The Reader's Heart | Guest: Lisa Fipps

This week, Lisa Fipps joins Jennifer to discuss the power of children's literature and its ability to shape hearts and offer survival tools for readers. Lisa shares her early reading experiences and how books allowed her to escape her challenging childhood. They discuss Lisa's book And Then, BOOM! and how it reflects her own experiences of poverty, abandonment, and hunger. They also explore the importance of representation in children's literature and the need for books that address topics like dementia. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the importance of asking for help and giving back.

Show notes and other information related to this episode (including a discount code from Bookelicioius) can be found here.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Friendship

02:04 The Power of Children's Literature

02:23 Lisa's Early Reading Experiences

03:20 The Impact of a Book on Lisa's Childhood

04:16 Lisa's Desire to Explore the World

05:12 Using Books to Escape

07:00 Lisa's Childhood Hiding Spots

08:26 Finding Hope in Books

09:52 Authors Lisa Admires

10:44 Lisa's Writing Process

12:49 Writing for One Person

13:41 Lisa's Book 'And Then Boom'

19:10 Reflecting Personal Experiences in And Then, BOOM!

23:24 The Importance of Representation in Children's Literature

24:17 Recognizing the Commonality of Childhood Experiences

29:10 The Impact of Poverty on Children

32:42 The Importance of Asking for Help and Giving

36:48 Lisa's Future Projects

39:26 Conclusion and Book Recommendations