The Niche Between: Teaching, Writing Lower YA, & a Debut Novel with Connie Richardson (E188)
In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Connie Richardson. Connie is the debut author of Rapid City Summer. She teaches middle school English and Language Arts in the Chicago suburbs. She has published articles, short stories, and blog posts for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Scribbler. Additionally, Connie is a former graduate and current mentor in author Mary Adkin’s MFA-alternate program, The Book Incubator. When she is not teaching or writing, she enjoys fly-fishing out west, running, coaching cross-country and track & field, and cooking for her family and friends.
This episode with Connie is so much fun, and her energy and passion for reading shine through the entire conversation. We talk about big life moments, the joy of finally seeing a debut novel out in the world, and what it means to fall in love with stories that open doors to new experiences. Connie shares thoughtful insights from both sides of the classroom and the page, especially how books can spark excitement in reluctant readers and create lasting memories through meaningful connections. At the heart of it all is her deep belief that stories, especially those centered on unique or niche topics, have the power to expand our worldview and invite readers into lives and places they may never otherwise experience.
Episode Highlights:
Writing for the space between middle grade and YA, which Connie calls lower YA.
Her work as an ELA teacher and her school’s participation in a One Book, One School program that brings authors directly to students
How Rapid City Summer is set in South Dakota and centers around the niche topic of fly fishing
Why Connie loves writing and reading niche topics that readers may never experience firsthand
A book flight featuring middle grade and YA novels that readers of all ages can connect to
Connect with Connie:
Show Notes
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Books and authors mentioned in the episode:
The Mystery of Locked Rooms by Lindsay Currie
Slider by Peter Hautman
Sunrise on the Reaping & Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
Alone by Megan Freeman
Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
It’s Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Book Flight
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares
Be sure to join the Bookish Flights community on social media. Happy listening!
