Ask a Librarian with Julie Chavez

Fiona Davis, THE SPECTACULAR

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:00:34 GMT

New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis has found her sweet spot writing historical fiction set in and around iconic New York City buildings. In a moment where she found herself without an idea for her next book, she received a perfectly timed email from a woman who offered to tell her all about Radio City Music Hall. Fiona joins Julie in this episode to share about The Spectacular, her research on the Rockettes, her decision to discuss Parkinson’s Disease within the novel, and the real-life inspiration for Marion, the main character of the book. Julie and Fiona also discuss one of the novel’s core questions that remains relevant for women today: What is the cost of suppressing your own individuality and creativity?

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Anissa Gray, LIFE AND OTHER LOVE SONGS

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:33 GMT

Anissa Gray’s second novel, Life and Other Love Songs, is a braided novel, and Julie thinks it reads like three-part harmony. The journalist and writer joins Julie in this episode to discuss the process of writing a second book on a deadline, the personal challenges Anissa faced in the season of writing this novel, and the reason that this book presented more growing opportunities for her as a writer. Julie and Anissa also discuss the joys of menopause, including insomnia!

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Juana Medina, ELENA RIDES

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 04:00:08 GMT

When she was a child in Colombia, Juana Medina’s mom gave her a boom box to record her stories. Combined with a family that prioritized and nurtured art, Juana grew up seeing drawing as another language. Juana joins Julie in this episode to talk about her winding journey to becoming a professional author and illustrator, the reason we need to deemphasize the importance of pedigree in art, and why we should be encouraging children to continue drawing even as they learn to read and write. Juana’s latest title, Elena Rides, is light, but it had its origins in a serious injury that Juana sustained that changed her perspective, slowed her down, and became a meditation on purpose.

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Alan Barillaro, WHERE THE WATER TAKES US

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 04:00:02 GMT

Alan Barillaro has always been drawing, beginning with making flipbooks out of any textbook that found its way into his creative hands. His years as an animator and actor informed the creation of his first book, Where the Water Takes Us, a beautifully illustrated middle-grade novel for readers of any age who find themselves in an unexpected situation. He joins Julie on this episode to talk about the path from film director to author, the ways that his experience in animation and film support his writing, and the most important question a creator can ask after a mistake: Why didn’t it work?

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Caseen Gaines, WHEN BROADWAY WAS BLACK

Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:13 GMT

When Caseen Gaines sat in a darkened theater to watch the final performance of Shuffle Along, he had no idea that experience would lead to a book. But as soon as he heard “I’m Just Wild About Harry,” he knew he’d be doing research to figure out why he knew the song, but not the show. When Broadway was Black: The Triumphant Story of the All-Black Musical that Changed the World is the exploration of the importance of Shuffle Along and how a show so popular it changed the traffic patterns in New York could be excised from America’s social and cultural memory. Caseen joins Julie to talk about the show’s lasting impact, the person who surprised and delighted him most in his research, and his love of fan culture. He designs his dream dinner party, and Julie confirms that the guests’ imaginary attendance is mandatory.

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Sarah Mlynowski, BEST WISHES

Thu, 18 May 2023 04:00:03 GMT

If you’d like advice on how to sustain a writing career, then ask Sarah Mlynowski. A writer is all she ever wanted to be (she has a rejection letter from the fourth grade to prove it), and she’s now been publishing books for over twenty years. Sarah is an engaging storyteller on the page and in person, and she joins Julie in this episode to talk about Best Wishes 2: The Sister Switch, the process she uses to write with co-authors, and riding the waves of publishing trends as a way of continuing to stay open and flexible in her career.

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Leticia Ordaz, Cielito Lindo Books

Thu, 11 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Author Leticia Ordaz may have a day job as an Emmy-nominated anchor/reporter at KCRA 3 in Sacramento, California, but that didn’t stop her from starting her own publishing company to get her award-winning bilingual children’s books into the world. Leticia joins Julie in this episode to talk about her career as a journalist, her experiences as a daughter of Mexican immigrants, and the origins of her first picture book, The Adventures of Mr. Macaw. Leticia also shares her vision for the future of Cielito Lindo Books, which is committed to representing all children and teaching them the importance of learning and preserving the beautiful Spanish language.

