https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-7xvv5-17b28d9
🔍 How to Write Page-Turning Nonfiction Picture Books | Writing Craft Tips with Beth Anderson
Master the art of writing gripping nonfiction picture books in this craft-focused interview with award-winning children’s author Beth Anderson. Discover the behind-the-scenes process of her latest book “Hiding in Plain Sight: Kate Warne and The Race to Save Abraham Lincoln,” illustrated by Sally Wern Comport (Calkins Creek).
Introduction and Book Overview (0:25)
Beth Anderson discusses her nonfiction picture book about Kate Warne, the first female detective in the US, and her role in foiling the Baltimore plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln in 1861.
“Hiding in plain sight is the story of Kate Warren’s role in the Baltimore plot in foiling the Baltimore plot, which was the first attempt in our history to stop a duly elected President from becoming President.”
“Kate Warne was the first female detective in the US. And she worked for Alan Pinkerton and the Pinkerton Detective Agency”
From Character Biography to Event-Focused Narrative (4:52)
Anderson explains her decision to focus on the dramatic event rather than Kate Warne’s full life story, starting with Lincoln’s journey instead of Warne’s early career.
“Actually, I never set out to write biographies… I go after an event usually, or an idea that we haven’t explored before. So my focus is always on that action piece and not on the whole life.”
“It was better to jump right in to the situation, and for one reason is because we don’t know a lot about Kate Warren before this happened.”
Creating Urgency and the Race Against Time (6:14)
Anderson discusses how her editor helped identify the story’s core appeal as a thriller, emphasizing the countdown element and race-against-time tension.
“Carolyn Yoder was the editor from Calkins Creek, and she saw the greatest feature of the story being the race. …this race against time, this urgency.”
“When anybody picks up the book they do it knowing that Lincoln became President right? And so they really already know that she’s successful. But you have to create such an urgency and such intensity that they sort of suspend that reality”
Balancing Context and Plot Momentum (8:26)
Anderson explains the challenge of providing necessary historical context about the Civil War and assassination threats without slowing down the fast-paced narrative.
“That was the biggest challenge, because the logistics of the story are different. They’re so important to the risk and the stakes, and so you have to include that stuff.”
“the real judgment call was always, ‘does this matter to understand risk and stakes and motivation? And does this matter to Kate’s role.'”
Building Tension Through Pacing and Structure (13:59)
The discussion focuses on how Anderson created tension in scenes that could have been boring, using specific techniques like short sentences and time references to build suspense.
“The more short sentences you have, instead of long sentences, slows down the text, because those periods and those pieces of punctuation are stop signs.”
“It’s all focused on time. And so you just learned that they have five days. And now one day has been shot.”
Creating Character Interiority in Fast-Paced Narrative (22:22)
Anderson describes her techniques for maintaining emotional connection with Kate Warne despite the thriller pace, using close point of view and internal questions.
“I try to inhabit that main character and let it come through what she’s feeling and what she’s thinking.”
“I’m trying to dig into what is it like to be her. What is she feeling? What is she thinking? And so the reader can can understand that these people have self-doubt too.”
Research as Foundation for Emotional Truth (26:29)
Anderson explains how extensive research into setting and context allows her to create believable character emotions and reactions, even when specific details aren’t documented.
“You can’t just research the character you’re working on. You have to research everything around them, everything that impacts their lives.”
“there’s so much that I learned that doesn’t go in the book at all, not even in back matter. But it makes me understand the consequences, and how risky this is.”
The Collaborative Process of Picture Book Creation (34:45)
Anderson discusses how editors and illustrators contribute to refining the narrative, helping identify what can be cut or enhanced through visual storytelling.
“A lot of that comes from the editor [saying] ‘this is slowing down here. You gotta do something. We can take out this.'”
“I also try to think about, ‘the art can show this, but they can’t show this.’ So I have to do what’s going on inside, because that’s not going to be in the art.”
✍️ WRITING CRAFT TECHNIQUES COVERED:
• Creating page-turning tension in nonfiction
• Writing historical events for young readers
• Balancing context and pacing in picture books
• Developing character emotions in nonfiction
• Using research to enhance storytelling
• Working with editors and illustrators
Perfect for nonfiction picture book writers, children’s book authors, and anyone interested in writing engaging historical stories for kids. Beth shares specific examples and practical techniques you can apply to your own writing.
👉 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Nonfiction Fest: www.nffest.com
Kirsten’s “Reimagine Your Writing” Workshop: writers.kirstenwlarson.com
Beth’s website: https://BethAndersonWriter.com
Free educator guide: https://bethandersonwriter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/hiding-in-plain-sight-ed-guide.pdf
Interiority w/ Mary Kole: HTTPS://KIDLIT.COM/2017/10/23/WHAT-INTERIORITY-IS-AND-WHY-IT-MATTERS/
Psychic distance from Emma Darwin https://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/psychic-distance-what-it-is-and-how-to-use-it.html
Kirsten’s website (to join newsletter for transcripts and for podcast website): https://kirstenwlarson.com
📚 Buy “Hiding in Plain Sight”: Available at all major booksellers
