Episode
13. The Nonfiction/Fiction Divide with Colleen Paeff
- Published
- Aug 1, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 1780
- Processing state
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Summary
🎧 Nonfiction vs. Informational Fiction: Where Do You Draw the Line? | Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations Join host Kirsten Larson and Sibert Honor author Colleen Paeff as they explore one of children's literature's most debated topics: the distinction between nonfiction and informational fiction. When should authors stick strictly to documented facts, and when is it okay to fictionalize elements to serve the story? In This Episode: • How Colleen defines nonfiction vs. informational fiction in her own work • Why her books "The Great Stink" and "Firefly Song" stayed nonfiction while her upcoming "Rainbow Truck" and "Pufflings Fly Free" became informational fiction • The role of emotional storytelling in factual narratives • How research depth affects genre decisions • Practical advice for authors struggling with this choice • Amazing research organization tips using the Obsidian app About the Guest: Colleen Paeff is the Sibert Honor-winning author of "The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London's Poop Pollution Problem" and the starred-review book "Firefly Song: Lynn Frierson Faust and the Great Smoky Mountain Discovery." Connect with Colleen at: https://www.colleenpaeff.com/ Support the podcast through our Bookshop (we earn a small commission at no cost to you): https://bookshop.org/shop/NonfictionKidlitPodcast Perfect for: Children's book authors, educators, librarians, and anyone interested in science writing for kids, research techniques, and the craft of nonfiction storytelling. #NonFictionBooks #ChildrensBooks #KidLit #ScienceBooks #AuthorInterview #WritingCraft #InformationalFiction #PictureBooks #Research