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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Sylvia Walker (The Vacation Shift)!

 

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Lily Chu

Lily Chu is the critically acclaimed author of eight books, and The Vacation Shift is her first young adult book. Her romances have been released in audio as Audible Originals, performed by Phillipa Soo, and translation rights have been sold in nine languages. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her family and far too many (yet not enough) books. Follow her on Instagram @lilychuauthor, or sign up for her newsletter at www.lilychuauthor.com for news and updates.

 Website * Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: The Vacation Shift

Gilmore Girls meets a reverse Parent Trap in this swoony and hilarious YA rom-com from popular adult romance author Lily Chu, following a teen who, while on a group tour to Japan, teams up with a fellow traveler to keep their parents from falling in love with each other.

Ivy Yu is cursed. Her parents separated six months ago, and she’s fallen into a fog. To help, her mother books an impulsive trip to Japan (cool) on a bus tour (very uncool). Ivy should be grateful, but this summer is her last chance to get her situationship, Connor, to fall in love with her.

When they arrive in Tokyo, it’s even worse than she imagined. Ivy and her Mom are the youngest of a group of seniors. Make that two of the youngest: there’s brooding Matteo, with his single dad, Keith.

Then Ivy discovers her mother and Keith are getting close, and her crush back home is hooking up with someone else. Desperate for some semblance of control and a distraction from the heaviness she can’t seem to shake off, she makes a deal with Matteo to keep their parents apart. Luckily, he agrees—and their devious plans begin.

Dodging nosy old ladies on the bus ride through Japan, their strange partnership begins to blossom into something unexpected and exciting—but can their romantic spark survive the journey?

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~Author Chat~

YABC:  What inspired you to write this book?

I absolutely love books about travel, and a family trip to Japan a few years ago was the real inspiration for Ivy’s journey. I made her itinerary almost the same as ours, and it was lovely to be able to relive those memories by writing about Ivy’s trip. The idea of a group bus tour was inspired by vacations my parents took me on as a kid, and the interesting mix of people you would meet.

 

YABC:  What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

I’m most proud of the scene with Ivy and her mother at the end. I don’t want to give spoilers, but it shows how they’ve both grown and changed, and sets the stage for Ivy’s next challenge (which I also don’t want to spoil).

YABC:  Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

There have been so many lessons, but for me, the most important thing I’ve learned is that because something works for another writer, it might not work for me. I’ve tried so many different tricks because someone has sworn that getting up at five in the morning, or lighting a candle, or using a particular book as a guide is the way to success. Writing works different for all of us, and it took me some time to figure out what works best for me (it’s not getting up before dawn).

YABC:  What are your favorite themes or tropes?

Rivals to lovers is always fun, and that’s how Matteo and Ivy started in my first drafts. It wasn’t until they grew more as characters that we realized they worked better starting as friends. I also love forced proximity, which I have in The Vacation Shift. It doesn’t get much closer than being on the same tour bus for two weeks!

YABC:  Do you have a playlist you listened to while writing?

I’m easily distracted so I don’t always listen to music when I’m writing. However, for The Vacation Shift, I did listen to Lofi Girl on YouTube. There’s a playlist for any mood.

YABC:  Do you have an unusual office supply that helps you in your writing routine?

Most of my writing is done on my laptop, but when I get stuck I pull out a pen and paper. I only have one pen. It’s refillable and I bought it as a present when I left my job to be a full-time writer. It’s a luck pen and decorated with horseshoes and other lucky symbols. I’m also picky about paper and notebooks. I like lined paper, but the lines can’t be too dark. Or the paper too smooth.

YABC:  How do you cope with criticism from editors or the public? 

After you send in the draft of your book, your editor will read it over and send you an editorial letter that tells you what is good about the book, and then a lot about what needs to be improved. Usually, I get the letter, skim it with one eye shut and then put it away for a day to absorb it. The best way to cope is to remember that you both want the book to be the best that it can. Once I get some distance, I find the edits work to the benefit of the story, or create a discussion that in turn strengthens the story, and its plot and characters. So this is criticism that I can take action on and make changes.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

I have a busy 2026! By the end of the year, I’ll have five releases out. I’m also working on the edits for my next romance, working on a fiction book under the pen name L.C. Chu, and researching a fantasy.

The releases are:

• Just Kiss Already, an Audible Original romance, narrated by Phillipa Soo and Simu Liu
• The Library of Flowers, women’s fiction under L.C. Chu
• The Vacation Shift, young adult romance
• Rich Girl Summer, romance under Lily Chu
• And a Christmas novella with Audible!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: The Vacation Shift

Author: Lily Chu

Publisher: Quill Tree Books

Release Date: June 23, 2026

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with author DeAndra Davis!

Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Meet the Author: DeAndra Davis

DeAndra Davis is a neurodivergent, Jamaican-American author who lives in the swampy heat of Florida. Her debut All The Noise At Once follows an autistic main character as messy as she is. She loves 100%’ing video games and reading worlds more interesting than the one she lives in. She has too many kids, dogs, and songs from Wicked on her phone. She holds an MFA in Fiction from Florida International University. Her claim to fame is that her Florida man birthday headline features an alligator and a drive-thru and that is very on brand. DeAndra can be found on most socials @deandrawrites.

Website * Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: The Lovers, The Liars, and Me

A teen travels to Jamaica hoping to answer questions about her absent mother, only to discover more about her identity than she could have ever expected—and find herself caught up in an unexpected love triangle—in this dazzling young adult coming-of-age novel.

Jaliya Powell has never had a real adventure, a real boyfriend, or spoken up for herself. She’s never even been kissed. Despite being valedictorian of her high school class, Jaliya is used to fading into the background.

But this summer will be different.

This summer, Jaliya is visiting her uncle and his family in Jamaica. Under the guise of one last vacation before college, she plans to find out more about her estranged mother, whose absence has remained an unspoken mystery. But things have changed in the seven years since Jaliya last visited. Her cousin has his own life and is reluctant to let Jaliya in, her childhood crush has only gotten hotter and more unavailable, and her aunt and uncle aren’t everything she remembered, either. Then she meets India, who’s vibrant, gorgeous, and free-spirited. And who makes Jaliya feel something she’s never felt before.

While searching for traces of her mother across the island, Jaliya finds herself entangled in complicated relationships, tricky secrets, and a passionate new love. As she navigates this perfectly complicated summer, Jaliya must choose between who she has always been or who she hopes to become.

Purchase

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write The Lovers, The Liars and Me?

Definitely my own experiences, which I think is true of so many authors, but also so many questions I was asking myself and wanted to answer. What does it mean to belong to a specific community or culture? What does it feel like to feel outside of that no matter how hard you try, or rather, to feel as though some within that culture would rather exclude you for whatever reason? How do we deal with abandonment?

I have had so many conversations, especially with others within the Caribbean diaspora about feelings of belonging and that weird line you walk when you’re a first-generation immigrant especially that is an experience that is hard to quantify and difficult to not feel othered by at times, from all sides. I really wanted to touch on that and reach out to other teens who are experiencing all the big feelings! Especially in a world that is so diverse as ours where so many move from their homes to new ones for a variety of reasons.

YABC: What research did you do to write The Lovers, The Liars and Me?

A lot of the research was personal, in terms of navigating my own memories and experiences, but also in talking to people like me. Other first-generation immigrants; queer BIPOC, immigrant, and Caribbeans; those who have dealt with an estranged parent. A lot of those conversations really helped me shape things so that it felt as authentic as possible without it just being a self-insert. I also spoke to other people, elders in Jamaica, my own mother, uncle, cousins. I wanted all the characters to feel alive and representative of a vibrant ecosystem of people.

One thing that is known in Jamaica is the saying, “Out of Many, One People” and I wanted to make that apparent in the characters in my book.

YABC: What new release books are you looking most forward to in 2026?

So many! Bound By Fury by Noelle Monet, There Are Ghosts Here by Adrienne Tooley, Natural Selection by Clare Edge, 72 Hours Of You by Darianne Schram, Wicked Endeavors by Kamilah Cole, The Gravewood by Kelly Andrew and Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alechia Dow are a few!

YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?

Recently, I read An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole and I am beyond obsessed! I also read An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew, Hazelthorn by C.G. Drews, and I Am Made of Death by Kelly Andrew and they changed my brain chemistry.

 

YABC: Which was the most difficult scene to write in The Lovers, The Liars and Me?

Without spoilers, I think the scene where Jaliya and her cousin are more open with each other and the parts of themselves they’ve been hiding. Especially for her cousin. He is very real in that scene, about the dangers for him and his secret, he’s so vulnerable, and I really wanted to handle the scene with a lot of care because it’s a difficult conversation that both can be beautiful because of the connection happening, but also hard because I am critiquing something important about a country and culture I belong to and love despite the flaws I see within it.

YABC: What can readers expect to find in your book?

Hmm, ice cream and break-ins! Love triangles and never have I ever. Swimsuits and hospital heists. Tarot cards and found family. Kisses and concerts. Family and figuring out what the heck to do after high school, ha!

YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from The Lovers, The Liars and Me?

The biggest thing I hope people come away with is what I wanted Jaliya to come away with. I say that because, we will all get out of a book what we want, and I don’t typically go in trying to teach the reader something, but more try to figure out what my character needs to know.

For her, and I hope for you, the most basic answer is: You’re enough, even when you don’t feel like it, even when no one else affirms it, even when you don’t fit in, even when you haven’t figured yourself out. You’re enough in every room you enter. You’re enough at every stage of your life. If anyone makes you feel like you need to earn your place or worth in their life, you don’t. Don’t ever convince yourself of less.

