Courage to Create

Courage to Create Episode 64 with Laura Sibson

Our last episode before break! Bethany Hegedus welcomes young adult author Laura Sibson whose debut novel, THE ART OF BREAKING THINGS, has been compared to Sara Zarr's STORY OF A GIRL and Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK. Laura has an undergraduate degree in counseling and an MFA in writing for children and teens from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two sons, and when she's not writing, she can be found running or hiking. For ten or more years prior ...

Courage to Create Episode 64 with Laura Sibson

Our last episode before break! Bethany Hegedus welcomes young adult author Laura Sibson whose debut novel, THE ART OF BREAKING THINGS, has been compared to Sara Zarr's STORY OF A GIRL and Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK. Laura has an undergraduate degree in counseling and an MFA in writing for children and teens from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two sons, and when she's not writing, she can be found running or hiking. For ten or more years prior ...

Courage to Create Episode 63 with Christina Soontornvat

Bethany interviews friend, Writing Barn student and teacher, and prolific author Christina Soontornvat in this episode of Courage to Create. Christina is the author of THE CHANGELINGS and IN A DARK LAND, the chapter book series DIARY OF AN ICE PRINCESS, three forthcoming picture books, the upcoming middle grade novel A WISH IN THE DARK, and the highly anticipated ALL THIRTEEN: THE INCREDIBLE CAVE RESCUE OF THE THAI BOYS' SOCCER TEAM. Together, Bethany and Christina discuss all of these title...

Courage to Create Episode 62: Creative A Team

During this episode, host Bethany Hegedus tackles the topic of critique groups, including what they are, how you find one or start one, how you keep one going, how you disband one when it's not working or leave one that isn't working for you. She also goes over reasons to join a group such as accountability and companionship. How should you structure the group meetings, and how can a group best function to include all members equally? You can be in any stage of your career and benefit from a...

Courage to Create Episode 61: Write. Submit. Support. Segment 2

In segment two of the special Courage to Create episode Bethany recorded live during her Write. Submit. Support. class’s summer retreat, the group of writers delve into what drives their literary lives at the moment and what, if anything they’d like to change about that. How can community help our work? Why is it so important to balance craft techniques like pace and structure with the emotion of the story? How do we unblock ourselves when we’re creatively stuck? The writers explore all thes...

Courage to Create Episode 60: Write. Submit. Support. Segment 1

In this special first segment of a two part Courage to Create, Bethany leads the group of writers from her pilot program of Write. Submit. Support. during their most recent retreat. This group of writers has worked together for three years now, and they continue to retreat together twice yearly at The Writing Barn. The theme of this retreat was “Reclaiming Your Brave,” and during this episode, listeners will hear Bethany and the ten retreat participants discuss various aspects of how they ar...

Courage to Create Episode 59 with Nancy Churnin

Nancy Churnin is the author of eight picture book biographies, including her newest release, MARTIN & ANNE: THE KINDRED SPIRITS OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND ANNE FRANK. Nancy is a native New Yorker who now lives in Texas. She is a graduate of Harvard University with a master's from Columbia University, and she is a former theater critic for The Dallas Morning News. During their conversation on Courage to Create, Bethany and Nancy discuss how they both write about people who have made a...

Courage to Create Episode 58 with Jorge and Megan Lacera

Husband and wife illustrator and author duo, Megan and Jorge Lacera, join Bethany to discuss their humorous picture book debut, ZOMBIES DON'T EAT VEGGIES. Megan and Jorge wanted to create a book that depicted a family like theirs: bilingual, multi-cultural, funny, and imperfect! That desire resulted in zombies. The couple first met while working at American Greetings, so the two have always enjoyed working together, and during the podcast, they discuss how they balance that relationship. The...

Courage to Create Episode 57: Refilling Your Well

In this episode of Courage to Create, Bethany ruminates on what it means to refill our personal wells of energy, calling on quotes from previous guests on the Courage to Create podcast as well as her own experiences as an author and creative. How can we listen to others? How can we listen to ourselves?

Courage to Create Episode 56 with Sarah Aronson

Sarah Aronson first appeared on episode 15 of Courage to Create, and she joins Bethany again in this episode to discuss her new picture book biography, Just Like Rube Goldberg. Sarah has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has published three stand alone novels: Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and Believe. Her most recent books are part of a new young MG series, The Wish List. Writing about inventor and cartoonist Rube Goldberg allowed Sarah to le...