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John Schu, THIS IS A STORY

Thu, 04 May 2023 04:00:05 GMT

John Schu has made a career out of advocating for the people and things he cares about most: kids, books, and the people that connect them. The librarian and author joins Julie to talk about his latest title, This is a Story, which is a beautiful tribute to the community of readers and the connection we find in books. In this episode, John shares about his early experiences as an elementary school teacher, the magic of relationships in a school, and the words from Amy Krouse Rosenthal that convinced him to share the stories inside him.

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Meg Fleming, I LIVE IN A TREE TRUNK

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 04:00:38 GMT

Meg Fleming is the author of ten children’s books, and she joins Julie to celebrate the launch of her most recent title, I Live in a Tree Trunk. As a singer and former music teacher, Meg has an ear for rhythm over rhyme: even when she has a story, she waits to find the beat that goes with it. Meg talks with Julie about her path to publication, the important writing advice she received in seventh grade, and the honor and joy of working with illustrators and other book professionals who believe her words are worthy of their time and deep consideration.

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Christine Grillo, HESTIA STRIKES A MATCH

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT

Christine Grillo and Julie share an agent, a friend, and an appreciation for growing older. After twenty years as a writer, Christine’s debut novel, Hestia Strikes a Match, is coming out at the perfect time. Christine joins Julie in this episode to share about her day job as a science writer, the experience of publishing her first novel at this point in her life and career, and the thrill and crush of waiting for reviews. Hestia is set in the midst of an American civil war and Julie speaks to Christine about the origins of the characters in the story and the way that the tether of the day to day keeps those characters looking for and finding happiness in the midst of chaos.

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Matt Tavares, HOOPS

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 04:00:50 GMT

Matt Tavares may harbor dreams of being an animator, but for, now he’s busying himself as the author-illustrator of a stack of acclaimed picture books (including one of Julie’s favorites, Red and Lulu). He joins Julie in this episode to talk about the latest title he’s adding to the stack: his first graphic novel, Hoops. Matt and Julie talk about his love for sports and his belief that middle-grade readers would benefit from a story about the way young athletes used their voices to enact change. He also shares the basics about creating a graphic novel (as opposed to a picture book), and the beauty of getting to the point (in writing and life).

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Sally Hepworth, THE SOULMATE

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 04:00:52 GMT

Sally Hepworth knows how to write about dysfunctional families. Her books have sold over a million copies worldwide, and Sally’s latest title, THE SOULMATE, is a recent favorite of Julie’s. Sally joins Julie in this episode to share her path to becoming a writer (though Julie contends she has many other areas of expertise), “Hepworth workarounds,” Sally’s fun and funny presence on Instagram, and her unexpected turn as a wig-fluencer. Sally also weighs in on the burning question: do soulmates exist?

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Michelle Glogovac, The Podcast Matchmaker

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 04:00:35 GMT

Michelle Glogovac started her career in corporate aviation and after many successful years spent selling jet fuel, she decided she wanted to do more than save rich people more money. She was drawn to the podcast medium because of the intimacy and the possibility for reciprocal relationship, and that’s how she became The Podcast Matchmaker™. She joins Julie in this episode to talk about best practices for podcast guests and hosts, her own podcast and her upcoming book, and being in the business of connection.

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Rebecca Makkai, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 04:00:37 GMT

Award-winning author Rebecca Makkai joins Julie in this episode to talk about her latest book, I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU. Rebecca shares about her new title, reverse engineering her characters, first and last lines, and her preoccupation with and exploration of the palimpsest of memory. As the artistic director of StoryStudio Chicago and MFA faculty member at multiple university programs, Rebecca also discusses how teaching contributes to her own writing.