YABC: What is your favorite holiday or tradition and why?

Halloween: I dress up as anime character every year and it is just one of my favorite things to do. I’m a professor and I show up to teach in character. When I dressed up as bakugo, I told my students they had to address me as Great Explosion Murder God Dynamight or not at all. All day. I was not ashamed. Ha!

Also, Christmas: I have a ton of traditions I have built up over the years, so I love the expectation of those things. Elaborate cups of hot chocolate, tree decorating with my kids, baking cookies, board games. I just love it.

YABC: What is your favorite writing space?

My desk! Only because for a long time I didn’t have one and I wrote in bed or on the couch. Now I have a designated space and I love it so much. It’s cozy and it lights up and it’s very much me.

YABC: Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

The Trevor Project means a lot to me and is so needed for LGBTQIA+ youth. I think, especially in times when things are trying, these are the organizations that we need to continue to support.

Outside of that, I am always speaking about the Autistic Self Advocacy Network as well. This book may not be autistic, but I still think it’s so important to support autistic people whenever you can, especially now. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: The Lovers, The Liars, and Me
Author: DeAndra Davis
ISBN-13: 9781665952682
ISBN-10: 1665952687
On-sale date: Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Ages: 14 and up
Grades: 9 and up

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Giveaway Details ~

Use the Rafflepress Form below to enter

*Be sure to include a complete mailing address for the second entry question to qualify to win*

Three (3) winners will receive a copy of The Lovers, The Liars, and Me (DeAndra Davis) ~US Only (No P.O. Boxes)!

 

 

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Mark Morton (The Headmasters)!

 

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Mark Morton

Mark Morton, author of the award-winning novel The Headmasters  is also the author of four nonfiction titles Cupboard Love: A Dictionary of Culinary Curiosities (nominated for a Julia Child Award); The End: Closing Words for a Millennium (winner of the Alexander Isbister Award for nonfiction); The Lover’s Tongue: A Merry Romp Through the Language of Love and Sex (republished in the UK as Dirty Words), and Cooking with Shakespeare. He’s also written more than 50 columns for Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture (University of California Press) and has written and broadcast more than a hundred columns about language and culture for CBC Radio. Mark has a PhD in sixteenth-century literature from the University of Toronto and has taught at several universities in France and Canada. He and his wife, Melanie Cameron, (also an author) have four children, three dogs, one rabbit, and no time.

 Website * Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: The Headmasters

How do you learn from the past if there isn’t one?

Sixty years ago, something awful happened. Something that killed everyone except the people at Blue Ring. Something that caused the Headmasters to appear. But Maple doesn’t know what it was. Because talking about the past is forbidden. Everyone at Blue Ring has a Headmaster. They sink their sinewy coils into your skull and control you, using your body for backbreaking toil and your mind to communicate with each other. When someone dies, their Headmaster transfers to someone new. But so do the dead person’s memories, and if one of those memories surfaces in the new host’s mind, their brain breaks. That’s why talking about the past is forbidden. Maple hates this world where the past can’t exist and the future promises only more suffering. And she hates the Headmasters for making it that way. But she doesn’t know how to fight them – until memories start to surface in her mind from someone who long ago came close to defeating the Headmasters. But whose memories are they? Why aren’t they harming her? And how can she use them to defeat the Headmasters? Maple has to find the answers herself, unable to tell anyone what she’s experiencing or planning—not even Thorn, the young man she’s falling in love with. Thorn, who has some forbidden secrets of his own . . .

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

YABC: What inspired you to write this book?
I’ve always loved stories that take place in dystopian environments, whether they are novels like The Hunger Games and 1984, or TV series like The Walking Dead and The Last of Us, so I wanted to write the kind of dystopian novel that I’d have wanted to read as a young adult. To me, dystopias are compelling because they quickly reveal a person’s true character, pushing them towards becoming a hero or a villain. I also wanted to write a novel that focussed on resilience and hope. I think it must be very hard for a young person in our actual world not to feel discouraged and worried, when there are so many huge issues like climate change, global conflicts, pandemics, and the rapid change and impact of new technologies. So I wanted to write a book that showed that hope is possible, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, and that the most important trait we can have – apart from love for one another – is resilience.

YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
There’s a scene where a character named Ivy, who’s conspiring with the Headmasters, is pursuing Maple with the intention of killing her. It’s an exciting scene, because it takes place as the building around them is crumbling, but it’s also a scene in which we can see that Ivy is not merely “evil,” but rather is acting out of her own fear and her own need for certainty. In fact, Ivy is doing what she believes to be right. I think that makes her a compassionate character, but at the same time we don’t want her to harm Maple. I like creating that complexity of character.

YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
The most important thing about being a writer is that you have to write. There are days where I don’t feel like writing or where I wonder if a given writing project is any good, but I still need to sit down in front of the laptop and make words appear on the screen. A writer can’t just wait for inspiration to come along out of thin air – you have to be persistent, you have to keep at it, both when the writing comes easily and also when it’s a struggle. No doubt that’s true of almost anything that a person wants to excel in. To put it another way, “grit” is just as important as talent.

YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
The cover of The Headmasters depicts a creature that looks like a plate-sized wood tick attached to the back of a young woman, and the cover as a whole has a creepy greenish tinge. This perfectly captures how I imagined the Headmasters: as disturbing, inscrutable aliens that make themselves part of us. I also like that we can’t see the face of the young woman – who I imagine is Maple – because it suggests how she herself isn’t yet aware of who she can become.

YABC: What are your favorite themes or tropes?
My favourite trope is characters in the process of discovering themselves and transcending what they perceive to be their limitations.

YABC: Do you have a playlist you listened to while writing?
I don’t listen to music when I write because I find it distracting, but I do like to have a bit of hubbub in the background. That’s why I like to write in coffee shops where the conversations of other people blur into a gentle wave of sound. Sometimes I also like to listen to playlists of “Lofi beats,” but I don’t think of that as music so much as just a rhythmic beat laid over some soothing white noise. When I’m not writing, I listen to a diverse range of music, from 1920s blues to 1990s grunge, and from Bob Dylan to Sabrina Carpenter.

YABC: What kind of animal would your main character be and why?
One of the main characters in The Headmasters actually is an animal – namely, a dog named Farley, though in fact he’s really a kind of “spirit guide,” who only interacts with Maple, the main character, when she enters the collective “mindscape” of the Headmasters. The Farley in the novel is based on one of my own dogs, who was also named Farley. After my wife and I adopted two older children, Farley was so important in helping our new kids adjust to our family – it was as if they were adopting him. The relationship that humans can have with dogs – a relationship that dates back tens of thousands of years – is one of the most important aspects of being human. As for Maple herself, I think of her more like a tree than an animal — specifically, as her name suggests, a maple tree. I gave her that name partly because the novel is set in a remote part of Canada, and Canada’s national tree is the maple. Second, maple trees are incredibly strong and resilient, and in the fall their leaves turn into explosions of color — reds, and oranges, and yellows. I see that as symbolic of Maple as a young woman: as she discovers who she is and her capabilities, she turns into a brilliant and powerful hero.

YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
As a writer, I think my superpower is coming up with a good idea for a story, and then trusting that the story will reveal itself as I work on it. I see it as being kind of like driving on a highway in the fog: you know where you want to get to, but you can’t see more than 50 yards ahead, and yet you trust that the highway is there, even though you can’t yet see it.

Has The Headmasters received good reviews?
It’s got a 4.5 rating on Goodreads, so ordinary readers are really liking it. And here are some of my favourite reviews that it’s received:

“A new science fiction novel that feels like it’s already a classic… Morton’s The Headmastersinvites the reader into a dystopian future that is rife with traditional science fiction world building. His work brings to light the challenges of control and the puzzles that come with trying to navigate a future when the past is lost to memory. . .  This well-paced young adult novel captures the readers’ attention right from the beginning, engaging them in epic storytelling and reminding them that there is a time when it’s important to stand up and fight for what you believe in.”— Arlene Barlin Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy Jurors, 2025 CCBC Book Awards

“Mark Morton’s The Headmasters is a brilliant science-fiction debut from one of Canada’s best-loved nonfiction writers. This compelling YA novel is a spot-on updating of Robert A. Heinlein’s classic The Puppet Masters for the new millennium, with intricate world-building, a great science-fiction puzzle, and — ironic for a novel about suppressed memories — a main character you’ll never forget. I loved it.” — Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of The Downloaded

“A provocative and intelligent science fiction novel that challenges its readers to think about oppression and domination, what it means to truly resist, and what motivates one to fight against a tyrannical system even when the citizens don’t know that they are being tyrannized.” – LitPick (Five Star Book Review Award winner)

“Eminently readable and exciting . . . The Headmasters is a worthy companion to books such as Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids . . . in contemplating humanity and freedom in a Canadian context.”— Bill Rambo, The Winnipeg Free Press

YABC: What’s up next for you?
I’ve completed another novel called The Child I Once Was that takes place in the same world as The Headmasters, but its darker in tone and it’s intended for adults rather than young adults. I see it as kind of similar to Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel or The Road by Cormac McCarthy. And I’ve also started to work on another novel that takes place just after the First World War and is about a golem (that is, a human-like creature made of mud) and an illusionist who runs in the same circles as Harry Houdini.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: The Headmasters

Author: Mark Morton

Release Date: 2024

Publisher: Shadowpaw Press

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Range: Young Adult (12+)

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Today we are excited to share a guest post from author Ama Ofosua Lieb (Goldenborn).

Read on for more about the author, the book, and what she has to say!

