In today's episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with author and middle school English teacher Lorien Lawrence to talk about her writing—particularly her Fright Watch series.

During the interview, Lorien shares how two wonderful teachers—a kindergarten teacher who helped turn her “scribbles” into stories, and a school librarian who read spooky stories to the kids—sparked her love of writing and storytelling. We also talk about her perspective as a middle school teacher working with students after COVID, the challenges of getting kids excited about reading, and simple ways families can build a community of readers at home. (Her insight even prompted me to recommit to reading DAILY with my own kids: putting the screens away, letting them choose the books they want to read, and making the time to wind down together with a good story.)

Lorien also talks about the years of rejection that came before her first book (which debuted during the pandemic 😖), finding a supportive community, learning to take feedback with an open mind, and Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein (so much of that book is applicable to our own time)!

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone who believes one good teacher can change the course of a life, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About LORIEN LAWRENCE:

Lorien Lawrence is a writer and middle school English teacher from Connecticut. She is the author of The Fright Watch series, The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family, and a co-writer of 3 in a Million. Lorien has creative writing degrees from Wheaton College and Bath Spa University. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found exploring New England with her family.

📖 ORDER The first book in The Fright Watch Series: https://link.amazon/B05KqRbBC

💻 VISIT Lorien Lawrence’s Official website: https://www.lorienlawrence.com

📚 CHECK OUT Lorien Lawrence’s Other Books: https://link.amazon/B07Bu8sDq

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#LorienLawrence #ALiteralJourney #Author #Horror #authors #writing #reading #frankenstein

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In today's episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with bestselling author (and Renaissance woman!), Alyssa Palombo and chat about her books: The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel, The Violinist of Venice, The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, The Borgia Confessions, and The Assassin of Venice (Sweet Moses! That's a lot of GREAT books)!

During the interview, we chat about the expeirences that shaped her as an author, the moment when she realized she wanted to write historical fiction, and the challenges of research and writing. Alyssa also shares what she loves about exploring the past and offers advice for writers who are struggling to either finish or publish their book.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone who loves historical fiction, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About ALYSSA PALOMBO:

Alyssa Palombo is an author based in Buffalo, NY. She majored in English and creative writing with a minor in music. Alyssa is a classically trained mezzo-soprano who also dabbles in playing piano. When not writing, she can usually be found reading, hanging out and laughing way too hard at nonsensical inside jokes with friends, traveling, or at a concert. Her novels include The Violinist of Venice, The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence, The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel, The Borgia Confessions, and the Assassin of Venice.

📖 ORDER The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel: https://link.amazon/B0a56p9TT

💻 VISIT Alyssa Palombo's Official website: https://link.amazon/B0glC3xzG

📚 CHECK OUT Alyssa Palombo's Other Books: https://alyssapalombo.com/

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#AlyssaPalombo #ALiteralJourney #Author #SleepyHollow #authors #writing #reading #historicalfiction

** Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. **

Author Nancy Tandon joins Seth Adam Smith on A LITERAL JOURNEY to talk about the inspiration behind her books, The Way I Say It, The Ghost of Spruce Point, and The Haunting of Walker Pond.

Along the way, Nancy shares how she moved from speech-language pathology to writing, how a publishing deal that feel through nearly sent her back to her old career, and how every "failure" can actually help move you toward your goal.

We also talk about writing characters with compassion, the childhood book that first showed Nancy the power of a good story, and the real rumor of a ghost at an inn that inspired her fictional setting.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone who enjoys a GOOD ghost story, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About Nancy Tandon:

Nancy Tandon is the author of The Way I Say It, a Junior Library Guild Selection and Indies Introduce Kids Pick. Her novel The Ghost of Spruce Point, a companion to The Haunting of Walker Pond, was nominated for the Texas Bluebonnet and Hawaii Nēnē state book awards. She is a former teacher, speech-language pathologist, and adjunct professor of phonetics and child language development, all of which helped plant seeds for stories about awesome kids doing brave things. A transplant from the Midwest, Nancy now lives in Connecticut with her family and enjoys spooky summers on the coast of Maine.

📖 ORDER The Haunting of Walker Pond

💻 VISIT Nancy Tandon's Official website

📚 CHECK OUT Nancy Tandon's Other Books

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY on YouTube

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#NancyTandon #ALiteralJourney #Author #ghoststory #middlegradebooks #ghoststories #authors #writing #reading

** Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. **

“You could trace the route that Ichabod Crane flees from the Headless Horseman step by step in Sleepy Hollow right now.” -J. W. Ocker

In this LEGENDARY episode of A Literal Journey, I sit down (once again!) with the bestselling, award-winning, perambulatory author J. W. Ocker and chat about his latest book: Chasing The Headless Horseman. (Guys, this interview could have gone on for hours! So fascinating!!)

J. W. Ocker has made an *enviable* career out of visiting strange, unusual, and macabre places in order to uncover and share the stories behind them. For Chasing The Headless Horseman, Ocker traveled to the real Sleepy Hollow (yes, it's a REAL place!) and followed in the footsteps (or hoof prints) the Headless Horseman. Ocker shares what he learned, the real history of Sleepy Hollow and some revelatory insights that surprised him the most.

