The Storyteller's Shelf Podcast
Episodes
What Kidlit Editors Look For: Catherine Laudone (Beach Lane Books, S&S)
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What do Big Five children’s book editors actually look for in submissions, and why do great projects still get passed on?In this Season 2 episode of...
Storytellers Summit On-Demand Access | Publishing Education for Authors & Writers
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Storytellers Summit is now available for on-demand access, offering publishing education led by industry professionals.This summit includes educat...
Summit GIVEAWAYS + Literary Agent Pitch Opportunity! Teaser
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about attending a writing conference this year?The Storytellers Summit is a virtual event for kidlit authors, illustrators, and publishing pr...
Level Up Your Writing Craft | Donna Galanti, Guest Speaker for the Storyteller’s Shelf Summit
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
🎬 Watch this exclusive clip from Donna Galanti — one of the expert speakers at the Storyteller’s Shelf Summit, January 12–17, 2026! In this s...
Unlock Your Author Potential – Get Your Summit Ticket Now!
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Season 2 is almost here! We’re kicking it off with our exclusive Author Summit Masterclass, only available through YouTube tickets. Don’t miss ins...
The Storyteller’s Shelf Summit: KidLit Masterclasses & Literary Pitch Event
27 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join The Storyteller’s Shelf Summit from January 12–17, a virtual week of expert-led masterclasses for children’s literature creators. Learn fro...
Writing for the Right Audience with Harshita Jerath Picture Books Early Readers and Cultural Storytelling
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“When you know exactly who you’re writing for your story finds its focus and that’s when it truly connects.”-Harshita JerathWriting for the Ri...
Writing, Marketing, and Motivation with Anne Broyles | Award-Winning Children’s Book Author
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast, we’re joined by Anne Broyles, award-winning author of children’s picture books and middle gr...
How to Finish Your Children’s Book & Query Literary Agents | Ellen Potter
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve ever struggled to finish a children’s book or felt stuck querying agents, this episode is for you.On @thestorytellersshelfpodcast, we ta...
Middle Grade Fantasy Worldbuilding with the Unraveling and the Council of Crows Authors
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of @TheStorytellersShelfPodcast , we sit down with Karl Buechner, Jeremy Mueller, and Keith Ward, the authors of the middle grade f...
The Storytellers Summit: Kidlit Master Class & Literary Pitch Event
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Storytellers Summit is a week-long master class for children’s authors, illustrators, and educators, running January 12–17. Hosted by The Stor...
Inside Madison Reading Project: How Joyful, Life-Changing Books Reach Children and Build Community
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“A single book can spark confidence, belonging, and a lifelong love of reading.” — Griffin Granberry, Madison Reading ProjectThis week on THE ST...
Decoding Publishing Contracts with Melissa Nasson: Protect Your Rights & Royalties
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“If you don’t understand your publishing contract, you don’t own your career.” — Melissa NassonIf you’ve ever stared at a book contract an...
From Nashville Screenwriter to Middle Grade Author: Adam Rosenbaum on The Ghost Rules
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Growing up in Nashville taught me that storytelling lives in every corner—music, movies, books—and that creative spark never leaves you.” —...
Eric Litwin on Crafting Stories Kids Love: Music, Early Literacy & Fighting the Attention Economy
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if joyful, musical storytelling could rebuild kids’ love of reading even in a world dominated by screens.In this episode of The Storyteller’s...
Indie Author Success Tips + YA Writing Craft with Jenn Thompson| Founder of Indie Author Book Expo
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with YA author and Indie Author Book Expo founder JENN THOMPSON to explore what it truly takes to thrive as a self-publis...
Dana Goldstein on STEM Middle Grade and Choosing Self-Publishing
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I started self-published, got an agent, and then chose to go back to indie publishing because I wanted freedom and momentum.” — Dana GoldsteinM...
Want to Get Published? Why Children's Poetry Magazines Are Your Secret Advantage
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to break into children's publishing but don't know where to start? Poetry magazines might be your secret weapon! In this episode of The S...
Write for Kids’ TV & Film with Emmy Winner Max Beaudry
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Being a good writer is like being a good actor. You have to know people. You have to know things… anything you can do to pick up on life experien...
