Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Karina Yan Glaser (The Vanderbeekers Ever After)!
Meet the Author: Karina Yan Glaser
Karina Yan Glaser is the New York Times best-selling author of The Vanderbeekers series and A Duet for Home. A former teacher as well as employee of New York City’s largest provider of transitional housing for the homeless, Karina is now a contributing editor at Book Riot. Karina lives in Harlem, New York City, with her husband, two children, and an assortment of rescue animals. One of her proudest achievements is raising two kids who can’t go anywhere without a book. Visit her at www.karinaglaser.com
About the Book: The Vanderbeekers Ever After
The Vanderbeeker family is celebrating! Two of their favorite people are getting married in Harlem, and Laney, Hyacinth, Oliver, Jessie, and Isa have so much to look forward to—and to organize!
But when one of the siblings becomes seriously ill, wedding plans come to an abrupt halt. Suddenly, instead of preparing for a party, the family is spending their days at the hospital. And soon the Vanderbeekers attempt to help a newly made and critically ill friend, even as they struggle with how their own lives have turned upside down.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
It is always so difficult to name one thing as the inspiration for a book. For me, inspiration comes in so many ways: things that happen in my day-to-day life, conversations I have with acquaintances and beloved friends, places I visit, a news article I read. For this book, I really tried to create a story that wrapped up the series, so that readers could find a connection from the very first book to the final book.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
The novel always comes first for me. I am absolutely horrible with titles and always save that for last!
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
There is a scene in The Vanderbeekers Ever After toward the end, when the youngest sibling, Laney, is imagining her friend traveling back to his home in Maine. I loved writing that scene because it put Laney in a place where she was connecting with her friend even though he was leaving her. There was a sense of joy and closure even in the grief of the moment.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
When I first set out to write the Vanderbeekers, I had no real conception about how to write a book. In a way, that was incredibly freeing and I could just follow my instinct. Now I have so many other voices in my head when I work on a story. So although I do think I’ve become a better writer over the years, I also try to go back to that time when I was writing my first book just for myself, when I could write freely.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I love all the book covers in the Vanderbeeker series! In this new book, I love that it’s a nod back to the first book cover while still being something different and fresh.
YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2023?
Jacqueline Woodson’s Remember Us
YABC: What’s up next for you?
I am working on another middle grade book and a chapter book!
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
In terms of writing, I think one of my strengths is writing dialogue. Writing dialogue is so fun!
YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?
There are many groups that are close to my heart, but one I love in particular is Guiding Eyes for the Blind. A few years ago, I had a serious issue with my right eye which led to dozens of doctor’s appointments and three surgeries. I love the mission of Guiding Eyes for the Blind. They provide guide dogs to people with vision loss, and they are passionate about connecting exceptional dogs with individuals for greater independence.
Title: THE VANDERBEEKERS EVER AFTER
Author: Karina Yan Glaser
Publisher: Clarion Books
Release Date: 9/19/23
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction
Age Range: 8-12
