KidLit Craft Podcast

Thieves' Gambit, Ep. 12: The END--A Satisfying Ending That Also Sets Up a Sequel

Episode 12 In our last episode of season 2, Erin and Anne-Marie take a closer look at THE END of Thieves’ Gambit, specifically, how Kayvion Lewis creates a satisfying ending for this novel and at the same time sets up the sequel.   Han Solo in carbonite [https://youtu.be/x8zyS01gfRQ] The Twilight series [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_(novel_series)] Kurt Vonnegut–The Shape of Stories [https://youtu.be/oP3c1h8v2ZQ] How I Met Your Mother–Slap Bet [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slap_Bet]   Upcoming KidLit Craft Events * “The Sticky Note Plot,” [https://www.kidlitcraft.com/store/p/sticky-note-plot-workshop] taught by award-winning YA and MG author David Macinnis Gill–May 10, 2025, noon-1:30pm Pacific/3-4:30pm Eastern * Ask the Author Book Club with Lindsay Lackey [http://kidlitcraft.com/book-club]–NOTE: NEW DATE–May 13, 2025, 4:30-5:45pm Pacific/7:30-8:45 Eastern *  “Building a Novel with Touchstone Moments,” [https://www.kidlitcraft.com/store/p/touchstone-moments-workshop] taught by award-winning middle grade author Lindsay Lackey–NOTE NEW DATE AND TIME: May 27, 2025, 9:30-11am Pacific/12:30-2pm Eastern * Register for summer classes! More info here: kidlitcraft.com/classes [http://kidlitcraft.com/classes] Get your copy of THIEVES’ GAMBIT from Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780593625385] and support the podcast! Find more content like this at kidlitcraft.com [http://kidlitcraft.com/]   Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/KidLitCraft] Buy T-shirts and sweatshirts [https://cottonbureau.com/people/kidlit-craft] (click on “small logo” or “big logo” for a range of styles)   Email us at podcast@kidlitcraft.com Sign up for our newsletter [https://kidlitcraft.com/newsletter-launch/]

Thieves’ Gambit, Ep. 11: How to Plan a Heist

Episode 11   We’re gathering the people with essential skills, making a plan, anticipating obstacles, doing reconnaissance, and pulling off a heist. Erin and Anne-Marie break down the elements needed for a heist and analyze how Kayvion Lewis designed and executed the (writing of the) sarcophagus heist in Thieves’ Gambit.   Things we talk about: * Ocean’s Eleven * Ask the Author Book Club with Lindsay Lackey [http://kidlitcraft.com/book-club]–NOTE: NEW DATE–May 13, 2025, 4:30-5:45pm Pacific/7:30-8:45 Eastern *  “Building a Novel with Touchstone Moments,” [https://www.kidlitcraft.com/store/p/touchstone-moments-workshop] taught by award-winning middle grade author Lindsay Lackey–NOTE NEW DATE AND TIME: May 27, 2025, 9:30-11am Pacific/12:30-2pm Eastern * Summer Classes are now open for registration! kidlitcraft.com/classes [http://kidlitcraft.com/classes]   Get your copy of THIEVES’ GAMBIT from Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780593625385] and support the podcast! Find more content like this at kidlitcraft.com [http://kidlitcraft.com/]   Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/KidLitCraft] Buy T-shirts and sweatshirts [https://cottonbureau.com/people/kidlit-craft] (click on “small logo” or “big logo” for a range of styles)   Email us at podcast@kidlitcraft.com Sign up for our newsletter [https://kidlitcraft.com/newsletter-launch/]

