits/

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #243

12 Things To Do After a Conference

Announcements

• Enter the Institute for Writer's PreK Writing Contest! There will be $1300 in prizes awarded and you could win. For all the details visit www.instituteforwriters.com/prekcontest or text PREKCONTEST to 33444. Submit your manuscript before October 31st for a chance to win.
• Did you miss the amazing Picture Book Summit? Sign up to find out about our upcoming events at www.picturebooksummit.com.

This week we're talking about what to do after a conference

• What should you do right after you get home?
• What do you do with all the "stuff" you've collected at the conference?
• Where should you keep with all those notes you've taken?
• How can social media help you after the event?
• What's the best way to keep in touch with your favorite speakers?
• To give feedback or not to give feedback? That is the question.
• How should you follow up with the contacts you made?
• What's nudgemail?
• How can you share what you've learned?

 

 

 

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #242

Picture Book Summit

An Interview with Julie Hedlund

Announcements

Just a quick note to let you know that I’m starting a new podcast soon called Writing for Children (if I haven’t already started by the time you hear this). Want to know more? It’s going to be pretty awesome and very different from this show. Go to writingforchildren.com to learn more.

• Last week to register for Picture Book Summit! The deadline to register is September 25th. Don't miss it - www.picturebooksummit.com.
• Listen to hear Jon Bard's take on Picture Book Summit.

This week's guest is Julie Hedlund!

Julie Hedlund is an award-winning children's book author, founder of the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, blogger, and a regular speaker at SCBWI and other industry events.

Her picture book, A TROOP IS A GROUP OF MONKEYS, Little Bahalia Publishing, 2013, first published as an interactive storybook app, was the recipient of the 2014 Independent Book Publisher's Association Benjamin Franklin Digital Gold Award. Her storybook app, A SHIVER OF SHARKS, Little Bahalia Publishing, 2013, was a 2014 Digital Book Award winner. Her latest book, MY LOVE FOR YOU IS THE SUN, is available on Amazon.

Julie is a monthly contributor on author/illustrator Katie Davis' Brain Burps About Books children's literature podcast, a PAL member of SCBWI, and a contributing editor on the subject of 21st Century Publishing for Children's Book Insider.

Julie & I talk about

• Where the idea for Picture Book Summit came from.
• What is a Master Mind group and how ours got started.
• Advantages of going to an online event vs. an in-person conference.
• What happens if you miss one of our online sessions.
• The agents and editors we interviewed for Picture Book Summit.
• The landscape of publishing in the 21st century.
• How many spots are left in Picture Book Summit.
• How to give us feedback on Picture Book Summit at www.speakpipe.com/katiedavis.
• Our amazing project manager Kristin Ammerman.
• The PJ party!

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #241

What’s So Great About the 500 Word Picture Book?

An Interview with Laura Backes

Announcements

Just a quick note to let you know that I’m starting a new podcast soon called Writing for Children (if I haven’t already started by the time you hear this). Want to know more? It’s going to be pretty awesome and very different from this show. Go to writingforchildren.com to learn more.

• I'm hosting a FREE webinar to give you a sneak peek of Get Your First 1,000 Followers! You can ask me anything you want and I'll be doing LIVE website critiques. Pick the time that works best for you:
  • For Thursday, 9/10 at 7pm ET/4pm PT, click here: www.katiedavis.com/thursday
  • For Friday, 9/11 at 12pm ET/9am PT, click here: www.katiedavis.com/friday

Listener Questions

Tune in to hear the answer to these burning writer questions and fears:

• How do I reach my target audience of 12-16 year olds?
• How do I start my platform when I'm not photogenic and I write under a pseudonym?
• I'm afraid of not having time to keep up with everything.
• It's hard to start when I put everyone else's needs before my own.
• Plus, a shout-out to my newest listener, Jackie!

This week's guest is Laura Backes!

