You May Contribute A Verse
This is the podcast You May Contribute a Verse, where we talk to kidlit creators, share their stories, and learn from their journeys!
Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Steph Campisi sells caravans by the seashore. So you can camp easy.
Enjoy this first chat of 2024 with Steph sounding erudite, Brenna sounding energetic and engaged, and Josh sounding like he had a spring 2023 cold.
If you're not already a member of our shared Discord PB Workshop, managed by Nathan Christopher and mentioned herein, join here!
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We have a Patreon! Check it out here. Just launched - more to come, but there are STICKERS.
Thanks to #TeamVersey member Steena Hernandez for her shoutouts this week of Jessica Milo and Jenna Johnson, and congrats to Steena on her upcoming 2024 debut PB LUPITA'S BROWN BALLET SLIPPERS.
Our reviews were Maddie Frost-flavored this week! Go check out her WOMBATS series (Wizard's Wharf releases in February 2024!) and all her other work at Maddie-Frost.com. Maddie also did our quokka mascot Versey!
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time.
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Tuesday Dec 19, 2023
Team Versey is Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster, Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster and Jon Seymour, podcast wizard, author/illustrator and family man.
Our guest for this conversation was Brian Gehrlein. You can find Brian on Twitter.
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
This episode’s book reviews:
TOWN IS BY THE SEA by Joanne Schwartz illustrated by Sydney Smith
BLOOM by Julia Seal and MARY WEARS WHAT SHE WANTS by Keith Begley
PARKER PETERZAK by Angel Tate illustrated by Brittany Moodie
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time.
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
An XL-sized episode gift for the holidays follows! Our chat with Federico Erebia about his debut novel Pedro and Daniel (and WAY beyond) is so great.
This episode's book reviews:
LOU by Breanna Carzoo
SEALS ARE JERKS by Jared Chapman
THE BEAR ATE YOUR SANDWICH by Julia Sarcone-Roach
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey (holiday version!), and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time.
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
I’m Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster joined by Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster.
Josh and I found that with our powers combined, we could make Captain Planet. Maybe not, but at least our powers combined can make a pretty rad podcast with the help of behind-the-scenes wizardry from Jon Seymour.
Our guest for this conversation was Jilanne Hoffmann. You can find Jilanne on Twitter on Instagram and Blue Sky.
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
This episode’s book reviews:
GRUMPY MONKEY by Suzanne and Max Lang
NO PANTS written and illustrated by Jacob Grant
I AM MY ANCESTOR’S WILDEST DREAMS written by Tanisia Moore and illustrated by Robert Paul Jr.
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time.
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
The one where Josh embarrasses himself. On purpose.
We talk to Maria Dismondy and Adam Blackman of Cardinal Rule Press this week about how CRP came to be, AND why and how they came to choose and publish Brenna's debut, The Law of Birthdays, out in May 2024 (add it on Goodreads today!)!
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
This episode’s book reviews:
RUDELY interrupted by an interloper. Our apologies.
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur, and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
I’m Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster joined by Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster.
Josh and I found that with our powers combined, we could make Captain Planet. Maybe not, but at least our powers combined can make a pretty rad podcast with the help of behind-the-scenes wizardry from Jon Seymour.
Our guest for this conversation was Laurel Snyder. You can find Laurel Snyder on Instagram.
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
This episode’s book reviews:
THE BAD SEED written by Jory John illustrated by Pete Oswald
THE PERFECT SEAT written by Minh Le and Gus Gordon
THERE’S A ZOMBIE IN THE BASEMENT by Stan Yan
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time.
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
"There's a big contract, there are a lot of words in it, and none of them rhyme..."
Ah, the perennial conflict with us picture book writers looking to break through. Thankfully for our guest this week, Rebecca Gardyn Levington, she seems to have managed to figure it out, with her 2022 debut Brainstorm quickly followed by this year's Whatever Comes Tomorrow, and apparently many more to come!
And hey illustrators, or authors if you're feeling bold, stay tuned (or fast forward if you're pressed for time?) for an illustration challenge at the end of the episode! Tag your entry on social with #PingPongPattyVerse!
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
This episode’s book reviews:
MY DAD IS A TREE by Jon Agee
THE UNBUDGEABLE CURMUDGEON by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock
A PIZZA WITH EVERYTHING ON IT by Kyle Scheele, illustrated by Andy J. Miller (not Pizza, but maybe Pizza? it's very mysterious)
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on the socials at @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
I’m Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster joined by Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster.
Josh and I found that with our powers combined, we could make Captain Planet. Maybe not, but at least our powers combined can make a pretty rad podcast with the help of behind-the-scenes wizardry from Jon Seymour.
Our guest for this conversation was Malcolm Newsome. You can find Malcolm on Twitter and Instagram.
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
This episode’s book reviews:
IT’S FALL by Renee Kurilla
HUGO AND THE IMPOSSIBLE THING by Renée Felice Smith and Chris Gabriel illustrated by Sydney Hanson
THE MONSTER ABOVE THE BED by Kailei Pew illustrated by Steph Lew
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Twitter @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time.
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
We recorded this during a break in Josh's workday. Please ignore his work phone buzzing incessantly in the background!
Chelsea Lin Wallace is incredible and we hope you enjoy this chat! Chelsea's mom is a psychologist, but it's only here that we really delve into the deepest recesses of her mind and our writing inspiration.
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
This episode’s book reviews:
Humphrey the Egg-Splorer by Nadia Ali, illustrated by Valenti Gubianas
Vampenguin by Lucy Ruth Cummins
Donuts for Everybody by Jerrold Connors!
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on the socials at @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Tuesday Sep 26, 2023
Tuesday Sep 26, 2023
I’m Brenna Jeanneret, children’s lit author, mother, rock climber, outdoors person, and podcaster joined by Josh Monken, children’s lit author, father, science communicator, and podcaster.
Josh and I found that with our powers combined, we could make Captain Planet. Maybe not, but at least our powers combined can make a pretty rad podcast with the help of behind-the-scenes wizardry from Jon Seymour.
Our guest for this conversation was Kate Allen Fox. You can find Kate on Twitter BlueSky and Threads.
DON’T MISS AN EPISODE! Sign up for our newsletter here!
This episode’s book reviews:
FOLLOW THAT FROG by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Matthew Cordell
HIDDEN GEM by Linda Liu
BANANA written and illustrated by Zoey Abbott
The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our new quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com
Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes you can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com
Don’t forget to get your Community Shout-Outs in for our next episode!
WE HAVE MERCH!! Check it out and support the show here!
And special thanks to our sponsor Justin Colon and his new venture The Kidlit Hive.
Find us on Twitter @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!
Thanks and see ya next time.
You May Contribute a Verse is a homespun production, produced, edited, recorded, conceptualized, and marketed by Josh Monken, Brenna Jeanneret, and Jon Seymour.