Get ready to laugh and learn in this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, as award-winning author and longtime educator Frances Mackay shares how she turns silly ideas into powerful stories that make learning fun.

From Nate’s Noisy Nose to Baby Worries and Noisy Animal ABC, Frances explains how her teaching background inspires every page, and how she cleverly weaves in humor, emotional learning, and even STEM concepts without ever sounding “teachy.”

We dive into:

• How to take a simple story idea and build in humor, SEL, or educational layers

• Why self-publishing is more accessible than ever—and where quality still counts

• Her passion for book design (and what many authors overlook)

• The marketing challenges all writers face, and hard-earned tips she’s learned

If you’re a teacher with a story idea, a parent looking for fun, meaningful books, or a new author eager to stand out, this is the episode for you!

You will not want to miss this episode, it's packed with knowledge and plenty of ideas for authors, illustrators, and book designers.

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When she’s not caring for patients as a registered nurse, award-winning author Bonnie Kostan is crafting children’s books that inspire empathy, confidence, and curiosity.

In this episode, Bonnie joins Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson to share how her career in nursing led her to storytelling, and how she uses her books to teach meaningful life lessons in fun, creative ways.

We discussed the heart behind her titles like Kendra’s New Shoes, Put the Phone Down, Mary Lou, Count to 20 with the Silly Dinosaurs, and more.

Bonnie opens up about collaborating with her daughter on illustrations, bringing books to life in school visits, and how Pinterest unexpectedly became a powerful tool for reaching more readers.

If you're an author, educator, or book lover looking for inspiration and insight, you won’t want to miss this uplifting conversation.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform!

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What happens when a rare and misunderstood allergy changes your life? For Erin Sherry, it became the start of a powerful new chapter.

In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, I sit down with Erin V. Sherry — educator, mom, and author of Alpha-Gal Gal Takes on the World — to talk about how her difficult journey with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) led to an empowering children’s book that transforms a medical diagnosis into a superhero story.

We discuss:

• The long and confusing road to diagnosis

• How Erin turned her personal experience into a story for children

• The inspiration behind Alpha-Gal Gal

• How her teaching background shaped the book

• Navigating the self-publishing process

• And the impact her book is having on allergy families, educators, and kids around the world

Whether you're a parent, teacher, allergy warrior, or aspiring children's book author, this conversation will leave you inspired to turn your challenges into something beautiful.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to follow for more author interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at storytelling and publishing!

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Order your copy of Alpha-Gal Gal