Courage to Create Episode 55 with Daria Peoples-Riley and Jess Rinker

In this episode of Courage to Create, author Jess Rinker and illustrator Daria Peoples-Riley join host Bethany Hegedus to discuss their picture book biography GLORIA TAKES A STAND: HOW GLORIA STEINEM LISTENED, WROTE, AND CHANGED THE WORLD. Jess is also the author of the forthcoming SEND A GIRL: THE BRENDA BERKMAN STORY and a middle grade duology, THE DARE SISTERS. She has a BA in Social Welfare and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Daria Peopl...

Courage to Create Episode 54 with Kathleen Cornell Berman and Keith Henry Brown

Courage to Create 53: Self-Promotion

On this episode of Courage to Create, Bethany tackles the sticky subject of self-promotion through Jennifer Weiner’s recent Publisher’s Weekly article, “Deconstructing ‘I Wrote A Thing.’” Writers, especially women, struggle to promote our own work without falling into the familiar trap of self-deprecating “humble-brags.” How can we reframe self-promotion to remove shame and prioritize connection? How can women writers stop letting male writers be the confident ones? Listen as Bethany works t...

Courage to Create 52 with Ann Braden

Ann Braden writes books about kids struggling to find their voice amidst the realities of life. Her debut middle grade novel THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTOPUS was listed as one of NPR’s Best Books of 2018, received a starred review from School Library Journal, and was described by Newbery award-winner Karen Hesse as “a compassionate look at poverty, hard choices, and defending one’s right to be treated humanely.” Ann founded GunSenseVT, a grassroots group focused on championing the common g...

Courage to Create 51: Naysayers & Energy Vampires Be Gone!

This Courage to Create episode is all about learning to be resilient and work with the negative aspects of ourselves and others while also learning to set boundaries. Bethany Hegedus discusses the fine art of critiquing your own work and the work of others and learning to accept what resonates with you and leave the rest. As writers, we must also guard who we let into our creative lives and set ourselves up to win as we come to understand our own limits along with who and what feeds us and w...

Courage to Create: Episode 50 with Kathi Appelt

Writing Barn friend and master storyteller Kathi Appelt returns to The Porchlight after having joined Bethany previously in episode 5. In this latest episode, they discuss Kathi's first young adult novel, ANGEL THIEVES, as well as her picture book MAX ATTACKS, which will be released this summer. Kathi's books have won numerous national and state awards, including the Irma and Simon Black Award, Children’s Choice Award, Teacher’s Choice Award, the Oppenheimer Gold Award, Parent’s Choice Award...

Courage to Create: We've Rebranded!

That's right! You heard us correctly, the Porchlight Podcast will now be fully folded under author Bethany Hegedus' Courage to Create Series. Listen to this quick episode to find out exactly what that means! Don't worry listeners, we still full intend to provide you with author interviews, literary life talks, and more.  You can also read more about the change on The Writing Barn Blog. 

Courage to Create 10: Expectations - The Time It Takes, Is The Time It Takes

Do you have great expectations about writing and publishing and how much time your literary life should take? Are you constantly disappointed because your literary life isn't meeting those high standards? In the tenth episode of Bethany Hegedus' Courage to Create series, she discusses how we can free ourselves from unrealistic expectations and focus on small steps rather than huge milestones. She reminds us that there are no shortcuts in having a writing career nor is there one specific pa...

The Porchlight: Episode 49 with Charlotte Sullivan Wild

Bethany interviews Charlotte Sullivan Wild whose debut picture book is THE AMAZING IDEA OF YOU, illustrated by Mary Lundquist (Bloomsbury, 2019). Charlotte has served as the Regional Advisor for the Southwest Texas chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; founding host of the Picture Book Salon of San Antonio, Texas; and bookseller at The Twig Book Shop. She previously taught children’s literature for nearly two decades, volunteered in public and school libraries, ...

Courage to Create #9: Creating From Personal Pain

Bethany Hegedus is back with episode 8 in her Courage to Create series. This is Bethany's most personal and forthright talk yet where she discusses how to create from personal pain and your unhealed places and how she herself has done this numerous times in her career. Delving deeply into the messiness of life, Bethany monologues on the struggle of good vs. great writing, allowing ourselves to have breakdowns, and examining what we are looking to heal from in our own life and how that shows ...

The Porchlight: Episode 47 with Lynne Kelly

On this episode of The Porchlight, Bethany interviews her friend and fellow author, Lynne Kelly. As a former special education teacher and now a sign-language interpreter, Lynne has always loved words. She also loves animals, and they have been the catalyst for her debut middle grade novel, CHAINED, as well as her latest book, SONG FOR A WHALE, which Publishers Weekly called "a finely crafted novel." Lynne lives near Houston, Texas with her adorable dog, Holly. You can find Lynne online at l...

