When she’s not caring for patients as a registered nurse, award-winning author Bonnie Kostan is crafting children’s books that inspire empathy, confidence, and curiosity.

In this episode, Bonnie joins Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson to share how her career in nursing led her to storytelling, and how she uses her books to teach meaningful life lessons in fun, creative ways.

We discussed the heart behind her titles like Kendra’s New Shoes, Put the Phone Down, Mary Lou, Count to 20 with the Silly Dinosaurs, and more.

Bonnie opens up about collaborating with her daughter on illustrations, bringing books to life in school visits, and how Pinterest unexpectedly became a powerful tool for reaching more readers.

If you're an author, educator, or book lover looking for inspiration and insight, you won’t want to miss this uplifting conversation.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite podcast platform!

IG @quilltownbooks⁠

⁠Pinterest: Quilltownbooks⁠

⁠www.quilltownbooks.com

Youtube

www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com

IG @joann.dickinson.author

FB @joanndickinsonauthor

Affiliate link: ⁠https://riverside.sjv.io/K0YKeN

What happens when a rare and misunderstood allergy changes your life? For Erin Sherry, it became the start of a powerful new chapter.

In this episode of Beyond the Book with JoAnn Dickinson, I sit down with Erin V. Sherry — educator, mom, and author of Alpha-Gal Gal Takes on the World — to talk about how her difficult journey with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) led to an empowering children’s book that transforms a medical diagnosis into a superhero story.

We discuss:

• The long and confusing road to diagnosis

• How Erin turned her personal experience into a story for children

• The inspiration behind Alpha-Gal Gal

• How her teaching background shaped the book

• Navigating the self-publishing process

• And the impact her book is having on allergy families, educators, and kids around the world

Whether you're a parent, teacher, allergy warrior, or aspiring children's book author, this conversation will leave you inspired to turn your challenges into something beautiful.

🎧 Listen now and don’t forget to follow for more author interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at storytelling and publishing!

www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com

@joann.dickinson.author

YouTube

IG @alphagalgal

FB @alphagalgal

Order your copy of Alpha-Gal Gal

Jennifer Nestor on Empowering Young Readers!

In this uplifting episode, I sat down with children’s author and communications professional Jennifer Nestor shares the powerful inspiration behind her debut picture book Jane Escapes to the Jungle of Individuality.

What started as a story of self-discovery became a much-needed message of mental health, courage, and acceptance—especially for young readers facing anxiety or pressure to fit in. Jennifer opens up about:

• Why she wrote Jane to celebrate individuality and emotional strength

• How her school visits use hands-on learning and storytelling to inspire confidence

• Partnering with her illustrator, an art teacher, to create a jungle filled with color and heart

• The personal feedback that affirmed her mission as an author

• A sneak peek into the next book in the Jane series!

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or aspiring author, this episode is a beautiful reminder that what makes us different is also what makes us powerful.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

YouTube: @JoAnnMDickinsonAuthor

Follow Jen & JoAnn

IG: @JoAnn.Dickinson.Author

www.joannmdickinsonauthor.com

IG: @Jennestorauthor

www.jennestorauthor.com