Episodes
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CCLL - Chapter 21: Departures
FINAL CHAPTER! As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 20: The Donation
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 19: Unfinished Business
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 18: The Last Search Party
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 17: Ice Cream Interrupted
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 16: Anand & Andre
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 15: The Garage Sale
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 14: The Fundraiser
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 13: Martha Gets Fired
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 12: The wheelbarrow
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 11: The Cat People
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 10: The Rising Tide
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 9: The Farm Store
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 8: The Amusement Park
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 7: Posters and a Tarzan Rope
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 6: The Search
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 5: The Fort
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 4: Six Rafters Back
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break staycations, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 3: The Closet Door Opens
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 2: Sticky Situations
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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CCLL - Chapter 1: Arrivals
As a special treat to help us get through our extra long spring break, I’m releasing a chapter a day of me reading my novel THE CAT, THE CASH, THE LEAP, AND THE LIST. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and many other retailers.
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Frozen: Story Structure Analysis
This week we're all nestled in for the extended dance mix of Spring break, along with most of the country. We're breaking down the story structure for the movie Frozen. Nora's even in this one! Because, really, what choice does she have when we are all cooped up together?
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Ivy & Bean Break the Fossil Record
We're back from hiatus! Almost five-year-old Alma Bea has taken over co-host duties from her almost teenaged sister, Nora. This week, we're looking at the story structure of Book 3 of the Ivy & Bean series: Ivy & Bean Break the Fossil Record. Contains spoilers!
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Jamie Sumner, Author of ROLL WITH IT
This week with speak with Jamie Sumner, author of the break out hit novel Roll With It. She dishes about her books and writing process as well as her love of baking and we all share what we made for Thanksgiving dessert. Jamie's essays have appeared in the New York Times and the Washington Post....
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Season 8, Episode 3: Award Winning Author Julie Sternberg
This week we interview author Julie Sternberg who's written 8 books for kids of all ages including the wonderful LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE. We talk to Julie about how she became a writer and how she got the idea for her first book and what she does when she doesn't feel like writing.
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Season 8, Episode 2: Kristin Glasbergen, Author of the Dragon Canyon Series
This week we to talk Kristin Glasbergen, a Canadian author who was brilliant enough to mix Lit RPG with Dragons! She writes a middle grade series called Dragon Canyon. The first book is Fire of Four and we learn the story behind it and the help she got from her 12-year-old, dragon-loving daughter.
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Season 8, Episode 1: Valerie Francis, Author of Nature Knights
This season we're launching a series of interviews with authors of middle grade fiction. First up, Valerie Francis, author of Nature Knights, Crossing the Rubicon, a middle grade fantasy. Valerie Francis is both author and Certified Story Grid Editor. She has published fiction for both women…
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S7, E6: School Visit Recap
We describe a school visit we did —in matching outfits—where we tried to convince a bunch of kids to become writers and gave them the secrets they need to know.
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S7, E5: Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
We are SO excited to talk about the release of the second book in the Simon Snow series from Rainbow Rowell. No spoilers!
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S7, E4: Moana
Nora’s got homework so Alma is our guest cohost for this episode. So, we’re looking at the story structure for Moana. Because the four-year-old got to choose the story.
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S7, E3: Nora's Foolscap Continued
This week we brainstorm and work through some ideas in Nora's story plotting—playing with the idea of time travel in different eras. There might be a climax that takes place in the kitchen at Hampton Court Palace! Read full show notes at Mommyspen.com.
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S7, E2: Nora's Foolscap - Part 1
In this episode, 12-year-old Nora starts brainstorming some details to plan her story and confesses that wearing headbands makes her feel "elevated," a feeling she shares with her protagonist. Read full show notes at Mommyspen.com
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S7, E1: Nora Starts Story Planning
This season 12-year-old Nora is going to write a short story using all of the story structure principles we’ve been discussing for the past year on the podcast. We discuss how to start story planning. Follow along and write your own story!