Courage to Create #8: Failure is Not Final

In this brand new episode of The Porchlight's popular installmentCourage to Create,author Bethany Hegedus talks about the F word. Yes you read me correctly. The dreaded F word: Failure. We've all been there, whether it be a rejection or a bad review or any of the other small failures we encounter in our daily lives as humans, failure is inevitable. But it is not fatal, nor is it final.  “Success is not final, failureis not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” - Winston Chur...

The Porchlight: Episode 45 with Lindsay Leslie

In this brand new episode of The Porchlight, Bethany Hegedus interviews friend and local Austin author Lindsay Leslie whose debut picture book, THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS, has one of the finest first page turns ever according to a review from Booklist.   Lindsay was a journalism major who worked as a public relations executive, but it wasn't until she found her way into the world of children's literature that she felt safe and at home. She began telling bedtime stories to her children and re...

Episode 44 (Courage to Create #7: Meaning or Happiness)

In this season 3 finale of The Porchlight Podcast, Bethany Hegedus caps off her newest series Courage to Create with an episode on  In this inspiring episode Bethany asks listeners to define what meaning, happiness, and purpose looks like in their own lives. How can we gift ourselves these assets on a regular basis? Is our life purpose directly related to our relative happiness? How many times do we as artists put ourselves last, when what we really need to be doing is nourishing the soul ...

The Porchlight: Episode 43 with author Rob Sanders

Fourth grade teacher and author Rob Sanders joins Bethany for this inspiring episode of The Porchlight where they discuss everything from Rob's literary life to the importance of inclusion, social justice, and perseverance. Rob is the author of eight picture books, including PRIDE, PEACEFUL FIGHTS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, RODZILLA, and the forthcoming STONEWALL, which allows readers to learn about the rich and dynamic history of the Stonewall Inn and its role in the gay civil rights movement. Rob...

Episode 42 (Courage to Create #6: The Deeply Disciplined Half-Ass)

In episode six of Courage to Create, Bethany talks about how to become what writer Elizabeth Gilbert calls a deeply disciplined half-ass. Our own inner critic and perfectionism can stop us from even getting started with our writing. Bethany discusses how we can overcome this and stop our stopping when we are scared. She encourages listeners to forget about perfect and focus on the good, realistic, possible, and fun. Perfectionism keeps us from feeling joy in our work, and Bethany gives tip...

The Porchlight: Episode 41 with author Marcie Colleen

In episode 41 of The Porchlight, Marcie Colleen charms us with her wit and heart, both of which are larger than life. Marcie holds a bachelor’s degree in Education of English and Language Arts from Oswego State University and a master’s degree in Educational Theater from New York University. She is the author of THE SUPER HAPPY PARTY BEARS chapter book series with Macmillan/Imprint, as well as her debut picture book, LOVE, TRIANGLE, illustrated by Bob Shea (Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins), and PE...

Episode 40 (Courage to Create #5 - Dark Night of the Soul)

The dark night of the soul. As writers, we've all been there. We've all had those moments where we feel like our work is not good enough. Will never be good enough. That we are not good enough. In Courage to Create episode #5, Bethany Hegedus walks us through this dark night and leads us back out. January feels like a fresh start, a new page, a time to move forward. But if you're experiencing a crisis of faith in your work and/or yourself, moving forward can feel impossible. Bethany delves...

The Porchlight: Episode 39 with Librarian + Podcast Host, Matthew Winner

On this episode of The Porchlight we flip the script and interview Matthew Winner, Librarian and Podcast Host of All The Wonders, a podcast that we here at The Writing Barn hold near and dear to us. We just knew we had to interview Matthew for The Porchlight. Listen to this in-person interview at The Writing Barn during our Picture Book Intensive (for which Matthew was faculty).  Today's Porchlight guest is elementary school librarian, author, and host and creator of The Children's Book Po...

Episode 38 (Courage to Create #4: Believing Your Book Into Being)

In episode four of The Porchlight's new Courage to Create series with Bethany Hegedus, Bethany talks about the power of believing stories and books into being. Courage is a crucial component of that belief, and Bethany discusses how you can find your own courage to create and why she chose to give the series that title. She comments on finding time for your work and saving energy for your creativity even while living your daily life filled with job, family, and friends. Bethany explains how ...

