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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Kalyn Josephson (Witchwood: A Ravenfall Novel)!

 

Meet the Author: Kalyn Josephson

Kalyn Josephson is a NYT Bestselling author who currently works as a Technical Writer in the tech industry, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. She currently lives in California with two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an ever tinier owl). She is the author of the Ravenfall series, The Storm Crow duology, and the This Dark Descent duology.

Website * Instagram * Bluesky * Tiktok * Facebook

 

About the Book: Witchwood: A Ravenfall Novel

The third book in the “spellbinding” (Kirkus Reviews) Ravenfall series follows Anna and Colin, two kids with supernatural powers, into the magical town of Witchwood, where local witches have gone missing—and Anna might be next.

Everything is changing at Ravenfall, the magical inn that best friends Anna Ballinkay and Colin Pierce call home. The leaves are turning golden, the air is as crisp as a harvest apple, and Anna’s older twin sisters are leaving for college… but at least Anna and Colin have finally reunited after a summer apart, just in time for a new magical mission.

When their mission is interrupted by a mysterious attack that forces them to seek shelter, Anna and Colin head to Witchwood, a spooky lakeside town where magic doesn’t have to be hidden. Anna is excited to reunite with her aunt and cousin, who she hopes might teach her more about Jewish magic—except her cousin seems to hate her. Especially once Anna realizes that she’s a witch, just like them.

But rude cousins are the least of their problems, because they soon discover that witches are going missing in Witchwood. And if Anna and Colin can’t stop whatever sinister force is making them disappear, Anna could be the next target…

Amazon * B&N * Indiebound

 

~Author Chat~

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

My books always come together in pieces. The Ravenfall series is about a family of psychics who run a sentient inn at the crossroads of the human world and the Otherworld, and the people who come to them for help solving magical mysteries, all wrapped up in mythology and spooky holidays.

I grew up obsessed with Scooby-Doo and so always wanted to write my own magical mystery, and I wanted to write something about a big sprawling family. Tack on my love of the fall season and you get Ravenfall. Witchwood is the third book in the series, and expands on that big magical family, along with a new magical mystery to solve.

YABC: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

It’s just something I’ve always done, ever since I was a kid. It wasn’t until the end of college though that I decided I wanted to pursue publication. I had just read Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, and had that feeling of ‘I want to do that,’ which led me to start working on books!

YABC: What type of scene do you love to write the most?

Anything with an animal companion. I love giving animals—and in the case of Ravenfall, inanimate objects—as much personality and purpose in the story as I can. In these books, the scenes between Max the cat and the sentient house are my favorite, especially since Max isn’t all he seems to be!

YABC:  What word do you have trouble overusing?

Oh gosh, a lot. My characters do a lot of glancing, looking, and smiling in early drafts, and I have to go back and craft more intentional descriptors.

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

Max the cat would get along great with Res the crow from my YA series, THE STORM CROW. They would get into far too much trouble together.

YABC: What hobbies do you enjoy?

I’m a big baker!

YABC:  What fandom would you write for if you had time?

Probably something for Scooby Doo or Supernatural. Keep the spooky magical mysteries coming! I’d also love to do a Wings of Fire-style book for Spyro.

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

I love Halloween, largely because I love the fall season, but also because I think the mythology behind it is really fascinating. Samhain, the holiday in Ravenfall, is the origin for Halloween as we know it today.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

The fourth and final Ravenfall book, Ravenguard, is out fall 2025. After that, I have a new middle grade series coming out that I’ve been pitching as “if Wednesday Addams and Eeyore had to team up to with the Inheritance Games, but with magic” and my adult fantasy debut, The Library of Amorlin, about a con artist who has to infiltrate a magical library.

 

Book’s Title: Witchwood: A Ravenfall Novel

Author: Kalyn Josephson

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy/Supernatural

Age Range: 10-13

 

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Brittany Mazique (Millie Magnus Won’t Be Bullied)!

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

 

 

Meet the Author: Brittany Mazique

Brittany Mazique discovered from an early age that most of the characters in her favorite books did not share her skin color. So she just reimagined them that way instead. She is the author of The Little Mermaid: Adventures on Land and Delphine Denise and the Mardi Gras Prize. Follow her on Instagram @brittanymazique.

 

About the Book: Millie Magnus Won’t Be Bullied

The first installment in a hilarious and charming chapter book series featuring exuberant and irresistible third-grader Millie Magnus.

Millie Magnus has huge love for many things—her mom, her friends, her baby chicken, Extra Spicy, and even her hot pink rain boots. She loves school, too, and can’t wait for Field Day, when her mom—the mayor of Washington, D.C.—will be her partner in the three-legged race.

Millie Magnus DOESN’T love it when Buckley, a boy from school, makes fun of her curly hair, or her name, or her friends. And she can’t believe it when Buckley is assigned to compete against Millie and her mother at Field Day! But then things get even worse. When Millie’s plan to talk to Buckley about his bullying is ruined, SHE ends up in the principal’s office.

But Millie’s can-do spirit is hard to keep down and her big feelings come in handy when she learns something new about Buckley. She may even find a way to call him a friend.

Order Link

 

~Author Chat~

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

BKM:     I wanted to create a story that empowers young readers to tackle life’s challenges with courage and heart—one imperfect, determined step at a time. And honestly, my oldest daughter Margaux’s witty mischief kept tapping me on the shoulder until I brought this character to life!

YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?

BKM: Lunchbox! I’m a mom and I know what it’s like to be carrying alllll the things all the time. I’m also human, and know what it’s like to need to carry things to help ease everyday anxiety. At first glance Lunchbox is a kid that is overly prepared and maybe has a lot of useless things with him. I see a kid that carries around comfort. And I like that about him.

YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?

BKM: The novel for sure. If I could just write stories and submit as “Untitled” for everything I write I totally would!

