Creative Collaborations and Inspirations: What It Takes to Build a Children's Book Universe with Brandt Ricca and Matt Miller

Writing one book can be a challenge. What about writing a series of books set in the same world with the same characters? In this incredible interview, Nakita and Kim talk with Brandt Ricca and Matt Millers, the co-creators of two book series, The Barris Books and The Bernice Books! Both series are trilogies, and the Bernice books are a spin-off from the Barris books. During this episode, we explore:

• How Brandt started writing as a creative outlet - which was similar for Matt who usually illustrates technical drawings (and not illustrations for kids!)
• The initial inspiration was a Judy Blume masterclass
• How Brandt used New Orleans - since his family is from the area and he has the background - and why he set the story in the 1950's
• The way the Bernice books were created from the Barris books
• The crazy vivid dreams Matt has and uses for inspiration
• Brandt and Matt's process of collaboration - meeting together, using a whiteboard, and even using inspiration for names from objects around them