KidLit Craft Podcast

Anne-Marie talks with Rocky Callen, author of A Breath Too Late, about writing about difficult topics, including suicide, suicidal ideation, and domestic violence. We cover what to consider in drafting and revision, as well as how to take care of yourself as an author. If you or someone you know is struggling with any of these issues, you can reach out to the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline at...

Anne-Marie is joined by freelance editor Denise Santomauro. We break down what a developmental edit is, why you might want one, and how to work with a freelance editor, from initial contact through contracts to the final edit letter. Denise works as a freelance editor and book coach. You can find her at denisesantomauro.com .   Things we talk about: Angellela Editorial Reedsy Editorial Freelance A...

Anne-Marie is joined by middle grade author Lindsay Lackey and KidLit Craft co-editor Kristi Wright to talk all things writing retreats! What conditions make it possible to get work done, how to plan your own writing retreat, and favorite writing retreat snacks. Find Lindsay Lackey at lindsaylackey.com and on Instagram @lindsaywrites. Find Kristi Wright at kristiwrightauthor.com and on Instagram @...

Anne-Marie sits down with middle grade author Michael Leali to talk everything MFA: what programs are out there, why you might want one, our MFA stories, how to apply, and Michael's new MFA in Writing for Young Readers Bootcamp, offered through University of San Francisco. REGISTER FOR MFA BOOT CAMP, taught by Michael Leali Things we talk about: MFA Programs in writing for children Vermont College...

Episode 12 In our last episode of season 2, Erin and Anne-Marie take a closer look at THE END of Thieves’ Gambit, specifically, how Kayvion Lewis creates a satisfying ending for this novel and at the same time sets up the sequel.   Han Solo in carbonite The Twilight series Kurt Vonnegut–The Shape of Stories How I Met Your Mother–Slap Bet   Upcoming KidLit Craft Events “The Sticky Note Plot,” taugh...

Episode 11   We’re gathering the people with essential skills, making a plan, anticipating obstacles, doing reconnaissance, and pulling off a heist. Erin and Anne-Marie break down the elements needed for a heist and analyze how Kayvion Lewis designed and executed the (writing of the) sarcophagus heist in Thieves’ Gambit.   Things we talk about: Ocean’s Eleven Ask the Author Book Club with Lindsay...

Episode 10 Pacing scenes and chapters in an action/thriller might seem to be all about how to move through the story as fast as possible, but in this episode, Anne-Marie and Erin focus on controlling the pace, why you want slower moments, and how to move fast without sacrificing clarity or emotional resonance.   Things we talk about: Dopesick Henry James Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton The Golden Bow...

The pacing of a story determines how a story feels to read, and writers get to control that pacing by placing story elements at certain moments in the book and by how they move from chapter to chapter or scene to scene. In this episode, Anne-Marie and Erin explore how Kayvion Lewis keeps the pace fast and the tension high.   Books we talk about: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Nina Laco...

Action scenes in a thriller novel need to be fast-paced, but fast-paced means more than lots of really quick actions in a row. Erin and Anne-Marie break down three different kinds of action scenes in Thieves’ Gambit to find tips and tricks for hitting the perfect sweet spot of pacing.   Books we talk about: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins   Register for our Ask the Author Book Club at kidlitcr...

Like character arcs and story arcs, relationship arcs can span the course of the novel, explore themes, reveal and challenge the main character, and complicate plot lines. In Episode 7, Erin and Anne-Marie examine Ross’s friendship arc with Noelia and her romance arc with Devroe.   Things we mention in this episode KLC’s Ask the Author Book Club, February 25 guest author is Michael Leali Our episo...

Introducing a lot of characters can lead to a muddle in readers’ minds. Erin and Anne-Marie explore why you may want to use a big cast, identify pitfalls to avoid, and break down how Kayvion Lewis introduces the nine teen thieves in Thieves’ Gambit in a way that draws readers in rather than confuses them.   Books we mention in this episode (affiliate links): One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus The...

In Episode 5, Erin and Anne-Marie examine the complicated family relationships in Thieves’ Gambit and explore why to use them, how to introduce them for maximum effect, and how to leverage those relationships to create more tension without taking away the main character’s agency.   Things we mention in the podcast: Our new website! kidlitcraft.com Writing Middle Grade for Picture Book Authors clas...

In Season 1, we talked about internal and external desire, but how does it work when the character wants one thing at the beginning and switches to wanting something else? In Season 2, Episode 4, Erin and Anne-Marie dive into Kayvion Lewis’s YA thriller, Thieves’ Gambit, and dig into why it the main character Ross's shifting desire line works, as she goes from wanting to making friends at a summer...