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

BKM: When Millie Magnus decides Josephine Draper isn’t so bad after all. While Millie and Josephine’s back and forth is fun, it was important for me to show that people aren’t often who they appear to be. And usually the ones that take the longest to figure out, we might find to be the most interesting.

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

YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?

BKM: The illustrator Ebony Glenn is brilliant! She captures each of Millie’s friends so perfectly on the cover. And Millie’s stance- iconic!

YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2025?

BKM: Audre & Bash Are Just Friends, Tia William’s YA romance novel.

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

BKM: Picture book: The Perfect Place by Matt de la Peña. I cannot stop thinking about Tia William’s romance novel A Love Song for Ricki Wilde. And I’ve needed to hear Nikki Giovanni’s voice one last time so I’m listening to A Good Cry, a collection of her poems on audiobook.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

BKM:     Millie isn’t done causing mischief quite yet (and making the world a better place in her own way). Book 2, MILLIE MAGNUS FOR MAYOR, is out September 2025. I’m also working on book 3 for Millie Magnus and a few exciting projects that I hope to share soon!

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

BKM:     Definitely the scene where Millie confides in her mom. I’m not sure I was always as brave as Millie to share my feelings when I was that age. I wanted to show how hard it is to share something when your hurt and it be met with understanding and for kids- partnership. Then I wanted to be sure Millie knew that Mayor Maude could relate to her problem by sharing her own version of mean ole bully Buckley. It was such a tender moment for them both.

YABC:    What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?

BKM:     Your voice matters, even when it shakes. Speak up, stand tall, and always remember you’re not alone.

YABC:      What would you say is your superpower?

BKM:     Empathy is my superpower. I can also cry and laugh at the same time, which I’d like to think Millie Magnus might have that superpower as well.

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

BKM:     Absolutely—Life Pieces To Masterpieces. It’s a beautiful organization that uses art, mentoring, and storytelling to empower Black boys and young men in Washington D.C.’s most challenged neighborhoods. Their mission to transform lives and build strong communities deeply resonates with me, and I’m honored to support their work.

YABC:   What advice do you have for new writers?

BKM:     Write the story you needed when you were younger—and don’t worry if it’s messy. Every masterpiece starts with a few smudges.

 

Book’s Title: Millie Magnus Won’t Be Bullied

Author: Brittany Mazique

Illustrator: Ebony Glenn

Release Date: 12/17/2024

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons BFYR

ISBN-13: HC – 9780593618776 ; DG – 9780593618783

Genre: Chapter Book

Age Range: 5-8 yrs

 

~ Giveaway Details ~

 

Five (5) winners will receive a copy of Millie Magnus Won’t Be Bullied (Brittany Mazique)~US ONLY

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*

 

 
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Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Esau McCaulley!

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

Meet the Author: Esau McCaulley

Esau McCaulley is The Jonathan Blanchard Associate Professor of New Testament and Public Theology at Wheaton College. He is the author of numerous books, including How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South, Reading While Black, and the children’s books Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit and Andy Johnson and the March for Justice. A contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, his writings have also appeared in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Christianity Today.

Website * X* Facebook * Instagram

 

About the Book: ANDY JOHNSON AND THE MARCH FOR JUSTICE

Andy Johnson loves fighting battles. Especially when he has his favorite sword, the Destroyer, by his side. So when Dad announces that the Johnson family is heading to the city to join a march, Andy’s ready to don his battle gear and be the best solider!

 

Except this isn’t a march to war . . . it’s a march for justice.

 

Join Andy and the rest of the Johnson kids as they learn how we can answer God’s call for justice and how marching is one way people can fight for a world that reflects God’s love and compassion—from the civil rights era up to today.

 

Building on the first Johnson family book, Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit, and inspired by a conversation with his own children after taking them to a protest march, Esau McCaulley provides an accessible resource for parents and educators looking to engage kids on the topics of racism, discrimination, and social justice through a biblical and historical perspective.

Order Link* Goodreads

 

~Author Chat~

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

As a parent, I know what is like to look in vain for resources that help how and why the Black Church in America has been a force for justice. I want my kids and other kids to know that people like Martin Luther King Jr and other leaders in the Civil Rights movement show that faith can be a force for good.

YABC: What follow up research would you recommend for interested readers? 

When I was in middle school, I was strongly impacted by the eyes on the prize series video series. Some of that is not the most suitable for kids, but it gave me a good picture of what African Americans and others endured to make our country a more just place.

YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel? 

The idea is came first and the title followed

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

The last scene with Andy and his Dad. It gets to the heart of the book.

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

 I had to learn how to be myself as a writer and not what I thought people wanted me to be.

YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The drawing of Andy. It is so full of life.

YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2025?

To be completely honest, I have a children’s Bible coming out in 2025 called God’s colorful Kingdom and I can’t wait to share that with the world.

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

The Biography of Frederick Douglass. An amazing book.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

Andy Johnson is a part of a series of books on the Johnson family (four kids), each kid has a book centered around them. I have two more Johnson Family books in the works.

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

I think it was hard to talk about the mistreat of African Americans due to injustice that would inform kids, but not overwhelm them.

YABC:    Which fact gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

The fact that we still have to do things like march for justice and that we are not further down the road to equity.

YABC:    What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?

God has always called his people to stand on the side of the mistreated. It is never too early to join in that work of making the world a better place.

YABC:      What would you say is your superpower?

I don’t have any superpowers. I do have hope in someone who can do what we might think is impossible.

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

I know that the church has been the cause of much pain in the world, but I also believe that it has been and can be force for good.

YABC:   What advice do you have for new writers? 

Write the stories that sets your hearts on fire.

YABC:   Is there anything that you would like to add?

 Too often, we can be too dismissive of children’s literature. I want to say that kids deserve our best writing. I hope that this little book helps inspire them to be all they were created to be.

