Children’s Literature, Imagination, and Courage with Stephanie Villeda Schaedler

What happens when imagination meets courage?

In this heartwarming episode of the Nutmeg Lit Fest Podcast, we sit down with children’s author Stephanie Villeda Schaedler, the creative mind behind Mighty, Tiny Antony. Stephanie shares the inspiration behind her story, the importance of representation in children’s literature, and how storytelling can empower young readers to see strength in themselves, no matter their size.

From the first spark of an idea to holding her book in hand, Stephanie takes us through her journey as an author and reminds us why children’s stories matter more than ever.

Whether you are a parent, educator, aspiring author, or simply someone who believes in the power of stories, this conversation will leave you inspired.

 In this episode, we explore:
• The story behind Mighty, Tiny Antony
• Building confidence through children’s books
• The role of imagination in early development
• Advice for aspiring children’s authors Stay connected with Nutmeg Lit Fest and discover more incredible authors shaping the literary world.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 1:13

All right, hello everyone. The sun is out, and we are back. We are back, and you know the drill is what I should really say. Every book has a story behind it, and every author has a moment when they decide to tell it. And this, my friends, is the Nutmeg Lip Fest Podcast, or Story Speak. I'm your host, Janae Hernandez, and this podcast is a celebration of authors, their voices, their journeys, and stories they bring into the world. Each week we sit down with a writer to talk about the path to the page, the moment that shaped their work, and the stories they are excited to share with us readers. Today I'm joined by Stephanie, author of the children's book Mighty Tiny Antony. I think that title is just adorable. I can't wait to get in it and hear the reasoning behind it. Stephanie's work introduces young readers to a charming story about courage, curiosity, and the idea that even the smallest among us can have a mighty impact. It's a very powerful story in general about confidence. So, Stephanie, welcome to the NetMeg Lipfits podcast. Please introduce yourself so we can get into it.

SPEAKER_01 2:33

Hi everybody, thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate this opportunity. Um, a little bit about me. I have worked with children with special needs for the last 10 plus years. I'm also a board certified behavior analyst.

SPEAKER_00 2:50

That was my past life.

SPEAKER_01 2:51

Okay, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, and I am I'm so grateful for that work. And I am, I want to say recently, but not as recent. My son is now four, but I'm a mom too, and he was a big push for me to get this book done and out into the world rather than just sitting on my computer.

SPEAKER_00 3:09

Yes, Stephanie, I love we've crossed paths at many events, so I have a little little upper edge, sorry readers, but we'll make sure that Stephanie shares her insight and her wisdom with um with all of you. You are a great mom. You're very hands-on. I'm glad that you mentioned that your son was the push to get this story out. Please share how and why he was.

SPEAKER_01 3:37

Yeah, great question. I mean, I I love writing and I always have had a passion for writing, and I wrote this story about 10 years ago, maybe now 11 years ago. And when my son was born, you know, I had no aspirations of writing a book or anything like that, getting it out. But as he got older and he really showed me that he loved books and he loved reading, and it was a favorite activity for the both of us. It just got me thinking of, hey, that story I wrote, I would really love for him to enjoy it too. So the fact that he was motivation for me to, like I said, get it out into the world rather than just living on a page and my computer. Um, it's been really exciting. And when I was going through the process from start to finish, you know, he would be with me reviewing some of the work and looking at the pictures as they were developing. And when I finally received the first hard copy, like the sample, it was just very exciting for us to have it in our hands and look at it together. And his name is on the dedication page too. So I was like, look, your name is in there, and mommy wrote this book, and it's just been very exciting.

SPEAKER_00 4:51

I love how you keep him very involved too, like when you go to your events and does he tag along with you for readings? Have you had the opportunity to actually read this live to any classrooms, any um library events? Please share.

