What can monsters, middle-grade fantasy, and community-centered storytelling teach us about the world we live in today? In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with New York Times bestselling author Claribel A. Ortega (Witchlings) to explore how fantasy fiction helps young readers navigate identity, belonging, and hope in turbulent times. Ortega shares her creative process—from plotting complex magical worlds to writing on planes during book tours—and reflects on the power of friendship, grief, and imagination as tools for resilience.

This episode is perfect for educators, librarians, creative writers, and fans of middle-grade fiction who want to learn how storytelling can mirror society and spark empathy.

00:02 – Monster Studies & Modern Mythmaking Tricia introduces the idea of “monster studies” and how the creatures we imagine reflect the cultures that create them.

00:51 – Writing Through Chaos Claribel discusses how writing became her way to channel frustration, community care, and activism during turbulent times.

03:27 – From Pantser to Plotter How a tight outline and collaborative editing process transformed her creative flow — and how she wrote Witchlings: Scepter of Memories in just 38 days.

07:19 – Creativity in Airports and Coffee Shops Claribel explains how she trained herself to write anywhere (even mid-flight) and why she resists being “precious” about her creative rituals.

10:03 – Fandom, Feedback, and Fanfiction Balancing reader expectations while staying true to her creative North Star — and why fanfiction is a beautiful sign of connection.

13:43 – Imagination as a Muscle Advice for aspiring writers: read current books, consume youth culture, live fully, and reconnect with your playful, curious side.

17:23 – Upcoming Projects Claribel reveals her next graphic novel 30 Ways to Kill Your Avatar — an exploration of grief, gaming, and resilience.

Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Squad and the Witchlings series, and Pura Belpre and Eisner Award-winning author of the graphic novel Frizzy, is a former reporter who writes middle grade and young adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she's not busy turning her obsession with pop culture, magic, and video games into books, she's co-hosting her podcast Bad Author Book Club and coaching authors on how to navigate publishing. Claribel has been featured on BuzzFeed, NPR, Good Morning America, and Deadline. You can find her on social media at @Claribel_Ortega and on her website at claribelortega.com.

About the Host

Tricia Friedman is an educator, podcaster, and digital humanities advocate exploring how creativity, community, and technology intersect. Her shows help educators and leaders reimagine how storytelling, AI literacy, and futures thinking shape learning today. triciafriedman.com