# Ep 18 The Art of YA Narrative Nonfiction with Deborah Heiligman

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nonfiction-kidlit-craft-conversations-7100428/ep-18-the-art-of-ya-narrative-nonfiction-with-deborah-heiligman
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nonfiction-kidlit-craft-conversations-7100428/ep-18-the-art-of-ya-narrative-nonfiction-with-deborah-heiligman.md
Podcast: [Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations](https://stenobird.com/podcast/nonfiction-kidlit-craft-conversations-7100428)
Published: 2026-01-02T08:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcast.kirstenwlarson.com/e/ep-18-young-adult-nonfiction-with-deborah-heiligman/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5e2iy5x5hxct47zk/Deborah_Heiligman_and_Kirsten_W_Larson.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/nonfiction-kidlit-craft-conversations-7100428/episodes/ep-18-the-art-of-ya-narrative-nonfiction-with-deborah-heiligman
Duration seconds: 3244

## Resource

Join host Kirsten W. Larson for a deep-dive craft conversation with award-winning nonfiction author Deborah Heiligman—known for Vincent and Theo, Charles and Emma, Torpedoed, and her newest YA biography, Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs. America, A Love Story. In this episode of Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations, Deborah breaks down her entire narrative nonfiction process: • How she researches using primarily primary sources • How to build tension-packed scenes in nonfiction • Why young adult biography is about telling a story, not being a scholar • How she finds her mantra for each book • Why she starts her biographies in the middle • The surprising challenges of writing Loudmouth • What she hopes young readers take away from Emma Goldman’s story Whether you're writing children’s nonfiction, YA biography, narrative nonfiction, or simply love craft discussions with master writers, this episode is rich with insights you won’t want to miss. 📚 Books discussed: • Loudmouth: Emma Goldman vs America, A Love Story • Vincent and Theo • Charles and Emma • Torpedoed • She Persisted: Clara Lemlich 🔗 Learn more about Deborah Heiligman:deborahheiligman.com 🔗 Learn more about host Kirsten W. Larson:kirstenwlarson.com 00:00 – Welcome to Nonfiction Kidlit Craft Conversations 00:39 – Introducing Loudmouth & Why Emma Goldman 02:04 – From Clara Lemlich to Emma Goldman 03:51 – Who Was Emma Goldman? 05:36 – Writing Biography: Hook, Theme & Mantra 08:55 – Finding the Book’s Shape & Mantra 11:45 – The Messy Process of Finding What a Book Is About 13:29 – Deborah’s Research Process: Primary Sources First 17:10 – When Secondary Sources Matter 19:11 – Avoiding Bias & Forming Your Own Interpretation 23:05 – When Research Turns Into Writing 25:56 – Choosing Where to Start a Nonficti…

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