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S6, E8: The School for Good and Evil
Nora had to pilot the podcast ship this week due to severe little sister interference. She analyzes book 1 in the popular series The School for Good and Evil using the four-act structure.
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S6, E7: Mary Poppins
This week, we're going backwards, looking at the original Mary Poppins movie after our analysis of Mary Poppins Returns last episode. This time, we're looking at it through the 5 Commandments of Story developed by Shawn Coyne of Story Grid.
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S6, E6: Mary Poppins Returns
It’s summer and we’re lazy so we’re doing a movie instead of a book. We liked Mary Poppins Returns way more than we thought we would and we’re analyzing the four act structure.
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S6, E5: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
This week we dissect Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, looking at the five commandments of storytelling for both Eleanor and Marianne’s story arcs.
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S6, E4: The Book of Boy
This week we discuss the BRILLIANT middle grade novel THE BOOK OF BOY by Catherine Gilbert Murdoch. The first part of the episode we tell you why you should read the book, then deconstruct the book’s structure, complete with spoilers.
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S6, E3: Front Desk by Kelly Yang - Review and Story Structure Analysis
If you're looking for books that feature diverse characters and tackle inclusion themes (and you should be), this lovely little book deserves a spot in your stack. It's the story of a young Chinese immigrant, Mia Tang, who helps her parents manage a hotel and uses her ever-improving English…
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S6, E2: One Mixed-Up Night
We start off with a few Alma anecdotes and then launch into this week’s book review: ONE MIXED-UP NIGHT by the brilliant and lovely Catherine Newman who is everything, amen.
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S6, E1: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell - Story Structure Analysis
This week we’re gushing over a young adult novel we love: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell. First we talk about why we love it. Then we switch to spoiler territory and look at the four act structure of the book and break down the genres.
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S5, E5: The Fort
This week is the last chapter in the beginning hook of my novel: The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List.
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Season 5, Episode 4: Six Rafters Back
We're reading from my novel, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List. In chapter 4, we find out what Martha's parents have to say about her secret cat adoption and we see Sanjay hide something he was supposed to share with his brother.
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S5, E3: The Closet Door Opens - Chapter 3 of The Cat, The Cash, The Leap, and the List
Since my book, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap and the List will be published on May 17, we decided to give you a preview by reading from it up to the first plot point. This episode is Chapter 3, where Martha's secretly stashed cat is discovered. You can get the professionally read version of the...
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S5, E2: Chapter 2 of The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List
For season 5, we've decided to read aloud from my forthcoming middle grade novel, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List. Chapter 2 is called "Sticky Situations." We'll keep going until we hit the first plot point. You can get the professionally read version of the audiobook via Amazon and…
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S5, E1: The Cat, the Cash, the Leap, and the List - Chapter 1
New season, new format! Since my book, The Cat, the Cash, the Leap and the List will be published on May 17, we decided to give you a preview by reading from it up to the first plot point. The story has three main kid characters, Martha, Sanjay and Anand. Nora will be reading all the scenes that...
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S4, E8: Harry Potter Series - Overarching Story Structure Breakdown
We’ve completed the analysis of all seven books in the Harry Potter series so now we’re taking a look at the overarching structure of the entire series.
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S4, E7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Story Structure Analysis
In this episode, we look at the four-act structure of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, pointing out the first plot point, midpoint shift and second plot point. Then we analyze the scene where Harry sees the Silver Doe and it leads him to the sword of Godric Gryffindor but then the necklace...
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S4, E6: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Full Story Structure Analysis
In this episode, we look at the four-act structure of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, pointing out the first plot point, midpoint shift and second plot point. Then we analyze the scene where Narcissa gets Snape to make the unbreakable vow to help Malfoy with this "task." *SOB* Finally, we...
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S4, E5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Story Structure Analysis
We break down the overall story structure of the fifth book in the Harry Potter series, do an in-depth scene analysis of the scene where Harry is interviewed by a blackmailed Rita Skeeter, and explain the term verisimilitude.