In this episode Debbi Michiko Florence chats with Jennifer about her love for children's literature and the power of books to shape our hearts. She shares her own experiences as a reader, from her childhood memories of her parents reading to her and weekly trips to the library, to her rediscovery of reading for pleasure after college. Debbi emphasizes the importance of authentic representation in children's literature and the impact her books have on young readers, particularly those who see themselves reflected in her characters. She also discusses her upcoming middle grade series, Last Chance Academy, and the joy of writing sweet romances for tween and early teen readers.
Show notes, including a discount code for purchasing the books mentioned in this episode from Bookelicious, can be found here.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Fan Appreciation
01:08 Debbi's Reader's Heart
07:06 Common themes in The Reader's Heart
10:01 Books as safe spaces
12:21 Creating authentic characters
16:31 Debbi's journey as a writer
20:15 The powerful first crush
22: 12 Aliza Werner shout out
28:35 Introducing Last Chance Academy
34:14 Importance of stories that explore layered identities
36:01 Wrap up and conclusions
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