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Sometimes you find magic in unexpected places. Celesta's books all have some light fantasy to them, but are all based on some things in our real world that just seem magical. In Celesta's newest release, Reach, a boy is struggling with blended family relationships when he meets a tree that can talk and a friend with synesthesia. Celesta Rimington's middle grade books are inspired by her childhood living in nearly every region of the United States, where she discovered that all places have whispers of magic, people to love, and weather worth describing. She holds a degree in social psychology and resides in Utah, where she can often be found in the boxing gym, singing show tunes around the house, or exploring mountain forests with her family and her Yorkie, Winston. Find author Celesta Rimington https://www.celestarimington.com/ https://www.instagram.com/celesta_rimington/?hl=en http://facebook.com/celestarimingtonofficial https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@celestarimingtonauthor⁩   Chapters 00:00 Meet author Celesta Rimington 05:32 What is Reach by Celesta Rimington about? 06:58 Why did Celesta write about a blended family? 11:59 How Celesta went about researching for writing Reach 14:00 Why Celesta wanted light magic in her books 18:44 Synesthesia in Celesta’s book and how Synesthesia works 23:40 Developing friendships in Reach 27:08 Celesta’s book recommendations 30:25 What to read next if you loved Reach by Celesta Rimington 32:07 What’s next for author Celesta Rimington

Do you have a pet that you love so much that you think they would make the best friend if only they were human? I mean, no one understands you the way your pet does, right? What if your dog became human? YA author AJ Symon explores this fantastic possibility in his book, Golden Boy.  Find author A.J. Symon  https://ajsymon.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ajsymonwriter Golden Boy by AJ Symon https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Boy-J-Symon/dp/1665985526/ Chapters 00:00 Meet YA author A.J. Symon 03:41 What is Golden Boy by AJ Symon about? 08:00 A golden retriever attitude in life. We should all live like a dog. 12:50 Hudson wasn’t normal and he inspired people - don’t worry about what people think of you 15:32 A book about transformation in more ways than one 17:30 Science that takes place in the book. Dog aging project 21:00 Communication skills we can learn from a dog 22:44 AJ’s strong characters 25:32 A screenwriter becomes a fiction novel writer 27:18 What is next for author A.J. Symon 27:47 AJ’s book recommendation and what to read next if you loved The Golden Boy

Author Megan E. Freeman is widely known for her popular middle grade books Alone and Away. The Secret to Belonging is Megan's debut young adult novel in verse about a girl from a hard home life who finds an escape as a foreign exchange student in Norway. Listen in to hear Megan share how her own life experiences inspired this story and what you can do with many of the themes within the pages. Find author Megan E. Freeman https://www.meganefreeman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/megan_e_freeman_writer/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/meganefreemanwrites?ref=aymt_homepage_panel# The Secret to Belonging by Megan E. Freeman  https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Belonging-Megan-Freeman/dp/1665988401/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag= As an award-winning poet and educator, Megan E. Freeman brings her signature lyricism and deep empathy to a new and urgent YA story. The Secret to Belonging lays bare what it’s like to grow up in the shadow of a sibling’s addiction and in the cracks of a fractured family with unflinching candor and lyrical precision. Told in second person, the reader never learns the name of the narrator, instead seeing and feeling every moment as if they are in her shoes. The result is a deeply poetic reading experience, one that lingers long after the final page. Readers will also be swept off their feet by the romance between the protagonist and the Norwegian boy she falls head over heels for as she experiences the thrill of being truly noticed, possibly for the first time in her life. Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade and young adult author Megan E Freeman 04:56 What is The Secret to Belonging about? 06:56 Megan’s experience with poetry 07:56 How some of The Secret to Belonging is inspired by some of Megan’s own experience. 09:20 Telling a story in 2nd person without saying the main character’s name 10:53 Megan speaking on the ‘secret’ to feeling a part of group 14:05 How to help kids find joy when they are dealt a bad situation in life 16:46 The importance of making our own legacy and traditions 18:54 Food has a culture all its own 20:48 Weaving theme and analogy in The Secret to Belonging 23:40 How to help youth find the beauty in the world? The planet is more marvelous than you imagined. 26:22 Possessions - our relationship with stuff 29:18 What is next for author Megan E Freeman 31:19 Megan’s book recommendations 35:06 What to read next if you loved The Secret to Belonging by Megan E Freeman

