middle grade novels

Mk Smith Despres talks about all the different kinds of walks they take from the everything-is-the-worst walk, to the there’s-a-problem-in-the text walk, to the walking-with-the-kids walk.

But most of all, this episode focuses on the importance of relationships–relationships with our editors, our students, and our writing process.

You can preorder Mk Smith Despres' debut picture book from  Imaginary Bookshop or The Eric Carle Museum.

To prep for our next episode with Gita Varadarajan, be sure to read her new picture book My Bindi and reread the fabulous novel she co-authored with Sarah Weeks, Save Me a Seat.

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Listen to today's episode, "How Susan Koehler Hooks Readers and Makes History Exciting with Charlie's Song" as veteran teacher, lifetime literary enthusiast, and middle grade author, Susan Koehler joins Dori Durbin!

What if kids could see history as being entertaining and fun? Discover how Susan masterfully integrates history into an entertaining middle grade novel, "Charlie's Sing" through relatable characters like 12-year-old Charlie and 10-year-old Dahlia. Susan gives insights into crafting multi-dimensional, realistic characters and engaging dialogue. Stay tuned for a special performance of "Charlie's Song" as the song version! Susan's interview includes (and more!):

• Susan reads "Charlie's Song" Sample
• Real Historical Elements in Book
• Emotional Parallels Between Characters & Readers
• Considerations for Character Development
• How Susan Created Personal Writing Challenges
• Creating Realistic Dialogue
• Advice for Kids Wanting to Be Authors
• "Charlie's Song" Sample Sung by W. Heath Fowler

---> Thinking about writing a kids' book?  Book a Chat with Dori:
https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/dori/passionsconversation

More About Susan:
Susan Koehler is a veteran educator, a lifetime literary enthusiast, and the author of several books for kids and teachers. Dahlia in Bloom, her first novel for young readers, was named a Best Book of 2019 by Kirkus Reviews, and Nobody Kills Uncle Buster and Gets Away With It, a fast-paced contemporary mystery, was the Florida Writers Association 2022 Children's Book of the Year. Susan's latest book, Charlie's Song, is a heartwarming sequel to Dahlia in Bloom. Even though she's no longer in the classroom every day, Susan still loves to work with students and teachers. You can learn more about her books, author visits, and writing workshops at susankoehlerwrites.com.

Buy Susan's Book:
https://www.susankoehlerwrites.com/contact

Follow Susan:
https://www.susankoehlerwrites.com
https://www.instagram.com/susankoehlerwrites/
https://www.facebook.com/SusanKoehlerWrites/

"Charlie's Song" sung by W. Heath Fowler:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/wheathfowler/charlies-song

Did you love this episode? Discover more here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-kids-books/id1667186115

More about Dori Durbin:
Dori Durbin is a Christian wife, mom, author, illustrator, and a kids’ book coach who after experiencing a life-changing illness, quickly switched gears to follow her dream. She creates kids’ books to provide a fun and safe passageway for kids and parents to dig deeper and experience empowered lives. Dori also coaches non-fiction authors, professionals, and aspiring authors to “kid-size” their content into informational and engaging kids’ books!
 
Buy Dori's Kids' Books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dori-Durbin/author/B087BFC2KZ

Follow Dori:
http://instagram.com/dori_durbin
https://facebook.com/doridurbinbooks

Listen to today's episode, "How 'Nobody Kills Uncle Buster and Gets Away with It'" with Susan Koehler" as Author and Educator (and so much more), Susan Koehler joins Dori Durbin to share how her own teaching kids to write inspired her to write middle grade kids' books including  "Nobody Killed Uncle Buster and Gets Away With It" ... how her passion has expanded her writing career and more! Susan speaks about:
 
* Susan's background
* How Susan got started... and her BOOKS
* Upcoming release of her next middle grade book "Charlie's Song"
* A reading of "Nobody Killed Uncle Buster"
* 2 Ways parents can better connect with their kids' reading
* 2 Reasons every expert should have a kids' book

Did you love this episode? Discover more here:
 https://thepowerofkidsbooks.buzzsprout.com

More about Susan Koehler
Susan Koehler is the author of two middle grade novels. Dahlia in Bloom, her first novel for young readers, was released August 2019 and was named among the "Best Books of 2019" by Kirkus Reviews.  Nobody Kills Uncle Buster and Gets Away With It, a fast-paced contemporary mystery, was released August 2021 and in 2022 was named Children's Book of the Year by the Florida Writers Association.

In addition to being an author, Susan is a veteran educator and consultant who specializes in the teaching of reading and writing. Over the course of 36 years, she taught all grades from kindergarten through middle school and served as a reading coach and an adjunct professor. She has traveled across the country providing professional development and is the author of four professional books for teachers and five nonfiction books for children. Susan was the 2004 Leon County Teacher of the Year and the 2005 recipient of Florida's Mary Brogan Award for "Excellence in Teaching."

Buy her book:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=nobody+kills+uncle+buster+and+gets+away+with+it+book&crid=2Y9DHNCVGGKLZ&sprefix=%2Caps%2C146&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_1_0_recent

Follow Susan:
https://www.susankoehlerwrites.com
https://www.instagram.com/susankoehlerwrites/
https://www.facebook.com/SusanKoehlerWrites/

More about Dori Durbin:
Dori Durbin is a Christian wife, mom, author, illustrator, and a kids’ book coach who after experiencing a life-changing illness, quickly switched gears to follow her dream. She creates kids’ books to provide a fun and safe passageway for kids and parents to dig deeper and experience empowered lives. Dori also coaches non-fiction authors and aspiring authors to “kid-size” their content into informational and engaging kids’ books!
 
 Buy Dori's Kids' Books:
https://www.amazon.com/author/doridurbin

Follow Dori
http://instagram.com/dori_durbin
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Marissa chats with Lisa Fipps about her debut middle grade novel - STARFISH - as well as letting your instincts, not the market, guide your writing choices; why middle grade novels are uniquely positioned to give young readers tools for dealing with bullies and body image (among other things); deciding when to give closure or redemption to your antagonistic characters and when to leave things unresolved; the wonderful suggestion to keep a visual reminder of kind things people have said about your work for those days when you're feeling particularly discouraged; and how it is totally allowed to write your novel in verse. (Really.)

Books discussed in this episode can be purchased from your local independent bookstore or buy them online from the Happy Writer bookshop.org store (that benefits indie bookstores) at https://bookshop.org/shop/marissameyer

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/