Thieves' Gambit, Ep. 10, Chapter and Scene Pacing

Episode 10 Pacing scenes and chapters in an action/thriller might seem to be all about how to move through the story as fast as possible, but in this episode, Anne-Marie and Erin focus on controlling the pace, why you want slower moments, and how to move fast without sacrificing clarity or emotional resonance.   Things we talk about: * Dopesick [https://www.hulu.com/series/dopesick-227de06a-d3d4-42e0-9df1-bb5495e1738d] * Henry James [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_James] * Ethan Frome [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780142437803] by Edith Wharton * The Golden Bowl [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780199538584] by Henry James * Mission: Impossible 2 [https://youtu.be/Aqk78Z57LGg?si=aS9fuYOIYp4dvRh9] * Dangerous Play [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9781250833204] by Emma Kress   Register for our Ask the Author Book Club at kidlitcraft.com/book-club [http://kidlitcraft.com/book-club] Register for our April 26 workshop, “Building a Novel with Touchstone Moments,” [https://www.kidlitcraft.com/store/p/touchstone-moments-workshop] taught by award-winning middle grade author Lindsay Lackey   Summer Classes are now open for registration! kidlitcraft.com/classes [http://kidlitcraft.com/classes]   Get your copy of THIEVES’ GAMBIT from Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780593625385] and support the podcast! Find more content like this at kidlitcraft.com [http://kidlitcraft.com/blog]   Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/KidLitCraft] Buy T-shirts and sweatshirts [https://cottonbureau.com/people/kidlit-craft] (click on “small logo” or “big logo” for a range of styles)   Email us at podcast@kidlitcraft.com Sign up for our newsletter [https://kidlitcraft.com/newsletter-launch/]

Thieves’ Gambit, Ep. 9: Overarching Pacing

The pacing of a story determines how a story feels to read, and writers get to control that pacing by placing story elements at certain moments in the book and by how they move from chapter to chapter or scene to scene. In this episode, Anne-Marie and Erin explore how Kayvion Lewis keeps the pace fast and the tension high.   Books we talk about: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9781571313560] Nina Lacour’s books (like We Are Okay [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780142422939] and Watch Over Me [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780593108994]) The Davinci Code by Dan Brown [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780307277671] David Gill [https://www.davidmacinnisgill.com/] Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780759555402] Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780062073501] (our blog post on how Christie keeps tension in the story [https://www.kidlitcraft.com/craft-articles/classic-mysteries-to-keep-tension]) Murder on the Orient Express film [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq4m3yAoW8E] (trailer)    Erin’s percentages for overall structure and pacing: * Hook–1% pg 2 Gambit invite * Inciting Incident–10% Mom kidnapped * First Game of Gambit–13% * Intro to Thieves–14% * Romantic intro–16% pg 59 * 2nd Game–Museum–21%  * Character Reveal–27% unwilling to leave injured player even risking gambit loss * 3rd Game Train–42% * Plan Heist 3rd Game—50% * New Info–64% pg 249 * Big Obstacle-70% (pg256) handcuffed to balcony * Kiss–80% * Mom’s 1st betrayal–Comes at 88% * Double Cross the Gambit–89% * Twist/ Devroe’s betrayal–94% * Mom’s 2nd betrayal–comes at 98% Register for our Ask the Author Book Club at kidlitcraft.com/book-club [http://kidlitcraft.com/book-club] Register for our FREE March 29 workshop, “Making Emotions Concrete,” [https://www.kidlitcraft.com/store/p/free-workshop-making-emotions-concrete] taught by Anne-Marie Register for our April 26 workshop, “Building a Novel with Touchstone Moments,” [https://www.kidlitcraft.com/store/p/touchstone-moments-workshop] taught by Lindsay Lackey   Get your copy of THIEVES’ GAMBIT from Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780593625385] and support the podcast! Find more content like this at kidlitcraft.com [http://kidlitcraft.com/blog]   Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/KidLitCraft] Buy T-shirts and sweatshirts [https://cottonbureau.com/people/kidlit-craft] (click on “small logo” or “big logo” for a range of styles)   Email us at podcast@kidlitcraft.com Sign up for our newsletter [https://kidlitcraft.com/newsletter-launch/]

Thieves' Gambit, Ep. 8: Action Scenes

Action scenes in a thriller novel need to be fast-paced, but fast-paced means more than lots of really quick actions in a row. Erin and Anne-Marie break down three different kinds of action scenes in Thieves’ Gambit to find tips and tricks for hitting the perfect sweet spot of pacing.   Books we talk about: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780439023528]   Register for our Ask the Author Book Club at kidlitcraft.com/book-club [http://kidlitcraft.com/book-club]   Get your copy of THIEVES’ GAMBIT from Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/a/14450/9780593625385] and support the podcast! Find more content like this at kidlitcraft.com [http://kidlitcraft.com/blog]   Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/KidLitCraft] Buy T-shirts and sweatshirts [https://cottonbureau.com/people/kidlit-craft] (click on “small logo” or “big logo” for a range of styles)   Email us at podcast@kidlitcraft.com Sign up for our newsletter [https://kidlitcraft.com/newsletter-launch/]