For Micah Johnson his creation of Aku is a symbol for limitless dreams. In this episode we get to discuss how Micah went from retired baseball player to artist and children's book author. Micah uses his art and writing to inspire kids to achieve their dreams.  Find author Micah Johnson  https://aku.world/ https://www.instagram.com/akudreams/ https://www.instagram.com/micah_johnson3/ https://www.micahdreams.com/ Aku: Journey to Ibra by Micah Johnson https://www.amazon.com/Aku-Journey-Ibra-Micah-Johnson/dp/059381178X/ Aku: Battle for Pyra by Micah Johnson https://www.amazon.com/Aku-Battle-Pyra-Micah-Johnson/dp/0593811828/ Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author and retired major league baseball player Micah Johnson 03:16 The journey that led a baseball player to create Aku Journey to Ibra 05:50 What is Aku about? 10:32 What was hardest for Micah to work at to achieve as a dream? 11:45 Working on the dialogue 12:46 What Micah says to kids at school visits? 15:03 How can adults use the book Aku to help kids? 17:10 Family relationships 19:18 Micah’s book recommendation 21:50 What is next for Micah Johnson as an author?

Do you ever go looking for a book that will feel like reading it is like getting a hug? Then The Magic of Someday Soon is the book for you. In this episode Michelle Lee discusses her light magical book set in a small town, finding unexpected friends, how she has experienced magical moments in her own life, how art can effect us, loss/grief and more.  Find author Michelle Lee https://www.michelleleewritesmagic.com/home https://www.instagram.com/michelleleewritesmagic/ https://www.facebook.com/Michelleleewritesmagic/ The Magic of Someday Soon by Michelle Lee https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Someday-Soon-Michelle-Lee/dp/0374390932/ Between the Lighthouse and You by Michelle Lee https://www.amazon.com/Between-Lighthouse-You-Michelle-Lee/dp/1250854040/ Before freefalling into writing children's literature full-time, Michelle Lee was a college English professor for 13 years; earned her doctorate in English Lit and MA in Creative Writing at the University of Texas; was an editor for various literary publications; and has been published across genres, from academic study guides to flash fiction to poetry. She's published two middle-grade novels with FSG / Macmillan: Between the Lighthouse and You (hard cover 2022; paperback March 2026) and The Magic of Someday Soon (March 2026). She is represented by Full Circle Literary and lives with her husband and daughter in Florida.  Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author Michelle Lee 03:35 What is The Magic of Someday Soon about? 05:30 What is the light of someday soon? 08:38 When has Michelle felt that kind of magic in her own life? 10:00 Art shines a light on what’s deep in our hearts. 12:14 Art can bring something once lost back to found? 17:24 Does Michelle have a relationship with tea? Like in her book 20:42 The world tells us its secrets when you decide to see and hear them. 27:46 What caused Michelle to write about loss and grief 32:24 What is next for author Michelle Lee? 33:56 Michelle’s book recommendation and what to read next if you have loved The Magic of Someday Soon and Between the Lighthouse and You by Michelle Lee

Casting April by Wendy Lu is partly based on Wendy's own youth experiences with theatre and living with a tracheostomy tube. While April is partly based on Wendy as a youth, April has a lot of her own experiences as well. We get to hear all about parts of the story that were very much a part of Wendy's own life as well as other important moments like the unexpected friends April encounters and surprising layers to a teacher who could have been the villian for April.  Find middle grade author Wendy Lu https://www.wendyluwrites.com/ https://www.instagram.com/wendyluwrites/ https://www.amazon.com/Casting-April-Wendy-Lu/dp/B0FRDMD3MZ/ Wendy Lu is a journalist, a children’s book author, and a global speaker on disability representation in the media. She is a deputy editor at The New York Times and has covered disability, politics and culture for the last 10 years. Her work has appeared in HuffPost, Teen Vogue, Refinery29 and more. Wendy is the author of “Casting April,” a middle-grade novel from Penguin Random House about a girl who is determined to land the starring role in her school's play — except nobody believes she can do it because of her disability. "Casting April" was selected for the Indie Next List and the Indies Introduce List in 2026. She lives in New York with her husband, Andrew, and their turtle, Little Cloud. Casting April by Wendy Lu Twelve-year-old April is a talented performer who is determined to land the starring role in the school play, but no one believes she can do it because of her tracheostomy tube. A heartwarming story of friendship, identity, and the importance of chasing your dreams. Sixth grader April Xue lives and breathes all things Broadway. When she builds up the courage to audition for the lead role in the school play, she thinks she’s knocked it out of the park—until she finds out that she’s been assigned to the stage crew. April is devastated—it seems like the curtain is closing on her dream of being an actor.  A day later, April overhears that the theater director, Ms. Rooney,  decided not to cast her because she’s disabled. With the help of her best friend, a sneaky student reporter, and her spirited castmates, April learns to confront her own insecurities as a performer and proves to everyone (including Ms. Rooney) that she deserves a fair shot—all in time for opening night. Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author Wendy Lu 03:01 What is Casting April by Wendy Lu about? 05:18 How is Casting April personal for Wendy? Was theatre something Wendy did as a youth? 08:50 Developing a middle school theatre story with disability representation 12:34 Finding friends in unexpected places 13:50 Parent relationships and the importance of kids letting their parents know what they need 16:43 Are any of Wendy’s other characters in Casting April based on real people from her life? 20:18 How to appropriately talk to someone about their trach tube? 24:14 What surprised Wendy when writing Casting April 26:59 If Wendy could get a message to her teenage self what would she tell her? 28:50 What else would Wendy like for readers to take away from Casting April 30:13 What is next for author Wendy Lu? 31:09 Wendy’s book recommendation 33:01 What to read next if you loved Casting April?

