
← Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations7 nov 2025 · 55 min
Ep. 16 - Writing Across Genres and Age Categories in Kid Lit
🎙️ Episode 16: Writing Across Genres and Age Categories in KidLit
How do successful children’s authors move seamlessly between board books, picture books, early readers, middle grade, and even books for adults—without losing their voice or audience?
Host Kirsten W. Larson sits down with award-winning authors Marzieh Abbas (A Dupatta Is…, Yasmeen Lari: Green Architect, Aarzu All Around) and Valerie Bolling (Let’s Dance!, Ride Roll Run: Time for Fun!, A Flea for Justice, Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom) to discuss how they write “all the things.” You’ll hear how they:
Balance fiction, nonfiction, and informational fiction
Adjust craft for different age levels
Use mentor texts to grow across forms
Manage career focus and creative bandwidth
Say yes to opportunities that expand their writing lives
Perfect for children’s authors, teachers, and anyone curious about the creative and business sides of kidlit.
🔗 https://marziehabbas.com/
🔗 https://www.valeriebolling.com/
📚 Learn more: kirstenwlarson.com | writers.kirstenwlarson.com