SPEAKER_01 5:08

Yes, thank you. I have had the pleasure of sharing this story across a couple public libraries in the state of Connecticut, which is where we are. I've also gotten the honor and privilege to share it in the state of Pennsylvania, where my illustrator is from. They also, yeah, they had um a book launch and we took a road trip, made it a fun event, and we were there for the book launch. Um, and they did a great thing too. They had a story walk around town. So my book was on the town, and they also had a little art gallery in their library as well. And I am excited to show that yes, I have a couple more events coming up, and something that I can keep within my schedule because I have a lot of things going on. So being able to, you know, find the time like one a month is kind of my goal just because I have a lot of other responsibilities. Um, but this has been a dream and just excited to share it.

SPEAKER_00 6:09

How are you finding the balance? Um, because you're very passionate about this story. It shows whenever I have the opportunity to even see you read the story or just even talk about it in like, you know, live live events. How are you finding the balance between your daytime, as you mentioned, your you know, your other obligations, and actually promoting the book?

SPEAKER_01 6:33

You know, that's a question I ask myself too. Um, it especially as being a mom and a working mom, even though I'm working part-time, but I'm a full-time mom, so I'm just always on. Um, I think what has really helped me is having faith that things are gonna get done somehow, somehow. And, you know, it's okay if it doesn't turn out exactly how I envisioned, but you know, the fact is that I'm I keep going every day. So little by little putting all the pieces together, I tell a lot of people that I meet that I'm I feel like I'm juggling a lot, but I haven't dropped a ball yet. So I'm grateful that somehow, somehow the pieces land where they should.

SPEAKER_00 7:15

You know, that's a that's great motivation. Um, because even if you drop a ball, you seem very positive. So we wouldn't know if you drop a ball. You're handling you're handling your your balance with grace, from what I see, just so that you know.

SPEAKER_01 7:32

Which is funny because I'm pretty clumsy other way.

unknown 7:35

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

Thanks for the voter confidence.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

You got it, you got it. My I have a question. So, you know, a lot of the writers, um, you know, shout out to NetMeg Lipfest and that community are self-published. What was your journey to actually have a publisher?

SPEAKER_01 7:55

Yeah, I am lucky. I want to say that there are a couple of authors in our family too, both on my side and um my husband's side. And so I've been able to pick some brains and learn a little bit, but even with that, a lot of it has been just learning as you go, learning as I go. I've been able to reach out when I can to other authors, check in, see if they have any tips and insights. And I've been so blessed and fortunate to learn about Not Mag Litfest. Just a wealth of information, a great resource, really inspiring to me too. Um yeah, it's it's been a process, just a lot of trial and error, reaching out and seeing what has been a good fit.

SPEAKER_00 8:43

I love that. Um, because you know, how do you stay? Did you get it on the first try? How did you stay motivated if you had any no's? You know, what was your encouragement for yourself? Because you know, we're we're very good at encouraging others, but what did you tell Stephanie when you got a no until you got the yes?

SPEAKER_01 9:06

Yeah, I think mo I I will answer that question through the lens too of looking for an illustrator, because that was a very arduous process. Um, I I just took it in stride in the sense of, you know, if it's for me, if it's the right fit, you know, I'll know. And if it's not, that's okay. I'll just keep keep going, keep knocking on the doors until the right door opens. That's that's my perspective on it.

SPEAKER_00 9:33

Yes, keep knocking. Keep there's plenty of doors, right? We just gotta you'll find yours. You'll find your key and it will open. You know, children books often begin with a simple, powerful idea. What was the spark that led to Mighty Tiny Antony?

SPEAKER_01 9:50

I am excited for this question. I was inspired by one of the students that I used to work with. I used to be a special ed resource teacher, so I would work with learners who were behind their peers academically. And one of my students in particular, and I believe it was fourth or fifth grade, he was just the sweetest kid and so funny, but he felt really bad about how behind he was. And every time he would see me, you know, it was like, oh, I have to go work on all this stuff that I'm already struggling with. You know, that I could see that on his face. Thankfully, we he worked really hard and he put in the effort and we worked well together. And we were able to bring him up to grade level with his reading by the end of that year. So I was really impressed with just how he kept going. And it was just so awesome when he would succeed in whatever he was working on. Like you could see, he was so proud of the effort that he put forth. So he really inspired that idea. Actually, I remember writing this story on my breaks, um, inspired by his you know determination to keep going, even though he felt so tiny about himself all the time.

