Gather, a Kidlit Podcast

Jennifer talks about what aspiring writers can expect to learn at the Nuts and Bolts of Science Writing workshop, such as selecting a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) topic that stands out, and developing an amazing hook that everyone will love. Two of Jennifer's book projects that will be coming out this fall include, "Save the Crash-test Dummies" about the history of c...

Heather, a STEM writer, talks about breaking boundaries in nonfiction, the practice of finding tone and voice with imagery, sound mapping during nature walks, writing in trees, and her up and coming books about poop and nature observations!

Baptiste and Miranda talk about writing creative science, rhythm and lyricism in the cadence of your book, and making your writing palatable for an impactful and engaging story for kids to become inspired. Baptist talks about his debut book, "The Field", an ode to his childhood life in the Caribbean. Miranda and Baptist also discuss the collaboration and research involved in their latest book, "I...

Leslie and Darcy talk about writing picture books and what their workshop is all about, including format, dummies, word choice, and much much more. Leslie's picture book, "Are Your Stars Like My Stars" from Sterling releases January 2020. Darcy's latest picture book, "Pollen: Darwin's 130 Year Prediction (Moments in Science)" was released March 2019.

Writing teacher, picture book author, and novelist Sarah Aronson talks about what to do when you get stuck when writing your novel, fellowship, her personal writing practice, and her latest picture book biography, "Just Like Rube Goldberg: The Incredible True Story of the Man Behind the Machines."

Padma talks about voice, her middle grade novel, "The Bridge Home", and how she drew from her own childhood experiences to connect readers to a message that is not only about support for our families, but how they can also be created.

Nicole and Rob talk about a round-table critique method that includes the author in the conversation.

Aram talks about overcoming her fear of public speaking to help her develop a successful school presentation.

Nancy discusses the value in having your entire novel read and critiqued rather than just the first pages. She also discusses the artful technique of cutting the unnecessary words to make your story more enriched. Nancy is the author of ten young adult novels and has been writing for over 20 years.

Na An and Lilliam talk about getting your story unlocked, world building, and doing the research to make the most out of your story. 

Melissa, a special guest at the Whole Novel workshop, talks about writing prompts and how they can be used to inspire your writing practice.

Jennifer talks about a workshop designed for mid-career authors and illustrators looking to continuously improve their craft.

Christine and Deb discuss their various roles in the children's publishing world, as well as their experience with Writing the Unreal: A Whole Novel Workshop in Fantasy and Speculative Fiction.

Get to know Angela Dominguez, the 2019 Highlights Foundation Visual Artist of the Year whose work is currently on display at our retreat center. Angela discusses her latest book, "Sing, Don't Cry".