We also explore Washington Iriving's role in American literature, the real life geography of the Legend, and how Sleepy Hollow has a greater claim to being a Christmas town. J. W. closes the episode by sharing advice on how to discover WONDERS close to home.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone who—like myself—feels drawn to the almost mystical land of Sleepy Hollow, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About J.W. OCKER:

J. W. Ocker is the Edgar Award-winning author of Poe-Land: The Hallowed Haunts of Edgar Allan Poe, A Season with the Witch, and Death and Douglas. His work has appeared in The Guardian, the Boston Globe, CNN, the Atlantic, and other places people stick writing. He's from Maryland but has lived in New Hampshire for more than a decade.

He is also the creator of OTIS: Odd Things I've Seen (Oddthingsiveseen.com), where he writes about his visits to oddities of nature, history, art, and culture.

📖 ORDER Chasing The Headless Horseman

💻 VISIT J. W. Ocker’s official website

📚 CHECK OUT J. W. Ocker's Other Books

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY on YouTube

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#JWOcker #sleepyhollow #headlesshorseman #timburton #EdgarAllanPoe #HorrorWriters #AuthorInterview #ALiteralJourney #WeirdHistory #Paranormal #HorrorBooks #WritingLife #SpookyStories #Folklore #MysteryWriters #StrangePlaces

In this incredible episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with New York Times bestselling author, Megan E. Freeman to talk about her books Alone, Away, Afar, and The Secret to Belonging.

During the interview, we talk about Megan's long road to publication. After over fifty rejections (yes, you read that right!), Megan attended a workshop and realized a truth she had somehow forgotten while writing her book: she had been a poet her whole life. Why not rewrite her book from PROSE into VERSE?

That rewrite (very literally) changed EVERYTHING.

Along the way, Megan shares some of the insights and inspiration from her books, the difference between being exhausted by a project and being satisfied with it, and the value of a supportive creative community. Toward the end of the interview, Megan shares an inspiring story that challenges the idea that it's "too late" to start a new creative chapter (such a great story!).

But no more spoilers! You'll have to listen to the FULL episode to learn more!

Whether you're a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone struggling through a creative chapter in your life, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

ABOUT MEGAN E. FREEMAN:

Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week to teach poetry, and she has been a writer ever since. Her New York Times bestselling novel in verse, ALONE, won the Colorado Book Award, the Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont Children’s Book Awards, the High Plains Book Award, is an NCTE Notable Verse Novel, and is included on over two dozen "best of" and state reading lists. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet and the author of the poetry chapbook Lessons on Sleeping Alone. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan is nationally recognized for her work leading workshops and speaking to audiences across the country. Megan used to live in northeast Los Angeles, central Ohio, northern Norway, and on Caribbean cruise ships. Now she divides her time between northern Colorado and the Texas Gulf Coast.

🌌 ORDER “The Secret to Belonging” here: https://link.amazon/B03TFXVd7

📚 CHECK OUT other books by Megan E. Freeman here: https://link.amazon/B0j0QoQFm

🌐 Visit Megan E. Freeman’s website: https://www.meganefreeman.com

🎧 LISTEN on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1CvEfBcK1xALUswAkOwlNf?si=98cea0829ca145e6

🍎 LISTEN on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-literal-journey/id1839517342

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#MeganEFreeman #ALiteralJourney #Alone #TheSecrettoBelonging #AuthorInterview #WritingAdvice #MiddleGradeBooks #Poetry #BookTube #Writing

In this inspiring episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Greg Howard, author of The Whispers, The Visitors, and The Travelers (and so much more!), and talk about his journey of writing the stories he wish he had when he was younger.

During the interview, Greg traces his path of writing from a thoughtful school librarian who introduced him to Stephen King's writings (and awakened the storyteller inside of him), to songwriting in Nashville, before eventually writing fiction at nearly 50. We then discuss WHY he felt the need to wake up at four in the morning to write before going to work (I always enjoy learning the WHY behind an author's journey).

We talk about The Whispers—a deeply personal "book of [his] heart"—and his newest novel, The Travelers, a Southern time-travel mystery involving grief, family secrets, a foreboding Victorian house, and clocks that behave in impossible ways.

Along the way, Greg speaks candidly about books being challenged, representation, the difficulties facing middle grade authors, and the unforgettable moments when young readers tell him that his books were the first in which they had ever "seen" themselves.

But, no more spoilers! You'll have to listen to the FULL episode to learn more!

Whether you're a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone struggling to share a deeply personal story with the world, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

ABOUT GREG HOWARD:

Greg Howard was born and raised in the South Carolina Lowcountry where his love of stories blossomed at a young age. Originally set on becoming a songwriter, Greg followed that dream to Nashville, Tennessee, where he spent years producing the music of others before eventually returning to his childhood passion for writing stories.

Greg’s critically acclaimed, debut middle-grade novel, The Whispers was nominated for an Edgar Award and was named a Best Book of 2019 by Advocate Magazine. His second middle-grade novel, Middle School’s a Drag, You Better Werk! is an Amazon Teacher’s Pick. The Visitors, his third middle-grade offering, was a 2022 New York Public Library Best Book. Also, the author of the young adult novel Social Intercourse, Greg’s newest middle-grade novel, The Travelers, a twisty time-travel adventure, is out now.

