Raising Confident Girls: Diana Sussman on The Neighbor’s Secret
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this engaging episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes Diana Sussman, author of the middle grade mystery The Neighbor’s Secret. Diana introduces us to Maddie, a curious and imaginative 12-year-old who becomes convinced her new neighbors are Russian spies after witnessing something very strange. Maddie’s big imagination sometimes gets her into trouble—like the time she thought a neighbor was being eaten by a Yeti—but she’s also sharp, determined, and usually onto something real. Diana shares how her own love of puzzles, mysteries, and strong female characters helped shape...
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Overprotected Offline, Underprotected Online: Veronica Sommers Tells Parents What They Need to Know
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes Veronica Sommer, author of Sacred Stewardship: Restoring Moral Clarity in the Digital Age. Drawing on over two decades in cybersecurity recruiting and her experience raising two smartphone-era teens, Veronica offers a heartfelt, eye-opening look at what today’s kids are really facing online. Jed and Veronica begin by talking about that familiar parenting dilemma: giving kids phones “for safety” and connection, without fully understanding that those same devices give the entire world access to...
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Fire & Ice, Exploring Dragon Island Legends
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes back middle-grade fantasy author Greg Slomba to talk about his brand-new series, the Dragon Island Legend books, beginning with Fire and Ice. Greg explains that this new series grows out of the world of his earlier Deliverers books, particularly The Golden Dragon of Aang, which introduced the mystical Dragon Islands. Each of the five planned stories will focus on a different island, with Fire and Ice serving as a 95-page novella that opens the saga. Greg introduces listeners to Ben and May, two 15-year-old...
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Feathered And Famous
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
On this episode, Jed welcomes author and neuroscientist Gail Martino, whose new picture book “Feathered and Famous: Meet America’s All Star Birds” celebrates the national and state birds of the United States and the stories behind them. Gail explains how her book helps kids (and parents) discover the unique traits that made each bird worthy of representing a state—from the clever chickadee of Massachusetts, which actually grows part of its brain in the fall to help remember where it hid seeds, to the hopeful, homey robin of Connecticut, often seen as a harbinger of spring. She also...
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Physics, Pirates, and a Haunted Inn: Conversations with AJ Alanson
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this engaging episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, Jed Doherty welcomes AJ Alanson, author of the Admiral Inn mystery and adventure series, to celebrate book ten, Wolf in the Cove. AJ introduces us to June Faust, a former Treasury Department “super accountant” who buys a derelict mansion on the coast of Maine through a government auction—sight unseen. The locals wish the place had been burned to the ground, but June spends a decade fixing it up, turning it into the Admiral Inn, and slowly (and awkwardly) mending fences with the small-town community. Each book in the...
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Telepathic Pop Star: Sarah Crowne’s ‘Tune In
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with Sarah Crowne to talk about her new YA thriller, Tune In. The novel follows Nikki Scott, a telepathic pop star who’s investigating her mother’s mysterious death. As Nikki uncovers her powers, she also discovers a shadowy organization that’s weaponizing her voice—blending high-stakes conspiracy with a glittering pop music world. Think Stephen King’s Carrie meets a modern pop icon, with a sci-fi twist. Sarah shares how her lifelong love of pop music—from Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, Madonna, and...
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Sitting Beside The Hurt
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this powerful episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty sits down with author, advocate, and writing mentor Melissa B. Lombardo, creator of Hurt, Healing, and Hope: Thriving Beyond Sexual Assault. Melissa shares how, after being sexually assaulted in her 20s, she found her way to counseling at the New Britain YWCA and was encouraged to write about her experiences. What started as private journal entries slowly grew into a three-act interwoven monologue, complete with reflection questions and journaling space to support other survivors in their own healing journeys....
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Every Book Should Bring A Smile
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
Freddy the Frog hops onto the Connecticut Book Festival Podcast in this lively episode featuring debut author-illustrator Devon (DL) Torres. Jedlie welcomes Devon from Hartford to talk about his joyful new rhyming picture book, “Freddy the Frog,” a story all about confidence, imagination, and good old-fashioned playground fun. Devon describes Freddy as a confident, energetic frog who’s always ready for the next adventure: “I want to do this, I want to do that—come along if you want!” Through Freddy’s playful leadership, the book celebrates unstructured playtime—the kind...
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Returning Home: Mystery and Mayhem in Robin Cannon’s Connecticut
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
Join us for a special episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast as host Jed Doherty welcomes celebrated author Robin Cannon for an in-depth conversation about her latest cozy mystery, "Into the Shallows Darkly." As the highly-anticipated sequel to her popular novel "Into the Attic Darkly," this engaging episode dives into the compelling world of Connecticut-based crime fiction. Discover how Robin draws inspiration from the places and people around her in Connecticut, weaving local charm and personal experiences into her twist-filled mysteries. Robin shares the creative journey behind...
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Libraries, Creativity, and Counting Pears
Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast
In this episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, host Jed Doherty welcomes author Emily Raymond and her mother, illustrator Gail Striegel, to discuss their collaborative children’s book, "Danny the Goat Does Not Like Pears." The conversation begins with Emily recounting the inspiration drawn from her childhood habit of hiding vitamins—a quirk that became the heart of Danny the goat’s story as he goes on whimsical adventures to avoid eating pears. Gail shares her artistic background and describes how their familial bond made the book’s illustration process especially joyful...
info_outlineIn an inspiring episode of the Connecticut Book Festivals Podcast, author Timothy Craig shares the compelling story behind his young adult novel, "The Second". This emotional journey follows 17-year-old Kyle Castleman as he navigates life after a devastating car accident leaves his father in a coma.
Craig's novel was born from a deeply personal experience with his own father's hospitalization in 2017. During a critical medical moment, he discovered the profound healing power of music - a theme that becomes the heartbeat of his storytelling. The book explores Kyle's quest to wake his father using their shared musical connection, while simultaneously uncovering family secrets and confronting the mysterious departure of his mother years earlier.
A former high school English teacher, Craig brings unique insights into teenage experiences. He understands the challenges young adults face in discovering their identity, forming relationships, and finding their place in the world. His writing style draws comparisons to acclaimed young adult authors like Jay Asher and John Green, offering authentic and engaging narratives.
Interestingly, Craig's writing journey began as a dare from his own students - a challenge to create a story with a genuinely happy ending. This collaborative experience ignited his passion for storytelling and connecting with young readers.
The podcast also delves into broader topics like technology's impact on communication and the importance of encouraging reading among teenagers. Craig emphasizes that there are no "reluctant readers" - just students waiting to discover the right book.
Currently working on his second novel, "Eight", Craig continues to explore complex emotional landscapes through his writing. Readers can connect with him on his Facebook page, Timothy Craig Author, to learn more about "The Second" and his upcoming projects.
For anyone seeking a powerful, music-driven coming-of-age story, "The Second" promises an unforgettable reading experience.