Gather, a Kidlit Podcast artwork

Gather, a Kidlit Podcast

44 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 4 ratings

The Highlights Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of children's literature by offering intimate and inspiring workshops for authors and illustrators. This podcast was created for those who not only have a passion for stories created for children and young adult audiences, but also for those who want to improve their craft.

The following podcasts consist of interviews with kidlit authors and illustrators sharing tips, tricks, and ideas for working on the craft of story creating. Interviews are conducted on the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center.

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Episodes

Into the Words with Traci Chee

January 31, 2020 17:00 - 14 minutes - 33.5 MB

Author Traci Chee on Highlights Summer Camp, finding voice and morning rituals.

Tiffany Jackson: From TV Sets to Full Time Writer

January 28, 2020 17:00 - 12 minutes - 29.8 MB

Author Tiffany Jackson talks about her jump from the TV/Film world to being a full time writer and how plotting your favorite movie can really help you with your story. 

Shadra Strickland: On Writing, Illustrating & Some

January 24, 2020 17:00 - 11 minutes - 27.9 MB

Author/Illustrator Shadra Strickland talks words, illustrations, teaching and secret agenting.

Catching up with Ashley Hope Perez

January 21, 2020 17:00 - 45 minutes - 63.5 MB

In between sessions of the Whole Novel workshop, we caught up with Author and faculty Ashley Hope Perez.

Which novel workshop should you take in 2020?

January 17, 2020 17:00 - 45 minutes - 17.7 MB

Which novel workshop should you take in 2020? Program Director Alison Green Myers breaks down this year's workshops.

Everything You Need to Know About Children’s Publishing with Harold Underdown

January 14, 2020 17:00 - 13 minutes - 30.5 MB

Harold Underdown gives us a sneak peek on his upcoming online course, Everything You Need to Know About Children’s Publishing.

Your Guide to Graphic Novels with Merrill Rainey, Colleen AF Venable, & Nidhi Chanani

January 07, 2020 17:00 - 26 minutes - 37.1 MB

Guest interviewer Merrill Rainey talks all things graphic novels with Colleen AF Venable, & Nidhi Chanani

Talking Manuscript Revisions with Harold Underdown & Eileen Robinson

January 03, 2020 17:00 - 9 minutes - 13.9 MB

You've written a manuscript now what? Harold Underdown & Eileen Robinson talk about the revision process and their workshop tailored to just that.

In Conversation with Jane Yolen

December 31, 2019 17:00 - 31 minutes - 71.8 MB

Legendary writer Jane Yolen talks picture books, process, and giving back. 

From Sale to Shelf: The Debut Author’s First Year with Jess Rinker & Deb Gonzalez

December 27, 2019 17:00 - 31 minutes - 72.4 MB

Authors Jess Rinker and Deb Gonzalez talk about how the lack of resources for debut authors helped in the creation of the online course and its different modules. They share what they've learned and wish they'd known in their own debut years.

Writing the Rainbow with Lesléa Newman & Rob Sanders

December 24, 2019 17:00 - 14 minutes - 20 MB

Authors Lesléa Newman and Rob Sanders talk about their Writing the Rainbow LGBTQ+ themed workshop and their big upcoming projects.

Rebecca Kai Dotlich and Georgia Heard talk the Heart & Craft of Children's Poetry

December 20, 2019 17:00 - 18 minutes - 43.2 MB

Poets Rebecca Kai Dotlitch and Georgia Heard talk about their annual workshop/retreat, creative processes and their dear friend, the late Lee Bennett Hopkins.

A Full Circle Moment with Crystal Allen

December 17, 2019 17:00 - 14 minutes - 21 MB

Crystal Allen got her start at the Highlights Foundation as a scholarship recipient, now she’s back to talk to us about her career and the workshop she’s teaching.

A chat with Author/Illustrators Elizabeth Rose Stanton & Carolyn Dee Flores

December 13, 2019 17:00 - 9 minutes - 14.2 MB

Author/Illustrators Elizabeth Rose Stanton and Carolyn Dee Flores talk about the importance of women in kidlit and nurturing your creative voice.

Meg Medina talks about Nurturing Your Artistic Voice

December 10, 2019 17:00 - 7 minutes - 11.3 MB

Meg Medina talks about setting goals, believing in one's self and living a creative life.

Matthew Winner Takes on Kid Lit

December 06, 2019 17:00 - 16 minutes - 23.8 MB

Librarian, writer and podcaster Matthew Winner takes on kid lit through his passion for storytelling, readers, education and media.

