It's a special celebration on the Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast!

Host Janaya Hernandez welcomes author Lori Miller Kase to celebrate the anniversary of her book, The Accident.

We're talking about the inspiration behind the book, Lori's journey as an author, the experiences that have shaped her writing, and what it means to see her story continue reaching readers.

From the writing process to the moments that make publishing worthwhile, this special edition celebrates the author behind the pages.

Featured Author: Lori Miller Kase

Featured Book: The Accident

Podcast: Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast — Where Stories Speak

What if the greatest gifts we have are the ones we’ve carried within us all along?

In this episode of the Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast, host Janaya Hernandez welcomes Kimberly Heil, children’s author, illustrator, intuitive artist, and creative wellness guide, to explore the beautiful connection between imagination, creativity, and self-discovery.

Kimberly shares the inspiration behind her book, Gifts of Spirit: Animals & Their Natural Gifts, and how the natural world can inspire young readers to recognize and celebrate what makes them unique.

From bringing colorful animal characters to life to using art as a pathway for expression and personal growth, Kimberly takes us inside her creative journey and the meaningful messages behind her work.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about storytelling, individuality, artistic expression, and encouraging children to embrace their own special gifts.

What if the words we share with children today could shape the confidence they carry tomorrow?

In this episode of the Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast, host Janaya Hernandez welcomes Tara L. Kay, PharmD, MBA, author of Let the Sun Shine In: A Book of Positive Affirmations for Kids.

Together, we explore the power of positive affirmations, children’s emotional well-being, and the importance of helping young readers develop confidence, kindness, and a positive sense of self.

Tara shares the inspiration behind her book, why the words children hear and repeat matter, and how families can make encouragement and positivity part of everyday life.

From building self-esteem to creating meaningful conversations between parents and children, this episode celebrates the incredible impact a few positive words can have.

Join us as we go beyond the page and discover how a little sunshine can make a lasting difference!

Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast — Where stories speak.

Every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the stories they read!

In this episode of the Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast, host Janaya Hernandez welcomes co-authors Kaitlyn Derosiers and Megan McBryde to discuss their children’s book, Wonderfully Made.

Together, we explore the inspiration behind their collaboration, the importance of family and identity, and how children’s literature can celebrate the beauty of our differences while reminding young readers that everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and included.

From bringing their vision to life to creating meaningful representation on the page, Kaitlyn and Megan share their journey and the message they hope families take away from their book.

Join us for a heartfelt conversation about storytelling, inclusion, and the power of belonging.

Adventure, imagination, and a little courage can take young readers a long way!

In this episode of the Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast, host Janaya Hernandez welcomes children’s author Brittney Traudt, creator of the Shelly series and author of Shelly Goes to Arizona.

Brittney shares the inspiration behind Shelly, how real-life experiences find their way into her stories, and why building confidence through adventure is such an important part of children’s literature.

From bringing characters to life to encouraging children to embrace new experiences, this conversation celebrates storytelling, creativity, and the joy of discovering the world through books.

Join us as we go beyond the page with Brittney Traudt!

Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast — Where stories speak.

New episodes every Tuesday.

What happens when fantasy, technology, and imagination collide?

Welcome back to the Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast, where stories speak!

In this episode, host Janaya Hernandez sits down with author M. J. Rucinski to explore Threads of Aethercode, a story that brings fantasy and technology together in an imaginative world.

Inspired in part by the students in his high school classroom, M. J. shares the creative inspiration behind his storytelling, the world of Threads of Aethercode, and his journey as an author.

We also explore his work on The Mask of Sphinx and the power of imagination to bring extraordinary stories to life.

Tune in for a conversation about creativity, storytelling, and the inspiration behind the page!

New episodes every Tuesday.

Sometimes the best moments happen when things don’t go exactly as planned.

On this episode of the Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast, Janaya Hernandez sits down with children’s author Dina M. Hardt, author of Catch of the Day, for a conversation about storytelling, patience, perspective, and finding joy in the unexpected.

Through a day of fishing and discovery, Catch of the Day gives young readers a story that opens the door to conversations about slowing down, appreciating the experience, and realizing that success doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.

Dina shares the inspiration behind the book, her journey into children’s literature, and what she hopes children and the adults reading alongside them take away from the story.

We also explore the importance of picture books that entertain while creating opportunities for meaningful conversations between children, parents, teachers, and caregivers.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, librarian, children’s book lover, or aspiring author, this episode celebrates the little lessons hiding inside life’s unexpected moments.

What can happen when a young girl steps beyond the familiar and discovers a much bigger world?

On this episode of the Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast, Janaya Hernandez sits down with children’s author Teighlor Clare-Kearney, author of From Aspen to Rome.

Through the adventures of Jem, young readers are invited on a journey filled with new places, different cultures, discovery, and connection. Teighlor shares the inspiration behind the story, why travel can be such a powerful way for children to learn about the world, and how books can introduce young readers to experiences far beyond their own communities.

We also talk about creating relatable characters, bringing destinations to life on the page, representation in children’s literature, and encouraging children to approach the world with curiosity.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, librarian, children’s book lover, traveler, or aspiring author, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes the greatest lessons begin with an adventure.