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Most writers are told to “write what you know.” Stuart Gibbs encourages authors to write what fascinates them...

In this fascinating episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with bestselling author Stuart Gibbs—the author behind Spy School, FunJungle, Charlie Thorne, Once Upon A Tim, and The Last Musketeer series. Stuart shares his incredible journey from writing stories as a child (showcasing his first, "homemade" book), to working in Hollywood (Anastasia, anyone??), to becoming an author of more than 40 books.

Along the way, we talk about his real-life adventures: cage diving with great white sharks, facing down a charging elephant, and rescuing children from drowning, and how his experiences and real-life adventures have influenced his stories.

Stuart chats about persistence, and why success in publishing is often a slow, steady climb—not a single breakthrough moment. He also shares one of the most powerful pieces of writing advice I’ve ever heard: don’t write what you know… write what fascinates you.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or an adventurer, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About STUART GIBBS:

A few interesting things that Stuart Gibbs has done: Worked at a zoo. Researched capybaras (the world's largest rodents). Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Cage dived with great white sharks. Faced down a charging elephant. Swum with penguins in the Galapagos. Ice-climbed a glacier in Patagonia. Visited the cockpit of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Helped rescue sixteen children from drowning off the coast of Israel. Written a few movies that actually got made (See Spot Run; Repli-Kate; Showdown). Worked on a few animated movies (Anastasia; Open Season 3; Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers).

He is currently at work on several more books -- and the screenplay for Spy School the movie/series.

💻 VISIT Stuart Gibbs's official website: https://stuartgibbs.com/

📖 READ Ape Escape: https://amzn.to/3PmV0I7

📖 READ Spy School: https://amzn.to/4cUPQNi

📚 CHECK OUT Stuart Gibbs's other books: https://amzn.to/4rHIbp6

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#StuartGibbs #SpySchool #AuthorInterview #WritingAdvice #AmWriting #WritersOfYouTube #MiddleGradeBooks #ChildrensBooks #Storytelling #CreativeWriting #AuthorLife #BooksAndAuthors #WritingTips #PublishingJourney #WritersCommunity #B

My name is Seth Adam Smith. I’m a husband, father, and author who believes in the power of stories to inspire people forward.

Subscribe for:
📚 A LITERAL JOURNEY – exclusive interviews with bestselling authors
🎙️ THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Podcast – uplifting messages to inspire you forward
🕯️ AN AWE-FUL STORY – true tales that turn the “awful” into the “awe-full”

✨ My Books: http://amzn.to/2p7FXA8
🌐 Website: http://www.SethAdamSmith.com

Thank you for watching—and for being part of this journey!

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The best stories begin with a little bit of mystery...

In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY (easily one of my favorites 🤫), I sit down with Ben Guterson, author of the bestselling Winterhouse trilogy, The World-Famous Nine, and The Einstein's of Vista Point. We talk about Ben's journey into writing, his interest in puzzles and wordplay, and his love of creating mystery-filled adventures for young readers.

Ben reflects on the books that shaped him growing up (from Roald Dahl to The House With A Clock In It's Walls), his departure from the corporate world and into the world of writing fiction, and the creative process behind building his mysterious and magical worlds. In regards to Middle Grade Fiction, Ben also talks about why the ages between 8-12 seem to be such an important time for readers: because kids at that age are beginning to discover their own place (their own story) in whatever setting they find themselves.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone who just loves a good mystery (with plenty of wordplay and puzzles), I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About BEN GUTERSON:

Ben Guterson is the New York Times bestselling author of The World-Famous Nine, which was a Barnes & Noble Young Reader Pick of the Month, as well as The Einsteins of Vista Point and the popular Winterhouse trilogy. Winterhouse was an Edgar Award and an Agatha Award finalist and an Indie Next List Pick. His books have been translated into eleven languages worldwide.

💻 VISIT Ben Guterson's official website: https://benguterson.com/

📖 READ Winterhouse: https://amzn.to/40pqmQN

📚 CHECK OUT Ben Guterson's other books: https://amzn.to/4rwSRam

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#BenGuterson #Winterhouse #MiddleGradeBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidsBooks #WritingAdvice #AuthorInterview #WritersOfYouTube #Storytelling #MysteryBooks #FantasyBooks #WritingCommunity #BooksForKids #AmReading #AmWriting #YoungReaders #CreativeWriting #BookTube #Literature

My name is Seth Adam Smith. I’m a husband, father, and author who believes in the power of stories to inspire people forward.

Subscribe for:
📚 A LITERAL JOURNEY – exclusive interviews with bestselling authors
🎙️ THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Podcast – uplifting messages to inspire you forward
🕯️ AN AWE-FUL STORY – true tales that turn the “awful” into the “awe-full”

✨ My Books: http://amzn.to/2p7FXA8
🌐 Website: http://www.SethAdamSmith.com

Thank you for watching—and for being part of this journey!

Send a text

How does a bestselling author turn history into unforgettable novels?

In this fascinating episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with USA Today bestselling author Heather B. Moore—a PROLIFIC, inspirational writer whose work spans several genres.

Heather shares the story behind her writing career: from her lifelong love of reading, to her discovery that yes, even people from UTAH can become authors (!!!), and her subsequent journey of building a catalog of more than 90 publications. We also talk about "the war of art," the discipline required to write consistently, the ups and downs of researching historical fiction, and the challenge of bringing real (sometimes emotionally heavy) stories to print.

Along the way we talk about several of Heather’s books, including: "The Paper Daughters of Chinatown," a powerful story about a mission home that rescued trafficked Chinese girls in 19th-century San Francisco, as well as her recent novel "Julia," a novel about famed Julia Child and her surprising wartime service with the OSS.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone who just loves a good historical story, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About HEATHER B. MOORE:

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.

Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.

💻 VISIT Heather B. Moore's official website: https://hbmoore.com/

📖 READ The Paper Daughters of Chinatown: https://amzn.to/4rs4sHF

📚 CHECK OUT Heather B. Moore's other books: https://amzn.to/4ssehpG

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#HeatherBMoore #Historical

My name is Seth Adam Smith. I’m a husband, father, and author who believes in the power of stories to inspire people forward.

Subscribe for:
📚 A LITERAL JOURNEY – exclusive interviews with bestselling authors
🎙️ THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Podcast – uplifting messages to inspire you forward
🕯️ AN AWE-FUL STORY – true tales that turn the “awful” into the “awe-full”

✨ My Books: http://amzn.to/2p7FXA8
🌐 Website: http://www.SethAdamSmith.com

Thank you for watching—and for being part of this journey!