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.
BONUS Betsy Bird, Low-Key Ostrich Gal!
It’s Gotta Be Funny with Betsy Bird!
Self-Publishing: An Act of Rebellion with Amanda Esch-Cormier
Rejecting Rejection with Giuseppe Castellano
No Notes, Just Vibes With Kaitlyn Sanchez
Perspective, Kindness, and Flowers With Benson Shum
Let It Go Like A Farting Pig with Maddie Frost
I Love A Good Exclamation Point! An Interview with Kailei Pew
Manifesting with Jerrold Connors
Debuts and Layers with Moni Ritchie Hadley
Introverted Extrovert; An Interview with Matt Forrest Esenwine
Ohana with Margo Sorenson!
From Severed Fingers to Kidlit- AMA with Agent Dan Cramer
Let‘s Be Weird Together with Brenna Jeanneret
A Light in the Darkness with Fred Koehler and Quinn‘s Monsters
Reaching Readers and Achieving Agency with Author Katey Howes
Critiques, Conflict, Change, and Complication with Ryan Van Loan
Ryan Van Loan, Author, The Sin in the Steel
Joanna Davidovich, Animator, Monkey Rag
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