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Rebecca Boggs Roberts, UNTOLD POWER: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 04:00:15 GMT

Though it seems Rebecca Boggs Roberts has had every job under the sun, a connecting thread runs through them all: each one was a form of storytelling. The deputy director of events at the Library of Congress and author of Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson joins Julie in this episode to talk about finding the beauty and wonder of words, her job at the Library of Congress, and her dream dinner party (which would include plenty of hot goss). Words, history, and complicated, human individuals: Rebecca finds inspiration in all of it and encourages Julie to do the same.

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Camille Pagán's Books are Good for You

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:46 GMT

Camille Pagán is the #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of ten books and, as it happens, she’s also a delightful person and literary citizen. Camille joins Julie to talk about her latest title, Good for You, and her continued desire to write about real life––both its joy and pain. Camille is also a master certified coach and the founder of Even Better Co., and she shares about the head-down approach to writing that has allowed her to create a sustainable career in a mercurial industry.

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You and Tara Schuster are Both Made of Stardust

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 05:00:35 GMT

Tara Schuster is the friend we all need. She’s kind, supportive, genuine, and her latest book, Glow in the F*cking Dark, is a guidebook for deep soul healing (minus the annoying self-help language and unnecessarily complicated meditation terms). Tara joins Julie in this episode to talk about growing into herself, the life events that preempted her journey to get off the “Good Enough Plateau,” and celebrating that we are all–quite literally–made of stardust.

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Did You Know Libraries Check Out Books for Free?

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 05:00:50 GMT

Meghan Volchko is from Cleveland, which is the first and most important thing to know about her. But you may also be interested to hear about her day job as a digital content librarian at OverDrive. Meghan joins Julie in this episode to talk about the functionality and ease of using the Libby app, the rise of audiobooks, and the fun of reading books before they arrive on shelves (she read 200 books in 2022). But even though her job is to know what you should read in the upcoming months, she provides a few book recommendations that are on shelves now. You know, to keep you busy in the meantime.

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I Want Christie Tate to Be My B.F.F.

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:00:48 GMT

Best-selling author Christie Tate’s latest book, B.F.F., is a celebration of her friendships—the real-life, messy, hard-won sort. Julie and Christie discuss jealousy and the path forward from it, the work of finding tenderness for our past selves (foolish and imperfect though they were), and the power of the stories we tell—and believe—about ourselves. Julie also gets a chance to hear about Christie’s adjustment to life as a full-time writer after she left her career in law.

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Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone, and Their Wholesomely Filthy Christmas Book

Thu, 24 Nov 2022 05:00:45 GMT

For the authors of A Merry Little Meet-Cute, their own meet-cute was best friendship at first sight. Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy join Julie in this episode to discuss their book about “two horny dummies just trying to navigate Christmas,” but what will delight you in this episode is the depth and intelligence of these two authors and former librarians. They speak with Julie about the intention they bring to their co-authored title, covering topics from sex work and fetishization to the experience of the neurodivergent in a capitalist world that pushes a narrow view of productivity. Oh, and lube, of course. Don’t miss this season finale of Season Three!

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Amy Lynn Green Loves Unlikely Characters

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 05:00:39 GMT

Amy Lynn Green is a lifelong lover of books, history, and library cards. She joins Julie to talk about her new title, The Blackout Book Club, and shares her strategy for choosing unlikely characters for the story (like a woman who doesn't particularly like books who’s asked to serve as a librarian). Julie and Amy bond over their love of snail mail and stamps, and Amy also gets a chance to share what it was like to anonymously submit her first manuscript to the publisher she worked for at the time. Amy has an impressive collection of half-filled notebooks of research and uses a scattershot approach to writing when necessary, but she does it all with the goal of making something memorable.

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Translating Ways of Being with Alexis Romay & Meg Medina

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:38 GMT

Meg Medina is the author of the popular middle-grade series about Mercedes Suarez, a character who came to her in a short story she originally penned for an anthology. But, as is so often the case, that’s merely the beginning of the story. In this episode, Meg and Julie are joined by Alexis Romay, a poet, author, and translator of the Merci Suarez series. Alexis, Meg, and Julie have a thoughtful discussion about the art of translation. Alexis begins with empathy, and speaks beautifully about translating not words, but ways of being. Meg reminds us that a translator aspires to be invisible on the page, but should never be invisible in the work itself. Meg and Alexis share their valuable insight on the unique perspectives of the children of immigrants, developing a love of multilingualism, and the many quirks of language. They offer to return when Julie publishes her memoir, and Julie has already agreed to put herself in the hands of these two lovely, intelligent, loquacious Cubans for what promises to be a fun interview.

