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In this episode, Valerie interviews Dominique Okonkwo, the author of the rhyming picture book 'No Greater Love.' They discuss Dominique's inspiration for the book, the challenges of explaining God's love to children, and the importance of faith-based stories for kids. Dominique also shares her writing journey and her plans for future books. Overall, the conversation highlights the power of storytelling to teach and entertain children while reinforcing biblical truths.

Writer Portfolio | Dominique Okonkwo | Miami Motherhood

Takeaways

Children's books can be a powerful tool to teach and reinforce biblical truths.

Explaining abstract concepts like God's love to children can be challenging but important.

Writing can be a therapeutic and fulfilling creative outlet.

There is a growing appreciation for creativity and the arts in our culture.

Personal experiences and questions from children can inspire and shape the stories we write.

It's important to pursue the things that God puts on our hearts, even if they don't fit traditional career paths.

Favorite books from childhood can have a lasting impact and be enjoyed across generations.

Children's books have evolved to cater to shorter attention spans, but there is still value in longer, meatier stories.

Devotionals and journals can be valuable tools for personal growth and connecting with God's word.

Writing stories that engage children's questions and interests can help them connect with biblical truths.

There is a need for diverse children's books that highlight different cultures and experiences.

Social media and websites are valuable platforms for connecting with readers and promoting books.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Favorite Pie

03:05 Teaching Children About God's Love

06:20 Inspiration and Questions from Children

10:58 Dominique's Writing Journey

12:56 Favorite Books and Impact

15:25 Evolution of Children's Books

23:24 Connecting with Dominique and Conclusion

Let's discover great books together!

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In this Play it Again episode from Season Four of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews Amanda Cleary Eastep, author of the Tree Street Kids series. Amanda shares her inspiration for her recent trip to India and how it influenced her writing. She discusses the fifth book in the series, The Beastie of Brambly Bald, and the themes of family dynamics and curiosity that are explored. Amanda also talks about engaging middle-grade readers and the importance of playfulness and humor in children's literature. She shares her favorite books, To Kill a Mockingbird and A Wrinkle in Time, and the impact they had on her. Finally, Amanda discusses her future projects and where to find more information about her and her books.

Takeaways
Travel experiences can inspire and influence writing.
Engaging middle-grade readers requires playfulness and curiosity.
Children's literature should explore themes of family dynamics and different perspectives.
Books have the power to impact and inspire readers.
Future projects include continuing the Tree Street Kids series and exploring new adventures.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Random Question
01:25 Inspiration for Trip to India
03:40 Inspiration for Book: The Beastie of Brambly Bald
07:05 Engaging Middle Grade Readers
10:27 Writing Playful and Curious Stories
15:07 Themes in The Beastie of Brambly Bald
17:01 Exploring Relationships and Different Perspectives
18:26 Favorite Books: To Kill a Mockingbird and A Wrinkle in Time
21:36 Impact of Books and Writing
23:36 Future Projects
25:03 Where to Find More Information
26:00 Conclusion

Amanda Cleary Eastep – Author, Tree Street Kids series

Let's discover great books together!

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Instagram: @bookworthy_podcast
YouTube: BookWorthy Podcast - YouTube
tiktok: @valeriefentress

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In this Play it Again episode from Season One, Valerie Fentress interviews Courtney J. Strong and illustrator Carissa Robertson about their new Christmas picture book, The Trail of Unexpected Gifts. They discuss their favorite Christmas traditions, the inspiration behind the book, the process of illustrating the book, and their heart for donating the proceeds to Vision Rescue. They also talk about involving their children in the book and their future projects. The episode concludes with information on where to find the book and a Christmas giveaway.

Takeaways

The Trail of Unexpected Gifts is a Christmas picture book that seeks to unwrap the story behind the gifts given at Christmas.

The book is illustrated by Carissa Robertson and written by Courtney J. Strong.

All the proceeds from the book will be donated to Vision Rescue, an organization that works to rescue and educate children in the slums of India.

The authors involved their own children in the creation of the book, and their input and ideas were incorporated into the story and illustrations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:58 Introducing the Guests and the Book

03:22 Favorite Christmas Traditions

04:30 The Inspiration Behind the Book

05:10 Illustrating the Book

07:17 Donating Proceeds to Vision Rescue

10:33 Involving the Kids in the Book

12:45 Future Projects

15:36 Courtney's Previous Book

17:35 Carissa's Artistic Journey

19:00 Favorite Children's Books

22:45 Future Books and Collaboration

25:39 Where to Find the Books

26:00 Conclusion

(2) Facebook

Home - Vision Rescue

Let's discover great books together!

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FB: @bookworthypodcast
Instagram: @bookworthy_podcast
YouTube: BookWorthy Podcast - YouTube
tiktok: @valeriefentress