 

 

Book’s Title: ANDY JOHNSON AND THE MARCH FOR JUSTICE

Author: Esau McCaulley

Illustrator: Emmanuel Boateng

Release Date: December 17, 2024

Publisher: Convergent Books / Random House

ISBN-10: 0593580648

ISBN-13: 9780593580646

Genre: Children’s Books / Social Justice

Age Range: 4-8 years

 

~ Giveaway Details ~

Five (5) winners will receive a hardcover copy of ANDY JOHNSON AND THE MARCH FOR JUSTICE (Esau McCaulley)~US ONLY

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*

 

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Jarod Roselló!

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

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Jarod Roselló

Jarod Roselló is a Cuban American writer, cartoonist, and teacher. He is the author of the middle-grade graphic novel Red Panda & Moon Bear, a Chicago Public Library and New York Public Library best book for young readers and a Nerdy Award winner for graphic novels. Jarod holds an MFA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction, both from the Pennsylvania State University. Originally from Miami, he now lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, kids, and dogs, and teaches in the creative writing program at the University of South Florida.

Website * BlueSky * Instagram

 

 

 

About the Book: SUPER MAGIC BOY: I AM A SPACE TIGER

Zip, zap, and zoom through space with Hugo and his best friend Dino on their adventure to find the best mom present ever! An out-of-this-world graphic novel chapter book series filled to the brim with friendship and zany adventures!

Oh no! Today is Mami’s birthday and Hugo forgot to get her a present! Don’t worry, with Hugo’s imagination, and some help from Dino, they figure out that the best place to find a gift for the best mom in the world: OUTER SPACE!

When they land on the planet of Space Tigers, Hugo is excited to get help from his new alien friends! But it sounds like the Space Tigers have their own problems that need to be solved. Don’t worry! Hugo can turn into a Space Tiger and help his new friends out…and hopefully find the best present ever along the way!

Goodreads

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

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

I Am a Space Tiger is part space adventure and part mystery! I’ve always wanted to write a mystery story, and because this book takes place on a strange and mysterious planet, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Going to space is one of my favorite ways to play with my kids, so I’ve always wanted to set a story there. I think this is my first book that has mystery and space in it!

 

YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?

I love Hugo. He’s actually a lot like me when I was a kid: adventurous, helpful, drawn to silliness, and always finding himself in trouble. I love getting to show how many different sides Hugo has to his personality.

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

YABC:  What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?

Hugo and Dino came first. I have to know my characters really well before I can start imagining what kinds of stories they find themselves in. After all, stories don’t just happen, they happen to people. And they usually happen because of people. I like to set up my characters so they cause the story to happen.

YABC:   How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?

I spend a lot of time visiting schools and teaching workshops to kids. I also watch a lot of cartoons and read a lot of children’s books both on my own and with my own kids. I really love kid culture and keeping in touch with it keeps my imagination and creativity full. I think childhood is a really important and magical time in all our lives, not training for adulthood, so I want my stories to reflect the power, magic, and joy of it.

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

Comedy and adventure! And a little bit of magic. I love writing stories that take place in our world, except something is a little bit off: kids with magic powers, space tigers running around, skeletons coming to life.

YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?

Coffee! Sometimes I don’t even drink it, but having a hot cup of coffee next to me helps me get in the writing and drawing mood.

YABC: If you were able to meet them, would you be friends with your main character?

For sure! Hugo was inspired by my real-life son, Oliver, and we’re basically best friends. So, I think Hugo and I would get along really well. I would be thrilled to be friends with a talking dinosaur, so I think Dino and I would be great friends, too.

YABC:   What do you do when you procrastinate?

I Iike to read, play video games, or play with my cats. I also like to go for walks or find something to fix. I’m not very handy, so fixing something simple can take me forever, which is really helpful when I’m trying to procrastinate.

 

YABC:  What fandom would you write for if you had time?

I almost exclusively like to work on my own books and with my own characters, but there are a few exceptions I would make: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants, Godzilla, and Adventure Time! I love these characters and worlds and have spent so much time with them that I feel like I know them just as well as my own characters.

 

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

I have one more book in the Super Magic Boy series coming out in 2025. It’s about a slime monster that takes over the public library. It’ll be up to Hugo and Dino to save the library and the books. After that, I’m returning to my middle-grade graphic novel series Red Panda & Moon Bear, for book 3, and I can’t wait!

 

 

 

 

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Vera Ahiyya!

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

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Vera Ahiyya

VERA AHIYYA was raised in El Paso, Texas with her wonderful mother and amazing grandparents. Vera has taught Kindergarten and first grade for the last 16 years. Her online presence is dedicated to influencing other educators by spreading her vast knowledge and love of inclusive children’s books. She is the author of Rebellious Read Alouds, a professional development book for educators. She is also the author of two picture books, You Have a Voice and KINDergarten.

Website * Instagram * Facebook

 

 

 

About the Book: GETTING READY FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

Get Ready for Valentine’s Day in this exciting new series for kids who love new experiences and holiday fun! Vera Ahiyya, the Tutu Teacher, knows everything your family needs to get ready… and to celebrate every precious moment!

It’s time to get ready for Valentine’s Day! Kai’s whole class is busily preparing by making friendship cards, decorating homemade mailboxes, and sharing delicious sweets and treats! But Kai and their friends can’t help but worry… what if they don’t receive any cards at alll? Luckily, their teacher will help the whole class learn the true meaning of friendship!

This edition includes an adorable punch-out sign for Valentine’s Day photo opps!

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

YABC: Which came first, the title or the book?

For this book, the title came first, which was incredibly helpful because it allowed me to know exactly what I needed to write about!

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

I didn’t go to school to be a writer, and I find that writing doesn’t come easy to me. For that reason, I must set aside specific times to write. I also make sure I learn as much about the writing process as possible by taking online classes and developing relationships with other authors. But the most important thing I’ve learned, is to just write the story. You’ve got to get the story out, whatever it takes.

YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?

Getting Ready for Valentine’s Day has such a fun and bright cover. But one of my favorite details is the little girl with a limb difference. During my last few years of sharing diverse and inclusive stories on social media, I have had many requests for books that feature characters with a limb difference. When I had the opportunity to collaborate with the amazing Debby Rahmalia, our illustrator, I expressed the desire to see a child with a limb difference in our story.

 

YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2025?

2025 is going to bring so many amazing titles but here are a few that I am super excited to read:

• Make a Pretty Sound: A Story of Ella Jenkins―The First Lady of Children’s Music by Traci Todd and Eleanor Davis
• All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson
• The ABCs of Women’s History by Rio Cortez and Lauren Semmer
• I Am the Spirit of Justice by Jemar Tisby, Malcom Newsome, and Nadia Fisher
• Oshún and Me: A Story of Love and Braids by Adiba Nelson and Alleanna Harris

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

I really love I’m Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff and Julie Kwon. I loved the illustrations and the fact that the entire story is told through written letters. As a teacher, I know first-hand the dynamics of working through an appropriate apology with a student. I think there’s a bit of finessing that must happen on the teacher’s part to help the student really own their part in the apology and also help process what led up to the behavior that resulted in the need for an apology. This story illustrates this dynamic so wonderfully.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

I have so many ideas I’d love to see brought to life in the near future. One specifically, is the continuation of my Rebellious Read Alouds work. I wrote that book as a “love letter” to educators, arming them with ways to engage young people in important, necessary conversations, all with the help of a picture book. Rebellious Read Alouds debuted about two years ago, and while the books featured in RRA have been published in the last 5 years or so, there are now so many other picture books I’d like to use to help engage in even more conversations. So right now, I’m building a stack of potential picture books to be used in a potential RRA part 2.

YABC:    What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?

The books in this series are created to help young people (and their families) process the newness of school related events. We wanted to help demystify some of the “typical” events and activities that happen at school, so young people could feel prepared to engage in the best way possible. The first two books in the series focused on the first day of Preschool and Kindergarten, and the latest book highlights the fun of Valentine’s Day in an early childhood classroom. I really want readers to remember that no matter how they show up to school, they are ready, just as they are!

 

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

My husband and I donate regularly to Point of Pride. This organization works to provide assistance to individuals who need access to services or surgeries for gender affirming care.

Additionally, I regularly support the work of We Need Diverse Books. This organization works to “diversify the publishing industry” and ensure access to diverse and inclusive books to students all around the country.

 

 

 

 

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Christyne Morrell (The Curse of the Dead Man‘s Diamond)!

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Christyne Morrell

Christyne Morrell is the author of Trex and Kingdom of Secrets. When she’s not writing for kids, Christyne is busy raising one. She is a corporate attorney, and in her spare time enjoys reading, baking, and watching House Hunters marathons.

Website * X * Instagram

 

 

 

About the Book: The Curse of the Dead Man‘s Diamond

In this middle-grade mystery, eleven year old Charlie moves from NYC to Florida only to find herself in the haunted Winklevoss Manor. To her surprise, she’s not alone—she’s joined by three mischievous ghosts cursed for snatching a dead man‘s diamond.

After twelve-year-old Charlie moves from New York City to sweaty, sticky Florida, she’ll do anything to get back home.

Even if it involves ghosts.

Winklevoss Manor, Charlie’s new house, is a towering Victorian mansion famous for one thing—it’s haunted. Three ghosts—Ada, Arthur, and Guff—live there, and not by choice. They’re trapped, cursed for stealing a dead man’s diamond. A diamond that, just like the ghosts, is still in the house. And this gets Charlie thinking. . .

Maybe if she can find the diamond and sell it, Charlie’s family could have enough money to move back to the city. But lifting the curse isn’t that simple, especially when she’s pitted against the school bully and three unruly spirits. It’s frightening to think about, but what if the only way to get rid of the ghosts and curses is by doing what Charlie fears the most—confronting the past that haunts her?

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

YABC: What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?

Believe it or not, the title came first. It’s unusual for me to start with a title, but this one gave me so much material to work with (A curse! A dead man! A diamond!) that the rest of the story unfolded naturally from there.

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

This book was heavily inspired by my childhood in Florida – which is an interesting place, to say the least! Not only is the landscape wild and untamed, but it’s full of interesting characters. In fact, there’s a town in Central Florida called Cassadega that is known as the Psychic Capital of the World, which was the inspiration for the fictional town of Casaluna. All I had to do was add the ghosts!

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

I’d write mysteries. I typically write across genres (sci-fi, fantasy, ghost stories), but ultimately, I find that there’s a mystery at the heart of each book. I love planting clues for readers to find, adding a few sneaky red herrings, and wrapping it all up with a surprising and satisfying reveal.

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

I’m a sucker for a good plot twist. My favorite moment as a reader is when a story makes me gasp out loud – the moment I never saw coming, but which makes the entire plot suddenly click into place. If I can recreate that for my own readers, I have succeeded.

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

Great question, and I’ll try to answer it without spoilers! There’s a scene toward the end of the book in which the main character, Charlie, reveals something she feels guilty about. Ada, the ghost who lives in her house, is dealing with guilt of her own, stemming from an incident that occurred during her life and is keeping her from “crossing over.” Even though the two characters can’t communicate in a traditional sense, they have a moment where they share their pain and console one another. It’s the most emotional scene in the book, and because of that, I wanted to make sure I got it just right.

YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?

Twizzlers all the way! They’re handheld, they don’t make a mess, and they’re very satisfying to gnaw on when I’m trying to work out a plot hole.

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

I’d travel to Liverpool, England in the early 1960s to see The Beatles play at The Cavern Club. It would be amazing to watch them perform before they became famous, knowing what was to come.

