The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 14: Sue Irwin

Introducing… Back in the day, NHL player Jacques Plante wrote letters to a kid in Canada, giving him tips on the game. That kid grew up to be Sue Irwin’s husband. When she learned about this collection of letters, Sue decided to write a book about hockey safety. “Safety Stars” led to another sports book […]

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 13: Bob Smiley

Introducing… They say never meet your heroes. But I made an exception. Bob Smiley has been making me laugh since I was a kid reading the Clubhouse Magazine. I’ve seen almost every standup special he’s made. But when I read Average Boy’s Above Average Year, I became an even bigger fan. Bob Smiley and Focus […]

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 12: Daniel Blackaby

Introducing… As a fourth-generation author, Daniel Blackaby knows a thing or two about legacy. His grandfather wrote the impactful book “Experiencing God.” Every Christmas break, Daniel re-reads the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Legacy and cultural impact are always on Daniel’s mind. Which is why he launched his website The Collision.org which features articles and […]

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 11: Emily Golus

Introducing… Fantasy has the power to change someone. When C.S. Lewis read Phantastes by George MacDonald, he said it “baptized his imagination.” For Emily Golus, Vindor helped her with her anxiety. Now, the mother of two has three books set in the land of Vindor, and she’s hoping to write more. On this month’s episode, […]

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 10: Donna Thornton

When her mother retired and started a raspberry farm, Donna Thornton found her hundred-acre wood. Starting with a baby donkey named Druplet, Donna wrote a picture book as a gift for her mother. This led to a publishing contract, another picture book, and another.

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 9: Anna Raats

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 9: Anna Raats Introducing… Since 2009, Anna Raats has worked for Ambassador International. From designing the interiors of books, to becoming the Chief Operating Officer of the publishing company, Anna knows a thing or two about publishing books. On this month’s episode, Brenda and I sit down and ask her the […]

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 8: Cindy Lynn Sawyer

Introducing… When Cindy Lynn Sawyer wrote The Wonder of Under, she stopped short of hiring an illustrator. After all, the cost of hiring someone to illustrate your picture book is the most expensive part of self-publishing a picture book. So you can imagine her surprise when she opened her birthday gift to find a fully […]

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 7: Jarm Del Boccio

Introducing… Jarm Del Boccio firmly believes in telling children stories that deal with trials and hardship. But never brutality. In her Middle Grade novel “The Heart Changer” she tells a story based on the Biblical account in 2nd Kings 5 of Naaman the Leper. Through her research, she discovered some fascinating aspects of Syrian life, […]

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 6: Brenda B. Covert

Introducing… When Brenda Covert took one of our Master Classes taught by Laura Sassi, she immediately had the idea for Meanwhile, Back at the Manger. A few years later, she finally has a picture book to call her own. A fun re-telling of the birth of Jesus, Meanwhile, Back at the Manger tells the story […]

The Write2Ignite Podcast: Ep. 5: Lori Z. Scott

Introducing… When Lori Z. Scott won the Christy Award in the Young Adult category, she hadn’t prepared a speech. She never thought she would win, and she almost didn’t go to the ceremony. But this wasn’t unusual, because Lori Z. Scott never wanted to write Offsides in the first place. When it was suggested that […]