Today’s guest is Tara Gilboy who holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia, where she specialized in writing for children and young adults. Her middle grade novel, Unwritten, was published by Jolly Fish Press just this month. She teaches creative writing in San Diego Community College’s Continuing Education Program and for the PEN Writers in Prisons Program.

 Tara joined me today to talk about selling her book without an agent, and how to process criticism from critique partners. Also Covered: exercises to help you capture middle grade voice, and how to find critique partners both online and in real life. And, can writing be taught or is it intuitive?  

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The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski 

Sleight by Jennifer Sommersby

A roundup of the months guests and topics, as well as some tips to help determine if your project is MG or YA.

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Fat Girl On A Plane by Kelly DeVos

Doll Hearts by Colleen Clayton

Today’s guest is Liesl Shurtliff, New York Times Bestselling author of middle novels Rump, Jack, Red and Grump, and the upcoming Mona Lisa Key, first in the Time Castaways trilogy. Liesl joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about being somewhat unaware of the success of her debut and the transition from writing being a hobby to becoming a job. Also: working in the same world for four novels… taxing on the creativity, or liberating on the world building? 

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THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND: CORONATION by Courtney Brandt

THE TRAIL RULES by Melanie Hooyenga

Word 2 Kindle

Today’s guest is Tricia Springstubb, author of picture books, chapter books and novels for middle grade readers. She joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about the transition of changing from being a lover of stories to a writer of them, and why she writes for the age groups she does, how she takes real life inspiration and uses them in her fiction, and the challenge of writing chapter books for the readers who are in between picture books and novels.

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QUEEN OF ENGLAND: CORONATION by Courtney Brandt

AS I DESCENDED by Robin Talley

Word-2-Kindle

Today’s guest is Rachele Alpine, author of both YA and middle grade titles, as well as being a full-time English teacher, wife and mom. Rachele joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about the importance of knowing what you want in an agent – and what questions to ask – before you begin querying, how having a teacher guide made for your book can crack the classroom market, as well as time management and how Rachele maximizes every minute in order to be a full time teacher, wife, mother, and writer.

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AIR & ASH by Alex Lidell

Paper Hearts Workbook by Beth Revis

Today’s guest is Michelle Houts, a fellow Ohioan who also writes across multiple genres. Michelle joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about the importance of letter writing and journaling from a personal perspective, as well as the historical, as these are a primary source for biographers. Also, the importance of a writer having a physical space specifically for creative work. And, how the story will tell you whether it is a picture book, novel, or non-fiction.

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AIR & ASH by Alex Lidell

Sarah Aronson Highlights Workshop

VALENTINE KISSES

Today's guest is Katie Ernst, the Co-Founder of Select a Story, a company which produces interactive stories for Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Think: a Choose Your Own Adventure Audiobook that you can talk to. Katie talks about the company, how voice devices can be beneficial to authors, and how authors can go about writing one.

Select A Story

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Air & Ash by Alex Lidell

Wide Awake Bear by Pat Zietlow Miller

Today’s guest is Robert Mellette who has written, directed, designed and acted in theatre, film and television for over 30 years. His credits in various jobs include XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, BLUE CRUSH, and his own JACKS OR BETTER, which won Dances With Films Best Screenplay award in 2000.Robert's novel, Billy Bobble Makes a Magic Wand, is available on Amazon from Elephant's Bookshelf Press. For novelists, Robert blogs for From The Write Angle.

Robert joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about how working in film and television taught him skills that translated over to novel writing, and how working with small, indie publishers can be beneficial, writing your story for the sake of the story, not a micro-targeted audience, and advice for aspiring writers on how to process critiques without sacrificing their voice.

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AIR & ASH by Alex Lidell

MY AMERICAN NIGHTMARE: WOMEN IN HORROR ANTHOLOGY by Azzura Nox

Guest Gayle Rosengren, author of the middle grade titles WHAT THE MOON SAID and COLD WAR ON MAPLE STREET joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about how different writing skills can be used to create a freelance career, using the three things that all middle grade audiences have in common in order to break the historical ice, and who to target when creating supplemental material for your books. 

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Nonnie and I by Savannah Hendricks

An Unstill Life by Kate Larkindale

Today’s guest is Melanie Crowder, author of multiple YA and Middle Grade books, and a fellow 2013 debut. Melanie joins host Mindy McGinnis to talk about the pain of rejection, and how to view it as a learning experience that can help you become stronger, the fuzzy area of writing for upper middle grade versus writing YA, and tackling tougher subjects for that audience. Also covered: the power of writing for youth who are ready to change the world, the ability of SciFi and Fantasy to be more subversive than their counterparts, how difficult life can be for today’s youth, and why it’s important to tell their stories.

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The Captain’s Kid by Liz Coley