May Newsletter

I Sent the Dang Manuscript

Decatur Children’s Book Festival Recap

Truly a highlight of my podcasting career thus far has been hosting two panels of authors at the Decatur Children’s Book Festival. We talked books, writing, and took some wonderful questions from the audience (including lots of kids!). I also loved meeting podcast guests Nashae Jones and Allie Millington in person. (Authors L-R: Leah Henderson, Gary Schmidt, Kyle Lukoff, Pablo Cartaya, Nashae Jones, Laurel Snyder, Anne Ursu, Allie Millington.)

Hitting “Send” is Hard to Do

If you follow this newsletter you know I’ve been working on a new middle grade manuscript for a while now. It’s been about 6 months since I typed the first word, although it feels like a lot longer and the book has gone through one total rewrite and some hefty rounds of revision in that time (thanks Joel and Christy for your wise critiques!).

But now it’s off to my agent for her comments, as well as a few experienced beta readers, then likely another round or two of revisions before it’s ready to go out on submission. Writing a novel is work, and it’s waiting, and it’s more work, but I can’t imagine life without it. (Below: When I’ve switched to hand-edits, I know I’m getting close.)

Bonus Round with Gayle Forman

This month’s bonus round is with Gayle Forman. She’s the author of many books for kids including her latest middle grade novel, Not Nothing, which releases in August and is available for pre-order now. During this bonus round we discovered we’re both Swifties, and we had the best time chatting about it. And be on the lookout for my full episode with Gayle closer to the release date of Not Nothing. (p.s.: I loved this book!)

From the publisher: In Not Nothing, a middle grade novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman, a boy who has been assigned to spend his summer volunteering at a senior living facility learns unexpected lessons that change the trajectory of his life.

Gayle Forman - Bonus Round! Listen here:

What’s New on the Podcast

You can catch the following episodes here: shannonballoon.com/podcast or on your favorite podcast player.

Ep. 42: Laurie Morrison on Sports, Romance, and High-Achieving Kids in Upper Middle Grade

On this episode, Laurie Morrison discusses her middle grade novel Keeping Pace and the themes it explores, including the pressure to succeed, the intensity of competition in middle school, and the importance of friendship and relationships . In this conversation, Laurie shares how she discovered her passion for writing and the role of critique partners in shaping her work. Laurie also talks about her journey from getting her MFA to querying agents and getting her books published. She also discusses her writing process, including selling on proposal, and shares her plans for future projects.

Ep. 44: Alicia D. Williams on Grief, Toxic Masculinity, and the Power of Friendship

Alicia D. Williams, Newbery Honor author of Genesis Begins Again, shares her journey as a writer and the inspiration behind her middle grade novels. She discusses her latest middle grade book, Mid-Air, which explores themes of grief, toxic masculinity, and the power of friendship. 

Ep. 45: Justina Chen on Writing and the Importance of Belongingng

Justina Chen, author of With Twice the Love, Dessi Mei, shares her journey as a writer, her love for writing middle grade, and the differences between writing for YA and middle grade readers. Justina discusses the challenges of writing about sensitive material. She also emphasizes the importance of belonging and offers advice for new writers.

Ep. 46: Literary Agent Alexander Slater on Publishing in Middle Grade

Literary Agent Alexander Slater discusses his background in children's publishing and his love for middle grade books. He talks about changes in the middle grade publishing industry, including the impact of Barnes and Noble's decision to stock fewer hardback middle grade books. He also addresses the issue of book banning. Slater shares insights into his typical day as a literary agent and offers advice for writers on crafting effective query letters. 

Who’s Coming to the Podcast!

In the weeks ahead I’m excited to be bringing you episodes with the authors of these fabulous middle grade books . . . and many more!