Ep 18 The Art of YA Narrative Nonfiction with Deborah Heiligman

Join host Kirsten W. Larson for a deep-dive craft conversation with award-winning nonfiction author Deborah Heiligman—known for Vincent and Theo, Charles and Emma, Torpedoed, and her newest YA biography, Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs. America, A Love Story.

In this episode of Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations, Deborah breaks down her entire narrative nonfiction process:

• How she researches using primarily primary sources

• How to build tension-packed scenes in nonfiction

• Why young adult biography is about telling a story, not being a scholar

• How she finds her mantra for each book

• Why she starts her biographies in the middle

• The surprising challenges of writing Loudmouth

• What she hopes young readers take away from Emma Goldman’s story

Whether you're writing children’s nonfiction, YA biography, narrative nonfiction, or simply love craft discussions with master writers, this episode is rich with insights you won’t want to miss. 📚

Books discussed:

• Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs America, A Love Story

• Vincent and Theo

• Charles and Emma

• Torpedoed

• She Persisted: Clara Lemlich

🔗 Learn more about Deborah Heiligman:
deborahheiligman.com

🔗 Learn more about host Kirsten W. Larson:
kirstenwlarson.com

00:00 – Welcome to Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations

00:39 – Introducing Loudmouth & Why Emma Goldman

02:04 – From Clara Lemlich to Emma Goldman

03:51 – Who Was Emma Goldman?

05:36 – Writing Biography: Hook, Theme & Mantra

08:55 – Finding the Book’s Shape & Mantra

11:45 – The Messy Process of Finding What a Book Is About

13:29 – Deborah’s Research Process: Primary Sources First

17:10 – When Secondary Sources Matter

19:11 – Avoiding Bias & Forming Your Own Interpretation

23:05 – When Research Turns Into Writing

25:56 – Choosing Where to Start a Nonfiction Story

27:57 – Building Mystery in Nonfiction Structure

30:51 – Crafting Scenes in Narrative Nonfiction

33:14 – When Research Contradicts Itself

37:01 – Balancing Emotion, Fact, & Tension

43:22 – Nonfiction Details: What You Can and Can’t Include

45:45 – YA vs. Adult Nonfiction: What’s the Difference?

49:34 – What She Hopes Readers Take Away

50:16 – The Amazing Scene That Didn’t Make the Book

52:30 – Where to Find Deborah Heiligman

53:40 – Closing Thoughts & How to Support the Podcast

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q3KYjmcvyBGfeYBuTqY60dE8koU5eae8/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=111347193035867287487&rtpof=true&sd=true