A Love Letter To Libraries

In this inspiring episode, Jed welcomes Julie Abe, author of the cozy middle grade fantasy The Magic Library of Waterfall Way. Julie shares her 15-year journey to publication, reflecting on the countless rejections that almost made her give up—and how those "no's" eventually inspired the determined, big-hearted characters she writes today. Julie explains what makes her stories "cozy fantasy": yes, there are magical adventures, book dragons, and real stakes, but readers always feel emotionally safe. Her goal is for kids (and the many adults who love her books) to close the book feeling uplifted, hopeful, and comforted, even when the characters face tough challenges. We meet Lyra Hunt, an 11-year-old girl branded with an "unremarkable fate" in a magical world where children must find a guild or face banishment to a mist full of dangerous creatures. Lyra's last chance is the little-known Guild of Scholars and their one quest: fixing a magical library. Julie reveals how Lyra's feelings of not being talented enough mirror her own insecurities as a writer—and how books became a lifeline and refuge for both of them. Julie and Jed also talk about the power of family reading and co-reading, and how Lyra's story can spark conversations about friendship, rejection, belonging, and the way books expand our empathy. Later in the episode, Jed is joined by Fran Litch, author of Weeper, who talks about bullying, grief, and how fiction can gently open the door to difficult but necessary conversations with kids.