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Addison Armstrong is a Busy Bird

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT

Neither Julie nor Addison Armstrong would be a value-add in the armed services; but, they’re good for fun conversation about books and writing! Addison, author of The Light of Luna Park and The War Librarian, joins Julie to talk about her path to publication, beginning with the writing of her first manuscript as a just-for-fun summer project with her mom and sister (here’s where Julie understood that Addison is an overachiever). Addison shares about writing historical fiction and how she approaches crafting her dual timelines. She also discusses the pressures of writing and how to ease the agony of waiting during the submission and publishing process by working on something new. Addison is also a teacher, so finishes her conversation with Julie by sharing what she’d like people to know about the current state of education in our country.

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Janae Marks Delivers for Fans of Zoe Washington

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 04:00:20 GMT

Middle-grade fiction is among Julie’s favorite categories because of its ability to explore heavy concepts through the forthright lens of a young main character, and Janae Marks knows how to capitalize on this potential in her writing. She joins Julie to share the inspiration for her first book, From the Desk of Zoe Washington, and how she later came to write the unexpected sequel, On Air with Zoe Washington (out February 14, 2023). Julie and Janae discuss the process of writing Zoe as an eighth grader who had honest flaws but significant strengths, and Janae shares about why writing middle grade is her sweet spot – and how she found herself there.

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Dr. Jeffrey Bennett Knows Astrophysics and Inspiration

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:00:14 GMT

Dr. Jeffrey Bennett is an astrophysicist, an author, and an inspiration. He joins Julie in this episode to share about his latest book, Totality!, which, along with his other titles for kids, will be read from the space station to the children of Earth. Julie and Dr. Bennett discuss mission statements and the ways they can aid in decision-making (and why everyone should write one), our status as the self-awareness of the universe and the resultant responsibility, and why it’s valid to be stressed out by movies about space travel, but there’s no need to be stressed out by space. Dr. Bennett also kindly tells Julie that she can no longer use the excuse that she’s “no good” at physics because understanding depends not on the material, but on where you put your focus, and then proceeds to share a fun fact that Julie has been sharing with everyone she knows since recording this episode.

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Kristin O'Donnell Tubb is Back With Jack

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 04:00:30 GMT

Kristin O’Donnell Tubb is the first repeat guest on the podcast: she returns to talk about her latest title, The Decomposition of Jack. She talks about the fear of releasing a book so different from her previous titles and the hope it will find readers, and the way that certain books can come to life only when the timing and conditions are right. Julie and Kristin discuss some of the beautiful themes in Jack, including the idea that endings and beginnings are inextricably linked, and how smoothing things over to make another happy can lead to silence in a relationship instead of the needed communication.

Fact check for this episode: Kentucky is, in fact, a commonwealth, as are Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Julie and Kristin will consider taking a US history and geography class.

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Margaret Muirhead Likes BBQ and Picture Books

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 05:00:09 GMT

Margaret Muirhead is a coffee-fueled, craft-making, cat-loving writer and children’s librarian who loves all things picture book. She joins Julie in this episode to share what she learned while studying creative writing in North Carolina (aside from developing an appreciation for BBQ), including the ways that poetry can inform children’s picture book writing. Margaret and Julie discuss the practice of being a writer versus the performative space of being an author before they geek out about the true art that’s found in unassuming picture books, the joy of watching students grow, and the importance of libraries as a third space in schools. One big difference between these two librarians: Margaret thinks makerspaces are awesome and Julie thinks they are messy harbingers of chaos.

