Julie Hedlund and Kelli Panique enjoy a delightful conversation with author Marzieh Abbas. Marzieh has over 40 published books for kids, from board books to middle grade. In our discussion, she elaborates on her journey from professional baker to award-winning author. Marzieh's story is so inspirational. Come be inspired to create your own successful writing journey.

You'll discover:

• How 12 x 12 played a pivotal role in Marzieh becoming a multi-published author
• Why she chooses to publish in the US market while she lives in Pakistan
• How she was inspired to write for children
• The challenge of being a writer without access to public libraries or bookstores
• How she studied mentor texts to learn to write picture books
• Writing Muslim books for Muslim kids vs. sharing the experiences of Muslim children with a mainstream audience
• Why finding joy in the publishing process is crucial
• What it is like to write a picture book bio of a living person
• The importance of being in a community that gets what you're trying to do

Books mentioned in this episode:

• A Dupatta Is . . . by Marzieh Abbas and Anu Chouhan
• Yasmeen Lari, Green Architect: The True Story of Pakistan's First Woman Architect by Marzieh Abbas and Hoda Hadadi
• Aarzu All Around by Marzieh Abbas
• The Camel Library by Marzieh Abbas and Anain Shaikh
• The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers
• Malala's Magical Pencil by Malala Yousafzai and Kerascoët
• Henna is... by Marzieh Abbas and Anu Chouhan
• Awe-samosas! by Marzieh Abbas and Bhagya Madanasinghe
• A Ramadan to Remember by Marzieh Abbas Ali and Najwa Awatiff
• Radiant Ramadan by Marzieh Abbas and Anoosha Syed
• Friday Fun by Marzieh Abbas and Anoosha Syed
• Excited for Eid by Marzieh Abbas and Anoosha Syed
• Together We Ride by Valerie Bolling and Kaylani Juanita
• Together We Swim by Valerie Bolling and Kaylani Juanita
• Big Red Lollipop by Rukhana Khan and Sophie Blackall

Get 25% off Marzieh Abbas's webinar Mentor Text Your Way to Picture Books that POP! HERE.

Join Marzieh's Substack here.

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Thank you for listening!

Can young readers handle difficult topics?

Author Leah Schanke thinks so. It's just one of the reasons she wrote her debut picture book, Freedom at Dawn: Robert Smalls's Voyage Out of Slavery.

In this interview, Leah Schanke and Kelli Panique celebrate Black History Month by shining a light on how she discovered the story of this book and the steps she took to bring it to life—including tips for bringing your own historical stories to life.

You'll discover:

• How she came to writing picture books
• Why she writes history for young readers
• What inspired her to write Robert Smalls's story
• How her critique group helped this book come to life
• The big change that made the original story more kid-friendly
• What she said when editors asked her to "age up" the story
• Leah's research process
• How she stayed true to her vision of the story
• The context notes she includes for the editor or illustrator
• The pitch event that connected Leah with her publisher
• Tips for writers of nonfiction and historical fiction
• Her favorite thing that didn't make it into the book
• The book she wishes she wrote

Books mentioned in this episode:

• Freedom at Dawn: Robert Smalls's Voyage Out of Slavery by Leah Schanke and Oboh Moses
• Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls' Escape from Slavery to Union Hero by Cate Lineberry
• Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
  by Jeff Gottesfeld and Matt Tavares

Resources mentioned:

• Picture Book Summit Podcast: The Appeal of Dark Picture Books

If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us!

Thank you for listening!

Author Kirsten W. Larson and Julie Hedlund discuss the joy of writing nonfiction, including:

• Why Kirsten loves writing nonfiction for young readers
• Where her writing process starts
• The difference between primary and secondary sources
• Why Kirsten loves the 12 x 12 community
• What it means for her to be a 12 x 12 Elf
• The advice she has for newer writers and seasoned writers
• How she pushes through until a manuscript works

Resources from Kirsten:

• Kirsten's website
• Reimagine Insiders Group

Books mentioned in this episode:

• This is How You Know by Kirsten W. Larson and Cornelia Li
• Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews by Julie Hedlund and Ilaria Urbinati
• Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book by Kirsten W. Larson
• Telling It True: How to Write Nonfiction Kids (and Teens) Want to Read by Kirsten W. Larson
• Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome
• Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery by Meeg Pincus and Yas Imamura
• In the World of Whales by Michelle Cusolito and Jessica Lanan

Future projects not yet available:

• Shape of Our Stories: How Books Became to Be
• Light of Resistance

Get 25% off Kirsten W. Larson's webinar Noodling on Nonfiction Structure HERE.

Sign up for the 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge by February 15th! Click here!

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