Ep. 110: Tracy Wolff (The Aftermyth) on Creating Stories that Spark Imagination

Ep. 110: Tracy Wolff (The Aftermyth) on Creating Stories that Spark Imagination

From Middle Grade Matters by Shannon Balloon

May 19, 2026 · 55 min

About this episode

Tracy Wolff discusses her debut middle grade novel 'The Aftermyth' and the journey of its protagonist, Penelope.

In this episode, NYT bestselling author Tracy Wolff talks about her first middle grade novel, "The Aftermyth," where Penelope, a determined new student at Anaximander’s Academy, faces a whirlwind of challenges right from the start. With a doughnut hole mishap leading to unexpected chaos, she learns that sometimes, not fitting in is the first step to finding yourself. For bonus content and info on upcoming episodes, subscribe to the Middle Grade Matters newsletter here: Newsletter,...

People in this episode

Host: Shannon Balloon

Guest: Tracy Wolff

Topics covered

  • middle grade novels
  • storytelling
  • imagination
  • character development
  • challenges of fitting in

Keywords

  • Tracy Wolff
  • The Aftermyth
  • middle grade
  • Anaximander’s Academy
  • storytelling
  • imagination
  • character challenges

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Aftermyth

Places: Anaximander’s Academy

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