The Porchlight: Episode 37 with Author/Agent Alex Penfold

In this live Words and Wine event at The Writing Barn, Bethany Hegedus interviews her own literary agent, Alexandra Penfold, who is the author of five picture books plus NEW YORK A LA CART, which spotlights the best of the Big Apple's food-on-the-go. Alex's newest picture book, ALL ARE WELCOME, spent a month on the New York Times bestseller list, and Alex brings her experiences in marketing, editing, and now as an agent and writer to her own work as well as to the work of her clients. 

Episode 36 (Courage to Create #3: The Author/Agent Relationship)

In episode three of the new Courage to Create series, Bethany Hegedus takes us through the agent/client relationship, including what it should and should not be, how to make sure it's a fitting partnership on both sides, and how to be your own boss. How can you know yourself first as a client before entering the relationship? How can you be wary of "schmagents" who are not in it to be your advocate? What do you need and want from an agent? Bethany answers these questions and more on how yo...

The Porchlight: Episode 35 with Lucia DiStefano

On episode 35 of The Porchlight, Bethany Hegedus speaks with debut author Lucia DiStefano about her YA novel BORROWED, a genre-bending book about the mysteries of cellular memory in a teen girl who receives a heart transplant. Lucia is a first generation Sicilian and the daughter of an olive farmer. She grew up in Connecticut and now lives near Austin, TX. A former high school English teacher, Lucia now not only writes fiction, but she also works as an editor, ghost writer, and writing coach...

The Porchlight: Episode 34 (Courage to Create #2)

In episode two of The Porchlight's new series, Courage to Create, Writing Barn founder and author Bethany Hegedus asks listeners to answer the question why were you called to live this literary life? 

The Porchlight: Episode 33 with Cate Berry

Join Bethany Hegedus as she interviews friend and fellow author, Cate Berry, about Cate's debut picture book, PENGUIN AND TINY SHRIMP DON'T DO BEDTIME (Balzer + Bray 2018). The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books has said that "The story is a smartly comedic entry in the genre of the anti-bedtime story, and the exclamatory dialogue-only text adds energy and humor. This will be a joyous bedtime read.”    Cate is a seventh generation Texan with an MFA in Children's Literature from...

The Porchlight: Episode 32

Writing Barn founder and director, Bethany Hegedus, launches her Literary Life series of talks on this episode of The Porchlight. Bethany's goal with these episodes is to delve deeply into what leading a literary life means to each individual and how we can keep ourselves inspired and engaged in our work without neglecting the many other areas of our lives. This series grew out of a talk Bethany gave years ago, and then it evolved into the Write. Submit. Support classes offered both in-perso...

The Porchlight: Episode 31 with Jamie Swenson

Jamie A. Swenson, author of the newly released picture book A FALL BALL FOR ALL, joins Bethany on this episode of The Porchlight. Jamie has an MFA from Hamline University and is the author of four picture books and two chapter books, including BIG RIG and MEET WOOF AND QUACK. She's also an associate librarian and early literacy story teller who lives in Wisconsin and is teaching an online picture book class via The Writing Barn beginning in January 2019. During their conversation, Bethany ...

The Porchlight: Episode 30 with Samantha M. Clark

In this latest episode of The Porchlight Podcast, Writing Barn Founder, Bethany Hegedus, speaks with author, long-time friend, and Austin's own SCBWI Regional Advisor, Samantha M. Clark. Listen as they discuss the release of Samantha's debut novel, The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast  (Simon & Schuster 2018). This inspiring episode touches on craft, creation, and the long, sometimes arduous road your book must take on its way to publication. But as Sam points out in this episode, the only th...

The Porchlight Podcast: Episode 29 with Carrie Fountain

In this newest episode of The Porchlight, Writing Barn Founder talks with poet and novelist Carrie Fountain about her debut novel I'm Not Missing (Flatiron Books 2018).  I'm Not Missing, is a coming of age novel set in Las Cruces, New Mexico and follows the life of the protagonist, Miranda, as she navigates her senior year and the sudden disappearance of her best friend.  In this episode Bethany and Carrie discuss the writer life, transitioning from poetry to Young Adult Fiction and the ...

Episode 28: Diane White

Dianne White  is the award-winning author of Blue on Blue (S&S/Beach Lane Books), illustrated by Caldecott medalist, Beth Krommes. She holds an elementary bilingual teaching credential and a master’s degree in Language and Literacy. In 2007, she received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. After 25 years teaching students of all ages, Dianne now writes full-time from her home in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. Two new picture books are forth...

The Porchlight: Episode 27 with Natalia Sylvester

  Author Natalia Sylvester joins Bethany at The Writing Barn for this interview in which they discuss Natalia’s first novel, CHASING THE SUN, as well as her recently published second novel, EVERYONE KNOWS YOU GO HOME. Born in Lima, Peru, Natalia came to the U.S. at age four and has lived in Florida and Texas. She received a B.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Miami. A former magazine editor, Natalia now works as a freelance writer in Texas and is a faculty member of the low-res...

