← Totally Booked with Zibby
Totally Booked with Zibby
Matt Eicheldinger, HOLES IN MY UNDERWEAR: Over 100 Poems That Will Knock Your Socks Off
00:27:19
Loading summary
Transcript67 lines
- [00:00]
A
Ready to order?
- [00:01]
B
Yes. We're earning unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment with a Capital One Saver Card. So let's just get one of everything. Everything.
- [00:09]
A
Fire everything. The Capital One Saver card is at table 27, and they're earning unlimited 3% cash back. Yes, Chef.
- [00:16]
C
This is so nice.
- [00:18]
A
Had a feeling you'd want 3% cash back on dessert. Ooh, tiramisu. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment with the Capital One Saver Card. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com for details. Did I talk too much? Can't I just let it go? Wish I would stop thinking so much.
- [00:36]
C
Take a breath.
- [00:37]
B
You're not alone. Counseling helps you sort through the noise with qualified professionals. Get matched with a therapist online based on your unique needs. And get help with everyday struggles like anxiety or managing tough emotions. Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy. And let life feel free.
- [00:58]
D
Better.
- [01:01]
C
Today's episode has been sponsored by Paramount Pictures Corporation. Okay, you guys, there is a movie coming out called Regretting youg, based on Colleen Hoover's bestselling book of the same name. I know many of you already know about this because I sent out an invitation to a screening when they so kindly gave us some tickets and over 250 of you asked for tickets, even though at the time we only had 20. We got a lot more. Anyway, I know you're all already excited about this movie, but for. For those of you who don't know, let me tell you more about it. This is about Morgan Grant, played by Allison Williams, and her daughter Clara, played by McKenna Grace, as they explore what's left behind after a devastating accident, reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love and rediscover each other. Regarding you as a story of growth, resilience and self discovery in the aftermath of tragedy. Also starring Dave Franco and Mason Thames. With Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald. In theaters October 24th. Are you excited? I am so excited. Director Josh Boone is the one who did the Fault in Our stars, obviously Colleen Hoover. It's about mother, daughter, relationships, heartbreak, grief, first love, second chances. It's the perfect film to share with your best friend, mom, grandmother, high school niece. It's filled with love and tears and laughter. Everyone will love it. Honestly, I cannot wait to see this movie. Come with us to one of the screenings. Watch it along. Send me notes on Instagram. I want to hear what you say. We'll all watch it together.
- [02:35]
B
Check it out.
- [02:35]
C
Regretting you.
- [02:39]
B
Hi, this is Zibby Owens and you're listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have time to read books. In my daily show, I interview today's latest best selling, buzziest or underrated authors and storyteller readers whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author, and obviously podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that's coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don't have to stay in the know, get insider insights and connect with guests like I do every single day. For more information, go to zibbymedia.com and follow me on Instagram ibeowensk Matthew Eicheldinger is the author of Sticky Notes, Memorable Lessons from Ordinary Moments, and Holes in my over 100 poems that will knock your socks off. He's also the author of the Mat Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes book and series and continues to write stories that capture the imagination and hearts for readers beyond the page. Matt shares relatable stories with his hundreds of thousands of followers on social media and and has amassed over a hundred million views where he makes people laugh, think, and appreciate the small moments in life. He is a New York Times bestselling author, storyteller, and educator. Whether he's writing, illustrating, or sharing personal anecdotes, Matt's goal remains the same, connecting with audiences in a way that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. Welcome Matt. Thank you so much for coming on. Totally Booked to talk about all of your many books, but particularly Sticky Notes, which I just loved. So congratulations.
- [04:19]
A
Thank you. I'm so glad you read it. It's amazing to see that people who I've never met have read the book. That's the cool part about being an author is people don't know me. But yet you've read my work. That's really cool.
- [04:33]
B
For anyone who's had a book come out, it is a miracle when somebody you don't know reads it. So that is the best.
