The Children's Book Author Podcast

Send us a textAdam Wallace, New York Times best selling author joins me on the podcast today and tells us all about how he discovered his love of writing children's books and today combines self-publishing and traditional publishing to make a full time living. He is incredible at doing school visits and gives the best advice, so if you're considering doing any - listen to this episode!We do talk about his course on School Visits, but this is no longer available unfortunately. However you can find his free resource on the topic and more at: https://www.adam-wallace-books.com/

Send us a textWelcome back to the show in 2023, and I have more incredibly informative, and inspirational interviews planned for you this year. Unfortunately I am still tackling some technical difficulties in my search for the perfect way to record interviews, but I will not give up until I get there. So in todays interview there were several glitches, but it was totally worth persevering as I learned so much from today's guest. Without further ado, I was privileged to interview Jessie Cunniffe who is a professional book blurb writer and coach.In this interview you'll learn the secrets of salesworthy book blurbs and discover how to implement them in your own blurbs.Jessie has generously offered 10% off her Book Blurb Magic course and all of her book blurb services with the code ELENAPAIGE - so get blurbed right now. Enjoy the show and learning all about book blurbs! ABOUT JESSIE:Jessie Cunniffe* is a professional blurb writer and book blurb coach from Sydney, Australia. A passionate advocate of the indie author community, Jessie has dedicated herself to taking the pain out of blurb-writing with her custom blurb-writing and critiquing services and two signature courses: Book Blurb Magic and The Spicy Blurb Playbook. When she’s not writing or dreaming up the next BBM product, Jessie can be found in high school classrooms with a guitar in hand, and has been a regular contributor to the arts pages of one of Australia’s most highly respected newspapers for the past decade. On the occasion that she manages to snatch some reading time, she’s probably buried in P. G. Wodehouse or Agatha Christie.*Pronounced ‘k-NIFF’IMPORTANT LINKS:REMEMBER TO USE THE CODE ELENAPAIGE to get 10% off the Book Blurb Magic Course and all of Jessie's services.*Website: www.bookblurbmagic.com Email: jessie@bookblurbmagic.comFREE blurb cheatsheet: https://adoracopyediting.thrivecart.com/anatomy-of-a-book-blurb FREE spicy secrets romance blurb mini-course: www.spicyblurbplaybook.com Instagram: @bookblurbmagicFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookblurbmagic*I've included Jessie's products on this page because I have personally bought and used the Book Blurb Magic course, and want you to also gain the benefit, so if you take action, I will earn some coffee money, ie it's an affiliate link. Remember to use code ELENAPAIGE to get 10% off.  

Send us a textIn today's interview I overcame many technological difficulties and blocks to get the most amazing wisdom and advice from author Edward Trayer - it was well worth the many re-takes and effort involved. We got there in the end and talked about The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, a review and award service that was founded by Edward and today enjoys great success and helps authors become "award-winning." The wonderful thing about this award is that your book is reviewed and/or judged by the age group you've written it for! As well as this we talk about how to write a book a child will truly enjoy and how to do school visits successfully and make them a big part of your marketing efforts. A brilliant interview from start to finish, enjoy today's show. ABOUT EDWARD:Edward Trayer, writing under the pen name Billy Bob Buttons and Hickory Crowl, is the author of eighteen children, YA and adult books, including the 2014 UK People´s Book Prize Winner and UK bestseller, I Think I Murdered Miss. He is also the organiser of The Wishing Shelf Book Awards.Important Links:The Wishing Shelf Book Awards Website - https://www.thewsa.co.uk/Billy Bob Buttons - https://www.bbbuttons.co.uk/Billy Bob Buttons on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/billybobbuttonsThe Wishing Shelf Book Awards Facebook Group 

Vinh Giang, a keynote speaker, entrepreneur, magician, and communication teacher, shares his incredible journey from the world of magic to mastering the art of communication. He delves into the vital role communication plays for authors, offering practical tips for enhancing audience connection. Vinh discusses transforming vocal styles for impact and emphasizes the balance between technical mastery and emotional engagement. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their creativity, adapt to challenges, and continuously grow in their communication skills.