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Kate Thompson Knows How to Listen

Thu, 29 Sep 2022 04:00:43 GMT

Kate Thompson is a journalist, ghostwriter, and the author of seven novels. Her most recent book, out in February in the US, is The Little Wartime Library which tells the story of an underground library established in a tube station in East London during WWII. Kate joins Julie to talk about the value and magic of interviews, the importance of listening and keeping the wisdom of our older generations, and the sanctuary that can be found in any library. Kate also gives Julie a new English expression about the ravens leaving the Tower of London that Julie will surely misuse in her daily life from now on.

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Jonathan Friedman of PEN America Talks Banned Books

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:00:15 GMT

In this episode, Julie celebrates Banned Books Week by speaking to Jonathan Friedman of PEN America about the concerning trends that are worthy of our attention and, more critically, our action. Jonathan is the Director of Free Expression and Education Programs, and in that role he oversees research, advocacy, and education related to academic freedom, educational gag orders, book bans, and general free expression in school, colleges, and universities. He joins Julie to talk about recent cases, the dangerous lean toward a more censorious culture, and PEN’s efforts to unite writers with their allies (they’ve been doing it for one hundred years)!

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Josh Funk is Churning Out Picture Books

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:00:08 GMT

A software engineer by day, author Josh Funk has published seventeen children’s books, three of which are arriving this fall: Sir Pancake and Lady French Toast: The Great Caper Caper, My Pet Feet, and It’s Not the Three Little Pigs. He joins Julie in this episode to pass on valuable perspective, including a piece of acquired wisdom that argues to be successful in publishing you need two out of these three elements: luck, talent, or hard work. If the writing doesn’t work out, Josh and Julie will open a vegan sports bar (with the sports), and the payment will be based on a book-bartering system.

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Maya Smart Addresses America’s Literacy Crisis

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 04:00:28 GMT

If reading is fuel for children as they grow, then Maya Smart has handed you a can of gas with her new book Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six. Maya is an author and literacy advocate, and her book is an essential tool for all new parents. She and Julie talk about building literacy at an early age, the importance of spaced learning, and the ways that parents can build easy habits into their days that will benefit the rapidly growing brains of their children. Maya stresses the urgency of our nationwide literacy crisis (especially as an increased level of sophistication is required to be effectively literate), but she also emphasizes that parents and caregivers have agency to help get our young people back on track. Even as a mom of older kids, Julie grabbed some fresh perspective on intentional conversation with surly teenagers.

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Regina Shklovsky Explains All Things Art to Julie

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 04:00:47 GMT

Artist, designer, and illustrator Regina Shklovsky always loved art but had never imagined it as a career path–until the right class taken at the right time opened up a world of possibility. She joins Julie to share how she got started in graphic design, and then book design, and eventually book illustration (which she knew she wanted to do at age seventeen). She also talks about learning to design for a client versus her own projects, how to grow your interests by engaging (take a class!), and the importance of consistency in practicing one’s art. She and Julie are also fans of collecting books and believe that tsundoku (the Japanese word for the habit) is an excellent use of their time.

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Kerri Sullivan Knows There's More to New Jersey than the Freeways

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 04:00:14 GMT

Kerri Sullivan isn’t an exceedingly wealthy secret ghostwriter, but she’s a woman with vision and the plans to make them reality. Her current day job is as a public librarian, but her love for her home state led her to start the Instagram account, Jersey Collective, which would eventually become the roots and inspiration for her anthology, New Jersey Fan Club: Artists and Writers Celebrate the Golden State. She talks to Julie about the fun and complexities of developing and editing an anthology, creative ways for authors to find readers in libraries, and the value of a solidly developed book proposal (she teaches a class on the topic and is one for one on proposals leading to deals, so we think she’s a pro).

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Traci Thomas Doesn’t Want Everyone to Read That One Book

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 04:00:35 GMT

Traci Thomas has produced nearly 250 episodes of her incredible podcast, The Stacks, and talking to her was a thrill for Julie. Traci is thoughtful and intentional and loves talking honestly about books. She joins Julie in this episode to discuss the satisfactions and occasional cognitive dissonance of interviewing, how someone responding to an idea with “I have follow-up questions” is a friendly sign to pivot, and why she holds deep hatred for the phrase “everyone should read this book.” Traci also explains why she believes that reviews are for readers, not for authors, and the importance of sharing honest opinions about creative work without worrying about feelings.

