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Emma gushes about the new middle-grade book from Tim Cummings. Alice the Cat is an urban fantasy story in the tradition of Neil Gaiman, Tim Burton, and Caroline Thompson. Find out why this book is worth a read no matter what age you are.

Website: timcummings.ink

Twitter: @Cummingstime
Instagram: @octospark
Facebook: @maximumcummings
TikTok: @timcummingswrites

You’ve probably seen them in your social media feed, hilarious comics revealing the inner thoughts of cats, dogs, and other animals by comic artist Jimmy Craig. We talk to Craig about his process for deciding which of his They Can Talk comics made it into the book and why making a “gift book” just makes sense for him.

Genalea Barker is the first to admit that she’s a hot mess, but that hasn’t stopped her from signing contracts with two indie presses for three novels in 18 months. Writing across genres in the stolen moments between family obligations, Genalea calls her work “a sad song in a minor key.” She talks about her first novel, “Life After” and why she keeps writing despite the chaos. Genalea's Website: https://genalea.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @genalea_barker
Instagram: @genalea_barker
Facebook: @genaleabarker

Alex Kenna studied both art and law before deciding to write her first novel. So, it should surprise no one that her first novel, What Meets the Eye, is a thriller centered around a work of art. She talks to us about her publisher, Crooked Lane, and how she’s dealing with some unexpected publishing challenges while also wrangling a toddler.

Website: alexkenna.com

Publisher’s Website: crookedlanebooks.com

Twitter: @AlexKenna9
Instagram: @crookedlanebooks
Facebook: @crookedlanebooks

 L.J. Stanton is the author of The Dying Sun and co-host of the Scribe’s Journey Podcast. She’s also working to shift how people with disabilities show up in fantasy stories. Stanton’s writing from experience, as someone diagnosed with Ehler-Danlos Syndrome who has a service animal and uses mobility aids. Hear how fiction can help people with disabilities feel seen.

Mentioned in this podcast: 

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - Symptoms and causes

5 Things to Know about Service Dogs - NEADS World Class Service Dogs

L.J.'s Website: swordandboard.gg

Patreon: patreon.com/ljstanton

Twitter: @stanton_lj
Instagram: @stanton.lj
Facebook: @stanton.lj
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/6fWjVyc2z7
TikTok: @ljstantonauthor

Where do authors get their ideas? For children’s picture book author Sheryl Bass, it started with a sneeze. Her book Baby Dragon's Big Sneeze came from a silly thought caused by a tickle in her nose. In short, the idea was the easy part. She partnered with a book coach to get illustrations made and her book published. Hear how it all came together.

Psychologist Kacey Rayburn comes from Appalachia and a family she describes as “granny witches and gravediggers.” She tells us how she mixed this all together to create her gothic fantasy, Sing Our Bones Eternal, and then built a street team to help with book promotion and pre-launch. Plus, we discuss the benefits of bibliotherapy.