Episode 4 features fabulous friend and Writing Barn teaching artist
Carmen Oliver, author of
Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies and founder of
The Booking Biz, a boutique speaking agency, with such esteemed clients as
Kwame Alexander,
Evan Turk, Arun Gandhi, and Bethany Hegedus. Our Porchlight conversation with Carmen covers writing picture book text, teaching the picture book and helping writers find their stories hearts, the importance of analysis work and more. We then dive in to Carmen’s career as a literary business person and how and why she formed The Booking Biz (with a big shout out to Kwame Alexander, Carmen’s top client). We discuss writing mentors:
Cynthia Leitich Smith, Liz Garton Scanlon,
Sarah Aronson and how deep study yields deep results. For those of you who live in Central Texas, don’t miss the chance to study with Carmen in
Perfecting the PB II: Draft, Draft, Drafting beginning 9/15. Show notes: Carmen’s class shared on
Book Riot by
Maya Smart Kirkus Review of Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies Book Trailer