Mallory Grigg and Jen Keenan: Illustration from an Art Director's Perspective

December 03, 2019 17:00 - 30 minutes - 41.7 MB

Art Directors Mallory Grigg and Jen Keenan give us sneak peek into their world and how they're helping illustrators hone their skills in a meaningful way.

Kelly Light and Steve Light Talk Camaraderie & Feedback as Author/Illustrators

November 29, 2019 17:00 - 26 minutes - 37.3 MB

Author/Illustrators Kelly Light and Steve Light are not related but talk about their similar upbringings, their work processes and the camaraderie they share.

Kathy Erskine on Interviewing Your Characters

November 26, 2019 17:00 - 10 minutes - 14.8 MB

Author Kathy Erskine tells us all the different ways you can get to know your characters during your writing process and her history with The Highlights Foundation.

Author/Illustrators Kathyrn Othoshi & Mike Curato discuss their creative processes

November 22, 2019 17:00 - 27 minutes - 38.8 MB

Author/Illustrators Kathyrn Othoshi and Mike Curato discuss their creative processes, their preferred illustration methods and fill us in on what's next.

Emma Otheguy on the importance of books and how they can expand your horizons

November 19, 2019 17:00 - 20 minutes - 28.3 MB

Author Emma Otheguy updates us on her current projects in the works, her passion for children’s storytelling and the value of expanding your horizons through diverse stories.

Heidi Stemple: A Chat From Cabin 16

November 15, 2019 17:00 - 35 minutes - 49.5 MB

Author Heidi Stemple joins us from the porch of cabin 16, the Jane Yolen cabin, named after her mother, beloved author Jane Yolen. She explains how to find your creative voice, shares her writing process and current projects and shares how birds have played a significant role in her writing.

Christine Carron: The power of critique and helping those write the novel they want.

November 12, 2019 17:00 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MB

Christine Carron talks the highs and lows of critiquing/receiving feedback on a WIP and the vulnerability it really takes to do all that. She also chats about her new venture, “The Critique MD,” a website built to help strengthen writers skills and confidence in the critique/feedback process.

Carole Boston Weatherford: Vavavoom! How viewpoint, voice, and verbs can affect the a manuscript

November 08, 2019 17:00 - 14 minutes - 20.6 MB

Award-winning poet and children's book author, Carole Boston Weatherford talks about how viewpoint, voice, and verbs can affect the a manuscript.

Tara Lazar talks about humor in picture books

November 05, 2019 17:00 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MB

Tara Lazar, children's book author, talks about humor in picture books, and about Storystorm--a picture book idea-generator project. The Storystorm challenge is to create 30 story ideas in 30 days.

Alex Villasante talks about being a debut author

November 01, 2019 15:45 - 10 minutes - 15 MB

Young Adult author Alex Villansante talks about the things she didn't know to expect as her first novel was getting ready for release.

Community Meeting Fall 2019

September 13, 2019 17:05 - 36 minutes - 51.3 MB

Program Director, Alison Green Myers previews our upcoming Fall Workshops. Executive Director, George Brown provides information about attendance logistics, the history and context of what we’re doing, and what makes a Highlights Foundation workshop different from other children’s literature conferences.

Three Highlights Foundation Diversity Fellows talk about Summer Camp Mentorship

September 12, 2019 18:53 - 15 minutes - 22.3 MB

Highlights Diversity Fellows, Jessica Galán, Trisha Tobias, and Daria Peoples-Riley discuss why they write for children and share their experience of the 2019 Summer Camp workshop at the Barn.

Paula Morrow and Jan Fields talk about Writing for the Educational Market and how one can truly find success in an important field

September 03, 2019 16:00 - 18 minutes - 25.4 MB

Paula and Jan discuss the difference between writing for trade versus writing for the educational market. In their workshop, students learn how to navigate this area of writing and market themselves to educational publishers. Paula and Jan also discuss the needs in this industry and how a writer can soar to success.

Julie Dao and Patrice Caldwell talk anti-hero origin stories and how a villain's complex character development can draw us to both love and hate them

August 30, 2019 16:00 - 18 minutes - 26 MB

Julie and Patrice talk about their inspiration behind the creation of the Villains and Anti-Heroes workshop. Inspired from Julie's debut book, "Forest of a Thousand Lanterns", students could expect to learn what makes these types of characters take the path that they do and act out of the norm, and how world-building can influence the origin story of a villain. Patrice and Julie also discuss must-read books that portrays the best character developments of some of their favorite villains.