- [04:39]
A
Yes. Yes it is.
- [04:41]
B
Why don't you, before we go into sticky notes, talk a little bit about being a teacher and how you transition from being a teacher to being a writer and just your who background.
- [04:52]
A
Sure. So I'm going to try and condense a 15 year long story into under three minutes for listeners. I'm getting better at it. I started teaching sixth grade language arts back in 2009. It was my first job out of college I quickly tried to realize, like, what is my thing? Like all teachers you remember, like you had like the dancing teacher or the teacher who told good jokes. And I was like, what's my thing? And I happen to have a very vivid memory of my childhood. And so I started telling students embarrassing stories from my childhood as a way to, like, incentivize them them to finish tasks or, you know, if we. We finished a goal. And so I tell these embarrassing stories and they kind of became popular within our grade level. So I'd go tell them to other kids. And I was like, man, before my. Before. My brain can't remember these anymore. I should probably write them down. So at the age of 21, I just started typing them up, decided to weave them together for some reason into something I called ten broken toes. And then illegally printed it on the school printer. And then three, three hole punched it and put it in a binder. And that really was the start of my journey into publication as I created this book and in my classroom when I had students who wouldn't read, which was fairly often, and I didn't have enough tools at the time as a new teacher to know how to engage kids. So I was like, well, if you liked these silly stories I told you in class about me, here's a book of them. And I would just slide them the binder, and pretty soon I had to print more and more. And I thought, well, maybe I made something good. Maybe. And then I spent the next 15 years trying to publish the darn thing. You know, a lot of that time was spent just learning about the publishing industry because I had no background, There was no one to mentor me. I was just throwing things to the wall to see what stuck. And I look back at some of my earliest query letters, and they're just horrendous. Like, they're so bad. Ultimately, I decided in the middle of the pandemic to self publish. I was teaching alone in a classroom for a full academic year via Zoom. And I was just really struggling to recapture some passion in my career. And this book idea was something I thought of a long time. So my wife and I just went all in. I mean, and so I self published the book and then tried just to hustle it for like a year and a half. Ultimately, I got picked up by an agent who at the time only produced women's nonfiction and wanted to take a chance on me. And. And we were able to sign a book deal. And then the book re released with a new interior and new cover, and it was an instant New York Times bestseller, which has. Yeah, right. I still like. It's. What I like about my story is that I don't think I could recreate it if I tried, you know? And every author that I've met, everyone's story is so different. But I say I wouldn't have been ready if any of this would have happened when I was younger. There's no way. And so this has allowed me to continue to write. And one of the best parts of this has been everything's been very organic and genuine. So when I. When I signed my book deal, I loved my book deal, but it was like an eighth of what I made teaching. It was not a lot to live off of. So my wife and I, again, just took a risk and said, okay, financially, we can make this work for a year, Just a single year. And so I went on leave, and on the first day of summer vacation, I was like, I should probably, like, grow social media somehow. Like, I don't know how to do that, but I should do it somehow. And so I started telling stories that I'd saved from my classroom. I wrote something down every day for 15 years. Multiple things. Nothing long, just, like, shorthand, things that I wanted to remember about kids. And I started telling these and the lessons that I learned in those moments, and they resonated with people. And so that allowed me to write another book called Sticky Notes, which is just mini stories from the classroom. And when I say mini, I mean, like, they're really short. They're less than, like, 300 words. But I really wanted to get at the heart of the story and share what teaching is like and what we actually do outside of planning lessons. And everything that I've written so far has come out of a need or something that I've already done, which I really love. So, like, my Matt Sprout series is based on my life. It was written for reluctant readers in my classroom. Sticky Notes came from saving memories. Holes in my underwear that comes out in September is poetry that I had to write for my classroom because we just didn't have any curriculum. And so it got better over 15 years. And that's what I like about what I've been able to push out so far is it's. I'm not trying to copy anybody else. It's just things that I've done because I needed to.
