What does it take to write a story that faces darkness without surrendering to it?

In this episode, Tricia speaks with acclaimed screenwriter Billy Ray about his move into YA fiction with Burn the Water, a future-set story shaped by Shakespeare, political urgency, and a deep belief in young people's capacity to lead us forward. Their conversation explores community, imagination, hope, and the discipline of creating when the world feels bleak. Billy also offers a sharp look at his writing process, including what changed when he moved from screenwriting to novel writing, and why he sees writing less as inspiration and more as problem-solving.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

• Why Billy Ray believes community is at the core of everything he writes
• How Romeo and Juliet and The Hunger Games helped shape Burn the Water
• Why setting a story 400 years in the future opened up new creative possibilities
• What it means to write for teens living through uncertainty and disenfranchisement
• Why hope is not passive, but something we practice
• How writing can help us process emotion, perspective, and possibility
• What surprised Billy most about shifting from screenwriting to novel writing
• Why he approaches writing like a mechanic, not a mystic
• How structure, routine, and problem-solving power his creative process

Memorable ideas from the episode:
Billy Ray reflects on the role of story in helping us imagine better futures, even when the present feels unstable. He talks about art as a way to tell the truth through invention, and about the importance of refusing hopelessness. He also shares a compelling view of young people, not as passive inheritors of crisis, but as the very people who may lead us through it.

Episode takeaway
This is a conversation about craft, courage, and the necessity of hope. For writers, readers, and anyone thinking seriously about the futures we are building, this episode offers both creative insight and moral clarity.

Join Tricia for a free Futures Literacy session:

https://triciafriedman.com/futureoffun/

What can a cheetah and a rescue dog teach us about trust, friendship, and belonging?

In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with bestselling author Jasmine Warga to talk about her newest book and the powerful themes at its heart: vulnerability, unlikely friendships, and the courage it takes to let someone truly see you.

Inspired by a real program in zoos where rescue dogs are paired with anxious cheetahs, Warga's story explores how connection can help both animals—and humans—feel less alone. Through the voices of a cheetah and a dog, the book opens up conversations about anxiety, trust, identity, and the universal desire to belong.

Together, Tricia and Jasmine explore how storytelling helps young readers navigate big emotions, why animals can sometimes say things humans cannot, and how asking questions—rather than providing answers—is often the most powerful way to write for young people.

They also go behind the scenes of Warga's writing process, from messy notebooks and long walks to the surprising freedom of writing a "zero draft."

This conversation is a powerful reminder that the stories we share with young readers can help build empathy, connection, and community.

00:00 — Welcome + Why This Story Matters Right Now
Tricia introduces Jasmine Warga and shares why the new book immediately resonated with her.

01:20 — Why Trust and Vulnerability Sit at the Heart of the Story
Jasmine explains how the book explores the courage it takes to let someone see your "soft parts."

02:00 — Why the Story Is Told Through a Cheetah and a Dog
How animal characters help young readers open their hearts to difficult conversations.

03:30 — The Real Zoo Program Behind the Book
The fascinating practice of pairing rescue dogs with anxious cheetahs.

05:00 — How Jasmine Built the Two Main Characters
Finding the emotional core of Chase the cheetah and Finnegan the dog.

07:10 — Why Everyone Needs to Hear "You're Good"
A powerful moment about reassurance, belonging, and emotional validation.

07:45 — Jasmine Warga's Writing Process
Walking, daydreaming, music, and asking questions instead of chasing answers.

09:15 — The Music That Soundtracked the Book
Why The National and "You've Got a Friend in Me" became part of the creative process.

10:00 — Why Unlikely Friendships Matter for Kids
How stories can help young readers connect with people who seem different from them.

12:10 — Experimenting as a Writer
From A Rover's Story to a cheetah and a dog—why Jasmine loves exploring new storytelling lenses.

14:00 — Why Jasmine Starts Every Book with Questions
How curiosity drives the themes of belonging and identity.

15:30 — The Power of the "Zero Draft"
A strategy for overcoming perfectionism and writer's block.

17:10 — Which Character Is Jasmine Most Like?
A fun reflection on perfectionism, identity, and the author's personal connection to the story.

Jasmine Warga is a bestselling and award-winning author of books for young readers. Her stories explore themes of belonging, identity, friendship, and emotional courage, helping young people ask big questions about the world and their place in it.

In this episode, we sit down with Tui T. Sutherland, bestselling author of the Wings of Fire series, for a rich conversation about creativity, writing, world-building, empathy, and storytelling for young readers.

Tui shares how play, curiosity, and even dogs can support focus and imagination, why world-building starts with better questions, and how writers can balance community feedback with their own creative vision. She also reflects on the role of empathy, diversity, and self-exploration in storytelling, offering practical insights for aspiring writers, educators, and anyone interested in how stories shape young minds.

This conversation explores the creative process behind building immersive fictional worlds, developing memorable characters, and staying grounded in joy and curiosity while writing. Whether you are a fan of children's literature, interested in the craft of writing, or looking for inspiration around imagination and creative confidence, this episode offers plenty to take away.

00:00 How Dogs Support Creativity and Focus
02:40 World-Building That Makes Stories Feel Real
05:23 Balancing Reader Feedback and Creative Vision
07:56 Community, Empathy, and Representation in Storytelling
10:58 Writing as Therapy and Self-Exploration
14:30 Advice for Aspiring Writers
17:11 Imagining Worlds Through Play and Curiosity

• Wings of Fire Series by Tui T. Sutherland — https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/authors/tui-t-sutherland/

• Scholastic — https://www.scholastic.com/

• Tui T. Sutherland on Twitter / X — https://twitter.com/tuitweets