On this episode, I talk with Ridley Pearson, the NYT #1 Bestselling author of the Kingdom Keepers series. We talk about the process he follows for writing books, the time he spends at Disney parks conducting research (often after-hours), and how middle grade has evolved over the course of his writing career. I love audiobooks! If you do, too, consider switching to <a href='https://libro.fm/middlegradematters'>Libro.fm</a>. For the same price as other major audiobook providers, you can find all your favorites as well as curated lists of audiobooks written by or recommended by guests of the Middle Grade Matters podcast. <a href='https://libro.fm/middlegradematters'>Click here to learn more!</a> Consider buying your books from the <a href='https://bookshop.org/shop/middlegradematters'>Middle Grade Matters Bookshop</a>, where proceeds support this podcast as well as independent bookstores everywhere. For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: <a href='https://www.shannonballoon.com/newsletter'>Newsletter</a>, and follow Middle Grade Matters on <a href='https://www.instagram.com/middlegradematterspodcast/'>Instagram</a> and <a href='https://twitter.com/middlegpodcast'>Twitter</a>. If you&apos;re enjoying this podcast, please be sure to follow us and please leave us a review.