A Literal Journey

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 writin...

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...

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...

“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 fasci...

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...

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 st...

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 re...

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...

You may write alone, but according to author Allison Anderson, you can’t write a book by yourself... In this funny and thoughtful episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with fantasy author Allison Anderson, author of The Cartographer’s War series and the Children of Ash series, to talk about the strange and sometimes chaotic journey of reading stories to actually writing them. But FIRST! It shou...

When our dreams *refuse* to arrive on OUR schedule, patience isn’t simply waiting—it's “walking forward with hope.” In this inspiring (and hilarious!) episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with multi-award-winning author Kaela Rivera to discuss the experiences, family history, and years of persistence that have shaped her journey as an author. Kaela shares the inspiration behind Cece Rios...

Hardship didn't destroy George Washington...it forged him. In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Diederik Hoogstraten, the screenwriter behind Young Washington, and talk about the extraordinary journey that transformed an uncertain young man into one of history's greatest leaders. Throughout the interview, Diederik and I discuss Washington's failures, his moments of...

The BEST stories don't just entertain us... they remind us of what's TRUE. In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, award-winning author Emma C. Fox shares how an old copy of The Hobbit, a vivid dream, and a lifelong love of history and fairy tales have shaped her journey as an author. From the enchanted forests of medieval Germany, to the vast and varied landscapes of Siberia, Emma C. Fox...

The best stories don't have to be "perfect"—they just have to be honest... In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, author C.M. Cornwell shares the winding path that led to her novel, The Memory Spinner and the lessons she's learned about creativity, grief, perseverance, and most importantly—hope. From discovering her own creative spark, to rejection and eventual publication, and...

“There’s so much beauty in the world and in our lives if we have the eyes to see it.” -Emily Bain Murphy In this meaning-FILLED episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Emily Bain Murphy—author of The Disappearances, Enchanted Hill, The Ivory City,  Splinters of Scarlet, and The Lightseekers Series—for a conversation about hope, beauty, and the power of stories to shape our lives. During the...

In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Mary Averling, the award-winning author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog, The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay, and the The Burn Beast, for a conversation about scary stories, childhood memories, and the hope and heart in middle grade horror. During the interview, Mary shares part of her own literal journey—from living in England and Canada, to learning tha...

When the world feels dark, cruel, and dehumanizing, a good story can help us hold onto hope... In this fascinating episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Cristin Williams, author of the historical fantasy novel The Whisper of Stars. Cristin shares her own literal journey as a writer—including the years of "writing in obscurity" before her publishing her first novel. Along the way,...

“And remember that revisions is where the magic happens. That’s where you’re taking that … piece of coal and turning it into a diamond.” -Janette Rallison In this thoughtful and funny episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with author Janette Rallison (also known as C. J. Hill). Janette explains how her daughter's experience in school was one of her primary motivations to write books for te...

This episode is for people who struggle creating something meaningful *especially* when life feels chaotic and uncertain... In this delightful episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with award-winning author Joan Reardon to talk about her remarkable path to publication. Always a devoted reader, Joan resolved to write her own Middle Grade Novels *while simultaneously* navigating the COVID shutdow...

Most writers are told to “write what you know.” Stuart Gibbs encourages authors to write what fascinates them... In this fascinating episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with bestselling author Stuart Gibbs—the author behind Spy School, FunJungle, Charlie Thorne, Once Upon A Tim, and The Last Musketeer series. Stuart shares his incredible journey from writing stories as a child (showcasing his...

The best stories begin with a little bit of mystery... In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY (easily one of my favorites 🤫), I sit down with Ben Guterson, author of the bestselling Winterhouse trilogy, The World-Famous Nine, and The Einstein's of Vista Point. We talk about Ben's journey into writing, his interest in puzzles and wordplay, and his love of creating mystery-filled adventures...

How does a bestselling author turn history into unforgettable novels? In this fascinating episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with USA Today bestselling author Heather B. Moore—a PROLIFIC, inspirational writer whose work spans several genres. Heather shares the story behind her writing career: from her lifelong love of reading, to her discovery that yes, even people from UTAH can become autho...

“Once you see how big the world is and all the options that are there, you stop feeling kind of doomed, right?” In this fascinating episode, J. W. Ocker pulls back the curtain on his unconventional (and very literal) writing journey, from blogging about odd roadside attractions on "Odd Things I’ve Seen" (OTIS) to winning the Edgar Award (I was trying so hard not to fan-girl)! Ocker has b...

“Scary stories give kids a chance to be brave without any risk to themselves.” -Wendy Parris In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Wendy Parris, the author of middle-grade novels Field of Screams and Stage Fright (side note: I just finished finished Field of Screams, it's fantastic!). During the interview, Wendy explains how scary stories are a great way for young readers to e...

When you feel like you stick out more than you fit in, a good story can remind you that belonging isn’t about blending in... it’s about embracing your voice and cranking up the volume so you can find your people! 🙌 In this heartfelt episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Erin Soderberg Downing, an author of more than 75 books for young readers (you read that right)! During the interview, E...

When we're tempted to feel discouraged, a good story can remind us that we're not powerless and that our most difficult chapters don’t have to be the final ones… In this delightful episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Julie Wright, the prolific author of more than 30 novels (across numerous genres). Julie opens up about her own literal journey as a writer—beginning with encourag...