Starting Big Thinking Publishing: The Money, Mistakes & What Works | Kate Simkins Interview
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder how a publishing company is actually built?Kate Simkins, founder and publisher of Big Thinking Publishing (UK), pulls back the curtain on ...
Breaking Into Publishing with Janna Morishima | @Scholastic Graphix & Kids Comics Unite
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Being led by your curiosity opens so many doors.” — Janna Morishima ✨You want a career in children’s publishing, but don’t know where to ...
How to Get Paid for School Visits and Sell More Books | Andy Coats, MG Author
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“You’re not there to teach — you’re there to inspire.” — Andy CoatsAward-winning children’s author and illustrator Andy Coats has self-p...
Kwame Mbalia on Writing, Representation & the Magic of Storytelling | The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast Description:
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Writing is failing your way upwards.” — Kwame MbaliaAward-winning author Kwame Mbalia shares behind-the-scenes insight from writing CAPTAIN A...
How to Break Into Publishing with Janna Morishima | @scholastic Graphix & Kids Comics Unite
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Being led by your curiosity opens so many doors.” — Janna Morishima You want a career in children’s publishing—but don’t know where to st...
How to Build a Publishing Career: Lori Wieczorek, Senior Editor of Trade Licensing at @scholastic
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Children’s publishing is serious work. We’re building future readers.” — Lori WieczorekBreaking into children’s publishing can feel confu...
The Editorial Process | Interview with Mary Kole, editor & former literary agent
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"If you hire a copy editor when you need developmental editing, you'll just have a very clean copy with plot holes." ~ Mary KoleYour man...
How to Get Paid for School Visits and Sell More Books | Andy Coats, MG Author
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“You’re not there to teach — you’re there to inspire.” — Andy CoatsAward-winning children’s author and illustrator Andy Coats has self-p...
HOW DO BOOKSTORES BUILD LITERACY BRIDGES?
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week on The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast, we sat down with Caleb Masters and Lupe Penn from Bookmarks, NC: Books with Purpose, one of the nation...
Stay Curious | Interview with Author & Former Children’s Librarian, Robin Currie
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Always wonder. The world is full of amazing, spectacular things." – Robin Currie📚 Want to get your book into libraries and grow your a...
Next Month's Teaser: How Kwame Mbalia Turned Tristan Strong’s Heroes into Gods with African Folklore
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dive into the mind of Kwame Mbalia, the award-winning author of Tristan Strong! In this exclusive preview, he shares how African folklore inspired him...
Making Memorable Historical Fiction: Podcast Interview with Author & Teacher Paul Rushworth-Brown
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
📚 “For me, when I write, it’s like a movie going across my eyes and all I’m doing is converting that movie and putting it down on paper.” —...
Literacy is a Right Not a Privilege | Interview with the African Library Project
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
📚 “EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS. EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO KNOW HOW TO READ AND WRITE, ESPECIALLY FROM AN EARLY AGE.” — B...
1 in 3 Adults Can't Read - But Books Between Kids is Changing That Story | The Storytellers Shelf
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
📚 Did you know that 1 in 3 adults in Harris County is functionally illiterate? And those adults were once kids. This literacy crisis is bigger than...
Middle Grade Marvels | Interview with Author, Donna S. Galant
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Middle grade is such a special time in a child’s life. They have one foot still in the magical part of childhood, one foot heading into young adu...
WORDS TO WRITE BY | Lois Lowry on The Giver, Writing Secrets & a Life in Stories
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
LOIS LOWRY, author of THE GIVER and NUMBER THE STARS, reveals how childhood memories, family loss, and intuition shaped her books and why she’s stil...
Let’s Talk Libraries! | Michael Hardrick, Executive Director of the Forest Hill Library
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
📚 A library is an oasis. ✨ In this episode of The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast, we sit down with Michael Hardrick, Executive Director of Forest ...
Revitalizing Reading Culture in Nigeria | Interview with The Bookworm Cafe
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“When children see themselves in books, it validates them…and they want to explore.” – Farida Ladipo-Ajayi🇳🇬 Imagine being a child who ...
