018 - Julie Travels Down Under
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
G'day, Mates! Our fearless leader, Julie Hedlund, recently returned from a month down under in Australia. Of course, there were stunning beaches and beautiful sights to see, but what we really want the tea on are the bookshops, libraries, and other fun literary adventures! (Seriously!) Julie discovered a vibrant book scene in Sydney, and she's ready to dish. Listen in to discover: What took Julie to Australia Who she met while she was there Why we say you're never alone as a 12 x 12 member How submissions to Australian publishers work The differences she noticed between the Australian and the...
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017 - Rajani LaRocca: Writing Fueled by Joy
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
Inspired by Joy in Storytelling Newbery Award-Winning Rajani LaRocca shares personal insights into her writing, including when she started writing, when she came back to it, what she loves about writing in different genres, and how joy fuels her creative endeavors. Listen in to discover: The original spark for her picture book SOME OF US The importance of sharing our citizenship stories. Surprising things she learned while writing this book. How kids respond to SOME OF US. Her inspiration for A VACCINE IS LIKE A MEMORY. How she balances her work as a physician with her work as an author. How...
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016 - Keila Dawson: No Poem Too Small
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
Keila V. Dawson has partnered with fellow creatives Jeanette Bradley and Lindsay Metcalf to tell the stories of young activists through the power of poetry. No Voice Too Small, No World Too Big, and No Brain The Same feature kids and teens making a difference for our planet. Keila and her team picked a different poet to celebrate this extraordinary individuals and the results are incredibly moving. (And we learned so many new things!) A poem may seem like a quiet way to express oneself, but in the hands of these talented writers, the poems in this series of books...
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015 - Michelle Cusolito: In the World of Nonfiction
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
Write what you love Michelle Cusolito's love for writing nonfiction picture books is palpable and, we dare say, contagious. In this episode, she generously shares her process, where her ideas have come from, and how she follows the muse—even when she's on deadline for a different project. No matter what you write, Michelle's interview is a good reminder to write what you love... because that's when the passion shines through. Listen in to discover: Why Michelle is drawn to writing about the ocean How she came to write a latest picture book about trees (that aren't in the ocean!) ...
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014 - Lisa Rogers - Poetry and Picture Book Biographies
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
Where Picture Book Biographies and Poetry Come Together The National Poetry Month celebration continues! 12 x 12 charter member, poet, and author Lisa Rogers shares how poetry comes into play when writing picture books—even picture book biographies. In this episode, you'll discover: What it's like to be a poet and write a picture book about a poet How she finds the emotional throughline in her stories Why she's drawn to writing about creative people The impact of writing her John Cage book in second person Why she writes picture book biographies Why she didn't give up writing picture books...
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013 - Renee La Tulippe - Passionate About Poetry
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
Let's celebrate poetry! Welcome to National Poetry Month! We begin the celebration with one of our favorite poets AND poetry teachers, author Renee LaTulippe. Renee shares why she loves poetry and how, over her career, she's worked to help others understand and use poetry techniques in their own work. In this episode, you'll discover: How Renee helped set our 12 x 12 poetry elves up for success Why Renee is so passionate about poetry What is so appealing about free verse How to make poetry exciting for anyone Enjoying poems vs. determining their symbolism What should your readers take away...
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012 - Ask a Bookseller After-Party with Julie Rowan Zoch
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
What does a bookseller want book creators to know? Welcome to our first After-Party! After-parties will be a semi-regular feature on the 12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast, where we'll take some time after a 12 x 12 webinar to dive a little deeper into something the speaker talked about or maybe ask a few questions we didn't get to during the live webinar. Our first after-party guest is author-illustrator and bookseller Julie Rowan-Zoch. Her recent webinar, "," is available to the public now! (Podcast listeners get 25% off! .) In the webinar, Julie shared how booksellers choose books to include in...
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011 - Marcie Colleen: Writing Graphic Novels for Young Readers
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
Why would a picture book author write a graphic novel? Why not? Author (and Charter ) Marcie Colleen shares how curiosity (and the willingness to say yes) led her to reach beyond picture books and into the world of chapter books—and most recently, graphic novels for young readers. Marcie shares her journey to writing graphic novels (even though she's not an illustrator) and what she discovered about the similarities and differences between writing picture books and graphic novels. Plus, Marcie tells us all about her new 6-week graphic novel writing course: Listen to the podcast now as Julie...
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010 - A New Perspective with Kelli Panique
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
What's the silver lining of having a broken arm? While Julie is away, Kelli will play! Kelli is taking over the podcast today. And, just like writing, an idea starts in one place, and then life smacks you down, and you have to head in a different direction. She didn't intend to break her arm/shoulder and do an episode about it, but when life gives you lemons, make lemon drop martinis! You'll discover: How Kelli broke her arm (and still made her flight!) The good and bad of breaking your dominant hand Praise for lefties! The importance of learning something new How to apply this to writing (It...
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009 - Caroline Perry: The Most Interesting Story
12 x 12 Picture Book Podcast
In celebration of Women's History Month, Julie Hedlund interviews author Caroline Perry and they discuss their picture book biographies of two extraordinary women: Queen Elizabeth II and Julie Andrews. What led them to write about such famous people? What were the challenges of writing about a person who's still alive? What do they wish they had known when they started writing picture book bios? Find out in today's episode. You'll discover: What inspired their individual picture book bios What it's like to write about a living person How dogs played a role in both stories The surprising...
info_outlineInspired by Joy in Storytelling
Newbery Award-Winning Rajani LaRocca shares personal insights into her writing, including when she started writing, when she came back to it, what she loves about writing in different genres, and how joy fuels her creative endeavors.
Listen in to discover:
- The original spark for her picture book SOME OF US
- The importance of sharing our citizenship stories.
- Surprising things she learned while writing this book.
- How kids respond to SOME OF US.
- Her inspiration for A VACCINE IS LIKE A MEMORY.
- How she balances her work as a physician with her work as an author.
- How being in community inspired her to write
- The struggle to write when times are tough
- The gift of giving your manuscripts time to sit
- If Rajani has a favorite among her books
- The different genres she has written
- What children say to her about her books
Books mentioned in this episode*:
- Some of Us by Rajani LaRocca and Huy Voun Lee
- A Vaccine is Like a Memory by Rajani LaRocca and Kathleen Marcottte
- Seven Golden Rings by Rajani LaRocca and Archana Sreenivasan
- Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani LaRocca and Archana Sreenivasan
- Summer is for Cousins by Rajani LaRocca and Abhi Alwar
- Fall is for Beginnings by Rajani LaRocca and Abhi Alwar
- Your One and Only Heart by Rajani LaRocca and Lauren Paige Conrad
- Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca
- Midsummer's Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca
- Random Body Parts: Gross Anatomy Riddles in Verse by Leslie Bulion and Mike Lowery
- We Are the Light by Rajani LaRocca and Sayan Mukherjee
- Vibhi and the Voice by Rajani LaRocca and Cindy Derby
- Such Great Heights by Rajani LaRocca
Get special deals on Rajani's past 12 x 12 webinars:
- Rock Your Revision for 25% off
- Rhyming vs. Lyrical: When and How (and Why) to Use Each for 25% off
- Get them both in a special bundle for 40% off!
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