Episode #239: Big Magic with Shelli R. Johannes!
While Grace is on sabbatical, Alvina talked with author Shelli R. Johannes about the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and how it changed her perspective on writing and publishing. Shelli is a long-time listener of this podcast and was the winner of the guest spot on our podcast by bidding to support We Need Diverse Books! Shelli lives in Atlanta and is the author of about 20 children’s books that include the Cece Loves Science Series, Farm Friends, Theo Thesaurus, and Shine Like a Unicorn.
How have you been?
Shelli has been working on the side at her marketing job, she’s working on a new project and her daughter has gone back to college which is always an adjustment. Alvina just returned from the National SCWI Conference. This time she did not miss the annual mashed potato bar! Alvina talks about the “cozy horror” genre she learned about! The book friends talk about Usher’s Superbowl performance.
Big Magic
Shelli talks about what drew her to reading Big Magic. It helps her separate the business part of writing from the creative side. The book helps her to remember why she writes and to stay with her heart when writing. When she’s in a creativity funk, Shelli also recommends The Creative ACT: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. Shelli is self-publishing now and talks about literary agents that she has worked with and her path to publishing.
Gratefuls:
Alvina is grateful for the queso recipe she got from someone at a SCWI conference years ago in Texas! Shelli is grateful for the “She Shed” that her husband built for her.
THANK YOU!
Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio for producing and editing this podcast. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)
You can find Shelli at srjohannes.com and @srjohannes on Instagram, BlueSky, Facebook, and TikTok.
You can find Alvina @Planetalvina on TikTok and @Alvinaling on Instagram and Threads, @alvinaling on BlueSky
You can find Grace @Pacylin on Instagram and Threads, @authorgracelin on Facebook, @gracelinauthor on TikTok, and @authorgracelin on BlueSky Social!
Please keep tagging and messaging us on social media using the hashtag #bookfriendsforever! OR send us a message on Instagram @bookfriendsforever_podcast! Please let us know if you have any topic ideas!
