Ep. 21 What Belongs in Back Matter? A Nonfiction Author Breaks It Down

What if the back pages of your nonfiction book could transform a curious reader into a lifelong learner — and make your manuscript more attractive to publishers at the same time? In this episode, host Kirsten W. Larson sits down with award-winning children's nonfiction author Annette Whipple — author of nearly 40 books including Flick: The Truth About Lizards — to explore the craft and strategy behind back matter in nonfiction picture books.

Whether you're a debut author wondering what to put after "The End," or a seasoned writer looking to level up your submissions, this conversation is packed with actionable ideas for making your back matter work harder for readers, educators, AND publishers. 🦎 What You'll Learn:

• What back matter actually is — and why it matters more than most writers think

• How back matter can function as the "rest of the meal" after your main text appetizer

• Why Annette includes STEM activities (like a lizard tongue challenge!) in her books

• How to plan back matter DURING drafting, not as an afterthought • Annette's genius trick: saving cut content in a separate document for potential back matter

• The surprising way Annette's back matter inspired a full-size foldout poster in her hardcover editions

• Common back matter mistakes — and how to avoid them

• How strong back matter makes your book more marketable to editors

• The difference between back matter and a teacher's guide — and why you need both

📚 Books Mentioned:

• Flick: The Truth About Lizards by Annette Whipple