- [09:22]
B
This is amazing. This is such. No, it is. It's such an inspiring story, which is part of why I wanted to have you on, because it would have been so easy for you to give up, right? You had to teach yourself everything, like the ultimate teacher. And you didn't give up. And you kept experimenting and you kept trying, and then basically you beat the system. You got it out as an instant New York Times bestseller, which is like, impossible. Impossible.
- [09:49]
A
Yeah, I, I, I still don't know. Like, I really, it's, you know, I didn't even have a desk until this year. Like, this desk that you're seeing. I've been writing in a broken IKEA chair upstairs. Like, it, Like, I think there's a lot of perceptions when you get, like a New York Times best selling title. There's a lot of assumptions, even from my best friends. They're like, oh, you're set for life now, right? I'm like, no, I still treat this like I'm hustling an independent book every day, like getting on this podcast. This is a huge opportunity for me. This is huge. I thought about this for an entire week, and this is how you have to treat it because I unfortunately right now, and maybe you've met plenty of authors, so I'm sure you've heard this before. A lot of how I work now is out of fear because I feel like this is just going to go away as quickly as it came. But also that helps me treat it as something special. Because if I do go back to the classroom, that's fine. I'm not running away from it. Although I really enjoy this and I think I was meant to do this. Treating it as if it's a moment in time makes it special, but also, like, I'd really like to keep doing it.
- [10:54]
B
Well, I feel like you have more than earned your stripes in the classroom, and you are obviously such a compassionate, warm, sort of loving teacher and your ability just to listen. I mean, after going through all of your stories of how you interact with kids in the classroom and just seeing people for who they are, I mean, that is what you bring to writing fiction, and that is what is. You can't teach that. That's just something you either have or you don't have.
- [11:20]
A
Yeah. And, you know, I think obviously a lot of writers write based on people they know. I have 15 years of so many individuals, and so as I write about students in my classroom or other books, I see their faces, I hear their voices, and it's really cool to draw inspiration from some of the hardest moments of teaching, but also the best.
- [11:43]
B
Speaking of hard moments, do you mind if I read one of your short excerpts?
- [11:47]
A
I would love to. Yeah, go for it.
- [11:49]
B
This is Called brownies.
- [11:51]
A
Okay, Yeah, I love that one.
- [11:53]
B
Brownies. I was not having a good day. My students weren't doing anything out of the ordinary, but my patience limit was already maxed out. I was up all night with my daughter, who couldn't sleep. Our car battery had died and I had to get a ride. And none of my classroom technology was working, so. So the lesson was doomed from the start. On top of it all, I was not able to put on a happy face for my students, and that gave me teacher guilt, which made me even more miserable. I don't even like thinking about it. At lunchtime, one of my students, Arkel, came into my room. He was holding a tray full of brownies. Hey, Mr. Ike, it looks like you're having a bad day, he pointed out. So I got a bunch of kids to donate their brownies. So now you have a brownie mountain. I don't think I've flipped from a frown to a smile so fast. I actually felt better the rest of the day and until I got a belly ache from all the brownies I ate. I think we often try to give people space when we think they are in a bad mood, but maybe that's not always the right move. Maybe they just need to be given a genuine dose of kindness to bring them back. Or, you know, a tray full of brownies couldn't hurt either.
- [12:53]
A
Yeah, I love that story. And you know what's fun, too, is, you know, when I wrote down a lot of these memories, they were. They were written down in really short form. People think I kept, like, an organized binder of, like, paragraphs upon paragraphs of reflective. No, it was like a sentence, maybe with the kid's name or next to their face in a yearbook. But I never wrote it down for. For how the lesson that I then tell. So, like that story, I just wrote down, like, the day Arkel brought a brownie mountain, you know? And then as an adult, when you sit and think about that for a long time, you start to see all these little things in there about humanity, and you're like, oh, that's what that moment was. Okay, that's pretty cool.
