Ep. 9: Look Before You Eat!

Episode Summary

Bil Lepp and Keshav, Age 11

6/25/2020

We've got a delicious story seed on deck for this week's episode as 11 year old Keshav collaborates with author and professional storyteller Bil Lepp (he's a five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Competition and author of the 2014 PEN award-winning picture book, THE KING OF LITTLE THINGS). Together, they stir up an inspired cast of characters —three animals and a big bad wolf!—mix in some sweet treats and a few red hot chili peppers and give us a fractured fairytale titled "Not by the Hare in My Chili Pepper Den!" Join host Betsy Bird as she follows Keshav and Bil on their field trip to Jacques Torres Chocolates, one of NYC’s finest chocolate shops, where they spend a morning “researching” chocolates and chilis, getting to know each other, and growing Keshav's treat of a story idea. Click here for complete episode notes.

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This Episode Features

Keshav, age 11

If I were a spy, my name would be … the Latin word for bookworm, which is helluo librorum

What people may not guess about me by looking at me ... I'm fluent in French

The inspiration for my story seed ... I was home alone one afternoon. I finished all my homework and was playing video games. I remembered that my mom told me not to forget to feed myself and decided I was getting hungry so I went to the kitchen to get some food. My mom made dal (which is lentils) so I poured some out for myself and started to eat. There were a couple suspicious green things in there, but I figured they were probably green beans. So I took a bite out of one them and bad idea! It was so hot, I burnt my mouth. I ran to the kitchen and had to guzzle water under the tap.

Bil Lepp

It's true ... I am a five time champion of the West Virginia Liar's Contest

What people may not guess about me by looking at me ... I used to be a preacher

The inspiration for my book The King of Little Things ... When my son was 5, he said, "let's play kingdoms. I'll get the stuff for my kingdom." And he got the Tonka dump truck and the fire truck and the jumbo jet and the Tyrannosaurus rex. Then he said, "I'll be the king of big things." And I said, "Ok, what do I get to be the king of?" He gave me a marble and a paperclip and said, "you can be the king of little things." And I thought, "oh, that's a great idea for a story! You play by yourself.” And I went to my office and I wrote The King of Little Things.

BONUS EPISODE

On this bonus episode, host Betsy Bird chats with Bil Lepp (five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars’ Competition and author of the PEN award-winning picture book, THE KING OF LITTLE THINGS) about his collaboration with 11 year old Keshav in last week’s episode, “Look Before You Eat.” They talk about the ins and outs of performing as a professional storyteller, his former life as a pastor, and Bil shares a handful of neat tips for telling a good story–both out loud and on paper. Click for episode notes and transcript.