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Ama Ofosua Lieb

Ama Ofosua Lieb was born in Ghana, and has lived in Canada, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Nigeria, and South Africa. She now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their two young children. She holds an MA in Sociology and a BA in Economics, both from Stanford University. Goldenborn is her debut novel.

Website * Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: Goldenborn

A GOOD MORNING AMERICA YA BOOK CLUB PICK

A girl with a mission. A god with a deal. A story that could change everything.

When 17-year-old Akoma Addo stumbles into a world of ancient gods and modern magic, she’ll have to choose between saving her father… or staying true to everything she’s ever believed.

Akoma Addo has one rule: don’t get too close to the supernatural.

Ever since a blazing orb of light left her father in a coma, she’s buried herself in her secret job investigating magical crimes in San Francisco’s AfricaTown — just enough to keep her grief at bay. But when a body turns up in a pool of molten gold and ash, Akoma’s pulled into something much bigger — and far more dangerous. At the center of it all is Anansi, the trickster god of stories, who makes her an impossible offer: help him catch a killer and awaken the ancestral magic buried deep in her blood… and in return, he’ll give her a chance to bring her father back. To take the deal, Akoma will have to lie to everyone she loves and embrace the very power she’s spent years trying to deny. And as her connection grows with Xander, the new guy in town with secrets of his own, Akoma must decide who she can trust — especially when she’s no longer sure she can even trust herself. Rooted in Ghanaian mythology and packed with mystery, danger, and slow-burning romance, Goldenborn is a gripping fantasy about legacy, lies, and what it really means to rewrite your story.

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Guest Post ~

 

Three Things I Loved as a Teen That Made It onto the Pages of Goldenborn

They say to write what you know, and while Goldenborn is full of magic, mystery, and danger, some of the details came from real parts of my own teenage years. I loved weaving in moments, rituals, and passions that shaped me as a teen and finding ways to let them be reflected in Akoma’s story. Here are three of them.

(1) Found Family

I was lucky to form some of my closest friendships at seventeen, when I started college—friendships I can still rely on today. Those bonds taught me that family is not only about blood. Sometimes it’s also about the people who choose you, show up for you, challenge you, and love you through every version of yourself.

In Goldenborn, Akoma’s childhood best friends are integral to her story. They bring humor, support, and comfort, especially during one of the hardest moments of her life. Because found family is so important to me, I wanted to show the power of those bonds in the novel. Akoma receives a lot of love from her friends, but she also gives that same loyalty and care right back.

(2) Fashion

I wore a school uniform for many years growing up, so whenever I had the chance to wear non-uniform clothing, I took it seriously. Fashion became an important form of self-expression for me. I loved bold colors, playful patterns, and pieces that made me feel like I was exploring different versions of myself. Accessories were especially fun. To me, big hoop earrings, bangles, and combat boots could announce my mood.

That love of fashion shows up in Goldenborn in both mundane and magical ways. Akoma wears fingerless gloves as one of her daily signature accessories, and she enjoys getting fashion advice from her best friend, Lara. One scene that was especially fun to write—not a spoiler—captures the excitement of having a friend help you get dressed for a first date. Choosing the perfect outfit with someone who knows you well can be a treasured ritual, full of fun and care.

(3) Sports

As a teen, I loved being part of competitive sports. I played softball, volleyball, field hockey, and ran track. I loved the rush of competition and the camaraderie of being on a team.

In Goldenborn, Akoma is a runner and enjoys archery. Thanks to a potential love interest, she also learns a new sport—one I had to familiarize myself with in order to write the scene well. I had a lot of fun using sports to reveal different sides of Akoma’s personality, especially her competitive streak. It also felt exciting to let sports become a way for her to connect and flirt with a date!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Goldenborn

Author: Ama Ofosua Lieb

Release Date: 6/2/26

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Genre:  YA Fantasy

Age Range: 12+

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We are excited to share a giveaway for Coat of Many Colors: 10th Anniversary Edition (Dolly Parton)!

 

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is the most honored and revered female singer-songwriter of all time. She has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has a record-breaking twenty-eight songs that have reached #1 on Billboard charts, and has won hundreds of awards across her career. To date, Parton has donated over two hundred million books to children around the world with her Imagination Library and has authored successful books for children and adults, including the first book in the Billy the Kid series, instant New York Times bestseller Dolly Parton’s Billy the Kid Makes It Big. From her “Coat of Many Colors” to working “9 to 5,” no dream is too big and no mountain too high for the country girl who turned the world into her stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet the Illustrator: Brooke Boynton-Hughes

Brooke Boynton-Hughes (she/her) is an artist and illustrator originally from Loveland, Colorado. She received her BFA in printmaking from Colorado State University and her MFA in figurative art from the New York Academy of Art. Brooke works on children’s books and travels around the country with her husband, Bill, and their dog, Olive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: Coat of Many Colors: 10^th Anniversary Edition

Celebrate the tenth anniversary of Dolly Parton’s iconic book Coat of Many Colors, inspired by her legendary song of the same name.

