Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson

In this inspiring episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson , I sit down with Katie Gigliotti—teacher, illustrator, bestselling children’s book author, and self-publishing mentor. Katie shares how her roles as a mom, educator, and creative spark her storytelling and illustration process. We discussed the personal inspirations behind her books, her upcoming playful series about color, and wha...

In this inspiring episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson , I sat down with Dr. Latonya Peterson, author, educator, and community leader, to explore how storytelling can be a powerful tool for building emotional resilience and self-confidence in children. With deep roots in Georgia and a career dedicated to leadership and justice, Dr. Peterson and her husband co-author heartfelt children’s...

Children’s author interview: Suzy Duffy on United Tales of America, 50 fairy tales for 50 states blending SEL for kids, geography for kids, and engaging stories for reluctant readers. With 2M+ video views, 7 published books, and multiple #1 Amazon bestsellers, Suzy shares how a decade in Boston with five children sparked a gratitude project that’s become a movement. Discover how Suzy and illustrat...

In this episode, we explore Bullying into Bravery with Christine B. Bianco (also known as Christina Del Monte), the author and illustrator of the whimsical Dorothy Dustbucket series and the fun, heartfelt Frog, Fish & Worm. Christine’s journey, from nurse to TV designer to self-published author, is a powerful story of creativity, resilience, and purpose. Christine shares how she uses art and h...

Children’s book author Melissa Burch shares how she launched a fully funded Kickstarter campaign in just two weeks. In this interview, she explains the systems, tools, and strategies that helped bring her books "Whatever You Do, Don’t Brush Your Teeth" and "Stick With Me" to life. If you’re a children’s book author looking for creative ways to publish and market your work, Meli...

In Part Two of Secrets of Hawthorne Manor: Behind the Scenes , JoAnn dives into the challenges of writing her very first middle-grade mystery. From pacing short, suspenseful chapters to weaving in cliffhangers, discover the writing journey that brought this spooky story to life. Highlights from this episode: Spooky discoveries: a hole in the deck, eerie wall carvings, a self-playing piano, thunder...

In this inspiring episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson , I sit down with award-winning author and illustrator Kaelen Felix , the brilliant mind behind Wings and Whispers: Tales of Friendship . We explore how she turned a time of uncertainty into a powerful story about kindness, friendship, and transformation, with her nieces featured as characters in her new book! We also discussed her...

Step behind the scenes of JoAnn M. Dickinson’s middle-grade mystery, Secrets of Hawthorne Manor . In Part One of this special mini-series, JoAnn shares how her characters came to life: Jack, the new kid with a mysterious family past and a deep tie to Hawthorne Manor. Twins Oliver and Olivia—the bold leader and clever strategist. Their friends Violet and Ethan gd humor. ✨ Learn how each character...

In this heartfelt episode, debut picture book author Farial English shares the deeply personal inspiration behind her upcoming release, The Boy Who Wanted to Fly , based on her cousin Amna, who contracted polio as a child but never stopped dreaming of running, climbing, and soaring through the sky. Set in a screen-free world of books, handmade kites, and imagination, Farial’s story is a celebratio...

In this heartwarming episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson , I sit down with debut author Christine Devane , a former elementary school teacher turned children’s book writer, to talk about her journey from shy child to published author. Christine shares how growing up in North Andover, Massachusetts, surrounded by books, family, and a collection of lucky elephants, shaped her love for st...

In this heartfelt episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson , we’re joined by author and educator Diane Henrique , who shares the powerful story behind her debut children’s book and how it became a source of strength during one of the most difficult times in her life. When Diane was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, her decision to publish a book became more than a creative goal; it beca...

From whispered bedtime stories to bold, empowering picture books, Neha Moghe Roy, founder of ChatterChirps, has built a world where kindness, courage, and curiosity take center stage. In this heartwarming episode, Neha shares how storytelling with her daughter inspired books like No! Stop! Tell! and All the Sports I Can Play , which help children understand their emotions, build confidence, and st...

