Candlewick Press Presents

Christina Soontornvat, author of All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team, talks to Candlewick Press about telling the story of the Tham Luang cave rescue through an Eastern lens and what it was like to actually meet the Wild Boars boys’ soccer team!

Thomas Taylor, author of Malamander and its sequel, Gargantis, talks to Candlewick Press about the strangeness of life in a seaside town, his appreciation for all things weird and monstrous, and . . . romantic comedies?

Carole Boston Weatherford, author of BOX: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom; Beauty Mark; Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library; and Caldecott Honor winner Voice of Freedom, talks to Candlewick Press about writing poetry as a child, winning a Caldecott Honor, and the emotional experience of digging through the past and personal lives of important historical figures.

Kara LaReau, author of the Infamous Ratsos series and the new picture book Baby Clown, talks to Candlewick Press about her writing aspirations, her publishing career, and all the trouble she might have caused as a kid. Also, to get readers excited about Rise of ZomBert—the first book in her creepy new mystery series—Kara shares a spooky story!

Christina Soontornvat, author of A Wish in the Dark, The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe!, and All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team, talks to Candlewick Press about her childhood, her travels to Thailand, and the connection between her deep love of fantasy and her career in science and engineering!

Kate DiCamillo, author of Louisiana’s Way Home, the Mercy Watson series, The Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie, and more, talks to Candlewick Press about her relentless pursuit to become a writer, rejection, the Newbery Medal (twice!), and the raccoon that hangs out above her bedroom skylight.

Meg Medina, author of Merci Suárez Changes Gears, Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, Burn Baby Burn, and Mango, Abuela, and Me, talks to Candlewick Press about family, storytelling, her childhood and teen years, and the importance of making space in her life for writing.

Megan McDonald, author of the wildly popular, award-winning, best-selling Judy Moody series, talks to Candlewick Press about the importance of storytelling in her own family and how she created the world’s feistiest third-grader (and her brother, Stink). Megan also gives readers the scoop on her career history, recounting her time as a journalist, spy, superhero, and park ranger.

This episode contains material that might be inappropriate for younger listeners; discretion is advised. M. T. Anderson, author of Thirsty, Feed, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party, and Yvain: The Knight of the Lion, tells Candlewick Press all about his early life as a fast-food employee and as a Candlewick intern. He also talks about banned books and shows off his singing skills (without laughing too much).

Teresa Flavin, author of The Blackhope Enigma, The Crimson Shard, and The Shadow Lantern, talks to Candlewick Press about what painting she would live in if given the opportunity and the first story she remembers writing as a child (a murder mystery called “The Broom Closet Murder”), and she tells a ghost story!

Scott reads a passage from his book, Big Mean Mike, written by Michelle Knudsen.

Scott Magoon, illustrator of Big Mean Mike, talks to Candlewick Press about his days as a Candlewick employee, the time M. T. Anderson complimented him on his work, and Bigfoot! He also serenades us with a song from the musical Pal Joey.

Annette LeBlanc Cate, author and illustrator of The Magic Rabbit and Look Up!, talks to Candlewick Press about what it was like to work on an award-winning cartoon on Comedy Central and her fascination with birds, and she practices her seagull impression. She also almost aces our birdcall quiz.

Ethan Murrow and Vita Murrow, the author/illustrator team behind The Whale, talk to Candlewick Press about playing together, creating together, and applying their talents to the world of picture book art. They also share their love story and talk about their childhoods. Oh, and there are strange farm sounds.

Annie Cardi, author of The Chance You Won’t Return, talks to Candlewick Press about the literary value of YA books, her time as a Candlewick intern, and the importance of social media. Annie also opens up about the sea captain who has been squatting in the home she shares with her husband.

Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant, co-editors of Steampunk! An Anthology of Fantastically Rich and Strange Stories and Monstrous Affections, talk to Candlewick Press about how (not) to apply for a bookstore job and working with fellow author M. T. Anderson. They also give readers the scoop on the most epic New Year’s Eve party a book-lover could ever attend.

Jannie Ho, illustrator of the Violet Rose activity books series, the Tiny Tab Books, and the forthcoming Halloween ABC board book, talks to Candlewick Press about what it’s like to work with our London-based imprint Nosy Crow. She also chats about farts and her love of food . . . but not simultaneously. If you’re wondering about how Jannie Ho came to be known as the Chicken Girl, this is your chance to find out!

Martin W. Sandler, author of The Impossible Rescue, Iron Rails, Iron Men, and the Race to Link the Nation, and The Whydah, talks to Candlewick Press about why he believes nonfiction is more exciting than fiction. He also tells of uncovering the truth about pirates and shares the story behind his 1954 invention of chocolate bread pudding.

Ekua Holmes, illustrator of Voice of Freedom and Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets, talks to Candlewick Press about the power of positivity, creating art as a child, and the hoarding, hunting, and gathering process of collage-making. She also shares her fangirl moment with renowned children’s book illustrator Jerry Pinkney.

Aaron Becker, award-winning author and illustrator of the wordless picture books Journey, Quest, and Return, talks to Candlewick Press about destiny, Star Wars, the Caldecott Medal, and finding inspiration in the works of Chris Van Allsburg. Journey into Aaron Becker’s world of childlike wonder to find out why he tells stories.