If you've ever daydreamed about writing a novel between grading essays, this one’s for you. In this episode, we chat with former English teacher turned YA author Katie Bayerl about her newest book, What Comes After—a laugh-out-loud, heart-tugging story about grief, identity, and the afterlife. Katie shares her journey from the classroom to the writing world, her process for weaving humor into heavy themes, and how her novel can spark deep, inquiry-based conversations in your classroom. Plus, we’ve got ideas for book pairings and plenty of student writing tips!

Resources:

Join Camp BNT: Summer 2025
What Comes After, by Katie Bayerl: Bookshop.org | Amazon
Katie's website
Katie's Instagram

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KATIE BAYERL: A Conversation about What Comes After [Ep 266]

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