Hardship didn't destroy George Washington...it forged him.

In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, I sit down with Diederik Hoogstraten, the screenwriter behind Young Washington, and talk about the extraordinary journey that transformed an uncertain young man into one of history's greatest leaders.

Throughout the interview, Diederik and I discuss Washington's failures, his moments of doubt, his remarkable resilience and the relationships that helped him move forward.

During our conversation, Diederik shares some insight from his own journey—including illness, addiction, faith, and redemption—and explains why he believes that some of our greatest challenges and hardships can help us discover our GREATER purpose.

About DIEDERIK HOOGSTRATEN:

Diederik was born and raised in the Netherlands, before settling in New York for school and his early career, then migrating to Los Angeles. As he spent time as a journalist writing about America, he fell in love with the country and became a proud U.S. citizen. He also began covering entertainment when he moved to Los Angeles as a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press and was active with the Golden Globes.

Being in Hollywood also inspired an interest in screenwriting. Most recently, Diederik was honored to write the script for Young Washington with his writing partner Tom Provost and film visionary Jon Erwin.

Diederik has several upcoming projects, and a taste of his work can be viewed at Fuelbreak Road Productions. Diederik lives in Austin, TX with his wife and three children.

🌐 VISIT The Wonder Project Channel: https://amzn.to/4brOvfd

🎧 LISTEN on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1CvEfBcK1xALUswAkOwlNf?si=98cea0829ca145e6

🍎 LISTEN on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-literal-journey/id1839517342

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#youngwashington #georgewashington #america #usa #history #americanhistory

My name is Seth Adam Smith. I’m a husband, father, and author who believes in the power of stories to inspire people forward.

Subscribe for:
📚 A LITERAL JOURNEY – exclusive interviews with bestselling authors
🎙️ THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Podcast – uplifting messages to inspire you forward
🕯️ AN AWE-FUL STORY – true tales that turn the “awful” into the “awe-full”

✨ My Books: http://amzn.to/2p7FXA8
🌐 Website: http://www.SethAdamSmith.com

Thank you for watching—and for being part of this journey!

The BEST stories don't just entertain us... they remind us of what's TRUE.

In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, award-winning author Emma C. Fox shares how an old copy of The Hobbit, a vivid dream, and a lifelong love of history and fairy tales have shaped her journey as an author.

From the enchanted forests of medieval Germany, to the vast and varied landscapes of Siberia, Emma C. Fox talks about why fairy tales endure, how historical fantasy can reveal timeless truth, and why themes like sacrificial love, hope, and redemption continue to inspire us.

Whether you're a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone searching for truth and beauty in an often chaotic world, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

"I do think that the fairy tales and folklore of cultures around the world often so beautifully get at the triumph of light over darkness, of truth over lies." -Emma C. Fox

About EMMA C. FOX:

Emma Fox grew up in and around the legend-drenched city of Savannah, Georgia, where she fell in love with history and fantasy side by side. She now calls "The Magic City" of Birmingham, Alabama home. When she's not tutoring writing, tending to her three children, or dreaming up new novels and poems, you'll likely find her working in the garden among her roses and herbs.

Emma is the author of the award-winning YA fantasy novels THE ARROW AND THE CROWN (2019) and THE CARVER AND THE QUEEN (2023). Her latest historical fantasy novel, HEART OF STONE, a standalone sequel to THE CARVER AND THE QUEEN, releases August 2026 from Owl's Nest Publishers. Emma is also a contributor to several anthologies, including THE LOST TALES OF SIR GALAHAD (Rabbit Room Press, 2022) and I'VE GOT A BAD CASE OF POETRY (Bandersnatch Books, 2025).

Keep up with Emma's author news & events through her inspiring and encouraging monthly newsletter on Substack, "Hiraeth House."

💚 PRE-ORDER "Heart of Stone" here: https://www.owlsnestpublishers.com/store/p65/Heart_of_Stone.html#/

👑 BUY "The Carver and the Queen" here: https://www.owlsnestpublishers.com/store/p43/The_Carver_and_the_Queen.html#/

📚 ORDER other books by Emma C. Fox here: https://amzn.to/4v43D9N

🌐 Visit Emma C. Fox's website: https://emmafoxauthor.com/

🎧 LISTEN on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1CvEfBcK1xALUswAkOwlNf?si=98cea0829ca145e6

🍎 LISTEN on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-literal-journey/id1839517342

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#EmmaCFox #author #authorproblems #fantasy #fantasybooks #historicalfantasy #fantasyauthor #booktube #writing #writingadvice #fairytales #books #cslewis #tolkien

My name is Seth Adam Smith. I’m a husband, father, and author who believes in the power of stories to inspire people forward.

Subscribe for:
📚 A LITERAL JOURNEY – exclusive interviews with bestselling authors
🎙️ THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Podcast – uplifting messages to inspire you forward
🕯️ AN AWE-FUL STORY – true tales that turn the “awful” into the “awe-full”

✨ My Books: http://amzn.to/2p7FXA8
🌐 Website: http://www.SethAdamSmith.com

Thank you for watching—and for being part of this journey!

The best stories don't have to be "perfect"—they just have to be honest...

In this episode of A LITERAL JOURNEY, author C.M. Cornwell shares the winding path that led to her novel, The Memory Spinner and the lessons she's learned about creativity, grief, perseverance, and most importantly—hope.

From discovering her own creative spark, to rejection and eventual publication, and then to hearing readers discuss her characters in a book club, Christina offers a refreshing and deeply human look at what it means to create meaningful (honest) art.

Whether you’re a reader, writer, parent, teacher, or someone who is looking for hope after loss, I hope this episode encourages you to open a book (or pick up a pen) and embark on your own literal journey.

About C. M. CORNWELL:

C. M. Cornwell spent her childhood reading, climbing trees, and brewing imaginary potions with her seven siblings in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a degree in English Literature from Utah Valley University and lives in Pennsylvania with her family. THE MEMORY SPINNER is her debut novel.

📖 ORDER "The Memory Spinner" by C. M. Cornwell: https://amzn.to/4fmKjAr

📚 READ other Books by C. M. Cornwell: https://amzn.to/4e4LC4B

🎧 LISTEN on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1CvEfBcK1xALUswAkOwlNf?si=98cea0829ca145e6

🍎 LISTEN on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-literal-journey/id1839517342

🎥 WATCH more episodes of A LITERAL JOURNEY: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRTQ34vyf-9NkrTcSH0KEwXPOhdVqZRVZ

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to A LITERAL JOURNEY for more exclusive author interviews, book recommendations, and thoughtful conversations about the stories that shape us. 📖✨

#CMCornwell #thememoryspinner #author #authorinterview #writing #writingadvice #writingcommunity #fantasy #fairytales #storytelling

My name is Seth Adam Smith. I’m a husband, father, and author who believes in the power of stories to inspire people forward.

Subscribe for:
📚 A LITERAL JOURNEY – exclusive interviews with bestselling authors
🎙️ THE NORTHERN LIGHTS Podcast – uplifting messages to inspire you forward
🕯️ AN AWE-FUL STORY – true tales that turn the “awful” into the “awe-full”

✨ My Books: http://amzn.to/2p7FXA8
🌐 Website: http://www.SethAdamSmith.com

Thank you for watching—and for being part of this journey!