Send us a textWant to become a better Children's Book Writer? Then you don't want to miss this episode with Australian author, Michael Wagner. Michael Wagner is the author of more than 80 books for children including the much loved Maxx Rumble series (still in print after 17 years), the bestselling The Undys series, the So Wrong series (shortlisted for the 2019 and 2020 YABBA, KOALA and KROC Awards), and the CBCA Notable picture books Why I Love Footy, Why I Love Summer and Bear Make Den (co-authored with his wife Jane Godwin).Before becoming a full-time author, Michael spent ten years as a radio broadcaster with the ABC, wrote and produced animation for television, wrote comedy for ABC Radio National and 3RRR, grew up in a housing commission flat, and played in a band that almost became famous. He’s the father of two and married to fellow author Jane Godwin.Connect with him here:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wagstheauthor/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/michael.wagner.10441861/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/wags138/Website - http://michaelwagner.com.au/

Send us a textI had a blast interviewing illustrator, top Skillshare teacher, and speaker, Tom Froese. Although we are talking about drawing and illustration in this interview, as an author I know you will learn many valuable skills and attitudes that will help you find your style, overcome creative pain points in the journey, and keep going until you become a professional children’s book author.More about Tom:Tom Froese is an award winning illustrator, teacher, and speaker. He loves making images that make people happy. In his work, you will experience a flurry of joyful colours, spontaneous textures, and quirky shapes. Freelancing since 2013, Tom has worked for brands and businesses all over the world. Esteemed clients include Yahoo!, Airbnb, GQ France, and Abrams Publishing. He is currently taking on highly creative projects of all kinds, including maps, murals, picture books, packaging, editorial, and advertising. Tom graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design with a B.Des (honours) in 2009.As a teacher, Tom loves to inspire fellow creatives to become creatively empowered. He is a Top Teacher on Skillshare, where tens of thousands of students have learned his unique approaches to illustration. As a speaker, Tom is a passionate voice in the creative industry, aiming to inspire and equip the next generation of creatives and commercial artists. Tom has been invited to deliver workshops and lectures across the US and Canada, including ICON 10 in Detroit and Skillshare HQ in New York. In 2020,* he will be a curated TEDx speaker, where he will share his message of creative empowerment to a global audience. Tom also has a YouTube channel dedicated to inspiring and informing folks interested in the creative industry.Tom is represented in the UK/Europe by Making Pictures and in the US by Dot Array.FIND HIM HERE:Website: tomfroese.comTeaching: tomfroese.com/teachingBlog: tomfroese.medium.comIG: @mrtomfroeseYouTube tomfroese.com/youtubeThe Style Class: https://skl.sh/3mFgU5qDrawing Toward Illustration: https://skl.sh/30viGwW 

Send us a textToday's episode is with author Kate Gordon, and we talk a lot about how to be a self-starter and go-getter! Kate is a true example of deciding she wants to do something, then setting off to learn how to be successful at it. She followed her passion for writing and ponies and created a wonderful side hustle, which one day she hopes will be her full time career, and I'm sure with her determination, courage and perseverance it will be. I hope you learn a lot, get inspired and enjoy the show. More about Kate:Kate Gordon spent 90% of her childhood reading books about ponies and magical adventures. The other 10% she spent galloping around the garden on an imaginary horse – until she was able to ride a real pony of her own. Now she’s penning fantastical adventure stories about brave friends, ponies and unicorns.Kate is inspired by the magical mountains of Central Otago in New Zealand’s South Island where she lives with her husband, three dogs, and two cats. She’s currently working on the second book in the Unicorn King series called Sasha and the Warrior Unicorn.Kate is also the founder of the online bookstore, Kiwi Kids Read Kiwi Books, which is dedicated to supporting New Zealand authors writing for children and teens, and helping showcase their fantastic books to Kiwi book buyers.FIND KATE HERE:https://www.kategordonauthor.comFIND KIWI KIDS READ KIWI BOOKS HERE:https://kiwikidsbooks.nz