Laura Backes has been publishing Children's Book Insider, The Children's Writing Monthly for 25 years. Along with its companion membership site, The Children's Writing Knowledge Base (www.CBIClubhouse.com). CBI is the largest source of information for aspiring and published children's book writers in the world. Along with her husband Jon Bard, Laura has co-created numerous instructional webinars, videos, courses and books for writers, and is a frequent speaker at writing conferences.

Laura & I talk about

• Picture Book Summit - There are a few spots left. Register at www.picturebooksummit.com.
• How she became an editor.
• What it's like to write a rejection letter.
• Why she prefers being an editor to being an agent.
• How to not be a "hack" in your writing.
• Innate talent vs. Developed talent.
• Why age is an advantage in your writing.
• What's the deal with 500 word picture books?
• How picture book readers are more sophisticated today than in the past.
• The best way to write a great book.
• How you can join us at the Picture Book Summit PJ Party!

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #240

Followers + Fear = Super Bad

Announcements

Just a quick note to let you know that I’m starting a new podcast soon called Writing for Children (if I haven’t already started by the time you hear this). Want to know more? It’s going to be pretty awesome and very different from this show. Go to writingforchildren.com to learn more.

• Thanks, everyone, who signed up for my free training for Get Your First 1,000 Followers! You’re not too late if you want to – just go to GetYourFirst1000Followers.com

This week's guest is YOU!

Tune in to hear the answer to these burning writer questions and fears:

• How do I sustain a website?
• What do I have to offer on an on-going basis?
• Where will I find the time to write AND sustain a platform (in addition to my full time job)?
• Given my easily distracted life, what if my writing is actually crappy?
• My biggest fear is my books will never find their readers.
• I am terrified of social media.

Resources mentioned in this episode

•  4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
• Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business

Brain Burps About Books Podcast #239

Idea Generator for Your YA Novel

An Interview with Anne Collier

Announcements

Just a quick note to let you know that I’m starting a new podcast soon called Writing for Children (if I haven’t already started by the time you hear this). Want to know more? It’s going to be pretty awesome and very different from this show. Go to writingforchildren.com to learn more.

• Not sure how to get started with your marketing? Get Your First 1000 Followers is my new LIVE class coming this Fall for those who want that intro to business for writers. Learn how to use an email list, best practices for social media, taking of advantage of video, and how to monetize your website! Click HERE to check it out.
• Do you enjoy our Brain Burps About Books guests? Do you have questions about their interviews? Come join the Brain Burps About Books Facebook Group and interact with them (the week the episode airs)! Click HERE to join.
• It's not too late to join Picture Book Summit! Click HERE to register for the October 3rd online event with Peter Brown, Andrea Davis Pinkney, and Mac Barnett.
• Check out Craig Valentine at www.craigvalentine.com for six tips for speaking. Invaluable for school visits!
• Tell me what you want! What would like to hear on the podcast? What can I do for you? Leave me a message at www.speakpipe.com/KatieDavis.

This week's guest is Anne Collier!

Editor of NetFamilyNews.org and founder and president of Net Family News, Inc., Anne is a writer and youth advocate who has worked in the news media since 1980. With SafeKids.com‘s Larry Magid, she co-founded and, until March 2015, co-directed ConnectSafely.org, a Web-based resource for parents, educators, and everybody interested in the impact of the fixed and mobile social Web on youth and vice versa.

Anne has served on three national task forces on youth and Internet safety, including as co-chair of the Obama administration’s Online Safety & Technology Working Group, which delivered its report to Congress, “Youth Safety on a Living Internet,” in June 2010, and the Harvard Berkman Center’s national Internet Safety Technical Task Force of 2008. Most recently she served on the Aspen Institute Task Force for Learning & the Internet of 2013-’14.

Ann and I talk about

• How Net Family News can help with ideas for your young adult novel.
• Kindness Wins by Galit Breen.
• What does sexting have to do with teen pregnancy?
• Casel.org.
• What constitutes cyberbullying?
• Why she founded www.icanhelpline.org.
• Follow I Can Help on Twitter: https://twitter.com/icanhelp
• Hot button issues.
• How the internet changed education.
• SEL – Social Emotional Learning.