LIberty Biscuit and Little Pearl by Melanie Sue Bowles  Find author Melanie Sue Bowles Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author Melanie Sue Bowles 03:50 What is Liberty Biscuit about? 07:53 How did Melanie create the story? 10:27 A happy/strong family that has weaknesses 13:05 A mixed race family in a story 15:40 How did Melanie end up with rescue horses on her farm? 16:55 Real horses and donkeys Liberty Biscuit is based on Around 19:30 ish How Liberty Biscuit teaches us empathy 21:35 What is next for author Melanie Sue Bowles 25:46 Melanie’s book recommendation

Do you remember the moment you fell in love with reading? Or a magical moment in a story that stuck with you forever? In this episode I talk with author Jessica Khoury about creating her newest book, Monster and Apprentice, how the story developed, how she discovered its themes, and all of the magical moments that go along with a writer's journey.  Jessica Khoury is the author of many books for teens and young readers. Her stories have been translated into over a dozen languages and have been finalists for awards like the South Carolina Junior Book Award, the Ignyte Award, the Maine Student Book Award, the Oklahoma Sequoyah Masterlist, the Amelia Bloomer Project, and many more. Her bestselling middle grade debut The Mystwick School of Musicraft was named one of the Best Audiobooks of 2019 by Audible and is one of the Top 20 Most Listened-To children's books of all time. Jess comes from a family of immigrants and currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband and daughters. She spends free time hiking in the mountains, playing video games, and sketching new characters for new stories. Her stories draw inspiration from the world around her, her own childhood, and her Scottish and Syrian-Palestinian heritage. Find author Jessica Khoury https://www.jessicakhoury.com/ https://www.instagram.com/authorjess/ https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicakhoury https://www.pinterest.com/jesskhoury/ https://jnkhoury.blogspot.com/ Monster and Apprentice by Jessica Khoury https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Apprentice-Jessica-Khoury/dp/1665990112/ Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author Jessica Khoury 05:08 What is Monster and Apprentice by Jessica Khoury about? 10:04 On world building 13:15 How Jessica came up with the idea for Monster and Apprentice 15:43 When writing fantasy do authors plan themes in to their books? 20:10 When Jessica had a brilliant writer moment when she was struck with inspiration that was perfect for her book 22:11 A moment that a child loved in one of Jessica’s books 23:47 What was the moment that Jessica knew that she was an author? 26:16 What was the moment that led Jessica to being published? 28:46 Does Jessica illustrate her own books? 29:45 What is next for author Jessica Khoury 35:10 Jessica’s book recommendation 37:03 What to read next if you have loved reading Monster and Apprentice

Nancy Hudgins is a nonfiction middle grade author of Books Good Enough for You: The Storied Life of Ursula Nordstrom. You will likely be familiar with many books that Ursula edited during her long career championing children's books: Goodnight Moon, Charlotte's Web, Where the Wild Things Are, Harriet the Spy. Nancy puts together a wonderful history about Ursula in a way that reads like someone is telling you a selection of stories. Hear more about it in this episode. Find Nancy Hudgins https://nancyhudgins.com/books/books-good-enough-for-you/ https://www.instagram.com/nancyhudginsbooks/ Chapters 00:00 Meet nonfiction author Nancy Hudgins 06:05 What is Books Good Enough for You: The Storied Life of Ursula Nordstrom about? 09:31 Nancy’s experience researching about Ursula Nordstrom 12:20 What was most difficult in putting a nonfiction middle grade story together? 16:33 Who was Nancy’s Ursula Nordstrom, who championed Books Good Enough for You? 18:38 How has the publishing world changed since Ursula Nordstrom’s day? 20:38 What got cut from the book that Nancy can share? 25:27 What is Nancy’s favorite project that Ursula worked on? 26:30 Does Nancy know anyone like Ursula? What does Nancy most admire about Ursula Nordstrom? 28:18 The audiobook for Books Good Enough for You and how it came about? Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat 29:55 How did Nancy come up with the title for Ursula’s story? 31:32 What is next for author Nancy Hudgins? 32:00 Nancy’s book recommendation 34:05 What to read next if you loved Books Good Enough for You?