- [13:33]
B
And.
- [13:33]
A
And when I was writing these stories or trying to think about how to present them, it was tempting to, like, give the background of this student and where he's from. And I just don't think that's necessary to tell a good story. I think a good story gets you in there quickly, or it can. And I wanted to keep it short, so I'm glad you enjoyed it.
- [13:52]
B
Can I read one more of them. Do you mind?
- [13:54]
A
Yeah, you read away. It's rare. I never get to hear someone else read my stories, so I'm loving it.
- [13:58]
B
Okay, this is Silence and Stars.
- [14:01]
A
Oh, that's one I tell. I travel to give keynotes, and this is one that I lead with, so. Yeah, I can't wait to hear it.
- [14:08]
B
I mean, see, I'm just so good. No, I'm kidding. Okay. Silence and stars. We were able to take our students to an overnight environment camp. Many of our students have never left the city or camped, and we were going to take them to northern Minnesota in the middle of winter. There was some complaining at the beginning, but by the middle of the day, everyone was having a blast, including Joyce. Mr. Ike, this is so much fun. She yelled during a hike. I've never done anything like this. That night, we took the kids on a hike on a frozen lake, and we all spread out, turned off our flashlights, and laid down on the ice in silence while we stared up at the stars. Complete silence. When it was time to hike back, I noticed one student was still lying down. It was Joyce. You ready to hike back? I whispered. I didn't know what silence was until today. She said, I'm going to miss this. And then we just stood there gazing up. The rest of the class joined us, so we all stood there together in the silence and stars. We don't always get to choose what we remember, but sometimes you can feel the powerful potential of a moment. I think that was it for Joyce, and I hope she remembers it forever, because I certainly will.
- [15:12]
A
Aw. Yeah. And that's one of the hardest parts about teaching is you have all these micro moments with kids. And because you. I say teachers are the holders of stories, because you witness so many things throughout the day. So to be able to recognize how that might resonate years down the line for a kid or even for yourself is really hard as a teacher because you go through so much of it. And so when I get the opportunity to speak to teachers at conferences or education departments, this is one of the lessons that I share, is being able to recognize these in the moment of, you're not going to see how this impacts Joyce or whoever it is years down the line, but you can feel that it's important. Like, I remember feeling like I can see her gears turning their head. This will be something that she shares at dinner, when she gets home, if she chooses to have kids. This will be something that she shares with her kids like. And those are the things that help you leave work feeling lighter than you came in, which can be very hard in teaching.
- [16:10]
C
Yeah, yeah.
- [16:11]
B
And as you reference the pandemic, I mean this and throughout your stories, occasionally you talk about these hard days and days when it just gets you down. How can it not? I mean, there's so much pressure. Maybe talk a little bit about the pressures and how do you keep your spirit alive? Today's episode is sponsored by Live It Up. If you are someone who wants real results and not watered down promises, it's time to upgrade your greens game. Most powders out there either taste like grass or overcharge you for hype. Live It Up Super Greens is different. My cabinet is now stocked with so many different products and it all tastes good. I have a hard time finding time to fit in all of my vegetables. Sometimes I don't even get to eat meals. This is the perfect solution for me and anyone else out there who's running around trying to just make life. Fit it all in and have a good time while you're doing it. Live It Up Super Greens contains more than 20 super foods from organic vegetables and natural ingredients, all traceable nutrition designed and third party tasted and did I mention it tastes good? A survey of real Live it up customers who take their greens daily report actual benefits. 98% say it helps them feel healthier overall and 96% say it increased their veggie intake. 95% say it improved digestion. Bottom line, Live it up delivers premium quality at a price that actually sticks. No gimmicks, no bloated margins. Live it up has become a quick and easy way for me to stay on top of my health. It's such a simple step that fits into my morning routine without any hassle and I love that I don't have to overthink it. One scoop and I am set for the day. Honestly, I was surprised by how good it tastes. Not grassy or chalky like so many others. I actually look forward to drinking it, which makes it easier to stick with. I've noticed I feel more balanced throughout the day. When I make it part of my mornings. It gives me that feel good energy I can count on without the crash right now. Get 33% off your first Live It up order when you subscribe at letsliveitup.com booked and use code booked. You can cancel anytime with a 30 day money back guarantee or to get 15% off when you purchase without a subscription. Head to letsliveitup.com booked and use code booked for 15% off your first order. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Today's episode has been sponsored by Quince. Cooler days call for layers that last and Quince is my go to for quality essentials that feel cozy, look refined and won't blow your budget. Think 50 Mongolian cashmere premium denim that fits like a dream and luxe outerwear you'll wear year after year. These are the pieces that'll turn into your fall uniform. I'm eyeing their wool coats. They look designer level but cost a fraction of the price and the quality Honestly just as good, if not better. Because Quince partners directly with top tier ethical factories and cuts out the middlemen. They deliver luxury quality pieces at half the price of similar brands. It's the kind of wardrobe upgrade that feels smart, stylish and effortless. I am particularly a fan of the Fisherman Cashmere Mongolian sweater in brown. The light brown is already sold out. I am obsessed and it is so cozy and is a staple. Find your fall staples at Quince. Go to Quince.com Zibby for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N C E.com Zibby Z I B B Y to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Zibby.
- [20:01]
D
If you love to travel, Capital One has a rewards credit card that's perfect for you. With the Capital One Venture X card, you earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy. Plus you get premium benefits at a collection of luxury hotels when you book on Capital One Travel. And with Venture X you get access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. Open up a world of travel possibilities with a Capital One Venture X card. What's in your wallet?
- [20:27]
A
Terms apply. Lounge access is subject to change. See capital1.com for details. Sure. So there's I'd say there's a lot of factors that go into what I call the valley of despair in teaching. The things that can weigh you down. I don't think that's my term either. I heard a principal say that once. So there's society, right? Whatever political things are going on and the things that impact what can be taught in your classroom can certainly feel heavy. There's things like Covid where there's so many external factors that are going into that moment that they're completely out of your control. But there's also the stories from kids and the things that you hear from their life that they're dealing with. And the things that you have to do to help them outside of school, those things weigh even heavier than the world. For example, if I do not call child protective services tonight, like right now, that kid doesn't have a place to sleep or their family might not have a place to sleep. And that's really hard to know. Like, I need to go home to my family who also needs me to be there. Like I've got to pick up kids, I need to make dinner. But also there's a family who doesn't have a place to sleep. So, so now what do I disregard that? And those are the things that weigh really heavy on you is, yeah, now I have to stay an extra hour at work today because a family needs me. And that can. Over the years, that became harder and harder to sacrifice personal time to help others just because I felt like I was losing time with my own family. But the things that help me at least is when that door does click shut as a teacher, it's really intimidating. As a first year teacher, when the door clicks shut and you're like, oh my gosh, I'm alone in the room. I'm the adult now at 21, or even at 35 or 38, when the door clicks shut, that's when things can be scary, but they can also become very beautiful because that's when you create the weather for your classroom. You create the atmosphere that kids will learn and grow in. And you can create that in so many different ways. So one of the things I implemented pretty quickly is every Monday and Tuesday I start class with circle time for 12 year olds, which sounds absolutely wild to do, right? Like remember sitting on carpet pads in kindergarten maybe? And we will sit and we will talk about nothing that has to do with school, not a darn thing. And I'll put questions about pop culture or things happening in our community up on the board. Or kids can share what they did over the weekend. It's just a space where we can just be us and no one has to worry about what they're learning or not learning. Kids don't have to talk if they don't want to. They can just listen. We pass around like a talking stick. And that for me was a way to like rejuvenate why I do what I do. And other teachers I've met have a various different ways to do that. But that's one that worked really well for me.
