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.
Guinea Pig Moves with Jolene Gutierrez
Artichoke-y Karaoke with Samantha Gassman!
Something, Something, Books an Interview with Charlene Chua
Justin Colon’s Experience Points!
Cliffhangers, Queries and Bad Guys with Jennifer March Soloway
Detours and Dosas with Pamela Ehrenberg
The Plop Of Doom! With Lisa Rogers
Potatoes and Process with Jennifer Concepcion!
Be Someone’s Opportunity with Valerie Bolling
Nothing BUTT Jocelyn Rish!
OMG! Aerospace And Birds With Joyce Sweeney!
VerseShow Archive: Take Your Heart and Make It Art with Samantha Berger! Part 2!
VerseShow Archive: Trails of Glitter with Samantha Berger! Part 1!
VerseShow Archive: Pivot and Diversify with Joyce Wan
VerseShow Archive: If You Please Everyone You’re Not Doing Something Real with Steve Light
VerseShow Archive: Nothing Changes Unless You Change It with Kelly Light
Finding Your Community of Creative Weirdos with Julie Hedlund
A Podcast for CK with CK Malone
Nick Cave is Gonna Be Fine–An Interview with Ally Malinenko
The Gertie Journey with Karen Nespoli
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Lit Society: Books and Drama
Ex Libris
Write The Book: Conversations on Craft
The Art of War
The Story of Mankind
Fresh Air
Myths and Legends