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Shelli R. Johannes is Dark, Twisty, and Super Fun

Thu, 11 Aug 2022 04:00:25 GMT

Shelli R. Johannes may wear lots of hats, but she’s always the best dressed in the room (even on Zoom). Julie talks to Shelli about her co-authoring experience, the importance of having excellent communication and pre-set boundaries when disagreements arise, her two new books coming this year, and how she was excellent at Fortnite mobile but her skills aren’t as strong on the PC. Shelli also shares about her journey from a degree in Marketing to writing dark YA, to now penning and co-writing bright, happy STEM picture books. She’s learned a lot over the years of wearing all those hats, and she shares some recent good advice that will apply to all writers.

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Maggie Tokuda-Hall Talks Writing and Staircases

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 04:00:03 GMT

In addition to hosting the hilarious podcast with Red Scott, Failure to Adapt, Maggie Tokuda-Hall is an author of all types of books. She joins Julie in this episode to share about the experience of writing her first novel, The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, its upcoming sequel, and her most recent picture book, Love in the Library. Maggie talks very frankly about her commitment to education around the real-life events in Love in the Library, and she shares a key piece of writerly wisdom earned when writing her novel: a perfectly built staircase that goes nowhere is useless. She also asks Julie one of her favorite Ask a Librarian questions yet: what do you think about the ALA’s recent commitment to total neutrality when it comes to books that simply aren’t true?

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Madeline Martin Writes Real Books

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 04:00:37 GMT

As an army brat, Madeline Martin learned to love libraries early on: they were a place where her literary besties awaited her — their lives comfortingly similar even as Madeline's shifted. She joins Julie to discuss her love of exhaustive research and its central role in all of her books, both romance and historical fiction. Madeline also outlines the unique challenge of writing romance, especially when balancing reality and fantasy (because characters in romance novels don’t have morning breath). She then introduces Julie to a new goal-tracking system. These two Potterheads are already planning to vacation together!

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Vicki Lewis, Expert Reader of the Beginnings of Books

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 04:00:50 GMT

Vicki Lewis may not be a librarian, but she plays one on stage in Between the Lines, the new musical based on the novel by Jodi Picoult and her daughter, Samantha Van Leer. In this episode, Julie and Vicki discuss the ongoing joy of Vicki’s role as the voice of Deb/Flo in Finding Nemo, the meditation and centering of singing, and how reading about those who have walked through hard times can serve as a comfort in our own struggles. This once shy, sarcastic young girl has blossomed into an actor with range and grace: hear it first hand here.

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Reading to Store Up Comfort, with Gregory Maguire

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 04:00:43 GMT

Gregory Maguire is a New York Times best-selling author and is, in Julie’s unbiased opinion, downright charming. In this episode, he speaks with her about trusting his own writing voice, the importance of understanding the life cycle of emotions, and his belief that books are for consolation, not bibliotherapy. We store up truths and stories in our hearts for the hard times that will inevitably come. You don’t want to miss this deeply thoughtful conversation.

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The One Where Julie is a Shameless Anglophile

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 04:00:31 GMT

Freya Sampson wisely heeded the voice that told her the chance to be a writer would pass her by if she didn’t grab hold of it. The author of The Last Chance Library and The Lost Ticket joins Julie in this episode to talk about that career pivot, writing a truly awful first draft to get it out of the way, and an important reminder for all writers: the book you hold in your hands wasn’t a magical one-step process. Julie’s chuffed to end season one laughing with this delightful guest.

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Hard But Good: The Legacy of the Pack Horse Library

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:00:01 GMT

Kim Michele Richardson loves Kentucky, and the author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and The Book Woman’s Daughter has written to share and honor the stories of courageous people from her home state. She joins Julie in this episode to talk about her first dates with her husband, her writing process, and the tremendous perseverance of the Pack Horse Librarians and other women throughout history (and Julie includes Kim Michele in that list, to be sure).

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An Invisible Woman Makes a Great Detective

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 04:00:13 GMT

Over the years, Eva Jurczyk has noted women’s comments about becoming invisible at a certain age. She used her book, The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, to explore a piece of that theme: an invisible person, after all, makes a fantastic snoop. In this episode, she and Julie talk about how Eva fell in love with the world of rare books, the difference between a forgery and a facsimile (and whether there should be a difference), and the joy and energy she derives from working with students at the University of Toronto.

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Don't Ban This Book: Why We Need Diverse Books

Thu, 26 May 2022 04:00:14 GMT

In the second episode of this series with Alan Gratz, Alan tells Julie about two of his upcoming titles. Captain America: The Ghost Army is his upcoming graphic novel, and Two Degrees is the latest in his series of social thrillers released with Scholastic, a middle-grade prose novel about climate change. Julie and Alan discuss the importance of Ban This Book, Alan’s title that came out in 2016 and has proved (unfortunately) somewhat prescient. To be a free and open society, argues Alan, we must have books on the shelves that we don’t like.

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Endangering Fictional Children is His Business

Thu, 19 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT

Alan Gratz has been putting fictional children in danger since 2006. In this episode, the first of two, Alan joins Julie to talk about the winding road he traveled to writing social thrillers – compelling page-turners that also say something about the world in which children are growing up – and why he’s convinced of the importance of directness, even when he’s presenting hard events and truths to middle-grade readers.

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Dear Librarian, What Kind of Crime Interests You?

Fri, 13 May 2022 17:38:55 GMT

Lydia Sigwarth is an author and children's librarian in Platteville, Wisconsin, and her debut picture book, Dear Librarian, is the less commonly told story of a portion of her childhood in which she and her family experienced homelessness. She joins Julie to talk about how that experience led her to become a librarian, about the books and musicals she loves (deep dive alert), and the things she loves about her job. She and Julie also discuss their recently -hatched plans for a multi-level marketing company and, naturally, world domination.

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The Magic of Novel Effect

Thu, 05 May 2022 04:00:40 GMT

Matt & Melissa Hammersley are the founders of Novel Effect, an award-winning mobile app that follows along during story time with interactive music, sound effects, and character voices creating magical moments when you read aloud with your child. They join Julie in this episode to speak about the app’s origin story, its success, and the vision of connection that guides all they do. Matt & Melissa also get a chance to talk about what it’s like to mix work and family, and the most important lesson of a start-up: you can’t win if you quit.

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The Only Woman (in Many Rooms)

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 04:00:03 GMT

Marie Benedict is a writer with a specific mission: to follow her historical women wherever they may take her. A New York Times best-selling author of fourteen books, Marie is a former litigator whose passion for history and research led her to her current career. Marie joins Julie to talk about working with her co-writer soulmate, Victoria Christopher Murray, her melancholy (but hopeful) stories, and the important legacies of the women in her books that deserve to be known.

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A Writer Needs a Waterproof Notebook

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 04:00:32 GMT

Zeno Alexander is the author of The Library of Ever and The Rebel in the Library of Ever, two top titles on Julie’s list of middle-grade books. Since Zeno is busy tending to his extinct plants, Stephen Messer joins Julie in this episode to talk about pen names, his inspiration (and admiration for) Lenora, the main character in his series, and why mistakes – in writing and life – are not only unavoidable, but necessary.

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Different Kinds of Fruit (and Books)

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 04:00:17 GMT

Kyle Lukoff is a librarian, a former bookseller, and an author of books for young people. He’s seen a lot in his writing career: his middle-grade novel Too Bright to See is a Newberry Honor Book, but his title Call Me Max has been banned in schools around the country. He joins Julie to talk about his latest middle-grade release, Different Kinds of Fruit, his forthcoming picture book for babies, and the strange feeling of suddenly being paid to tell people the same things you used to tell them for free.