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

I recently drafted a mystery novel for adults, which I had a blast writing it. I’d definitely be open to writing another story for adults if the inspiration strikes.

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

My daughter. She just turned 10 years old – exactly the same age as my readers. She reminds me every day how exhilarating, challenging, and often scary it is to be a kid, which is one of the reasons I love writing books for that age group.

YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?

I watch comfort movies (such as The Devil Wears Prada, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Knives Out, and the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice), do the New York Times crossword puzzle, and work on jigsaw puzzles. I am a grandma at heart!

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

I recently loved The Fairfleet Affair by K.H. Saxton, a twisty mystery about two friends searching for a missing billionaire. The book takes place on a university campus, so the clues lead the young sleuths into the worlds of art, history, and theater. It’s the perfect backdrop for a compelling mystery.

YABC: What is your favorite writing space or routine?

My favorite writing routine is doing writing sprints with my two closest writer friends. We start by sharing our goals and hyping each other up. Then we write without distractions for a set amount of time (usually 30-40 minutes). Then we reconvene to discuss the progress we made. Finally, we do it all over again! It provides the perfect mix of writing time and community.

YABC: What’s up next for you?

I have a new middle-grade book releasing next year. I can’t share much information yet – publishing loves to keep its secrets – but I can say that it’s a cozy mystery with a fun, feisty main character. Think Knives Out, but for kids.

 

 

 

Title: The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond

Author: Christyne Morrell

Release Date: Sept 17, 2024

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: Middle Grade Mystery/Supernatural

Age Range: 10-12 years

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Timmy Woitas!

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

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Timmy Woitas

Timmy Woitas grew up in Western Pennsylvania but now lives in New York City. By day, he works as a publishing professional. By night, he is asleep. He aims to write the queer-centered stories he wished for when he was a kid. Bobby and the Big Valentine is his picture book debut.

 

 

 

About the Book: BOBBY AND THE BIG VALENTINE

Bobby and Eddie do everything together, and that’s the way they both like it. But when Bobby starts to have feelings for Eddie beyond friendship, he knows he needs to reveal them—and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time! He crafts a valentine fit for someone as special as Eddie, his favorite person. But how will Eddie react when Bobby reveals his crush?

Purchase

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

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

I’ve seen so many cishet crush storylines in children’s media—especially thinking back to the shows I watched as a kid—but where are the gays? We exist. We’ve always existed. And we have the kinds of big feelings that crushes can bring too.

YABC:  What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?

The concept. I wanted to explore what would a gay crush story for kids would look like. I don’t know if kids still do this today, but in my elementary school we used to get little cards for Valentine’s Day and pass them out to everyone in class. This just felt like the perfect setting—sure, you can give everyone a little card, but how would you show your favorite person how much they mean to you? Make them a big card. A HUGE card. With paint and glitter and a whole lot of love. You’ll get your message across, but how will it be received?

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

While I do hope to write longer form one day, I’ve really been enjoying writing picture books. They’re deceptively hard, but they’re so rewarding. I want to instill a love of reading, and I want to write the queer stories for the youngest of readers that I wish I had at their age.

YABC:   How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?

You know that “How do you do, fellow kids?” meme? That’s what it feels like as an adult writing for children. Kids are smarter than they get credit for—you don’t want to talk down to them. It might be good for a word or two to challenge them, but you don’t want them to run to the dictionary for SAT-level vocabulary on every page. Every word, every phrase, every sentence needs to be written with careful precision. But above all of that, it has to feel authentic.  Getting the voice right is a tough balancing act.

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

Bobby and the Big Valentine is my debut, so it’s just book (for now!). Readers can expect to find cute queer kids, a dash of anxiety, and a whole lot of heart.

Oh, and a cat. Can’t forget Bobby’s cat.

YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?

Does coffee count?

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

I’ve just officially signed up another picture book, and I have a few more in various stages of development. I really want to bring a wide array of titles into this world—to get kids laughing, learning, feeling. And for the queer kids of the world, seeing themselves represented in a way they haven’t before.

YABC:   Is there anything that you would like to add?

A world of thanks to the inimitable Addy Rivera Sonda, the illustrator who brought Bobby and the Big Valentine to life. This book would not be the same without her!

 

 

 

Title: BOBBY AND THE BIG VALENTINE

Author: Timmy Woitas

Illustrator: Addy Rivera Sonda

Release Date: 12/10/24

Publisher: Penguin Workshop

ISBN-10: 0593659775

ISBN-13: 9780593659779

Genre: Holidays and Celebrations, Picture Book, LGBTQ+

Age Range: 4-8

 

 

 

~ Giveaway Details ~

 

One (1) winner will receive a copy of BOBBY AND THE BIG VALENTINE (Timmy Woitas) ~US Only!

 

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*

 

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Amy Christine Parker (You‘re Dead to Me)!

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Amy Christine Parker

Amy Christine Parker is the author of Flight 171, Gated, Astray, and Smash & Grab. She writes full-time from her home near Tampa, Florida, where she lives with her husband, their two daughters, and two very mischievous cats.

Website * Facebook * Instagram

 

 

 

About the Book: You‘re Dead to Me

Gossip Girl meets Happy Death Day in this YA horror novel following high school outcast and anonymous social media gossip Ruby, who comes face-to-face with her own ghost dressed in a blood-splattered prom dress. With less than a week until the dance, Ruby must unmask her killer—or die trying.

Ruby is a scholarship senior at elite Oleander High School with a chip on her shoulder and an attitude to match—which she puts to good use as the infamous local anonymous gossip blogger ReputationKiller. When she’s outed as the voice behind the account, the entire town turns against her.

But after she’s scared witless by a vision of her own ghost dressed in a blood-splattered prom dress, she is faced with an awful truth. Someone out there doesn’t just hate her—they want her dead.

