134 | 'How did you see into my brain?' with author, publisher and podcaster Dani Vee

Episode 134 features powerhouse author, publisher and podcaster Dani Vee discussing her latest picture book, My Spinning, Anxious Brain. For neurodivergent kids, this story draws on her own lived experience and mental health advocacy.  Dani says, 'I wanted a book about ADHD that didn't ignore the bad stuff and the hard stuff, but also celebrated this really unique brain.' She shares her emotions when she learned her ADHD diagnosed as an adult, how her advocacy around anxiety and mental health started by accident, and her advice as both an author and a publisher. This includes her number one key tip for writers looking to pitch their work to agents, publishers and booksellers alike.  Find My Spinning, Anxious Brain through Booktopia or from your local bookshop or library.    Books & authors discussed in this episode:   My Supercharged ADHD Brain by Dani Vee and James Layton, illustrated by Ruth-Mary Smith  Choppy Waters by Jack Heath  Sisterhood Rules by Kathy Lette  Counterfeit by Kristin Chen  Jay Martin (from ep 115)  The Lineup by Nicholas Timms  Hayley Scrivenor  The Graduate by Rebecca Lim  Upcoming events: Nowra – Ashley is in conversation at Nowra Library, Wednesday 2 September, 5.30pm Canberra – Ashley returns to Ginsights on Thursday 3 September, 6pm Kiama – join Ashley for an in-conversation at Kiama Library on Tuesday 8 September, 5.30pm Sydney – Randwick's Reading Takeover is a celebration of books happening over two weekends, 12-13 September and 28-29 November, and features author panels with James and Ashley, plus $15 workshops with Kavita Bedford and Ashley Launceston – find Ashley at the Tamar Valley Writers Festival on Saturday 17 October as part of the Killer Appetites: Crime and Thriller panel Katoomba – Ashley is part of the Blue Mountains Writers Festival, taking place in Katoomba from 30 October to 1 November   Penrith – Ashley is teaching Writing Crime as part of the Write Out West Festival, Friday 27 November, 2-4pm  Penrith – Ashley is speaking on the Crime Stories panel as part of the Write Out West Festival, Friday 27 November, 6.30pm  Learn more about Ashley's thrillers, Dark Mode, Cold Truth, and Like, Follow, Die and get your copies from your local bookshop or library.  Learn more about James's award-winning novel Denizen and get your copy from your local bookshop or library. Get in touch! ashleykalagianblunt.com jamesmckenziewatson.com Instagram: @akalagianblunt + @jamesmcwatson