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Just In Case You Want to Read Poetry, Start Here

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 04:00:02 GMT

Julie Fogliano is the New York Times best-selling author of books for children (and apparently she’s been writing poetry this whole time)! Julie F. joins Julie C. to talk about how she got her start in writing picture books, the joys of working with illustrators, and why she loves writing for people who are young enough to still be amazed by the world. They also discuss what to do about young readers who refuse all books except for those with work by Raina Telgemeier (though we don’t blame them).

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Imagination Soup is Delicious

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 04:00:46 GMT

Book expert Melissa Taylor believes in reading –– for adults and children. Melissa is a writer, former teacher and literacy trainer, and she’s the creator of the award-winning blog, Imagination Soup. Listen in as Melissa tells Julie about her review process, her favorite genres, and how she reads (and keeps track of) hundreds of books per month. Melissa also shares a favorite mentor text for budding young writers, and the importance of helping them specifically name what’s working in their writing.

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Libraries & Bookstagram

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:00:45 GMT

Bookstagrammer and library trustee Kari Sweeney joins Julie to talk about Bookstagram and how she’s used it to become a better reader. A passionate library advocate, Kari also shares about her role as a library trustee, how she managed to read over two hundred books last year, and how audiobooks can be perfect for logging precious ten-minute chunks of reading time (when it comes to reading, little by little adds up to a lot)!

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Collecting and Seeking Stories

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:00:06 GMT

Kristin O’Donnell Tubb is a prolific author (and fan) of middle-grade fiction. Kristin joins Julie on this episode of the podcast to talk about her published books, including her Story Collector series set in the New York Public Library, her upcoming title, The Decomposition of Jack, and all the wonderful features of middle-grade fiction. Listen in to hear about her writing tips (some are six seconds), her fastidious research, and the other authors she admires. Middle-grade fiction: it’s not just for kids!

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Library Lion

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 05:00:01 GMT

New York Times best-selling author Michelle Knudsen contains multitudes, as Julie discovered while reading Evil Librarian after years of adoring Michelle’s charming picture book, Library Lion (chosen by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 children’s books of all time). In this episode’s conversation. Michelle talks with Julie about her many other titles, her complicated relationship with spiders, her best advice for young writers, and their shared belief that books may end, but stories go on.

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A Library is a Sanctuary

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 05:00:16 GMT

Author and librarian Christine McDonnell joins Julie to talk about her recent picture books, When the Babies Came to Stay and Sanctuary. Christine shares stories from her years in the New York Public Library system, her teaching work with Rosie’s Place, and why she believes deeply that libraries should be a safe place where anyone is welcome, anytime.

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Reservoirs and Rockettes

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:00:53 GMT

Best-selling author Fiona Davis writes edifying historical fiction about iconic buildings in NYC, and Julie has read 83 percent of her books (one more to go)! In this episode, Fiona and Julie discuss the layers of history in the 42nd Street Branch of the New York Public Library, where Fiona gets her ideas, and their shared desire to become Rockettes.

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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:00:02 GMT

Archivist Emily Urhin joins Julie to talk about her work at the Fred Rogers Center in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Julie is a forever fan of Fred Rogers, and she and Emily discuss the Center, its resources for researchers, and what Emily really loves to find among all the papers she sorts through. Julie and Emily also take a moment to talk Fred Unboxed, messy desks, The Monkees, and being the keeper of such an important legacy.

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Pearl of Wisdom

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 05:00:23 GMT

Librarian, literary critic, and best-selling author Nancy Pearl joins Julie to discuss her first job, what she’s reading now, and the experience of writing her novel, George & Lizzie. Nancy also shares her thoughts on the conversations worth having as libraries enter another age, and the importance of prioritizing libraries and ensuring they stay devoted to their original purpose.

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How Mac's Books Were Made

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:00:46 GMT

Best-selling author Mac Barnett writes for children––not to children––and Julie is a super-fan. Mac joins Julie to discuss the importance of picture books, the ways we interact with those reads as we grow, and the unique process of writing a picture book when creating alongside an illustrator.

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