The Porchlight Podcast: Episode 26 with Deborah Hopkinson

This episode of the Porchlight features Deborah Hopkinson, author of more than 50 books for young readers, including picture books, middle grade fiction and nonfiction. Her she discusses her newest book, Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen, a picture book biography of a now famous author - who was neither rich nor famous during her lifetime. She talks about the writer's role as an observer of everyday life and how the events of childhood contribute to who we become as adults, as well as the ...

Episode 25 with Lisl Detlefsen

In this episode, Bethany talks to picture book author Lisl Detlefsen. Lisl is the author of TIME FOR CRANBERRIES and IF YOU HAD A JET PACK as well as the forthcoming 3, 2, 1 JUMP!, a humorous book about swimming lessons. Lisl lives on a family-owned cranberry marsh near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, with her husband and two sons. She grew up with a mother who was a librarian and created a customized class in children’s literature for Lisl to study while she was majoring in art in college....

The Porchlight: Episode 24 with Nanci Turner Steveson

This inspiring episode of The Porchlight features middle grade author Nanci Turner Steveson, author of SWING SIDEWAYS and GEORGIA RULES as well as a forthcoming novel in 2019. Nanci grew up in a large family of six kids, and after raising her two sons in Maryland, she now lives in a historic meadow cabin in the shadow of the Teton mountains in Wyoming. Nanci says she was the kid who walked around with her head in the clouds, a book in one hand, and the reins of a pony in the other. Reading ...

The Porchlight: Episode 23 with Daria Peoples

Daria Peoples-Riley’s first job was at nine years old in the children’s section of her hometown library. Much later, she became a teacher, and now she is a full-time author and illustrator. THIS IS IT is her first picture book inspired by her daughter, her rich cultural background, and their first visit to New York City. She lives with her family in Las Vegas, Nevada.   In this Porchlight conversation, Bethany and Daria discuss Daria's inspired path to becoming an author/illustrator and ...

The Porchlight: Episode 22 with Lina Maslo

Lina Maslo is the debut author and illustrator of FREE AS A BIRD: THE STORY OF MALALA and the forthcoming picture book biography of C.S. Lewis, THE DOOR TO NARNIA, which will be published in 2019. Lina was born in Ukraine and came to the USA at age five. She has an art degree from New College of Florida and now lives in South Carolina with her husband and four children.   In this Porchlight episode, Bethany Hegedus and Lina Maslo discuss Lina's path to publication and how her life chang...

The Porchlight: Episode 21 with Linda Williams Jackson

This episode features Linda Williams Jackson, the debut author of Midnight Without a Moon and its recently released sequel, A Sky Full of Stars. Our Porchlight conversation with Linda explores her writing journey to share the story of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy who was killed, allegedly for whistling at a white woman in Mississippi. Linda talks about how changing the opening line of her query letter took her from a string of rejections to multiple offers from agents an...

The Porchlight: Episode 20 with Julie Hedlund

This episode features founder of 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge, Julie Hedlund. Julie is an award-winning children's book author and a regular speaker at SCBWI and other industry events. Her latest book, MY LOVE FOR YOU IS THE SUN (Little Bahalia Publishing, 2014) has been hailed as belonging on the shelf "between Guess How Much I Love You and Goodnight Moon." Her book A TROOP IS A GROUP OF MONKEYS (Little Bahalia, 2013) was also published as an interactive storybook app and receive...

The Porchlight: Episode 19 with Cory Putman Oakes

In this Writing Barn Words and Wine event, Program Manager Claire Campbell talks with author Cory Putman Oakes about her latest book, Witchtown (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books For Young Readers) takes place in the wake of the Second Inquisition, in which modern day witches live in witch-only communities called Havens. Cory discusses her process of research for the book including watching Bewitched, studying herbs, and Wiccan theology. Kirkus Reviews said, “This uncomplicated, romantic sto...

The Porchlight: Episode Eighteen with Katherine Applegate

Episode 18 features Newbery winner Katherine Applegate, author of The One and Only Ivan, Crenshaw and most recently, Wishtree. Our Porchlight conversation with Katherine Applegate explores developing a unique point of view character, along with the optimism of middle grade readers.    Katherine also reflects on the writing process and her journey - including the time she considered giving up on the Ivan manuscript and the dynamics of the author/agent relationship.  Includes announcemen...