PODCAST
PODCAST
Join us for author interviews, literary life talks, and more.
EPISODES
Melissa Koch: Signing with an Agent
A Milestones Met Interview Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)! In September, I signed with my agent, Laurel Symonds, at The Bent Agency! How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the...
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Susan Johnston Taylor: Debut Picture Book
A Milestones Met Interview Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)! My debut picture book has been announced! Animals in Surprising Shades: Poems About Earth’s Colorful Creatures releases in 2023 (my first trade book). How...
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Ramya G. Spaulding: Signing with an Agent
A Milestones Met Interview Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)! I signed with a new agent, Elisa Houot of The Seymour Agency. How long have you been writing/pursuing an agent/publishing deal and how has the Courage to...
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Debra Westgate-Silva: Signing with an Agent
A Milestones Met Interview Please share your exciting news (agent signing, book sale, etc.)! I'm thrilled to announce that I am now represented by Mary Cummings of Great River Literary, an agency devoted exclusively to representing authors of books...
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Courage to Create Episode 64 with Laura Sibson
Our last episode before break! Bethany Hegedus welcomes young adult author Laura Sibson whose debut novel, THE ART OF BREAKING THINGS, has been compared to Sara Zarr’s STORY OF A GIRL and Laurie Halse Anderson’s SPEAK. Laura has an undergraduate degree in counseling and an MFA in writing for children and teens from Vermont College […]
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Courage to Create Episode 63 with Christina Soontornvat
Bethany interviews friend, Writing Barn student and teacher, and prolific author Christina Soontornvat in this episode of Courage to Create. Christina is the author of THE CHANGELINGS and IN A DARK LAND, the chapter book series DIARY OF AN ICE PRINCESS, three forthcoming picture books, the upcoming middle grade novel A WISH IN THE DARK, […]
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Courage to Create Episode 62: Creative A-Team
During this episode, host Bethany Hegedus tackles the topic of critique groups, including what they are, how you find one or start one, how you keep one going, how you disband one when it’s not working or leave one that isn’t working for you. She also goes over reasons to join a group such as […]
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Courage to Create Episode 61: Write. Submit. Support. Segment 2
In segment two of the special Courage to Create episode Bethany recorded live during her Write. Submit. Support. class’s summer retreat, the group of writers delve into what drives their literary lives at the moment and what, if anything they’d like to change about that. How can community help our work? Why is it so […]
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Courage to Create Episode 60: Write. Submit. Support. Segment 1
In this special first segment of a two part Courage to Create, Bethany leads the group of writers from her pilot program of Write. Submit. Support. during their most recent retreat. This group of writers has worked together for three years now, and they continue to retreat together twice yearly at The Writing Barn. The […]
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Courage to Create Episode 59 with Nancy Churnin
Nancy Churnin is the author of eight picture book biographies, including her newest release, MARTIN & ANNE: THE KINDRED SPIRITS OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND ANNE FRANK. Nancy is a native New Yorker who now lives in Texas. She is a graduate of Harvard University with a master’s from Columbia University, and she […]
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ABOUT BETHANY
Grandfather Gandhi and Be the Change: A Grandfather Gandhi Story, both co-written with Arun Gandhi (grandson of Mahatma Gandhi), as well Alabama Spitfire: The Story of Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird,and the forthcoming Rise!: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People: Dr. Maya Angelou, and Hard Work But It’s Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter. Her books have been included in numerous “best of” lists such as A Mighty Girl’s Best Books of 2018 and Kirkus’ Best Books of the Year. A former educator, Bethany is an in-demand speaker and mentor who speaks and teaches across the country about writing, creativity, resilience, and privilege. She is also the Founder and Creative Director of The Writing Barn in Austin, Texas and host of The Porchlight podcast, which includes the popular Courage to Create series. She graduated from the Vermont College of Fine Arts with an MFA program in Writing for Children & Young Adults.
Courageous Creators Unite!
No stamp of approval is ever enough. So let’s stop seeking and start creating—a community of courage, connection, and YES!
