Episode 5

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Published on:

9th Mar 2026

Bethany Hegedus

Episode 5 - Bethany Hegedus

How did a 9/11 survival story and a bold email to Mahatma Gandhi's grandson lead to a first published picture book after two novels had been published?

Find out in this episode of My First Book Story, where Meredith Davis talks with bestselling author, educator, and founder of The Writing Barn Bethany Hegedus about the long chain of books that began with Between Us Baxters, her debut middle-grade novel. Bethany shares how shifting from acting to writing, butt-in-chair time at her "writing receptionist" job, craft studies at Vermont College, agent changes, and channeling post-9/11 healing into co-authoring Grandfather Gandhi (which sold after major revisions and market challenges) sparked her path. From surviving near-misses during the 2008 financial crisis to sticking to her vision amid feedback, Bethany generously shares her story with honesty, insight, and inspiration for turning pain into action.

Books mentioned

• Between Us Baxters (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Between-Us-Baxters-Bethany-Hegedus/dp/1934813028)

• Grandfather Gandhi (co-authored with Arun Gandhi) (Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Grandfather-Gandhi-Arun/dp/144242365X)

• Truth with a Capital T: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-Capital-T-Bethany-Hegedus/dp/0385738374

• A Thousand Never Evers by Shana Burg (referenced in conversation; https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Never-Evers-Shana-Burg/dp/0440422094

Links

• Bethany Hegedus[](https://www.bethanyhegedus.com)

• Meredith Davis[](https://meredithldavis.com)

• Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators[](https://www.scbwi.org)

• Episode Webpage (https://open.substack.com/pub/meredithdavis/p/bethany-hegeduss-first-book-story)

Theme music by Nate Davis

Produced by Clay Davis

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About the Podcast

My First Book Story
Interviews with successful authors about their journeys to their first published book
Welcome to My First Book Story, where I interview successful authors about their journeys to their first published book. Whether you’re still chasing your first book contract, going after the next one, or pursuing some other dream, these short interviews will inspire you to keep going.

Have you ever wondered how to break through an editor’s slush pile and breach the publishing wall? There are many paths to success, and each one is different. Mine was more than a decade in the making, others happened almost overnight. But the one thing each of these stories has in common is that it ends with a published book in the hands of readers.

I’m Meredith Davis, a traditionally published children’s book author living in Austin, Texas, a hotbed of talented book writers and illustrators. I’ve been in this world for thirty years, I’ve heard some great stories, and I can’t wait to share them with you.

About your host

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Meredith Davis

Meredith Davis is the author of THE MINOR MIRACLE and THE MINOR RESCUE, books one and two in THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF NOAH MINOR series (Waterbrook, 2024/25) and co-author of HER OWN TWO FEET: A RWANDAN GIRL’S BRAVE FIGHT TO WALK (Scholastic, 2019). She once worked at an independent children’s bookstore, started the Austin Chapter of SCBWI, and earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults at VCFA. Her superpowers include reading, grandmothering, and finding ways to fit more books in her Austin, Texas home.