- [23:15]
B
Wow. I have a 12 year old. One of my four kids is 12. And so if there are any, if you have any tips on the secret to 12 year olds? Happy to hear.
- [23:25]
A
I think the only thing that I like to the reason. So I've only taught sixth grade. That's the only grade I've taught. And the reason I love that grade so much and this is coming, this is the advice that's coming is because they're trying on so many different hats. That's the metaphor we use as kids come into sixth grade, even seventh grade, they're trying to figure out who they are. And they're doing that at home too. They're like, am I the sports person? Am I the funny kid? Am I, you know, fashion trend, like who am I? And as kids try on all their hats, they're just looking for validation. And so one of my jobs I think as a teacher is not, is not to tell them who they are or to even validate who they think they are. It's just to show them all the doors, right? It's like, I know you think you're this. That's great if you want to be that. Did you know that? I see this in you. You could also be this. You could also be this. And I don't want to pressure kids in that way, but they oftentimes don't think they have all these like transferable skills, even at 11 and 12, to know what they want to do or what they want to be. So that, that would be my advice to middle school parents is let your kids try on all these hats. They're just trying to figure out who they are. And that takes a while.
- [24:35]
B
I also love your story about listening. There was one day a kid was having the hard ever and he just came and sat with you. And at the end of it he was like, thanks so much for your help. And you were like, I didn't even say a word. I didn't do anything. And he's like, no, you were there. And that helped. And that's another thing. Cause I feel like we always want to solve our kids problems, but sometimes just holding space is enough.
- [24:58]
A
Oh, absolutely. I, instead of using the word holding space, I use the phrase the power of the pause where you just don't do anything. And that's hard too. Especially like when you said when you're trying to solve all the problems, even as a teacher or a parent and you know, you know you're working with five different things and sometimes if you just allow yourself to slow down, other people rise to the occasion, students rise to the occasion. And, and that's important too. Everyone needs a Moment where they feel important, whether that's being a friend or, you know, realizing a talent that you never had. Like, everyone needs their moment. And so when you pause, you. You give. You give that space and opportunity.
- [25:35]
B
Amazing. Yeah. And you also told a great story about giving extra pizza from a class party to a family. And then they wrote a thank you. They wrote a thank you note home on the box for you, and you realized that they didn't have any food at home at all.
- [25:49]
A
Yeah. And that's. Man, those situations are. Those situations are hard, too, because you feel like you missed something. Like, I felt like in that situation, I should have known. And for listeners, what happened was a stu. We had a pizza party, which I paid for because the class made a goal. Right. And one of my students asked if they could take the rest of the pizza box home. And I was like, yeah. I mean, no one else wanted. Yeah, you can take it home. And turns out she needed that for her family. And. And the next day, there was a torn off piece of cardboard from the pizza box on my desk that said thank you. And. And those things are. Those are. That's like a heavy moment. Right. So now I know this family doesn't have food. So now it's. Now it's on me to do something for this kid. I'm not going to navigate my day knowing that this kid doesn't have food. And. And that's why teaching is so hard, is we have the lesson, but then all these other factors go into it. So when people say, like, you should just teach, like, it's never that. It is never that. There's too many other things that you need to do that help learning but have nothing to do with the classroom, if that makes sense.
- [26:54]
B
Yeah. One of my kids wants to be a teacher eventually.
- [26:58]
A
Okay.
- [26:59]
B
What kind of advice would you have there? Especially given all the obstacles? It feels like there's always just so many things up against teachers. And pay is not commensurate with all of your ability and time and everything, for one thing. And resources are more and more scarce and just feels like not exactly setting up this career for success, but it's so important.
