When you feel like you stick out more than you fit in, a good story can remind you that belonging isn’t about blending in... it’s about embracing your voice and cranking up the volume so you can find your people! 🙌

In this heartfelt episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Erin Soderberg Downing, an author of more than 75 books for young readers (you read that right)! During the interview, Erin shares how she grew up feeling loud and being told she was "so weird" (and she didn't know whether or not people meant that as a compliment). But now, years into her successful writing career, Erin tells viewers and listeners that those EXACT qualities have become the heartbeat of some of her most meaningful stories.

Throughout the episode, Erin and I talk about the research that goes into her writing, and the personal stories that went into several of her books, including: Just Keep Walking, and What Happened Then.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone learning to trust your own voice, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About ERIN SODERBERG DOWNING:

Erin Soderberg Downing has written more than seventy-five books for kids, tweens, and young adults, including the bestselling novels Controlled Burn and Just Keep Walking, as well as several popular series for young readers: The Great Peach Experiment, Puppy Pirates, and The Quirks. Her next middle grade novel - What Happened Then - will be in stores July 2025 and she also has a new series, Just Like Home, debuting in Fall 2025!

💻 VISIT Erin Soderberg Downing’s official website: https://www.erinsoderberg.com/

📖 READ What Happened Then: https://amzn.to/4aos3lU

📚 CHECK OUT Erin Soderberg Downing’s Books: https://amzn.to/4aipjGI

🎧 LISTEN to more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://aliteraljourney.buzzsprout.com/

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

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My name is Seth Adam Smith. I’m a husband, father, and author who believes in the power of stories to inspire people forward.

Subscribe for:
📚 A LITERAL JOURNEY – exclusive interviews with bestselling authors
🎙️ THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Podcast – uplifting messages to inspire you forward
🕯️ AN AWE-FUL STORY – true tales that turn the “awful” into the “awe-full”

✨ My Books: http://amzn.to/2p7FXA8
🌐 Website: http://www.SethAdamSmith.com

Thank you for watching—and for being part of this journey!