 

Although we had no money,
I was rich as I could be,
in my coat of many colors
my mama made for me.

Country music legend Dolly Parton’s rural upbringing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee provides the backdrop for this special picture book. Using lyrics from her classic song “Coat of Many Colors,” the book tells the story of a young girl in need of a warm winter coat.

When her mother sews her a coat made of rags, the girl is mocked by classmates for being poor. But Parton’s trademark positivity carries through to the end as the girl realizes that her coat was made with love “in every stitch.”

Beautiful illustrations pair with Parton’s poetic lyrics in this tenth anniversary edition of Dolly’s story, featuring a special butter-yellow fabric cover, and a new foreword from Dolly.

Purchase

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Coat of Many Colors: 10^th Anniversary Edition

Author: Dolly Parton

Illustrator: Brooke Boynton-Hughes

Release Date: 5/26/2026

Publisher: Penguin Workshop

ISBN-13: 9798217140640

Genre: Picture Books – Fiction

Age Range: 3-7 years

 

 

 

 

 

 

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*

Use the Rafflepress Form below to enter

*Be sure to include a complete mailing address for the second entry question to qualify to win*

Two (2) winners will receive a hardcover copy of Coat of Many Colors: 10^th Anniversary Edition (Dolly Parton) ~ US ONLY!

 

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Michael Slack!

Read on to learn more about the author, the books, and a giveaway!

 

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Michael Slack

MICHAEL SLACK is the author and illustrator of many books for young readers, including Kitties on Dinosaurs, Bunny Built, Shorty & Clem and Elecopter. His art and character design has been featured in books, television and games. He lives with his family in the Bay Area of California.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: Funjeepups: A Star Wish

Meet the Funjeepups, three curious and adorable woodland critters, in this “first comic” picture book series from the creator of Kitties on Dinosaurs! In this story, Button, Dot and Dollop go on an overnight camping adventure! Button, Dot and Dollop love exploring the magical forest they live in. They love vine swinging. They love guppie bumping. They love making nature art. But what they love most is returning home after an exciting day of adventuring. The Funjeepups want to make a wish on a star, so they decide to go on an overnight camping trip. But with clouds in the sky, there are no stars . . . and no wishes! Button, Dot and Dollop make the most of the night, though — with treats, games, and a brand-new friend who happens to glow. Maybe their wish can come true after all? Young readers will be inspired to go on their own nighttime adventure alongside the Funjeepups in this light and funny picture book series by Michael Slack!

Purchase * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: Funjeepups: A Beautiful Song

Meet the Funjeepups, three curious and adorable woodland critters, in this “first comic” picture book series from the creator of Kitties on Dinosaurs! In this story, Button, Dot and Dollop get a music lesson from a feathery friend! Button, Dot and Dollop love exploring the magical forest they live in. They love vine swinging. They love guppie bumping. They love making nature art. But what they love most is returning home after an exciting day of adventuring. When out on a morning walk, the Funjeepups spot a friendly bird who sings them a beautiful song, which inspires the Funjeepups to create their own song. But unfortunately, they can’t play any instruments! Thankfully, their feathery friend is there to lend a helping wing. Young readers will be inspired to create their own song alongside the Funjeepups in this light and funny picture book series by Michael Slack!

Purchase * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

YABC: What inspired you to write this book?

The characters were created while I was doing sketches for a solo gallery show. They went through many revisions over a couple of years and finally found their way into a book series. I wanted to create a peaceful world filled with simple magical moments, for kids to visit and find comfort.

YABC: What research did you do to write this book?

I sketched in the California desert and the forests of Northern California and Oregon. I also revisited some kids shows that I loved watching with my daughter when she was little.

YABC: What was it like to also be illustrator for your story?

It was probably the best experience I’ve had as an illustrator. Not only was it a pleasure working with the wonderful people at Tundra Books, but I just love the Funjeepups world so much. It was a place I wanted to be everyday. When things were tough I was comforted being in Dot, Button, and Dollop’s cozy world.

YABC: How long did it take you to create the artwork for this book?

If you count the original sketches of the characters, it would be eight years. The art work for both books, Fujeepups A Beautiful Song and Funjeepups A

Star Wish took about a year.

YABC: If you could only write one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Sci-Fi / Fantasy. I love world building. The possibilities in both these genres are limitless.

YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?

Humor and heart. For the books in this series the focus is on simple magical moments. Things like the moment you realize you have just played a song,  or the childhood excitement of sleeping outside for the first time.

YABC: Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

This is more on the illustration side rather than the writing side, but I was halfway through book one and decided to scrap all the backgrounds I had finished and start over. I’m glad I did. I worked differently for this book. I did all the line work and color for the characters first then I went back and painted the final backgrounds. It’s kind of like how animations are made.

YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?

These days it some sort of dried fruit and nuts and seeds trail mix concoction.

