When the world gets dark, a good story can remind us that light will ALWAYS overcome darkness...

In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I chat with Ryan James Black, a man who goes by all three names (respect!) and the author of the “unputdownable” book: The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham. (For real: I could NOT put this book down!) Set during the London Blitz, Nimble Nottingham blends real history with a uniquely terrifying monster… while simultaneously, and brilliantly, delivering a message of hope.

Along the way, Ryan shares some of his own story: what attracted him to storytelling, the long road to publication, and how years of revision and perseverance eventually led to his debut, award-winning novel.

We also talk about creativity in a world filled with shortcuts, why human (not hollow) stories still matter, why Middle Grade books are full of heart and hope, and what Ryan hopes readers take away from Nimble Nottingham.

Whether you’re a writer, a parent, a teacher, or someone who just loves a good story, this conversation will encourage you to keep going—and that “even the darkest of times can’t last forever.”

ABOUT RYAN JAMES BLACK:

Ryan James Black is a writer from Manitoba, Canada, where he lives with his wife, two children, and a Jumanji’s worth of pets. When not writing or reading, Ryan enjoys travelling, watching scary movies with all the lights on, and exploring the Great Outdoors with his family.

His debut middle grade historical fantasy novel, The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham, is available now from Nancy Paulsen Books.

VISIT Ryan James Black’s official website: https://ryanjamesblack.com

📚 READ The Dark Times of Nimble Nottingham: https://amzn.to/4bCwZ8V

🎧 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. 📖✨

#RyanJamesBlack #ghoststories #london #ww2 #worldwar2 #londonblitz #history #londonhistory #supernatural #ghosts #ALiteralJourney #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #Storytelling #BookPodcast #ReadersOfYouTube #SethAdamSmith

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!

In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Lindsay Currie, a USA Today AND New York Times bestselling author. (And Sweet Moses, it was a WONDERFUL interview!) Lindsay talked about graveyards, history, and what it’s like to write and publish spooky stories for Middle Grade readers.

Along the way, Lindsay shares a bit of her background, what got her into reading and storytelling, and how her love of walking through cemeteries (with a cup of coffee in hand, of course) shaped her path as an author.

During the interview, Lindsay gives some behind-the-scenes insights from her books, including: The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street (2017), Scratch Scratch (2020), The Mystery of the Locked Rooms (2024), and her newest book, X Marks the Haunt (2026).

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or someone who just loves a good scary story (like me!), this conversation will inspire you to pick up a book and embark on your own “literal journey.”

ABOUT LINDSAY CURRIE:

Lindsay Currie is the author of six middle grade novels, Including The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street, Scritch Scratch, What Lives in the Woods, The Girl in White, and It Found Us. She grew up on Nancy Drew and loves a good mystery. Bonus points if it's spooky! When she's not writing, Lindsay can generally be found looking for an adventure of her own. She loves researching the forgotten history in her city, Chicago, taking long walks with her family, and as pretty much everyone knows . . . Disney World!

VISIT Lindsay Currie’s official website: https://www.lindsaycurrie.com/

📚 READ X Marks the Haunt: https://amzn.to/49kOh99

👀 CHECK OUT Lindsay Currie’s Other Books: https://amzn.to/4pCfucc

🎧 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. 📖✨

#LindsayCurrie #ghoststories #chicago #chicagohistory #history #graveyards #ghosts #ALiteralJourney #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #Storytelling #BookPodcast #ReadersOfYouTube #SethAdamSmith

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!

In this episode of A Literal Journey, I sit down with writing coach Kimberly Lauren—the voice behind the popular Instagram account @talkwordytome_—to talk about why stories matter, how writing can be deeply healing, and what it really takes to finish a “meaningful” book. During the interview, Kimberly shares her journey from childhood journaling to working across publishing and now helping writers turn their ideas into books that truly matter.

We explores the therapeutic power of storytelling, the science behind expressive writing, why writer’s block may not be real, and the importance of reconnecting with what Kimberly calls the “white-hot center” of your story.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone who has a story to tell, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book and embark on your own literal journey.

📚 CHECK out Kimberly Lauren’s website: https://www.talkingwordy.com
👀 FOLLOW Kimberly Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkwordytome_/
🎧 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

KIMBERLY LAUREN is a writer, editor, and storytelling coach who helps people turn their ideas into books that matter. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Lesley University and has worked across publishing—as a magazine editor, publicist, and audiobook narrator. Her work has appeared in The Elephant Journal, No Sidebar, Utah Valley Magazine, and Scary Mommy. She is currently working on her third novel. A former founder of a journal company focused on the science of writing for well-being, she now helps other founders, creatives, and professionals finally write the books they’ve been dreaming about.

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. 📖✨

#TalkWordytoMe #ALiteralJourney #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #AmWriting #Storytelling #AuthorLife #Writing #BookPodcast #ReadersOfYouTube #SethAdamSmith

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!

In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with author Rebecca Connolly to talk about the real path to becoming a writer—one marked by uncertainty, persistence, libraries, and learning by doing. Rebecca shares how taking just one creative writing class shaped her perspective on creative work, how she continued writing without formal training, and how she discovered that sometimes the only way forward is simply to keep going. During the interview, we talk about her books: An Arrangement of Sorts, A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice, Hidden Yellow Stars, A Carol for Mrs. Dickens, and The Claire Walker Mystery Series.

This conversation is an honest look at storytelling, growth, and what it means to stay committed to the journey—especially when the road isn’t clear.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone learning to trust the slow work of becoming, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book and embark on your own literal journey.