- [27:24]
A
Yeah. The first thing I would say is that. So I've traveled more in the last year than I have in my entire life combined, which has been phenomenal and also very tiring. But I take any opportunity I can. I really do. And that's been great to see different parts of the country and see how education works in other places. And what I'm seeing is there is A. There is a large influx of people who are leaving their career to become a teacher, their second career. And when I talk to these people, it's really interesting because they. They all say the same thing. They're like, I just feel like giving back in. This is bringing me joy. And so I tell new teachers, like, you are going to feel joy. Like, kids give you energy. And I'm missing that right now. Like, I miss the moments with kids sitting alone in my basement. That's the first thing you are going to feel joy. The second thing for new teachers is you need to give yourself time, a lot of time, to recognize what kind of teacher you are. And that takes years. You're not going to have all the tools your first year. And entering that classroom, it can feel really intimidating. But you have to allow yourself the time and the space to learn and grow and figure out what is your unique quality as a teacher. And that's the great thing about education is these kids go into different classrooms throughout their educational career, and they get all different types of personalities and teachers. I don't want kids to have 10 copies of me. I don't want kids to have 10 copies of my colleagues. Like, they need a little bit of different. And so I would encourage all new teachers to just give it time. Yeah.
- [28:54]
B
And tell me a little more about your upcoming projects, the book you have coming out this fall, and what you're thinking after that.
- [29:02]
A
Okay, I don't know what I'm thinking. So my Matt Sprouts series just released its third book. It's called Matt Sprouts and the Search for the Chompy Whompers. Matt Sprouts is me, but Matt Eicheldinger by Matt Eicheldinger is kind of a mouthful. So Matt Sprouts. So that third book just released. I don't know if there'll be any more coming out. Then I have this book, Holes in My Underwear, which I'm really excited for. It is illustrated poetry for kids. This came out of a need for my classroom. My first year teaching, I had to do a poetry unit. It was like our second unit. And we didn't really have a curriculum. And the only poetry books we had were Shel Silverstein. Nothing wrong with Shel Silverstein, except for the fact that that's all students had read. So I had no new material. And so I just started writing poems. I had no background in poetry at all. And I remember the first poem I wrote was called Underwear, Simply that. And I was like, kids are going to love it. And I. I Put it up on the board for a lesson. And the kids read it. They're like, who wrote that? It's horrible. And I was like, I don't know. I just like, found it online. But over time, they got better because kids give direct feedback. And so I knew what they wanted and I knew what they needed. And so this is 15 years of highly vetted poetry that I was able to push out. And, you know, poetry is a very small category. Children's poetry. I mean, it doesn't take up a lot of shelf space in any store, but I'm hopeful that, that this will find a space in classrooms. I really hope it does. So I have that project. I have a. My first young adult trilogy coming out, which I'm really excited for. Turns out that's a lot harder to write than a book of poetry. So I've been chipping away at it for a while. That's called. The first book is called when the Rain Came and that releases in March. And then I have a Ready to read series with Simon and Schuster that comes out. It's called Marvin Baby Blob. I developed those characters drawing on the floor with my kid from elementary school. It's just doodling. And then there's some other projects too, related to sticky notes, but I don't think I can officially say them yet, but I'm really excited for those. And then after that, who knows? You're in the publishing industry. It could be hot. Until it's not. You know, I joke with my agent that I think I pitch more books than I write. You know, like that's what I do all day, is I just come up with pitches. But what I'm trying to do is really just figure out how to navigate this space. This is year two of me being a full time author. And the fact that I've signed 11 different book contracts is wild. And I know that that's not normal. So I'm trying to recalibrate to figure out what is my new normal, because I don't know what it is. My first year, because my social media presence grew so rapidly. It was, most of my day was dealing with inquiries, you know, inquiries from people who just want to push product through my accounts. Basically just use me. People who want me to write for them, IP work, things like that, travel, and like, I don't know any of that. And that takes time to think and chew on. Yep. And then also think about, like, I. I often think about when I'm gone, what will my kids see of me, both online and in books, that's really important to me is, is I don't want to sell out just to make quick money to make this work. So I have to be very mindful about, about what I do because I want my kids to be proud of me when they grow up. Yeah. And that's, that's hard. But post that, I think, I think I'm just going to keep writing in the same genre. I really think I'm a middle grade writer, which is hard because that's a tough category to sell right now. But I think that's where I think that's my, I think that's my journey is middle grade literature and then maybe ya. So I've got plenty of ideas. Whether or not I get to see them go on a shelf, I have no idea. But I am enjoying this time for as long as it lasts. It's been really enjoyable.