YABC: If you could time travel what would you want to see?

I would want to go the future and see what causes the demise of the human  species. However, if I went to a future without humans there would be no way to get an answer. Unless every thing is run by robots then I could probably find out.  I’m going to change my answer to being in the audience for the Lumiere brothers first Cinématographe screening.

YABC: What other age group would you consider writing for?

I would love to tackle middle grade at some point.

YABC: What daily thing do you see that brings you joy?

My family, my dogs, and my espresso machine.

YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?

Make stuff. I paint, draw, sculpt, or work on new book ideas.

YABC: What’s a book you’ve recently read and loved?

Sea of Rust by C. Robert Cargill.

YABC: What is your favorite writing space or routine?

I love sitting in a sun lit room with a sketch book, a pile of note cards, and two pads of sticky notes in different colors. One for character traits, and the other for scene/dialogue iteration.

YABC: What’s up next for you?

Lots of fun Funjeepup related events. Also, I will have two books I illustrated coming out in 2027 as well as a second Smoosh & Mallow level 2 reader that I both wrote and illustrated. Currently I’m wrapping up a comic book reader that will be going out on submission soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Funjeepups: A Star Wish / Funjeepups: A Beautiful Song

Author / Illustrator: Michael Slack

Release Date: June 9, 2026, for both titles

Publisher: Tundra Books / Penguin Random House Canada

ISBN-10: 1774887029 / 1774887002

ISBN-13: 9781774887028 / 9781774887004

Genre: Children’s Picture Book / Graphic Novel

Age Range: 3-7 years old

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Giveaway Details ~

Use the Rafflepress Form below to enter

*Be sure to include a complete mailing address for the second entry question to qualify to win*

Ten (10) winners will receive a copy of Funjeepups: A Star Wish  and Funjeepups: A Beautiful Songr (Michael Slack) ~US/CAN Only!

 

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We are excited to share a giveaway for Her Sharp Embrace(Kate Koenig)!

 

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Kate Koenig

KATE KOENIG is a queer and neurodiverse writer, photographer, and cat mom originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She studied history and children’s literature at the University of Pittsburgh before earning her MFA at The New School. Kate writes across genres and mediums, but her heart belongs to YA fantasy. She likes flawed, messy women who make the wrong choices, love big, and sometimes—hate harder. Her ultimate goal is to write stories for all lost girls looking for a place to call home.

Website * Instagram * X

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: Her Sharp Embrace

The first in a sweeping queer fantasy duology set in a shimmering, New Orleans-inspired world.

In the glittering city of New Soleil, beauty masks danger at every turn. The Nightshades, a crew of magical outlaws, are no different. Their glamorous facades conceal the terror they strike into the hearts of the rich and powerful as they steal from the corrupt and fight for the forgotten.

Noa Toussaint fled her cossetted life as a Saint to join the Nightshades. Infatuated with their ferocious leader, Lennon, Noa aims to capture her heart and keep it. Her talent for alchemy is valuable, but her connection to her family puts all of the Shades in danger.

Now enemies are closer than Lennon knows and Noa must uncover the threat and keep them both alive. Because in a city where lies are lethal and magic is fading, secrets aren’t just costly—they’re deadly.

 

Purchase * Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Her Sharp Embrace

Author: Kate Koenig

Release Date: 6/9/2026

Publisher: Wednesday Books

ISBN-10: 1250321247

ISBN-13: 9781250321244

Genre: YA / Fantasy / LGBTQ

Age Range: 13 – 18

 

 

 

 

 

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*

Use the Rafflepress Form below to enter

*Be sure to include a complete mailing address for the second entry question to qualify to win*

Three (3) winners will receive a hardcover copy of Her Sharp Embrace (Kate Koenig) ~ US ONLY!

 

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We are excited to share a giveaway for Summerwork (Carrie Mesrobian)!

 

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Carrie Mesrobian

Carrie Mesrobian is the award-winning author of several novels for young adults. She lives in the Twin Cities with her family.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: Summerwork

Set in a single sweltering summer, the story of two traumatized teenagers picking up the pieces of their lives in the wreckage of a bizarre gothic mansion.

Seventeen-year-old Leo Arceneaux has been raised by his mother and uncle, having lost his father in a shockingly random murder when he was two. Connor Rigby is the teenage daughter of a wealthy lifestyle influencer. She has no idea who her father is. As summer begins, Leo and Connor both find themselves in a small town in rural Minnesota, living in the rundown grandiosity of Connor’s mother’s family’s estate. Rigby Mansion is a secluded gothic monstrosity that Connor’s mother is slowly renovating without ever actually being present. Leo is there as a summer landscaping laborer, working to pay off a debt to his mother and uncle, and Connor arrives hortly after, having left behind wreckage of her own and looking for a place to lie low away from her mother.

Connor and Leo soon find themselves in an unfamiliar but intense relationship—not simply a summer romance but something that feels important and somehow tied to the combination of this particular blazing-hot summer and this weird house in the middle of nowhere.