With less than a week until the prom, Ruby starts investigating. Turns out Oleander Bay isn’t the picture-perfect resort town it appears to be. With so many secrets, scandals, and people hell-bent on covering them up at all costs, the murderer could be anyone. Can Ruby beat the clock counting down to prom—and her death—and survive the night?

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

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

A few years ago, I was obsessed with the Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House, particularly one of the ghosts in it, the Bent Neck Lady. If you haven’t watched it yet, fair warning: I am about to get all spoilery. The Bent Neck Lady was an extremely creepy apparition who haunted one of the main characters, Nell, since she was very young. When it was revealed that this ghost was Nell herself, come to warn her of her future death, I was so shocked and freaked out that I got chills! How creepy is it to have that sort of supernatural glimpse at your own death? I could not stop thinking about it for weeks. Then I started to ruminate over what it would be like if the ghost’s appearance suggested they met with foul play. If you were confronted by your own murdered ghost, could you figure out who the murderer is going to be before they commit the crime and stop them? It was an irresistible question I had to explore. The story grew from there.

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

Even though this story takes place in my home state of Florida, I did do a fair amount of research. I went to Gatorland to see the park firsthand as it’s the inspiration for the Wonderpark that my main character, Ruby, helps run. I took lots of notes during the alligator shows. I also took an airboat ride to get a real sense of what it’s like—I had ridden one in the past, but I wanted the experience to be as fresh as possible when I started writing.

Then I hired a tarot card reader to help me construct a reading that takes place inside the book. We spent about an hour coming up with this arrangement of cards that actually hints at the murderer’s identity without giving anything away overtly. I wanted readers familiar with tarot to be able to go back to that scene in the book after they’d read the entire novel and be able to see the clues in hindsight or use the reading to solve the crime before my character, Ruby, could. At the end of our session, she also gave me a personal reading and what was eerily fascinating is that several of my character’s cards reappeared in my card spread. That was a very cool research experience because I not only got information for the book, but a glimpse at my future as well. According to my reader, YOU’RE DEAD TO ME is going to do well with readers. It will be interesting to see if she’s right.

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

 The thriller genre, particularly psychological thrillers. I love creating that buildup of tension and unease as my characters work to survive the situations I put them in. And I’m forever fascinated by what people will do in extreme situations—will they give up their morals/values to survive or will they develop an even stronger personal compass? And I love, love, love creating antagonists! People who are morally gray or morally bankrupt but who are convinced they are justified to be that way intrigue me. And if I can find a way to add a little bit of the supernatural and some horror to whatever thriller I’m writing, I’m a very happy writer!

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

My goal is to give them fast paced, first person POV novels with compelling characters and interesting settings. There is always going to be an element of the creepy or supernatural and almost always some moral dilemma the character must face that doesn’t have an obvious right answer. There will be a bit of romance, but it isn’t spicy or a central plotline. When they’re reading, my goal is that it gets harder and harder to put my books down because the tension and pace just keep increasing. And more often than not, there will be some sort of twist.

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

I have a very hard time with romantic scenes. Anytime my characters have to get vulnerable about their feelings for one another, I struggle. Probably because I’m not good at being vulnerable this way personally. I am the world’s worst flirt and tend to be the type of person who shows my affection through acts of service, not words. But I’m working on it because I love to read a good romantic scene, and I’d love to be able to write something that pulls at readers’ romantic imaginations and makes them swoon over my characters.

 

YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?

Normally I don’t snack while I’m writing—except when I’m under deadline. Then I tend to behave like an absolute kid and binge on candy and chips. Orange slices (the gummy candies), gumballs, M&Ms, chips with sour cream and onion dip. It’s super unhealthy, lol, but I tell myself it’s okay if I only eat like this a few times per year!

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

I have also written for middle grade readers, but I have yet to tackle novels for adults. That is my next goal. I always tell people I’d like to be a triple threat and publish in all three age groups. Fingers crossed that I can make that happen in the very near future. I definitely have ideas for adult novels that I’d like to tackle—all in the thriller/horror genre of course.

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

I live in this gorgeous neighborhood in Florida with lots of lakes and wildlife. I never get tired of taking walks around it, especially at sunset. The sandhills cranes I pass and the turtles sunning themselves on rocks by the lakes always make me smile. There is just this pervading sense of peace that helps me unwind after a busy day.

YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?

I go to the movies! I love the experience of sitting inside a darkened theatre with a box of popcorn. Seeing stories on the big screen always inspires me and ultimately, helps me to stop procrastinating and get back to work. This is because one of my most heartfelt wishes is for my books to be adapted for the big screen someday. When I’m there I always imagine my name in the credits: “based on the novel by Amy Christine Parker.” I leave the theatre pumped up to make that dream come true.

YABC: What is your favorite writing space or routine?

I am a creature of habit big time, so I always write in my office early in the morning—around 7am because I work a nine-to-five job as an engagement writer creating scripts for educational videos. It’s very creatively demanding, so if I don’t squeeze my own writing in before the day job starts, it’s harder to do it later when my brain is fried. Which means sticking to routine is key. I get up, get dressed, then write for a few hours before grabbing breakfast and switching to my day job.

When I’m drafting, I wear headphones and play rain noises with brain wave sounds underneath. I also have my scene cards on bulletin boards on the wall opposite my desk along with inspirational photos so every time I look up, I’m still immersed in the story. Then, when I’m not at my desk, I have a playlist of music with lyrics that fit my story playing so I can think about the story while I’m running errands, working out, or doing chores. This way my brain stays in the story world as much as possible. My routine is really all about making every minute count which means weekend writing is a must too.

Personal Note: Thank you for interviewing me! I look forward to seeing the final post!

 

 

 

Title: You’re Dead to Me

Author: Amy Christine Parker

Release Date: December 10, 2024

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: YA Horror/Thriller

Age Range: Ages 12 and up

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with Author Kayvion Lewis (Heist Royale)!