Greg writes for and about LGBTQ youth, creating the kind of books he wishes he’d had access to as a young reader growing up gay in the American South. When he’s not writing books, Greg enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, and spending time with friends. He lives in Nashville with his ridiculously adorable Mini Aussiedoodle, Sadie.

🕰️ ORDER “The Travelers” here: https://link.amazon/B0e2KZSJW

📚 CHECK OUT other books by Greg Howard here: https://link.amazon/B003PPbCW

🌐 Visit Greg Howard’s website: https://www.greghowardbooks.com

🎧 LISTEN on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1CvEfBcK1xALUswAkOwlNf?si=98cea0829ca145e6

🍎 LISTEN on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-literal-journey/id1839517342

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#GregHoward #TheTravelers #lgbtq #ALiteralJourney #authorinterview #booksforkids #middlegradebooks #writingadvice #booktube

In this wonderfully eerie episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with horror author D. W. Gillespie, to explore childhood fears, Halloween magic, and the persistence it has taken him to write these haunting stories for young readers.

D. W. Gillespie has published numerous books—and huge chunks of those books were written in his car… on his lunch breaks. D. W.’s journey is a wonderfully honest reminder that creative work rarely (if ever) happens under perfect conditions. Success doesn’t always arrive when (or how) we expect it, and sometimes the only thing we can control is whether or not we continue to put one foot (or one word) in front of another.

During the interview, D. W. and I talk about his books, the magic of Halloween, monsters and childhood imagination, cursed arcade games, Southern Gothic horror, the morality often hidden inside horror stories, and the frightening (and humorous) comparisons between Frankenstein’s monster and AI.

But, no spoilers! You'll have to listen to the FULL episode to learn more!

Whether you're a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone pursuing a dream in less-than-perfect circumstances, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

ABOUT D. W. GILLESPIE:

Born and raised in Middle Tennessee, D.W. Gillespie has been daydreaming for as long as he can remember. His first short story was in second grade, and it involved (unsurprisingly) monsters wreaking havoc on some unsuspecting victim. Some things never change, and now D.W. writes a healthy mixture of horror, sci-fi, and supernatural fiction.

He began writing seriously in 2002, and after winning the MacDougal Award for his short story "The Home", he's since been published many times in print and online. His body of work includes the novels Still Dark, The Toy Thief, and One by One. In recent years, he’s moved into middle grade horror, and his novels include Give Me Something Good to Eat, Grin, and The Doll House.

💀 ORDER “The Doll House” here: https://amzn.to/4x91P12

📚 CHECK OUT other books by D. W. Gillespie here: https://amzn.to/3U3XfT9

🌐 Visit D. W. Gillespie’s website: https://www.dwgillespie.com/

🎧 LISTEN on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1CvEfBcK1xALUswAkOwlNf?si=98cea0829ca145e6

🍎 LISTEN on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-literal-journey/id1839517342

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#horror #author #aliteraljourney #halloween #chucky

How do you learn what is your heart is TRULY hungry for?

In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Jacqueline West, the New York Times bestselling author of The Books of Elsewhere, The Collectors, Last Things, Long Lost, and her latest: Black Point.

Guys, I gotta admit: I REALLY enjoyed this conversation. (Jacqueline's"author origin story" resonated with me.) Long before she was a bestselling author, Jacquline West was *secretly* writing stories and hiding them in her sock drawer. She did that for years until one day she realized that being an opera singer wasn't what her heart was hungry for. She didn't want to sing the words that other people had written, she wanted to write them (talk about a plot twist)!

During our conversation, we talk about the novel she almost deleted (but eventually became the start of The Books of Elsewhere), a very real (very creepy) house that inspired the series, why she finds setting so important to her stories, and her new folk-horror novel Black Point—a story laced with the unsettling idea that maybe human beings are far scarier than any ghosts we may encounter...

But, no spoilers! You'll have to listen to the FULL episode to learn more!

Whether you're a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone trying to find out what their heart is hungry for, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About JACQUELINE WEST:

Jacqueline West is the author of the NYT-bestselling middle grade series The Books of Elsewhere, the Schneider Family Award Honor Book The Collectors, the YA horror novel Last Things, the Minnesota Book Award-winning middle grade mystery Long Lost, the recently published YA horror novel Black Point, and several other odd and twisty books for young readers. Her poetry and short fiction for adults appear in a variety of publications. She lives in Red Wing, Minnesota.

💀 ORDER "Black Point" here: https://amzn.to/4wyccdr

📚 CHECK OUT other books by Jacqueline West here: https://amzn.to/4hAF3u6

🌐 Visit Jacqueline West's website: https://www.jacquelinewest.com/

🎧 LISTEN on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1CvEfBcK1xALUswAkOwlNf?si=98cea0829ca145e6

🍎 LISTEN on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-literal-journey/id1839517342

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#horror #author #aliteraljourney #halloween #suspense #socks