Meet Brittany Phillips — teacher, mom, and author of The Boy in Boots and The Mouse House, as she shares how childhood reading struggles, outdoor adventures, and her son Colton all inspired her storytelling journey.

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with teacher-turned-author Brittany Phillips, the creative mind behind The Boy in Boots and The Mouse House.

Brittany shares how her early struggles with reading shaped her passion for teaching and eventually led her to self-publish stories inspired by real-life adventures with her son, Colton.

We explore the powerful connection between storytelling and childhood development, how her books evolve alongside her son, and the meaningful tribute woven into her second book in honor of Colton’s Poppop.

Brittany also opens up about her mission to spark a love of reading in children, the importance of screen-free outdoor play, and how simple walks in the woods became the seed for an entire book series.

Whether you're a parent, educator, or aspiring writer, this episode will leave you feeling inspired and connected to the heart of children’s literature.

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Get ready to laugh and learn in this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, as award-winning author and longtime educator Frances Mackay shares how she turns silly ideas into powerful stories that make learning fun.

From Nate’s Noisy Nose to Baby Worries and Noisy Animal ABC, Frances explains how her teaching background inspires every page, and how she cleverly weaves in humor, emotional learning, and even STEM concepts without ever sounding “teachy.”

We dive into:

• How to take a simple story idea and build in humor, SEL, or educational layers

• Why self-publishing is more accessible than ever—and where quality still counts

• Her passion for book design (and what many authors overlook)

• The marketing challenges all writers face, and hard-earned tips she’s learned

If you’re a teacher with a story idea, a parent looking for fun, meaningful books, or a new author eager to stand out, this is the episode for you!

You will not want to miss this episode, it's packed with knowledge and plenty of ideas for authors, illustrators, and book designers.

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When she’s not caring for patients as a registered nurse, award-winning author Bonnie Kostan is crafting children’s books that inspire empathy, confidence, and curiosity.

In this episode, Bonnie joins Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson to share how her career in nursing led her to storytelling, and how she uses her books to teach meaningful life lessons in fun, creative ways.

We discussed the heart behind her titles like Kendra’s New Shoes, Put the Phone Down, Mary Lou, Count to 20 with the Silly Dinosaurs, and more.

Bonnie opens up about collaborating with her daughter on illustrations, bringing books to life in school visits, and how Pinterest unexpectedly became a powerful tool for reaching more readers.

If you're an author, educator, or book lover looking for inspiration and insight, you won’t want to miss this uplifting conversation.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform!

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