📚 READ Hidden Yellow Stars: https://amzn.to/4qmUSpg
👀 CHECK OUT Rebecca Connolly’s other books: https://amzn.to/4s8uP6L
🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

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. 📖✨

#RebeccaConnolly #ALiteralJourney #AuthorInterview #WritingLife #AmWriting #Storytelling #HistoricalRomance #BookPodcast #ReadersOfYouTube #SethAdamSmith

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!

In this heartwarming episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with award-winning author and educator McCall Hoyle. During the interview, McCall shares how her deep love for dogs, her years teaching at-risk youth, and her own experiences with grief shaped novels like Stella and her newest “heart book,” Forever Ripley. We discuss the power of writing from a dog’s point of view, helping kids navigate big emotions through story, and why one young reader described Ripley perfectly: “Sad… but hopeful.” McCall’s wisdom, warmth, and honesty make this a conversation that will stay with you long after it ends.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, animal lover, or lifelong reader, this conversation will leave you inspired to open a book and embark on your own “literal journey.”

📚 READ Forever Ripley: https://amzn.to/4pyvpZS
👀 CHECK OUT McCall Hoyle’s other books: https://amzn.to/4pY8as2
🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A Literal Journey: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and literary discussions. 📖✨

#McCallHoyle #ForeverRipley #MiddleGradeBooks #Dogs #AnimalFiction #KidLit #GriefAndHope #Reading #Parenting #Books #Literacy #AuthorInterview #ALiteralJourney #SethAdamSmith #HeartDog #HeartDogs

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!

Imagine a future where paper is treasure, stories arrive in seconds, and the cliff notes are all you ever get. That uneasy thrill sparked Frank L. Cole’s The Legend of the Last Library—and it’s the thread we pull on as we dig into speed, meaning, and the quiet power of reading the long way. Frank shares how an impatient moment with AirPods became a full-on dystopia, why the rewrite that nearly broke him made the book sing, and how a single found novel rewires his heroine’s life in a world that’s forgotten what reading feels like.

We get personal and practical. Frank traces his path from early scares and school visits to a career shaped by persistence, hundreds of rejections, and a community that opened doors. He owns his pantser process—messy, intuitive, and sometimes maddening—and explains how recording voice notes, reading chapters aloud, and letting characters breathe keep the spark alive. We also revisit Potion Masters and Champion’s Quest, exploring research, real-world ingredients, and the kind of cover art that pulls kids into a universe at first glance.

Most of all, we talk about connection. How teachers and librarians help kids find gateway books. How reading out loud turns stories into family rituals. How a single thank-you at a signing can redefine success more than any sales target. Frank’s themes—friendship, courage, embracing the weird—show up on every page he writes, offering a gentle counterspell to shortcuts and algorithms. If you’ve ever wondered what we lose when stories come too fast, this conversation makes the case for slowing down, turning pages, and letting a book change you.

If this resonates, follow and share the show, leave a quick review, and tell us: what book hit different when you read it slowly? Subscribe for more author deep dives and craft conversations.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or book lover, this conversation will leave you inspired to open a book and embark on your own “literal journey.”

📚 READ The Legend of the Last Library: https://amzn.to/48Cs9pb
👀 CHECK OUT Frank L. Cole's other books: https://amzn.to/4iBjc45
🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A Literal Journey: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to "A Literal Journey" for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and literary discussions. 📖✨

#franklcole #frankcole #lastlibrary #dystopian #dystpianfiction #Reading #Parenting #Books #Literacy #AuthorInterview #ALiteralJourney #SethAdamSmith

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!

What makes a good story—and what keeps a writer going after years of rejection?

In this episode of "A Literal Journey," host Seth Adam Smith sits down with J.D. Peabody, author of "The Inkwell Chronicles," to explore the deeper themes behind his beloved series. Together, they discuss the influence of C.S. Lewis, the role of faith and belief in storytelling, and the long road to publication—one that took J.D. five years and many rejections to finally bring his manuscript to life.

Through humor, honesty, and heart, J.D. shares what he’s learned about perseverance, creativity, and what truly makes a story great.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or book lover, this conversation will leave you inspired to open a book and embark on your own “literal journey.”

📚 READ The Inkwell Chronicles: https://amzn.to/47d1D4U
🌐 FOLLOW J.D. Peabody: https://www.jdpeabody.com/
🎧 LISTEN to more author interviews: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to "A Literal Journey" for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and literary discussions. 📖✨

#JDPeabody #InkwellChronicles #AuthorInterview #Author #Reading #Parenting #Books #Literacy #ALiteralJourney #SethAdamSmith

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!

In this FUN and inspiring episode of "A Literal Journey," host Seth Adam Smith sits down with New York Times bestselling author Liesl Shurtliff, celebrated for her reimagined fairy tales: Rump, Jack, Red, and Grump. In this interview, Liesl shares the story behind her beloved books, the moment that sparked her writing journey, and her path to publication. Throughout the episode, Liesl talks about the power of storytelling to shape imagination, character, and family culture—and shares how parents can help their children fall in love with reading.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or book lover, this conversation will leave you inspired to open a book and embark on your own “literal journey.”

📚 READ Liesl’s books: https://amzn.to/4n68QcX

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A Literal Journey: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

#LieslShurtliff #Rump #FairyTales #Reading #Parenting #Books #Literacy #AuthorInterview #ALiteralJourney #SethAdamSmith

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to "A Literal Journey" for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and literary discussions. 📖✨

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!