Courage to Create Episode 64 with Laura Sibson
Courage to Create
Our last episode before break! Bethany Hegedus welcomes young adult author Laura Sibson whose debut novel, THE ART OF BREAKING THINGS, has been compared to Sara Zarr's STORY OF A GIRL and Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK. Laura has an undergraduate degree in counseling and an MFA in writing for children and teens from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two sons, and when she's not writing, she can be found running or hiking. For ten or more years prior to publishing, Laura wrote and loved creating her first novel. Her third novel, however, is the one...
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Courage to Create Episode 64 with Laura Sibson
Courage to Create
Our last episode before break! Bethany Hegedus welcomes young adult author Laura Sibson whose debut novel, THE ART OF BREAKING THINGS, has been compared to Sara Zarr's STORY OF A GIRL and Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK. Laura has an undergraduate degree in counseling and an MFA in writing for children and teens from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and two sons, and when she's not writing, she can be found running or hiking. For ten or more years prior to publishing, Laura wrote and loved creating her first novel. Her third novel, however, is the one...
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Courage to Create Episode 63 with Christina Soontornvat
Courage to Create
Bethany interviews friend, Writing Barn student and teacher, and prolific author Christina Soontornvat in this episode of Courage to Create. Christina is the author of THE CHANGELINGS and IN A DARK LAND, the chapter book series DIARY OF AN ICE PRINCESS, three forthcoming picture books, the upcoming middle grade novel A WISH IN THE DARK, and the highly anticipated ALL THIRTEEN: THE INCREDIBLE CAVE RESCUE OF THE THAI BOYS' SOCCER TEAM. Together, Bethany and Christina discuss all of these titles plus the importance of diversity in children's literature. As a first-generation Thai American,...
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Courage to Create Episode 62: Creative A Team
Courage to Create
During this episode, host Bethany Hegedus tackles the topic of critique groups, including what they are, how you find one or start one, how you keep one going, how you disband one when it's not working or leave one that isn't working for you. She also goes over reasons to join a group such as accountability and companionship. How should you structure the group meetings, and how can a group best function to include all members equally? You can be in any stage of your career and benefit from a critique group, and guess what? You don't have to take every critique you're given to heart. Learn how...
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Courage to Create Episode 61: Write. Submit. Support. Segment 2
Courage to Create
In segment two of the special Courage to Create episode Bethany recorded live during her Write. Submit. Support. class’s summer retreat, the group of writers delve into what drives their literary lives at the moment and what, if anything they’d like to change about that. How can community help our work? Why is it so important to balance craft techniques like pace and structure with the emotion of the story? How do we unblock ourselves when we’re creatively stuck? The writers explore all these topics as they continue on with writing exercises meant to unlock and investigate these areas of...
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Courage to Create Episode 60: Write. Submit. Support. Segment 1
Courage to Create
In this special first segment of a two part Courage to Create, Bethany leads the group of writers from her pilot program of Write. Submit. Support. during their most recent retreat. This group of writers has worked together for three years now, and they continue to retreat together twice yearly at The Writing Barn. The theme of this retreat was “Reclaiming Your Brave,” and during this episode, listeners will hear Bethany and the ten retreat participants discuss various aspects of how they are doing that in their creative lives and how they plan to add more bravery to their work. Listeners...
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Courage to Create Episode 59 with Nancy Churnin
Courage to Create
Nancy Churnin is the author of eight picture book biographies, including her newest release, MARTIN & ANNE: THE KINDRED SPIRITS OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND ANNE FRANK. Nancy is a native New Yorker who now lives in Texas. She is a graduate of Harvard University with a master's from Columbia University, and she is a former theater critic for The Dallas Morning News. During their conversation on Courage to Create, Bethany and Nancy discuss how they both write about people who have made a positive difference in the world and who inspire them personally. When Nancy realized Anne Frank...
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Courage to Create Episode 58 with Jorge and Megan Lacera
Courage to Create
Husband and wife illustrator and author duo, Megan and Jorge Lacera, join Bethany to discuss their humorous picture book debut, ZOMBIES DON'T EAT VEGGIES. Megan and Jorge wanted to create a book that depicted a family like theirs: bilingual, multi-cultural, funny, and imperfect! That desire resulted in zombies. The couple first met while working at American Greetings, so the two have always enjoyed working together, and during the podcast, they discuss how they balance that relationship. They also talk about why diversity not only matters in their own lives but in the lives of all children who...
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Courage to Create Episode 57: Refilling Your Well
Courage to Create
In this episode of Courage to Create, Bethany ruminates on what it means to refill our personal wells of energy, calling on quotes from previous guests on the Courage to Create podcast as well as her own experiences as an author and creative. How can we listen to others? How can we listen to ourselves?
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Courage to Create Episode 56 with Sarah Aronson
Courage to Create
Sarah Aronson first appeared on episode 15 of Courage to Create, and she joins Bethany again in this episode to discuss her new picture book biography, Just Like Rube Goldberg. Sarah has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has published three stand alone novels: Head Case, Beyond Lucky, and Believe. Her most recent books are part of a new young MG series, The Wish List. Writing about inventor and cartoonist Rube Goldberg allowed Sarah to learn about research and explore her own curiosity, one of her favorite endeavors. Sarah...
info_outlineFourth grade teacher and author Rob Sanders joins Bethany for this inspiring episode of The Porchlight where they discuss everything from Rob's literary life to the importance of inclusion, social justice, and perseverance. Rob is the author of eight picture books, including PRIDE, PEACEFUL FIGHTS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, RODZILLA, and the forthcoming STONEWALL, which allows readers to learn about the rich and dynamic history of the Stonewall Inn and its role in the gay civil rights movement.
Rob is a Florida resident who met Bethany when he took one of her online classes at The Writing Barn, where he now teaches as well. As someone who loves to leap into new ventures, Rob discusses how he started writing nonfiction and how he seeks to explore new forms, genres, and styles in his work. He believes that the best way to help kids become social justice advocates for themselves and others is to talk to them about all topics and history in an age appropriate way because kids are talking among themselves and need to know the facts.
Rob strives to show both his readers and his students how civil rights progress we have gained initially still has to be maintained, and this is one of many reasons he is passionate about writing stories of diversity and inclusion. Bethany and Rob also discuss their mutual love of teaching and what they learn from their students, both adults and children. For more information about Rob and his work, visit his website at https://www.robsanderswrites.com/