No one likes to fail. It isn’t fun. But it is how we grow. The way authors Kate and Nate illustrated this powerful theme while providing an entertaining story fascinated me and I am so thrilled that they joined me in this podcast episode to discuss it. I love all that I learned about their creation and the thoughts that went into Confessions of a Mango. There is so much more to the story than the importance of failure and I hope that you will enjoy hearing about it all in this episode and then go out and buy this amazing book! Find authors Kate and Nate https://kateandnatebooks.com/ https://www.instagram.com/confessionsofamango Confessions of a Mango by Kate Lumsden and Nate Pieplow https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Mango-Kate-Lumsden/dp/0316586072/ Space Case by Stuart Gibbs https://www.amazon.com/Space-Case-Moon-Base-Alpha/dp/1442494867/ Ramona books by Beverly Cleary https://www.amazon.com/Ramona-Collection-Vol-Beezus-Father/dp/0061246476/ Frindle by Andrew Clements https://www.amazon.com/Frindle-Andrew-Clements/dp/0689818769/ Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Tree-Lynda-Mullaly-Hunt/dp/0142426423/ Chapters 00:00 Meet authors Kate Lumsden and Nate Pieplow 04:56 What is Confessions of a Mango by Kate and Nate about? 07:03 How did Kate Lumsden and Nate Pieplow become a writing team? 09:27 Did Kate base the main characters on both her and her brother? 11:14 How to help kids see their strengths? 16:17 The importance of failure 24:38 How did the mango come into their story? 26:10 What other fun elements did Kate and Nate add into their book? 29:18 What influence did the authors have on the cover of their book? 32:03 Overachievement culture in schools 37:43 What is next for author duo Kate and Nate? 41:00 Nate and Kate’s book recommendations 44:14 What to read next if you loved Confessions of a Mango

Maria Dolores Aguila is both a picture book and middle grade author of historical fiction. Her novel in verse, A Sea of Lemon Trees won both a Newberry Honor and Pura Belpre Honor. Find out how this book has changed her and more in today's episode.  Find author Maria Dolores Aguila https://mariadoloresaguila.com/ https://www.instagram.com/maria.d.aguila/ A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores Aguila The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Lemon-Trees-Corrido-Roberto/dp/1250342619/ Chapters 00:00 Meet author Maria Dolores Aguila 02:29 What is A Sea of Lemon Trees The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez about? 04:17 Why did Maria decide to use a real person from history for her middle grade historical fiction novel in verse? 05:07 What inspired Maria to write A Sea of Lemon Trees? 07:35 Why did Maria decide to make her debut middle grade a novel in verse? 10:05 What was it like to research for a middle grade historical fiction? 11:56 What was the most exciting thing to discover while researching for A Sea of Lemon Trees? 13:08 What made Maria most emotional when writing A Sea of Lemon Trees? 14:52 Is Maria the same person she was when she started writing A Sea of Lemon Trees? How does writing a story change a person? 18:05 What is personal for Maria in A Sea of Lemon Trees? 19:39 How Maria came up with the title for A Sea of Lemon Trees 20:37 Was Maria involved in the creation of the cover for A Sea of Lemon Trees? 21:50 What does author Maria hope that A Sea of Lemon Trees will do for readers? 23:28 What is next for author Maria Dolores Aguila? 24:40 Maria’s book recommendation 25:20 Maria’s comp titles for A Sea of Lemon Trees

