✨ What happens when a mom turns her love for creativity, family, and storytelling into a mission to inspire young readers?

This week on Enchanted & Exhausted, Kayla and Sam welcome special guest Laura Doyal, children's author and founder of DoodlePie Magic Press!

Laura shares how her son's struggles with reading inspired her to write The Suitcase Summers, a children's book series inspired by her own family and designed to bridge the gap between picture books and chapter books.

📚 In this episode, we're talking about:

• How motherhood inspired Laura's journey into writing and publishing
• Creating books that help children build confidence and fall in love with reading
• Her screen-light activity book, The Compass Club, and encouraging kids to explore beyond their screens
• The challenges of independent publishing, illustrations, and the conversation surrounding AI in the book community
• Finding beta readers, ARC readers, and support through BookTok
• Our shared obsession with Fourth Wing, Onyx Storm, fan theories, and fantasy book tattoos!
• Audiobooks, favorite tropes, anticipated releases, and rapid-fire bookish questions!

Of course, it wouldn't be Enchanted & Exhausted without a little chaos, plenty of laughs, and some completely unplanned bookish tangents! 😂

Whether you're a parent hoping to raise a lifelong reader, an aspiring author, or just a BookTok girlie who loves a good conversation, this episode has something for you!

💖 Listen to Enchanted & Exhausted on all major podcast platforms, and catch our video episodes on YouTube!

Be sure to follow, subscribe, and leave us a rating or review! Your support helps our little bookish community grow.

✨ Check out Laura's books and creative adventures through the links in our episode description!

#EnchantedAndExhausted #BookTok #ChildrensBooks #AuthorInterview #IndieAuthors #RaisingReaders #FourthWing #BookishPodcast #MomLife #DoodlePieMagicPress

https://linktr.ee/enchantedandexhausted

The Suitcase Summers: The Lost Crown of the Isle
An illustrated chapter-book adventure for readers ages 7–10 about two cousins, one mysterious suitcase, and an island that needs them both.
Buy the book: https://a.co/d/03bhKcX1

Free Read + Roam Adventure Pass
A free printable adventure for curious kids and their grown-ups, with a screen-light activity plus a sneak peek into The Suitcase Summers.
Get the free Adventure Pass: https://www.lauradoyal.com/read-and-roam

I’ve also attached a copy of the Adventure Pass so you can see exactly what listeners will receive. For the show notes, I’d love to use the link above so listeners can download their own copy.

The Suitcase Summers Spotify Playlist
A playlist inspired by the story, Hawaii, and the sense of adventure behind The Lost Crown of the Isle.
Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0tPDMKGB6W5n2SRH6IX2xB

More from Laura Doyal + DoodlePie Magic Press
Books, activities, and screen-light adventures for curious kids and the grown-ups raising them.
Website: https://www.lauradoyal.com
Instagram + TikTok: @lauradoyalofficial