In this solo episode of Beyond the Book , host JoAnn Dickinson shares one of the most important lessons she’s learned from interviewing countless authors — the critical need to control your own Amazon KDP account . Whether you publish independently or work with a hybrid publisher, having your own KDP login means you can: ✅ Schedule free eBook promotions ✅ Add and update A+ Content ✅ Monitor you...

In this inspiring episode of Beyond the Book , host JoAnn Dickinson welcomes award-winning author Deanna Bussadori , the creative mind behind The Super Big Brother and Sister Series . Her stories are rooted in real-life moments with her children and focus on helping young readers feel seen, supported, and emotionally understood especially during big family transitions like becoming an older siblin...

In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson chats with Travis Peterson indie author, designer, and now author coach, about his creative journey and mission to support fellow indie authors. We explore: ✔️ How his daughter inspired Ada and the Helpers , a story about hearing loss and inclusivity ✔️ Why Never Ever Build a Blanket Fort uses the Armor of God to fuel imagination and faith ✔️...

What makes a child hide the truth, and how can stories help them heal? In this episode, author and educator Vicky Phillips shares the powerful inspiration behind Dottie’s Tall Tales and how imagination became a safe space for one young girl to be herself. Inspired by a former student in foster care, Dottie's Tall Tales follows a young girl who spins wild stories to hide a truth she’s not ready...

In this fun and creative episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, I’m joined by illustrator and award-winning author Harleigh Manske of Doppy’s Official and Doppy’s Children’s Books to talk about how we brought two special books to life: 🎒 John’s Camp-tacular Activity Book 🚀 Rylee’s Space-tacular Activity Book We’re pulling back the curtain on:*The creative process behind activity book d...

Meet Brittany Phillips — teacher, mom, and author of The Boy in Boots and The Mouse House, as she shares how childhood reading struggles, outdoor adventures, and her son Colton all inspired her storytelling journey. In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with teacher-turned-author Brittany Phillips , the creative mind behind The Boy in Boots and The Mouse House . Brittany shares how her early strug...

Get ready to laugh and learn in this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson , as award-winning author and longtime educator Frances Mackay shares how she turns silly ideas into powerful stories that make learning fun. From Nate’s Noisy Nose to Baby Worries and Noisy Animal ABC , Frances explains how her teaching background inspires every page, and how she cleverly weaves in humor, emotion...

When she’s not caring for patients as a registered nurse, award-winning author Bonnie Kostan is crafting children’s books that inspire empathy, confidence, and curiosity. In this episode, Bonnie joins Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson to share how her career in nursing led her to storytelling, and how she uses her books to teach meaningful life lessons in fun, creative ways. We discussed the he...

What happens when a rare and misunderstood allergy changes your life? For Erin Sherry, it became the start of a powerful new chapter. In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson , I sit down with Erin V. Sherry — educator, mom, and author of Alpha-Gal Gal Takes on the World — to talk about how her difficult journey with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) led to an empowering children’s book that...

Jennifer Nestor on Empowering Young Readers! In this uplifting episode, I sat down with children’s author and communications professional Jennifer Nestor shares the powerful inspiration behind her debut picture book Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality . What started as a story of self-discovery became a much-needed message of mental health, courage, and acceptance —especially for young rea...

Behind the Scenes with a Rhyming Pro in Children’s Publishing! In this episode of " Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson." I sits down with her longtime editor and rhyme expert, Robin Katz , to talk all things children’s book editing, from structure and metering to fun facts and emotional beats. Robin is the founder of Word Wiz Editing and specializes in helping authors craft engaging, development...

In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson , I sit down with self-published author, screenwriter, and mother Vix Browne to talk about the emotional power behind her stories. We discuss her heartfelt children's books— The Day My Clock Broke , The Day My Monster Spoke , and The Night My Feelings Spoke —and how they were inspired by her journey helping her son navigate big emotions. Vix...

In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson , I sit down with author and educator Maria Cedolini Thompson , whose book Mistakes Are Gifts was inspired by a powerful real-life moment in her classroom. When a new student was afraid to participate out of fear of making a mistake, Maria knew it was time to create a story that would help all children see mistakes differently. Mistakes Are G...