When Diane Debrovner decided to write a middle grade book about a character with blind parents she decided that she would like a coauthor and so she approached her friend Stacy Cervenka. Stacy adds her unique perspective with her blindness and the experiences she knows about many other individuals. Diane also brings us an animal's point of view as many chapters in the book are told from the persective of a guide dog. While we sometimes get disability representation in the main character in middle grade books, Roxie in Color brings us disability representation in the parents of the main character. Find authors Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka https://stacycervenka.com/ https://www.dianedebrovner.com/ https://www.instagram.com/diane.debrovner/ https://www.instagram.com/stacycervenka/ Roxie in Color by Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka https://www.amazon.com/Roxie-Color-Diane-Debrovner/dp/1536246603/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Chapters 00:00 Meet authors Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka 03:46 What is Roxie in Color about? 04:47 How Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka become writing partners to coauthor Roxie in Color? 06:56 How Stacy and Diane decided to share their words through story? 12:13 What do the authors hope that sighted people will get from reading Roxie in Color? 13:59 What do the authors hope that a blind person will get from reading Roxie in Color? 18:18 What benefits do the authors hope that mixed families, where some members are sighted and some are blind, will get from reading Roxie in Color? 20:39 Is it appropriate to ask a blind person about their blindness? And how to go about these conversations? 30:28 Where can you get information about blind people? 32:25 How to help blind kids with their expectations for themselves? And how to help adults have high expectations for blind people as well? 35:12 A dog’s point of view in Roxie in color. Blind people and guide dogs. 42:55 Diane and Stacy’s book recommendations.

Caldecott Award Winning author and illustrator Matthew Cordell talks about the importance of curiosity and how this trait features in his newest picture book, 102. I was so surprised to discover that the brilliantly illustrated picture book was drawn with a multi-color pen. Learn more about this fascinating creator in today's interview.  Find Matthew Cordell https://www.matthewcordell.com/ https://www.instagram.com/cordell_matthew/ https://www.facebook.com/cordellmatthew 102 by Matthew Cordell https://www.amazon.com/102-Matthew-Cordell/dp/0316580953/ A Potion a Powder and a Little Bit of Magic or Like Lightning in an Umbrella Storm a Story Out of Order by Philip Stead https://www.amazon.com/Potion-Powder-Little-Bit-Magic/dp/0823458091/ Chapters  00:00 Meet picture book author and illustrator Matthew Cordell 05:21 What is the picture book, 102 by Matthew Cordell, about ? 09:30 How Matthew Cordell created the story and pictures for 102 15:28 How Matthew goes about writing the text for his picture books? 18:19 The multi-colored pen Matthew used to illustrate 102 29:28 Believe the Unbelievable - how to help kids do this 32:35 What is next for author and illustrator Matthew Cordell 34:20 Matthew’s book recommendation

Have you ever wondered about the greatest aspects about being an author? Or about the lowest moments? While discussing PJ Gardner's newest book I thought it was the perfect time to delve into some of these questions since the title of this book is: Worst in Show. Find author PJ Gardner https://www.pjgardnerswitzer.com/ https://www.instagram.com/pjgardnerswitzer/ Worst in Show by PJ Gardner https://www.amazon.com/Worst-Show-PJ-Gardner/dp/0063134764/ Reach by Celesta Rimington https://www.amazon.com/Reach-Celesta-Rimington/dp/0593860306/ Monster Tree by Sarah Allen https://www.amazon.com/Monster-Tree-Sarah-Allen/dp/0374390975/ Chapters 00:00 Meet middle grade author PJ Gardner 07:22 What is Worst in Show by PJ Gardner about? 11:26 What was the worst part about writing the book Worst in Show? 12:55 The best part about writing Worst in Show? 13:44 What is the worst part about being a writer? 14:54 What is the best part about being a writer or author? 15:38 What is the worst review someone has given one of your books? 20:20 The best feedback or review you have ever received on a book you wrote? 22:03 Worst and best things about dogs? Worst and best things about ferrets and weasels? 25:03 The worst and best things about friendship? 26:13 The worst and best things about fashion? 27:45 The worst and best things about food? 29:39 What was the worst thing about starting a career as a traditionally published author? 32:21 The worst and best things about starting a brand new book? 35:05 The worst and best things about attending writers conferences? 37:05 What is next for author PJ Gardner? 38:53 PJ’s book recommendations

Chapters 00:00 Meet illustrator Carmen Mok 02:48 How did Carmen Mok get into illustrating books 05:15 What made Carmen want to stay in illustration? 08:39 Carmen’s process from start to finish for when her illustrations are in a published work 12:16 How the art directors feedback effects Carmen’s illustrations 13:53 After Carmen receives the manuscript what does she do to enhance the story through illustrations? 15:14 What is Carmen’s hope that readers notice about images throughout Orris and Timble? 17:26 Working with Kate DiCamillo 19:56 One of Carmen’s favorite images she created for Orris and Timble 22:17 Has anything surprised Carmen in her journey as an illustrator? 25:10 How does Carmen continue to grow as an artist? 30:38 What is next for creator Carmen Mok? 28:40 Carmen’s book recommendation