“Books give us a window into social issues and a way for kids and adults to learn." On today's show, Anthony Manna talks with author, speaker, and publisher Janet Wong about her work and how her family and multi-cultural experiences shapes her writing.

About this Podcast:

This podcast platform interviews authors who openly discuss their books, writing journeys, goals, and accomplishments. It also provides practical tips and motivation for writers at all stages of their writing journey. The diverse number of guest authors will almost certainly provide an educational environment in which all authors will make discoveries about crafting particular genres. Topics discussed on the podcast cover the entire spectrum of writing, self-publishing, indie publishing, marketing, and distribution. Listeners are encouraged to review and share this podcast with other writers.

HOST:

For the past 50 years, Anthony Manna has taught reading, writing, literacy development, drama and language arts in schools and universities in the United States and around the world. His goal is to help kids and teens discover great books and exciting activities and games that’ll get them reading, writing, and thinking.

His website provides parents and educators with information and guides that support the success of their children, tweens, and, teens as readers and writers and encourage them to enjoy discovering books that will inspire them to become life-long readers. You can learn about Anthony’s award-winning books such as Loukas and the Game of Chance, The Orphan: A Cinderella Story from Greece, Mr. Semolina-Semolinus: A Greek Folktale, and Greek Folktales: A Treasury of Delights by visiting his website.

GUEST:

Janet Wong was born in Los Angeles, CA, the daughter of a Chinese-immigrant father and a Korean-immigrant mother. She grew up in Los Angeles and in San Anselmo, 20 miles northwest of San Francisco. After graduating from UCLA, Janet attended Yale Law School and went on to practice corporate and labor law for GTE and Universal Studios Hollywood. But after a few years of not feeling satisfied with her work, she chose to write for young people instead. “I couldn't think of anything more important than working with kids.”

Success as a children's author did not come easily for Janet; she received over 20 rejection letters for her early picture book manuscripts, and felt “like a failure” after a year of writing. “I almost decided to return to the law, but then I remembered what my husband had said, the night before I quit my law job: 'Why don't you write for a year — and it doesn't matter if you get published. If you love it, keep on doing it.'” Janet did love writing, and she decided to take writing classes at UCLA, where she studied with the accomplished children's poet Myra Cohn Livingston. Myra urged Janet to “read, read, read, at least a dozen books a week.” With Myra's help, Janet's first collection of poetry, Good Luck Gold, was published in 1994.

Janet is the author of more than 30 books for children and teens. Her poetry collections and picture books explore a wide range of topics including human diversity in Apple Pie 4th of July, yoga positions in Twist: Yoga Poems, dreams in Night Garden, and poems about driving in Behind the Wheel. Her poems have been reprinted in many textbooks and anthologies, as well as in some more unusual venues. “Albert J. Bell” from A Suitcase of Seaweed was selected to appear on 5,000 subway and bus posters as part of the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority's “Poetry in Motion” program, and poems from Behind the Wheel have been featured on a car-talk radio show.

Janet’s awards include Bank Street Best Books of the Year, CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book, Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Honor. A Book Links Lasting Connection Book, NYPL Book for the Teenage, and Asian Pacific American Librarians’ Association Award. She also received the International Reading Association's “Celebrate Literacy Award,” presented by the Foothill Reading Council for exemplary service in the promotion of literacy. Articles by and about Janet have appeared in Scholastic's Instructor magazine, Creative Classroom, Booklinks, and O magazine; Janet and her work have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and other television programs. You can read more about Janet and her work by visiting her website.