SPEAKER_00 11:03

I love that. I love that. Do we think that there is a book two in the works or a little urge to dab into doubt um writing?

SPEAKER_01 11:19

Fun question. I have not considered it prior, but I've actually had this question come up to me a couple times recently. And I put it out there, you know, I prayed, okay, if there's another book in there in me like this, like a maybe a little series, you know, I'm open to it. So I did actually get the idea for another book. Um, I will slowly be working on that, but the idea is there and it's developing. And I actually also have, and and I will it will be tied in as a series. And I do also have a science fiction novel that I've written that's um the X hopefully foreseeable future to come out as well. And uh yeah, and also a poetry book and also a memoir dedicated to mothers, you going through the lens of my mother and I.

SPEAKER_00 12:15

So we have a Rolodex of books and the works. Which I'm sure that they will be. Which one do you think will come out first?

SPEAKER_01 12:29

If I could predict, I would say the next in the children's book series. Again, the idea of I would want my son to enjoy it before he gets so much older. But the science fiction book is also probably up next.

SPEAKER_00 12:45

Oh, I love it. I can't wait. I'm excited to see it and read it. Do you think you have a uh cover and title already?

SPEAKER_01 12:53

Oh, or the children's book?

SPEAKER_00 12:55

For this for the science fiction one.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

Oh yeah, no, that's ready. I just need to, I just need to do it.

SPEAKER_00 13:03

You just need to you just need the push. You just need the push. How do you find how do you find the push, right? Like what who is like Stephanie do it? How do you get the urge to be like, okay, it's ready?

SPEAKER_01 13:19

I'm sure that's different for everybody. For me, it's a matter of if it makes sense within what's going on with my life right now. You know, I want to be wise about where I'm investing my time and money, making sure that my responsibilities are taken care of first before I can, you know, invest more into another dream like this. Um, it was, you know, it was a big investment going into my first book.

SPEAKER_00 13:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:46

So I have to be wise about the next steps. I think too, if if it makes sense, again, I'll just know. Like the door, the right doors will be opened if I've been putting in the work.

SPEAKER_00 13:58

Yes, I agree. You're you're more responsible than me, Stephanie. I very, I very much love to do it. I don't think that's true. I love to chase my dreams. I do. I do. What advice would you give? Responsible advice, guys, to inspiring authors, inspiring writers out there. What advice would you give them?

SPEAKER_01 14:22

That's a good one. I mean, I've I've heard and seen so many things. A couple things come to mind is something I love that I've come across is the first step is just to create it, you know, no matter how messy it is, and then we're and then worry about getting it perfect later. You know, so I think creating is so important, it's so essential to the human condition. So create, create, create. And then the next thing that comes to mind is like one of the characters in my book, uh, her name is Gwitzy Bitsy, she's the tiniest little spider. Like she says during one of the challenges in the story, she says, with just a little faith, even the mountains can move. And I I do hold, I do hold to that. Yeah. That if you have faith, and again, if you're showing up and you're putting in the work, if it's meant for you, it's gonna happen somehow, somehow. It may not look how you exactly imagined it. Uh you know, it might be even better. You might surprise yourself.

SPEAKER_00 15:24

What came first, the characters or the story?

SPEAKER_01 15:29

It's a story. The characters visualized as they are right now in the book, uh, definitely came after with my illustrator, but he was so great to work with to really tease out kind of what I had in my head because I cannot illustrate like he can. Um, so I would, you know, give him all these like notes and like dump it on him. And he did so great with bringing it to life.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

Yeah. How important do you think your relationship is, especially for children's book, to have with the illustrator? Like to your point? Like, do you think that is key? Like, it did your illustrator kind of talk you out of ideas that you had, or you feel like your collaboration was just that a collaboration?

SPEAKER_01 16:13

Personally, I would only do it if the working relationship was really strong. Like if we could talk about things, if we could hash out ideas, if if he was open to my feedback and I was open to his feedback, you know, again, that collaboration piece. Yeah, I I wouldn't want it any other way because this is something so special to me. I want to make sure it's it could be the best that it could be.

