Debbi Michiko Florence, author of The Mastermind's Trap (Alladin), shares what is giving her hope today: young people and the connectors of readers to books.

This is an ongoing miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

Visit Debbi Michiko Florence online at debbimichikoflorence.com

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. Read on. And don't lose hope.

Steve Light, author illustrator of Gus & Sully All Week Long (Candlewick), joins Matthew to talk about distilling ideas to their most accessible and truest forms for our youngest readers.

Visit Steve Light online at stevelightart.com

Other helpful links:

• Steve Light at Boyds Mills

• Summer Camp for Writers and Illustrators: Session Two! - Get away for five days at our Summer Camp for fiction and nonfiction storytellers who are looking for inspiration, guidance, mentorship, community, fun, creativity, and…a place to dream!

• Steve Light Scholarship - Steve Light and Christine Cincotta have established a scholarship to support attendance at our Summer Camp in Illustration.

• Steve light & Christine Cincotta Cabin (Whiskers Hollow) at Boyds Mills - Honoring Illustrators. Steve Light and Christine Cincotta are frequent visitors to our Retreat Center and Steve has been part of our faculty for illustration workshops.

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org.

Our podcast logo was created by Duke Stebbins (https://stebs.design/).

Our music is by Podington Bear.

Podcast hosting by Libsyn.

You can support the show and buy me a coffee at matthewcwinner.com or by clicking the link in the show notes.

Be well. And read on.

*This episode is a rebroadcast. The original episode aired April 26, 2025 .

Lil Miss Hot Mess (Make Your Own Rainbow: A Drag Queen's Guide to Color) shares what is giving her hope today: drag. Drag is all about changing how we look and how we show up in the world as a way of making the world more fabulous and more just and joyful for everyone in it.

This is a new miniseries of indefinite length in which I invite my friends from the kidlit community to share what is giving them hope today.

Learn more about Boyds Mills and their upcoming programs by visiting www.boydsmills.org.

Visit Lil Miss Hot Mess online at lilmisshotmess.com