I’m Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster, joined by Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, avid climber and outdoorsperson, and podcaster!
This is the podcast You May Contribute a Verse, where we talk to kidlit creators, share their stories, and learn from their journey.
I think we’re starting to establish that there’s no such thing as a normal kidlit publishing journey. Our guest today is author-illustrator Kaz Windness, out with her debut picture book, Swim, Jim! this May. Among Kaz’s claims to fame prior to this year’s debut with Swim, Jim!’s, are a book of goth nursery rhymes called Mother Goth, a semi-graphic sort-of graphic novel about a murderous and moody unicorn called If UR Stabby, and a viral picture of a thrift store leotard. We’ll let that one speak for itself.
We caught up with Kaz late in 2021, just after Swim, Jim!’s cover reveal, about the time of Fred Koehler’s Quinn’s Monsters project, which Kaz was also participating in, and simultaneous with some regrettably missed Stabby the Unicorn painting auctions. Maybe next time. How things can change in just a few months – there’s a lot to talk about, and a lot more to come from Kaz.
Find her absolutely gorgeous – and only occasionally creepy – art and words at windnessbooks.com.
Chaos ensues with Kaz. Controlled chaos, delightful chaos, entertaining chaos! Here is Kaz Windness’s verse.
Tara Lazar Is Not A Jerk
Let’s Get Nuts With Steph Lucianovic
Sometimes I Podcast with Jess Townes
From Rejection to NYT Best-Selling Author With Pat Zietlow Miller
Claire Taylor’s Little Thoughts
An Interview with Jess Hernandez Who Did NOT Forget the Unicorns!
Ms. Wauson’s House with Kristin Wauson
The Moo and The Hoo of Publishing with Audrey Perrott
Sparkles Suit Anne Appert!
The Many Glittery Layers of Drag Story Hour with Jonathan Hamlin
Once Upon a Time, There Was a Tara Trudel
Ame Dyckman Writes the Wacky!
Nothing But Heart with Monica Acker
I Think Jessica Whipple Is Enough
Be Your Own Hero with Elisa Boxer
#ASKKIDLIT with Alison Weiss
All Roads Lead Back to Cranberries with Lisl Detlefsen
Find the Impostor! with Agent Dan Cramer
Coming Out of the Broom Closet with Madeleine Gunhart
Jerrold Connors’s House of Donuts and Ideas
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
Just So Stories
Great Expectations
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends