The Second Chapter: Erin Entrada Kelly

Written by Jordan Lloyd Bookey | Oct 29, 2025 12:42:44 PM

There are seasons when life slows down, even as our minds continue to race. When we find ourselves caught somewhere between motion and stillness, haunted by what came before and reaching for what’s next.

That tension has become deeply personal for Erin Entrada Kelly. After an aggressive cancer diagnosis, Erin found herself living in a space between who she was and who she was becoming.

“It’s that old expression that I love, which is ‘wherever you go, there you are.’ So you never really get out of the limbo, because the limbo is you.”

— Erin Entrada Kelly

A two-time Newbery Medal winner, best known for “Hello, Universe,” “We Dream of Space,” and “First State of Being,” Erin has always written stories that reveal the quiet courage of ordinary kids. But lately, her life–and her writing– have taken on a new kind of gravity.

In this episode, Erin returns to the show for a “Second Chapter” conversation. This time, Erin reflects on recovery, rest, and redefining momentum. She shares how illness has reshaped her creative process, the surprising calm she’s found in cinematic ASMR, and a haunting true story from a hotel in New Orleans that might just make you believe in ghosts.

Settle in for an honest, tender conversation about living in the in-between.

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This week’s Beanstack Featured Librarian is Kimberly Thompson, the library media specialist at East Side Middle School in Bullock County, Kentucky. After all that talk about being stuck in limbo and building momentum, Kimberly shares a story of one reader who found his mo’.

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Listen to the full episode, "You Can't Just Move On: Erin Entrada Kelly on Limbo," on Apple, Spotify, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts. Like what you hear? Please leave a 5-star review, subscribe, and share with someone who will enjoy it!

Whatever you do, keep reading!

Contents

Chapter 1: Momentum
Chapter 2: Walt Whitman
Chapter 3: Please Hold
Chapter 4: False Alarm
Chapter 5: The Tell-Tale Heart
Chapter 6: Push & Pull
Chapter 7: Toxic Positivity
Chapter 8: Beanstack Featured Librarian

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