Category Archives: Interview

The Girl with the Silver Eyes: an interview with Alexandra Diaz

Children's Book, Interview, Middle Grade, Podcast, , ,

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Podcast #081

For my eighty-first Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Alexandra Diaz about the middle grade novel The Girl with the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts. In this book, Katie, who is trying to start a new life with her mother in a new town, is a bit different from other girls. It isn’t just her silver eyes; Katie has the power to move things with her thoughts. And she may not be the only one.

Alexandra Diaz is the award winning author of Good Girls Don’t Lie, The Only Road Home, and The Crossroads. Her latest book, Santiago’s Road Home, came out May, 2020. You can find her website at alexandra-diaz.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Natalie Rompella about the graphic novel Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier . It will be published on Monday, August 3rd, 2020.

The 57 Bus: an interview with Karen Blumenthal

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Podcast #079

For my seventy-ninth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed journalist and author Karen Blumenthal about the YA non-fiction book The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slater. A single moment of violence on a bus in Oakland California changed the lives of two teenagers indelibly. In this thoughtful, compassionate, and engaging exploration of true life incident, Dashka Slater looks in-depth at those involved and how the intersection of race, class, gender identity and criminal justice shaped their lives both before and after.

Karen Blumenthal passed away on May 19, 2020. You can read more about her life and work here at The Dallas Morning News. Karen was a journalist and author of such non-fiction books as Hillary Rodham Clinton: A Woman Living History and Bonnie and Clyde: The Making of a Legend. Her most recent book written for young adult readers is Jane Against the World: Roe v. Wade and the Fight for Reproductive Rights. You can find Karen’s website at www.karenblumenthal.com

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Jonathan Rosen about the Choose You Own Adventure books The Cave of Time and The Mystery of the Maya. It will be published on Monday, July 6th, 2020.

The Book of Three- The Chronicles of Prydain, Book #1: an interview with John David Anderson

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Podcast #078

For my seventy-eighth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author John David Anderson about the middle grade fantasy novel The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, which is the first book of his Chronicles of Prydain series. Taran, tired of being just the assistant pig-keeper, wants a life of adventure. So when he meets the Horned King one day in the woods, adventure is exactly what he finds, and much more than he bargained for. Full of Lloyd Alexander’s trademark humor, fast pacing, and an array of quirky and interesting characters, the first book is a great introduction to the classic fantasy series.

John David Anderson is author of the novels Granted, Ms. Bixby’s Last Day which was the subject of another Dream Gardens podcast, Posted, and Finding Orion. His most recent middle grade novel is One Last Shot. You can find John David Anderson’s website at www.johndavidanderson.org.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author Karen Blumenthal about the YA non-fiction book The 57 Bus: A True Story of Two Teenagers and the Crime That Changed Their Lives by Dashka Slaternder. It will be published on Monday, June 15th, 2020.

Listen, Slowly: an interview with Mijha Godfrey

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Podcast #077

For my seventy-seventh Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed Jambo Book co-founder Mijha Godfrey about the middle grade novel Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai. Mai resents leaving her beloved California Beaches to travel to her family’s home in Vietnam, a place she’s never been to and never wanted to visit, to find out what happened to her grandmother’s husband during the Vietnam War. What she finds out about the country, her grandmother, and herself, will make it a special summer to remember.

Mijha Godfrey is co-founder of Jambo Books, a muliticultural book club service. You can find Mijha’s website at www.jambobooks.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with author John David Anderson about the middle grade novel The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain #1)by Lloyd Alexander. It will be published on Monday, June 1st, 2020.

The Graveyard Book: an interview with Matt Harry

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Podcast #076

For my seventy-sixth Dream Gardens children’s books podcast, I interviewed author Matt Harry about The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.” So begins the unusual coming of age story of Nobody Owens and his strange and wonderful adventures in and out of the graveyard home he shares with the ghosts who live there and other creatures of the night.

Matt Harry is a filmmaker and author of the Codex Arcanum Series, which includes the books Sorcery for Beginners and the most recert novel, Crytozoology for Beginners. You can find Matt’s website at www.mattharrywork.com.

Podcasts are available on iTunes, Stitcher, and Spotify. Please link, share, comment, write a review or subscribe. Let me know what you think! And if you are interested in participating in the Dream Gardens podcast, send me a request through my contact page.

My next podcast will be with co-founder of Jambo Books Mijha Godfrey about the middle grade novel Listen, Slowly by Thannha Lai. It will be published on Monday, May 18th, 2020.