- [32:53]
B
Amazing. Well, Matt, I'm so inspired by your story.
- [32:57]
A
Oh, good.
- [32:59]
B
No, it's, it's really wonderful. You have found your niche of who to talk to and what you want to say impact the world and that's pretty awesome. So congratulations. Really, congrats. I hope it all just keeps going and you're on such a great trajectory. And thank you. There's. It's only, only room to go up from here.
- [33:20]
A
So that's what I'm hopeful for too. We shall see.
- [33:22]
B
Okay.
- [33:23]
A
But thank you for having me on again. This is a great opportunity for me to, to reach new audiences and talk to you. I mean, you have quite the platform in history and publishing, so just to connect with anyone in the industry is really special. So thank you.
- [33:36]
B
Thank you so much. Okay. All right, take care. I'll be rooting for you.
- [33:40]
A
Thank you.
- [33:41]
B
Okay, bye. Thank you for listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have Time to read Books. If you loved the show, tell a friend, leave a review, follow me on Instagram ibbyoens and spread the word. Thanks so much. Oh, and buy the books.
- [34:02]
C
Today's episode has been sponsored by Paramount Pictures Corporation. Okay, you guys, there is a movie coming out called Regretting youg based on Colleen Hoover's best selling book of the same name. I know many of you already know about this because I sent out an invitation to a screening when they so kindly gave us some tickets. And over 250 of you asked for tickets even though at the time we only had 20. We got a lot more. Anyway, I know you're all already excited about this movie, but for those of you who don't know. Let me tell you more about it. This is about Morgan Grant, played by Allison Williams and her daughter Clara, played by McKenna Grace, as they explore what's left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love and rediscover each other. Regarding you as a story of growth, resilience and self discovery in the aftermath of tragedy. Also starring Dave Franco and Mason Thames. With Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald. In theaters October 24th. Are you excited? I am so excited. Director Josh Boone is the one who did the Fault in Our stars, obviously Colleen Hoover. It's about mother, daughter relationships, heartbreak, grief, first love, second chances. It's the perfect film to share with your best friend, mom, grandmother, high school niece. It's filled with love and tears and laughter. Everyone will love it. Honestly, I cannot wait to see this movie. Come with us to one of the screenings. Watch it along. Send me notes on Instagram. I want to hear what you say. We'll all watch it together.
- [35:35]
B
Check it out.
- [35:36]
C
Regretting you.
- [35:41]
D
Did you know Tide has been upgraded to provide an even better clean in cold water. Tide is specifically designed to fight any stain you throw at it, even in cold butter. Yep. Chocolate ice cream.
- [35:53]
B
Sure thing.
- [35:54]
D
Barbecue sauce. Tide's got you covered. You don't need to use warm water. Additionally, Tide pods let you confidently fight tough stains with new coldzyme technology. Just remember, if it's gotta be clean, it's gotta be Tide. If you love to travel, Capital One has a rewards credit card that's perfect for you. With the Capital One Venture X card, you earn unlimited double miles on everything you buy. Plus, you get premium benefits at a collection of luxury hotels when you book on Capital One Travel. And with Venture X, you get access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. Open up a world of travel possibilities with a Capital One Venture X card. What's in your wallet?
- [36:35]
A
Terms apply. Lounge access is subject to change. See capitalone.com for details.