Ep 18 The Art of YA Narrative Nonfiction with Deborah Heiligman

Join host Kirsten W. Larson for a deep-dive craft conversation with award-winning nonfiction author Deborah Heiligman—known for Vincent and Theo, Charles and Emma, Torpedoed, and her newest YA biography, Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs. America, A Love Story.

In this episode of Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations, Deborah breaks down her entire narrative nonfiction process:

• How she researches using primarily primary sources

• How to build tension-packed scenes in nonfiction

• Why young adult biography is about telling a story, not being a scholar

• How she finds her mantra for each book

• Why she starts her biographies in the middle

• The surprising challenges of writing Loudmouth

• What she hopes young readers take away from Emma Goldman’s story

Whether you're writing children’s nonfiction, YA biography, narrative nonfiction, or simply love craft discussions with master writers, this episode is rich with insights you won’t want to miss. 📚

Books discussed:

• Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs America, A Love Story