Jennifer Swanson talks about STEAM topics with a twist, crash-test dummies, and the projects she's involved in that are enriching classrooms everywhere

August 26, 2019 21:02 - 21 minutes - 29.4 MB

Jennifer talks about what aspiring writers can expect to learn at the Nuts and Bolts of Science Writing workshop, such as selecting a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) topic that stands out, and developing an amazing hook that everyone will love. Two of Jennifer's book projects that will be coming out this fall include, "Save the Crash-test Dummies" about the history of car safety engineering, and "Spies, Lies, Disguise: The Daring Tricks and Deeds that Won World Wo...

Heather Montgomery on observing and listening to your surroundings

August 21, 2019 16:40 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MB

Heather, a STEM writer, talks about breaking boundaries in nonfiction, the practice of finding tone and voice with imagery, sound mapping during nature walks, writing in trees, and her up and coming books about poop and nature observations!

Baptiste and Miranda Paul on the collaboration and research involved in writing science-themed books

August 16, 2019 16:00 - 32 minutes - 44.5 MB

Baptiste and Miranda talk about writing creative science, rhythm and lyricism in the cadence of your book, and making your writing palatable for an impactful and engaging story for kids to become inspired. Baptist talks about his debut book, "The Field", an ode to his childhood life in the Caribbean. Miranda and Baptist also discuss the collaboration and research involved in their latest book, "I am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon" about Farmer Tantoh, a Camaroonian env...

Picture Books and All That Jazz with Leslie Helakoski and Darcy Pattison

August 13, 2019 16:00 - 11 minutes - 27.9 MB

Leslie and Darcy talk about writing picture books and what their workshop is all about, including format, dummies, word choice, and much much more. Leslie's picture book, "Are Your Stars Like My Stars" from Sterling releases January 2020. Darcy's latest picture book, "Pollen: Darwin's 130 Year Prediction (Moments in Science)" was released March 2019.

Sarah Aronson talks about getting to know your novel and Rube Goldberg

August 06, 2019 16:00 - 14 minutes - 33.3 MB

Writing teacher, picture book author, and novelist Sarah Aronson talks about what to do when you get stuck when writing your novel, fellowship, her personal writing practice, and her latest picture book biography, "Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines."

Padma Venkatraman talks about finding voice in creating the story behind her newest novel, "The Bridge Home"

July 30, 2019 16:00 - 24 minutes - 57.2 MB

Padma talks about voice, her middle grade novel, "The Bridge Home", and how she drew from her own childhood experiences to connect readers to a message that is not only about support for our families, but how they can also be created.

Nicole Valentine and Rob Costello talk about the braintrust critique method

July 26, 2019 16:00 - 18 minutes - 41.8 MB

Nicole and Rob talk about a round-table critique method that includes the author in the conversation.

Aram Kim talks about School Visits

July 23, 2019 22:28 - 18 minutes - 43.9 MB

Aram talks about overcoming her fear of public speaking to help her develop a successful school presentation.

Nancy Werlin: Reviewing Your Whole Novel

July 23, 2019 22:20 - 14 minutes - 33.2 MB

Nancy discusses the value in having your entire novel read and critiqued rather than just the first pages. She also discusses the artful technique of cutting the unnecessary words to make your story more enriched. Nancy is the author of ten young adult novels and has been writing for over 20 years.

Na An and Lilliam Rivera: Talking about Writing Novels

July 02, 2019 18:07 - 25 minutes - 57.7 MB

Na An and Lilliam talk about getting your story unlocked, world building, and doing the research to make the most out of your story. 

Melissa Wyatt: Writing Prompts

July 02, 2019 17:49 - 9 minutes - 13.9 MB

Melissa, a special guest at the Whole Novel workshop, talks about writing prompts and how they can be used to inspire your writing practice.

Jennifer Jacobson on writing retreats, the Whole Novel workshop, and taking your creativity to the next level

July 02, 2019 17:44 - 19 minutes - 27.2 MB

Jennifer talks about a workshop designed for mid-career authors and illustrators looking to continuously improve their craft.

Christine Heppermann and Deborah Kovacs discuss the Writing the Unreal workshop and their many roles in the publishing industry

July 02, 2019 16:22 - 23 minutes - 54.6 MB

Christine and Deb discuss their various roles in the children's publishing world, as well as their experience with Writing the Unreal: A Whole Novel Workshop in Fantasy and Speculative Fiction.

Angela Dominguez: An interview with our Visual Artist of the year

July 02, 2019 14:53 - 11 minutes - 16.5 MB

Get to know Angela Dominguez, the 2019 Highlights Foundation Visual Artist of the Year whose work is currently on display at our retreat center. Angela discusses her latest book, "Sing, Don't Cry".