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Kayvion Lewis

 Kayvion Lewis is a young adult author of all things escapist and high-octane. A former youth services librarian, she’s been working with young readers and kidlit since she was sixteen. When she’s not writing, she’s breaking out of escape rooms, jumping out of airplanes, and occasionally running away to mountain retreats to study kung fu. Kayvion is originally from Louisiana, and often visits her family in The Bahamas, these days you can find her in Shreveport, LA—at least until she takes off on her next adventure.

 

 

 

About the Book: Heist Royale

The high-stakes sequel to Thieves’ Gambit, for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Ally Carter.

It’s been six months since the end of the Gambit. Instead of winning an impossible wish, Ross has the threat of her family’s execution hanging over her head. Devroe, the only person Ross thought she could trust, could wish the Quests into oblivion at any time. Shockingly, despite his betrayal, Devroe is still making a play for Ross’s heart as the two work together pulling jobs for the Organization. But Ross has learned her lesson: A Quest can only trust another Quest.

When Ross finds herself at the center of a power struggle within the Organization, she sees her chance to change her fortunes. As a new deadly Gambit develops for control of the criminal underworld, Ross strikes a risky deal to guarantee protection for herself and her family.

In this final clash, Ross will square off against a ruthless opponent who will stop at nothing to seize power, and in their corner will be not only Devroe but his mother, who wants to destroy the Quests at any cost.

The new Gambit takes Ross and her crew into the intoxicating casinos of Monte Carlo and across treacherous snow-covered slopes in Antarctica as Ross competes against Devroe in a fight for her life. Loyalties will be tested, backs stabbed, hearts broken. May the best thief win.

Amazon

 

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

YABC: Following the launch of Thieves Gambit, what has been the most exciting thing that has happened to you as an author? 

Probably being invited to Good Morning America to talk about my book. It remains the most celebrity-eque thing I’ve ever done. GMA is closely followed by winning the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and being flown out to the UK to receive it. I still can’t believe either of those actually happened.

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

Definitely the entire casino heist sequence, which I’ve been happy to see is enthralling readers too! Casino heists always have a hint of suaveness and James-bond vibes to them, along with lots of moving parts. Of course, I had to add my own spin to it. The casino being infiltrated in Heist Royale is known in the criminal underworld as a place where you can gamble anything from human organs to state secrets, so there’s an extra level of intrigue and danger going on behind the scenes.

YABC: What is your most important non-writing thing in your writing space that helps you work?

Probably the books on the shelves at the library I like to go write at. Looking at the hundreds of finished and published books brings me back to reality when I get overwhelmed about my own writing. I see them and think: “All these people wrote and finished their books, I can totally finish this chapter.”

YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The knives are very shiny. I like shiny knives.

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

I started The Night Ends With Fire by K.X. Song yesterday and I’m already halfway through it! It’s a feminist mulan retelling–need I say more?

YABC:  What’s up next for you?

I’m currently working on a YA mystery set in the same universe as Thieves’ Gambit and Heist Royale. It’s very, well, mysterious.

YABC: What would you say is your superpower?

I have very chaotic, but strangely serendipitous fortune. I have the luck of some who would accidentally pull the emergency exit and fall out of an airplane, but land on a trampoline and end up at a very fun pool party. (I feel like that whole story could be a metaphor for how I became a writer.)

YABC: What advice do you have for new writers?

Write for yourself first. Don’t waste time and words trying to write stories that aren’t from your heart just because you think other people will love them. Write stories to appeal to you, stories the way you want to read them, and worry about everything else after.

Title: HEIST ROYALE

Author: Kayvion Lewis

Release Date: November 12, 2024

Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers

Genre: YA

Age Range: 12+

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Today we are very excited to share an interview with author Kirsten Cappy!

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

 

 

 

Meet the Author: Kirsten Cappy

Kirsten Cappy is the co-founder of I’m Your Neighbor Books, a US non-profit organization that places Immigrant and New Generation children’s literature in homes, schools, and libraries to build an environment of welcoming and belonging.

Website * Instagram * X * Facebook

 

 

 

About the Author: Yaya Gentille

Yaya Gentille is a former educator from the Democratic Republic of Congo who now works with children’s books in the United States.

 

 

 

 

About the Book: Kende! Kende! Kende!

A multilingual story of love and learning, joy and journey Inspired by the families throughout Central Africa who are forced to leave their homes, this is an honest but hopeful own-voice narrative about displacement, migration, and finding a new home. Having fled their village as conflict approaches, Mamá, Papá, Lolie, and Nico live in a refugee camp until they are chosen for resettlement in North America. Their new city is a go, go, go of new challenges, but also a return to love and learning, joy and journey. A text woven from three languages celebrates multilingual speakers and the resilience of refugees.

Amazon * B&N * IndieBound

 

 

 

~Author Chat~

 

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

Children’s books representing immigrant families show readers of all backgrounds that we value immigrant families. As the co-founder of I’m Your Neighbor Books, a nonprofit that uses Immigrant and New Generation children’s books to create an environment of welcoming and belonging, I have been looking for a book featuring a family from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for a decade. None emerged, until I literally walked right straight into a story.

I was trudging home through a fierce and sudden snowstorm. At our city’s biggest intersection, a little blue car was stuck and cutting off traffic in five directions. Out of the whirl, I heard the voice of a Congolese man yell, “I don’t know what to do.” Myself and another (tiny) woman went to his open window. In my broken French I convinced him that he and I would push (I am not tiny) and the other woman would drive (she has grown up driving in snow). As we struggled out of the snow drift, others magically appeared out of the blinding blur of snow. Anyone that has participated in this Northern hemisphere ritual of strangers-helping-strangers knows the triumph and laughter that comes from freeing a car from snow.