SPEAKER_00 16:37

I love that. Well, with that being said, we have a really special twist on one of our very favorite um moments on the Nut Meg Liphead podcast. It's a segment we call from the page. Um this is where we give our authors a moment to share their voice directly through a short reading or passage that captures the heart of their work. Stephanie is actually going to share some of her work. And for our listeners, I will make sure to put in our description on where you can actually find this information and how to actually purchase Stephanie's book. So, Stephanie, whenever you are ready, we'd love to hear a moment from the page.

SPEAKER_01 17:22

Okay, thank you. Um, I was hoping to share the screen, but it says I'm not able to right now. If that's okay, otherwise I can just dive right in and read.

SPEAKER_00 17:31

You can dive right in. Dive right in and read. And I'll make sure to upload um your PDF on our YouTube page. So for our listeners, NetMegalith does have a YouTube page, and I will make sure that you get the full video of Stephanie's PDF.

SPEAKER_01 17:47

Okay, thank you so much. This story is called Mighty Tiny Antony, and it is written by me and illustrated by Seth Holmes, and it is dedicated to my sweet Noah, Mia, and all people everywhere who need to believe again in their mighty. This is the tale of a tiny, tiny ant living in a big, big colony. Meets Antony. Anthony has hundreds of mighty sisters and brothers, but he is the tiniest ant among the others. He always tries his best, but as he labors along, he thinks, no one wants my help. I'm not big or strong. The life of an ant is an absolutely busy one, where on the sunny great hill, there's always work to be done. Yet deep in his little heart, Antony feels tiny too. He doesn't believe he has important work to do. From the early bright day to cool crispy night, the working ants work with all of their might. But Anthony just doesn't get it right. Until one day the rains begin to pour like never, ever, ever before. The colony cries out, The mighty rains have closed our tunnels. What are we to do? When suddenly Antony hears the soft breeze whisper through. As the colony looks on, confused and excited, Antony approaches the tiniest hole in the wall that only he sighted. What's up, little brother? His biggest sister asks in a voice so delighted, while his brother laughs moving. Who are you fooling? You're too tiny to know what you're doing. But with mighty determination, Anthony continues with no hesitation. He pushes, squirms, wheels, tucks the bullshang, and makes it safely through to the other side. Turns out Anthony is just the perfect size. Why? Even he is surprised. I think I can stop there because he's going to start his adventure.

SPEAKER_00 20:14

I love it. You first of all, you just have the voice, like the perfect voice to read to the population. Have you ever, ever considered doing audiobooks?

SPEAKER_01 20:28

Because you've mentioned it? Yeah, never before though. You you have like it's exciting.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

It just draws you in. I'm an adult, first of all, and I'm drawn into the story. Like I need to find out what's happening. You just have a captivating way of sharing the story and bringing it to life with your voice. I would definitely do it into audio. We also have had the opportunity to chat of translating it into Spanish. I think it would be amazing, amazing for you. And I'm sure the listeners would agree. What things children take away from the Anthony story?

SPEAKER_01 21:07

One of my biggest hopes that our children when they read the story is to have fate for themselves and what they really need to be to remember. It doesn't matter how tiny we might feel, or it doesn't matter what others might say to how they feel tiny. You can do it, you can work out and work like one of my favorite.

SPEAKER_00 21:34

Stephanie, thank you for sharing your story, your voice, your work with us today for listening to our lovely story to share with you, young readers. We encourage you to explore.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Well, if you are looking for a hard copy too, some of the local libraries have them, so you can request it at your local library. Additionally, if your library does not have it, you can also request it so that they can get a copy. It is also available online through Amazon and Barnes Noble. And you can learn more at tiny.cc slash mighty tiny Anthony.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

It's an amazing story. I hope you get into more classrooms. I hope you share it. I want to thank you for listening to the Nutmeg with Fest podcast where stories speak. Until next time, guys, keep reading, keep discovering new stories, keep letting stories speak through exciting, excitement. And please share with your share with your community and share with fellow readers. Stephanie, any last words you want to say until you're listening. I love it.