I was so excited to just be one-on-one with someone in the industry. I had won like some kind of auction through the SCBWI and my prize was to have a dinner and chat with this editor. I had dinner with an editor, Carolyn Yoder, at Calkins Creek. I felt like I had to write what, you know, I thought would make a sale and that really wasn't the right path for me. I felt like I had to write for other people.

I've to tell you, before 'Like Vanessa,' which was my very first, you know, book that got any attention in the industry, before 'Like Vanessa,' I was writing a bunch of stories but they weren't really authentic. Tami: It's been pretty much a guiding force through just about everything I've written. So maybe, why don't we just start there? How has your own life informed your work? Because I was, you know, kind of catching up on everything that you've been up to on your website and I had no idea about your singing group past, and so, one of the things I definitely wanted to ask you about is it seems like you have used different moments from your life, you know, growing up in Newark, you almost being in a girl group of some kind, you know, pulling from all of these experiences to create your fictional stories. Mary: And 'Like Vanessa' is a middle grade and we'll talk about this. 'Like Vanessa' is another title which you know because that's how you and I got our start. So yeah, they can find my books just about anywhere.

And before that, I published a picture book entitled 'All Because You Matter,' also with Scholastic. That's kind of like a nod to my teenage years when I was in a singing group, which was interesting. Some of my titles include 'Muted' which is a YA verse novel, published with Scholastic Press. Mary: And what are sort of the highlights of your repertoire in terms of anything that you want to mention by title so that people can obviously find you and discover your beautiful work. I write picture books, middle grade, nonfiction, and young adults. So yeah, my name is Tami Charles and I write books for humans, ages 0 and up. Thank you so much for having me and it has been a lot. And this is sort of a reunion for us to get together and do this, and I can't wait for Tami to tell you everything she's been up to because it has been a lot. Welcome, everyone, to 'The Good Story Podcast.' I am Mary Kole and with me, I am ecstatic to have Tami Charles who is just such a wonderful writer and not only that but a beautiful human being. With me, you will hear from thought leaders related to writing, and sometimes not, about topics important to writers of all categories and ability levels. Mary: Hello, this is Mary Kole and 'The Good Story Podcast,' good story.

Fearless Mary by Tami Charles