I walked home thinking about all this kind man had possibly endured and navigated to get from the DRC to the US. At that moment, snow was just one more bizarre thing to navigate in his new home.  I wrote about that episode that very snowy day  and then went to my friend Yaya Gentille, a former early education teacher from DRC, with the idea of creating a picture book together. We started a two-pandemic-years’ process of trading manuscript drafts left under a brick on her front steps. Yaya wrote in French, I wrote in English, and across languages and experiences, the story emerged. In that process, the snowstorm became the second part of the book and an imagined life leaving the DRC became the first part.

YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?

I think Yaya and I love Lolie for her initial joyful need for speed and her unerring curiosity.  Prior to the launch, the book has been in the hands of the incredible group of immigrant advisors, translators, and narrators. Some of those adults saw their childhood migration journeys in Lolie. Others, who fled war zones with their own children, were drawn to the impossible decisions and sacrifices Lolie’s parents had to make to keep their children safe.

 

 

YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?

Lingala is Lolie’s family’s home language. Like English, the word “go” in Lingala (“kende”) can change connotations. As Yaya and I  wrote the text, Lolie’s need for speed (being pushed by her Papa in the wheelbarrow) became a frightening need for speed as the family flees their town (with their belongings in the same wheelbarrow). After the family is resettled in a new country, the go, go, go pace of the new culture both excites and exhausts the family. With Lingala dialogue integrated throughout the French/English text, the repeated refrain of, “Kende! Kende! Kende!,” became central the story and a natural fit for the title. A children’s book title in Lingala may be a first.

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

The translation and recording of the book in the seven languages most common in the Great Lakes region of Africa is what we are most proud of. Books cannot truly welcome refugees if they are solely in English. The authors worked with six grant-supported immigrant translators and seven readers to create free QR-Code-delivered audio read-alouds available to anyone in the front of the book.We are in awe that Child’s Play International was willing to trust and try this and that I’m Your Neighbor Books’ supporters and volunteers could contribute to this ground-breaking and creative solution to break the multilingual barrier to picture books.

Our favorite scene created by the ever-so-brilliant illustrator Rahana Dariah is when Lolie and Nico are kneeling in quiet wonder watching the snow fall outside their apartment window. On the other side of the room, Mama is telling Papa, “Tosengeli kokende!” (we have to go) as she is in labor with their third child. Like on all of the pages, Rahana Dariah and art director Annie Kubler captured both love and tension.

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

As someone that uses children’s books to create community connections, I believe that stories can change us. Creating this story furthered my certainty that stories are collective creations. This book has two names on the cover, but many, many voices.

 YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The joy. Papa is pushing Lolie in the wheelbarrow and they are both laughing. It shows that families experience joy before war tears open their lives. With conflicts across the globe and the current displacement of millions, people living in safety can consciously or unconsciously assume that such hardship is inevitable in other places and communities. Thinking the loss of joy and safety is inevitable for some people keeps many, I think, from compassionate action. Individual stories restore a collective empathy. May you think of Papa, Lolie, and their wheelbarrow when you hear about the conflict and refugee crisis in DRC and elsewhere. They deserved to stay in their home with their chickens and blue wheelbarrow—and their joy.

YABC: What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2025?

As the Executive Director of I’m Your Neighbor Books, I am looking forward to every single book that diversifies the emerging Immigrant and New Generation genre we track in our database and we curate for schools. libraries, and communities with our Welcoming Libraries.

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

The picture book I keep on my desk is Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna (Flying Eye Books). It tells the story of an immigrant girl (or any girl) grappling with an anxiety that takes the form of a large white protector (and overprotector.) Yaya Gentille loves the photographs by Shelley Rotner of new arrival children in the picture book  Finding Home: Words from Kids Seeking Sanctuary : Kids and Their Words on Displacement (Clarion).

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

Sharing the Pine Project, a free self-led Professional Development created by I’m Your Neighbor Books  for educators. The PD uses the Social Emotional Learning  journeys of the characters in Immigrant and New Generation picture books to help educators explore how race, culture, and the barriers and scaffolding of belonging can be incorporated into their teaching.

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

When Mama watching smoke in the distance says, “Tosengeli kokende!” or “We have to go.” Despite setting out to write about a family forced to leave home, we didn’t want them to leave home.

YABC:    Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

Lolie’s Mana and Papa (like all refugee parents) do what is necessary to keep their children safe,. Their impossible decisions and actions are powered by love. There is a moment in the book, though, where Papa feels powerless. He is confronted with one new thing too many. We struggled with that scene. How to show that his resilience and strength are monumental, but are not available to him at that moment? The daughter he so lovingly raised, though, is able to step in with her strengths. Her strengths are his strengths. Again, illustrator Rahana Dariah captured that moment perfectly, creating a sense of isolation—one man alone in a storm. And, then Lolie, calling out to a broader community (barely visible on the storm) to ask for their strength.

YABC:    What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?

Refugee families are families. The conflicts that affect them are not their doing. The exclusion of refugee families from resettling in a  new home because of vastly insufficient refugee resettlement quotas and/or anti-immigrant political rhetoric and policy, denies families their human right to safety and joy. Denying families refuge may gain some a sense of physical or economic safety, but I wonder what is lost of our common humanity in that process?

YABC:      What would you say is your superpower?

Stubbornness.

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

Working at I’m Your Neighbor Books, my heart is with all of the small and large organizations that protect and support immigrant communities across the globe.

YABC:   What advice do you have for new writers?   

Read the picture book Me and My Fear by Francesca Sanna (Flying Eye Books) and see how letting go of fear and seeing the fear of others can make us each storytellers.

YABC:   Is there anything that you would like to add?

Yaya Gentille gave her heart and brilliance to this book, but will not be appearing in its promotion. Many readers want to know an author’s personal story and connect it with the book. That natural curiosity can be uncomfortable or unwelcome. This story comes from many stories both real and imagined, but it is not  Yaya’s personal story. This story is Lolie’s story.

 

 

 

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