What I’ve Learned Hosting the Middle Grade Matters Podcast, a guest post by Shannon Balloon

Last fall I launched the Middle Grade Matters podcast. Why? Because as a middle grade writer, I wanted to hear from authors who are ahead of me in this gut-wrenching marathon called publishing. I wanted to hear that they once walked in my worn-out shoes, and I wanted to learn what they had done to perfect their craft and eventually “win” the publishing race.

So, I started the podcast and have since interviewed dozens of middle grade authors from debuts to some who’ve been in this for decades. And while yes, they’ve all endured the same growing pains that most writers experience, hosting the podcast has shown me so much more.

Middle Grade Authors Are There For Each Other

I’ve heard and seen countless ways in which middle grade authors support each other. They gush about each other’s books on social media, they collaborate on writing projects, and sometimes, they even change the trajectory of another writer’s career for the better.

I’ll never forget my interview with author Jessica Vitalis, and her story of how she finally reached publication. After years of writing and working toward publication without any luck, another writer, author Erin Entrada Kelly, read some of Jessica’s pages and offered to refer Jessica to her agent.

“I was ecstatic, of course,” Jessica said, “but having been in this industry now for many, many years, I tried not to get my hopes up. It was really neat that Erin was doing that for me, but I knew that more than likely nothing would come of it.” But something did come of it. Erin’s agent offered representation, and Jessica has since gone on to publish a number of middle grade books.

It’s just one example of how middle grade writers care about other middle grade writers and want to see them succeed. It’s a tough industry, for sure, but there’s a mentality that we’re all in this together.

Middle Grade Authors Care About Kids

We are in a time when book-banning has become frequent, in part because some think certain books could harm kids. While there is a lot that can and should be said on this issue, what I want to say here is that all of the middle grade authors I’ve spoken with care deeply about kids and want their books to inspire, encourage, provide refuge, and bring joy to the kids who read them.

Author Ally Malinenko has had one of her books challenged. She writes spooky books—Ally even calls them horror—but during my interview she explained, “I make a deal with my reader, and that deal is, you take my hand and we’re gonna go into the dark, and it’s gonna be scary, but I promise you, by the end I will bring you back into the light.”

It’s one of the things I love most about middle grade. No matter what happens, middle grade stories are always infused with hope. Why? Because middle grade authors know how important books can be in a child’s life, and they want to show kids through their stories that no matter what may be happening, there’s always a light in the distance.

Middle Grade Readers Want to Know Authors, and Authors Want to Know Readers

When I launched the Middle Grade Matters podcast, I also created an Instagram account. As it has grown in followers, what’s surprised me most is they aren’t all writers. In fact, most appear to be non-writers.

I realized that middle grade readers (as well as teachers, librarians, parents, and other people important to young readers) want to hear what inspires an author’s books and how they became a writer. This hunch was confirmed by an Instagram follower who recently posted, “Thanks for all you do—so helpful gathering titles and learning backstories!”

On the flip side, I hear again and again how much authors love getting to know their readers. In a recent interview, author Janae Marks said it was probably her favorite part of being a writer. “I did a school presentation recently and the kids will have all these ideas . . . and I’m like, oh, you guys have such amazing imaginations . . . you guys should write fan fiction. . . it’s just really cool to see how they engage.”

So, What Now?

Many of us in the middle grade community have felt discouraged by recent happenings that shift focus away from middle grade books. While I hope the people behind these events soon realize this is a mistake, I know that regardless of what happens, the quality we see in middle grade books will continue given the commitment, care, and enthusiasm of both the authors who write them and the readers who read them.

In the meantime, let’s continue to shine as many lights as we can on middle grade books and their authors. Read their books. Recommend them to your friends. Post reviews online. Talk about them. That’s what I plan to do with the Middle Grade Matters podcast. Please, will you join me?

Meet the author

Shannon Balloon is a middle grade writer and host of the Middle Grade Matters podcast. She’s been a corporate lawyer as well as a journalist for both radio and television. Shannon lives just outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her college-sweetheart husband, three kids, and two very spoiled dogs (one big and one little). Shannon is delighted to be represented by Christa Heschke of McIntosh & Otis, Inc.

Let’s Connect:

Website: www.shannonballoon.com

Instagram: @middlegradematterspodcast

Twitter: @shannonballoon

Middle Grade Matters is available on all podcast platforms, including:

Apple Podcasts: Middle Grade Matters

Spotify: Middle Grade Matters

Filed under: Guest Post