The opening of a book establishes The World As It Is, and Kayvion Lewis’s Thieves’ Gambit is no exception. Lewis masterfully establishes Ross Quest’s world of international thievery and how she relates to it, including her desire to escape into something more normal.   Get your copy of THIEVES’ GAMBIT from Bookshop.org and support the podcast Find more content like this at kidlitcraft.com   Suppor...

We’re starting with theme! Kayvion Lewis introduces the theme of TRUST in the very first sentence of Thieves’ Gambit. In this episode, Erin and Anne-Marie explore the different strategies Lewis uses to explore the theme through characters, situations, and plot twists that challenge the main character Ross’s view of the world.   Get your copy of THIEVES’ GAMBIT from Bookshop.org and support the pod...

Introducing Season 2! We're taking a deep dive into Kavyion Lewis's YA thriller THIEVES’ GAMBIT. Find out why we chose it and what we have in store for this season.   Get your copy of THIEVES’ GAMBIT from Bookshop.org and support the podcast Find more content like this at kidlitcraft.com   Support KidLit Craft   Patreon Buy T-shirts and sweatshirts (click on “small logo” or “big logo” for a range...

In this second part of our interview with Martine Leavitt, the author of Buffalo Flats, she tells us about the mountains that inspire her, how to put emotion on the page, what the heck an objective correlative is, and much more, including what she’s working on now. Links: KidLit Craft website Martine Leavitt’s Buffalo Flats   The KidLit Craft Podcast is hosted by Anne-Marie Strohman and Erin Nutta...

Episode 13: Martine Interview, Part 1   In this episode, we interview Martine Leavitt herself! She talks to us about her inspiration for Buffalo Flats, the painful process of writing it, and her secret to sticking with writing when it's hard. Martine had so much wisdom to share that we split the interview into two episodes. Watch for Part 2 next week.   Links: KidLit Craft website Martine Leavitt’...

Find out what's next for the KidLit Craft podcast, and exciting upcoming offerings from KidLit Craft.   Links: Sign up for the KidLit Craft Newsletter For information on the Writing MG for PB Authors class, email Anne-Marie at editor@kidlitcraft.com . Or find out more here: INFO SHEET . KidLit Craft website Martine Leavitt’s Buffalo Flats Our next podcast book: THIEVES’ GAMBIT by Kayvion Lewis The...

Throughout Buffalo Flats, Martine Leavitt uses rich language and evocative metaphors. We break down how and why she uses specific language and metaphors, and to what effect. We also talk about how to decide what language and metaphors to use in your own work.   Links: KidLit Craft website Martine Leavitt’s Buffalo Flats Lolo’s Light by Liz Garton Scanlon KidLit Craft post on language and metaphor...

In Buffalo Flats, Rebecca belongs to a religious community that exists within the larger community in the Northwest Territories of Canada. In this episode we look at how Martine makes this community recognizable to those in it and accessible to those not, and we share our personal experiences reading about the community. The craft techniques we discuss apply not just to religious communities, but...

We explore how Martine incorporates feminism into historical fiction in a way that respects history and characters, by finding friction points between the character’s desires and their experience of the world. Also, Erin emotes about corsets. Links: KidLit Craft website Martine Leavitt’s Buffalo Flats The book Erin references set in 15th-Century China is Lisa See’s Lady Tan’s Circle of Women . The...

At risk of making Martine’s humor less funny, we take apart the humor in Buffalo Flats, from set-ups and punchlines to adding a funny twist, from individual sentences to full subplots. Links: KidLit Craft website Martine Leavitt’s Buffalo Flats Laurel & Hardy, “Chickens Come Home” Pizza Pirate This is Us The KidLit Craft Podcast is hosted by Anne-Marie Strohman and Erin Nuttall. Support KidLit...

In this episode, we’re talking ROMANCE! We look at how Martine Leavitt sets up the balance between physical intimacy and emotional intimacy, uses contrast in secondary romances, and manages a perfectly balanced love triangle for the main character, Rebecca, in her YA novel Buffalo Flats. We also talk about how to write a perfect romantic kiss. Links: KidLit Craft website Martine Leavitt’s Buffalo...

A novel requires more than just one main plot. In this episode, we look at three major subplots in Buffalo Flats by Martine Leavitt, one that involves Rebecca’s family, one that involves her local community, and one that involves the larger community. We look at how Martine weaves in these subplots and how she makes them work hard for the story and for Rebecca’s internal journey.   Links: KidLit C...