Send us a textThis week's episode is with my first Musician on the show - Professional Drummer Ben Hendry. Ben is also a Music Director, teacher & collaborator, and has an interest in Performance Theory and Stage Craft for jazz musicians. We talked about all this and more in this episode and I came away feeling that I'm allowed to dream big, put all my eggs in one basket and keep going until I get there. I hope you feel that way too. Enjoy the show. MORE ABOUT BEN....A stalwart of the Melbourne jazz and improvised music scene, Ben is one ofMelbourne's most sought after drummers. Renowned for his delicate touch at the drums, he has graced the stages in the UK and North America - a drummer who can support and contribute to every type of music, from hilarious comedy acts to driving a jazz group. Given time, he also teaches in schools. Ben has performed throughout Australia and the UK in clubssuch as the Basement (Sydney) and Bennetts Lane (Melbourne), he has alsoplayed at major events and venues like the Sydney Opera House and and theMelbourne Concert Hall, as well as major festivals like the Wangaratta Jazzand Blues Festival, the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and the fringeFestivals in Edinburgh, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. Ben was a member of the winning ensembles of the Athenaeum Awards for musical excellence in 2003 and 2004.

Send us a textWOW trust me you CANNOT miss this interview with Lael Stone. It will fill you with courage and tenacity and belief in yourself, motivation and creative superhuman power... I promise. All this and more in this interview. If you only listen to one interview this year, make this the one!Introducing LAEL STONE:As a  champion of connection and creating harmony in families, Lael Stone is an educator, TEDx speaker, author, mother, and parenting counselor who has been working with families for over 17 years. As an Aware Parenting Instructor, she facilitates workshops and support groups that empower parents to create connections and stronger relationships with their children. Lael spent 15 years working in childbirth education and postnatal care, working with couples through pregnancy, birth and the first few years of parenting as a Doula, Calmbirth Practitioner and Postnatal trauma Counsellor. She is the Creator and Director of the About Birth Online Education Program, a pioneering way to learn about birth and early parenting.She is also the co-creator of Woodline Primary School, an innovative new school based on emotional wellbeing and connection. Lael is the co-host of The Aware Parenting Podcast and a sought-after public speaker who talks candidly about her experiences and her great passion; creating wellness in families through connection and communication. She is excited to be teaming up with The Resilience Project to deliver presentations around raising resilient children all over Australia in 2021.She is the mother of three big kids - who are teenagers and young adults and she is currently putting all her research into practice with them!You can find out more about her work at:  http://www.laelstone.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/laelstone/https://www.instagram.com/laelstone/https://www.woodlineprimary.com.au/https://www.aboutbirth.com.au/The Aware Parenting Podcast - over 240,000 downloads Tedx Talk - How to Raise emotionally Intelligent Children - over 550,000 views   

Send us a textChildren's Book Author Mirtis Conci joins me on the show today and we talk about how its not just about what you write but how you write it. She talks about her experience of writing for children, and needing to go into her own inner child in order to write something with love that children can relate to and feel the emotion of. Enjoy the show!Mirtis Conci is a Children’s Book Author. She loves creating magic by playing with words. She deeply believes in their strength. Words are wings that show us dreams and make them possible, if we are ready to listen to them. She writes stories for young human beings, because they need to build strong wings. What is better than a good story that talks about courage through fear, respect through empathy, love through self confidence? Graduated in Foreign Languages and Literature, Mirtis learned one important thing: it doesn’t matter how many languages you speak, but how you communicate.That’s why she would like to write on her Identity Card: Earth´s citizen, European, born and grew up in Italy, currently living in Germany. Here you can meet her at: www.mirtisconci.comAnd socialise with her on Facebook HERE