Selling SEL: Writing & Marketing with SEL | with author, speaker & reviewer Meredith Davis
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Selling SEL: Tying Social Emotional Learning into Writing & Marketing | with author, speaker, and book reviewer, Meredith Davis📚 POV: You're ...
Middle Grade Marvels with Sherri Winston: “I Would Take Persistence Over Talent Any Day”
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“I would take persistence over talent any day,” says Sherri Winston, award-winning author of SHARK TEETH and PRESIDENT OF THE WHOLE SIXTH GRADEIn...
Know Your Rights: Contract Legalese and Intellectual Property 101 With entertainment attorney Erin Rodgers (Rodgers Selvera, PLLC) & authorpreneur/attorney Tiffany Obeng
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Confused by legal jargon in publishing? Not sure what rights you're signing away or how to protect your work?One misunderstood clause can cost you...
Middle Grade Marvels: Interview with Gene J. Miller, retired principal & author
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
😑 Middle school isn’t easy. You’re figuring out who you are, dealing with braces, bad haircuts, embarrassing moments, and a growing sense that ...
Illustrating the American Dream: David Hillman of Two Bridges Publishing
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
📚 Feeling stuck as a creative? Wondering if it’s too late to follow your dream?If you’re an illustrator, author, or educator burned out by tren...
Middle Grade Marvels | Laila Rifaat, author of Aliya, a Middle Eastern Fantasy-Adventure Series
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for an exclusive interview with Laila Rifaat, an Egypt-based middle grade author best known for her fantasy adventure series, Aliya, and for b...
Meet StoryVerse Land’s Founder: Felicia Norfor | New Children’s Book Publisher Story
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We sat down with Felicia Norfor, the founder of the Singapore-based publisher @StoryVerseLand to dive into how Storyverse began and learn about ...
The Recipe for Author Entrepreneurship: How to Make Money as an Author | Financial Advisor & Harvard Grad, Dr. Noni Carter, CEPA
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Dr. Noni Carter—a Harvard alumna, award-winning author, PhD scholar, and Certified Exit Planning Advi...
John Parra on Empowering Authors & Illustrators | This Moment Is Special | The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🎉 GIVEAWAY! Win a SIGNED copy of John’s upcoming picture book, This Moment Is Special: A Día de Muertos Story, publishing on July 15, 2025. (See...
How to Land a Literary Agent: Mastering Queries & Pitches with Elizabeth Copps
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us on The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast for an exclusive conversation with literary agent Elizabeth Copps of Copps Literary Services! Learn the i...
Middle Grade Marvels: Galaxy Walkers Author Kris Paulsen Talks Dyslexia & Neurodiverse Heroes
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get Inspired to Write Neurodiverse Characters Who Aren’t Always Perfect—But Are ALWAYS Relatable and Inspirational for Kids!Want to write authenti...
An Expert Q&A: Drawing fantasy inspirations from the middle grade novel series Adventures in Oculus with co-host and author Theresa Maria Villarreal
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this magical episode of The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast, join co-host and author Theresa Maria Villarreal as we dive into the art of writing fant...
Become An Author: How To Write Fantasy & Sci-Fi | Expert Q&A with Dr. Rowe
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to write fantasy or sci-fi but don’t know where to start? In this episode of The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast, we chat with Dr. Rebecca Rowe, ...
Middle Grade Marvels Series Interview with April Henley author of Treasures in a Bottle
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Step into a world of enchantment in this unmissable episode of The Storyteller’s Shelf! Join acclaimed author April Henley, creator of the mesmerizi...
The Science Behind Book Launches 1 with President and Publisher of StoryMonsters, LLC, Linda F. Radke
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Storyteller's Shelf Podcast!Join hosts Jackie and Theresa as they dive into the world of children's literature, exploring story...
🎄 Holiday Special: Balancing Creativity, Parenting & the Magic of Stories
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Celebrate the season with The Storyteller's Shelf Podcast Holiday Special! 🎙️🌟 Join hosts Theresa Villarreal and Jackie Garcia-Morales as they...