When an accident on the estate’s grounds reveals the bones of two long dead people, Leo and Connor become obsessed with the couple buried beneath the fountain. Neither of them can say exactly why, but they’re sure that somehow these two corpses are tied to the to whatever comes next in their lives.

Purchase

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Summerwork

Author: Carrie Mesrobian

Release Date: 6/9/2026

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers

ISBN-13: 9780735231986

Genre: YA – Fiction

Age Range: 14 & Up

 

 

 

 

 

 

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*

Use the Rafflepress Form below to enter

*Be sure to include a complete mailing address for the second entry question to qualify to win*

Two (2) winners will receive a hardcover copy of Summerwork (Carrie Mesrobian) ~ US ONLY!

 

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Sylvia Walker (THE UMBRELLA)!

 

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Sylvia Walker

Sylvia Walker, a Southern California native, brings a natural affinity to the artistic painting of diverse images, especially children. She expresses herself in a variety of media, including watercolor, pencil, ink, acrylic on canvas and wood, and recently digital images. After earning a BFA at California Institute of the Arts, she began a career in fashion illustration for department stores, fashion houses, and the Simplicity and McCall’s pattern companies. Sylvia has years of experience illustrating children’s books. The Umbrella is her author-illustrator debut. Sylvia lives in Bellevue, Tennessee.

 Facebook * Instagram * X

 

 

 

 

 

About the Book: THE UMBRELLA

Getting caught in the rain at the park leads a little girl to discover a remarkable umbrella and, with it, the magic of friendship and community in this charming picture book inspired by Jan Brett’s classic The Mitten.

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

YABC:  What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

Inclusion. My second inspiration for writing this book came from growing up in a happy, diverse neighborhood.

 

YABC: How do you know when a book is finished?

When Zora found new friends

YABC: If you could meet a character from a book, who would it be?

I would love Zora to meet Suri from my first written and illustrated book “HAIR TO SHARE”

 

YABC: How do you plan to celebrate the launch of your book?

I plan to launch THE UMBRELLA on social media, school visits, library readings, and workshops.

 

YABC:   What is your favorite reading space?

My favorite reading space is relaxing in a comfy chair on my deck surrounded by my favorite plants and flowers.

 

YABC: What hobbies do you enjoy?

My current favorite hobby is learning to play the guitar.

 

YABC: What is your favorite holiday or tradition and why?

My favorite holiday tradition is Thanksgiving because I’m surrounded by family

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: THE UMBRELLA

Author: Sylvia Walker

Illustrator: Sylvia Walker

Release Date: June 9, 2026

Publisher: S&S/Denene Millner Books

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Age Range: 4-8

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Thank you so much for joining YABC and Storey Publishing to encourage young readers to get out and explore this summer with a fantastic giveaway!

 

Check out the books being offered and enter this amazing giveaway down below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous Garden of Tattoo Flowers

Title: Gorgeous Garden of Tattoo Flowers

Author: Editors of Storey Publishing

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Release Date: 4/14/26

 

Choose your favorite blooms from 50 temporary tattoos or mix and match to make a custom bouquet.

Buy Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perfect Catch of Tattoo Fish

Title: Perfect Catch of Tattoo Fish

Author: Editors of Storey Publishing

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Release Date: 5/5/26

 

50 temporary tattoos featuring realistic illustrations of popular sport fish, such as salmon, trout, bass, and bluefish, along with fun facts about each one.

Buy Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watery World of Tattoo Ocean Animals

Title: Watery World of Tattoo Ocean Animals

Author: Editors of Storey Publishing

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Release Date: 4/14/26

 

50 temporary tattoos featuring realistic illustrations of popular sport fish, such as salmon, trout, bass, and bluefish, along with fun facts about each one.

Buy Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

Backpack Explorer Stickers: Ocean Adventure

Title: Backpack Explorer Stickers: Ocean Adventure

Author: Editors of Storey Publishing

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Release Date: 5/5/26

 

Beach-loving kids ages 4 and up will love playing and learning with hundreds of stickers of fish, sharks, whales, seaweed, crabs, birds, and more in this sticker book from the bestselling Backpack Explorer series!

Buy Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

Backpack Explorer: City Walk

Title: Backpack Explorer: City Walk

Author: Editors of Storey Publishing

Publisher: Storey Publishing

Release Date: 3/17/26

 

Take a walk in the city and look for nature on sidewalks, behind park benches, and high up in the park trees in this newest addition to the best-selling Backpack Explorer series—with a real magnifying glass, stickers, and an urban nature log.

Buy Now

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Giveaway Details ~

Use the Rafflepress Form below to enter

* Be sure to include a complete mailing address for the second entry question to qualify to win*

One (1) winner will receive a copy of each book in the Storey Publishing Summer Outside Giveaway ~ US ONLY!

 

 

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