October new releases, virtual events, and all-around great news 📚
Staying Creative, Inspired, and Resilient
A huge challenge for writers, illustrators, and any creator these days is staying inspired and continuing to create. The news is oppressive and scary: Black people being killed by those who are supposed to protect them, a leader who bullies instead of leading, voter suppression, abusive immigration policies, out-of-control wildfires, and a deep fear that the U.S. democratic system is collapsing. And wait — I nearly forgot the worldwide pandemic that is taking lives, keeping people out of work, and forcing us apart (and turning some of our children into anxious, Minecraft/Roblox-playing zombies).
If you skipped that introduction, I don’t blame you. You didn’t need to read about it — you’re living it. So, what to do if you still need/want to create? Here are 20 things that have helped me or fellow creators.
Connect with Soaring '20s Creators Via Virtual Events
Don't miss your chance to connect with the Soaring '20s at these virtual events.
Oct. 15 at noon Eastern, Lindsay Metcalf (NO VOICE TOO SMALL) will present “Nine Poets at Noon,” at the Charlesbridge booth at the School Library Journal Day of Dialog. Then at 1:40 Eastern, join NoNieqa Ramos (YOUR MAMA) for the "We Are Family" panel from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Oct. 16th at 10:20 a.m. Pacific, Isabella Kung (NO FUZZBALL!) will be doing an illustration demo as part of Kidquake.
Angela Kunkel (DIGGING FOR WORDS) is hosting a virtual storytime at Belmont Books Saturday, Oct. 17th at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Oct. 17th at 7 p.m. Eastern, bedtime story event with Carrie Finison (DOZENS OF DOUGHNUTS) and Abi Cushman (SOAKED!) at Wellesley Books.
On Oct. 20th at 7 p.m. Pacific, Kirsten Larson (WOOD, WIRE, WINGS) will appear on the Women Who Write panel to talk writing craft as part of Bakersfield's One Book Project.
Oct. 21st at 11 a.m. Pacific, Isabella Kung (NO FUZZBALL!) will present a mini-workshop with Etchr on different watercolor techniques.
Oct. 23rd at 2 p.m. Eastern, Lindsay Metcalf will participate in the NO VOICE TOO SMALL virtual event at Politics & Prose.
Oct. 29th at 4 p.m. Eastern, Lindsay Metcalf will participate in the “From Oral History to Published Book,” Spark Talk at Kansas Librarian Association annual conference.
On Nov. 13th Jen Malia (TOO STICKY!) will present “My Storytelling as an Autistic Author and Advocate” at the 10th Annual Southwest Washington Autism Conference.
Nov. 14th at 11 a.m. Eastern Lindsay Metcalf will participate in a Virtual Storytime with the Creators of NO VOICE TOO SMALL at Cover to Cover bookstore.
New Book Covers
Don't forget, you can see all our covers and preorder on our website.
📣 New book deals 📚
Soaring '20s in the news and on the road
Joana Pastro (LILLYBELLE: A DAMSEL NOT IN DISTRESS) has appeared on Vivian Kirkfield's blog, Laura Lovie's blog, Critter Lit and KidLit411.
Keith and Larissa Marantz revealed the next installment in their Clyde the Hippo series, CLYDE WANTS TO RIDE.
Isabella Kung did a live watercolor demo on Etchr. You can catch the replay here. And her NO FUZZBALL! was spotted in the 360° Virtual Scholastic Book Fair.
NO VOICE TO SMALL (Lindsay Metcalf) appeared in The Providence Journal and got a shoutout on Pod Is a Woman podcast. Poet Nikki Grimes read her poem from the book on the Flipgrid panel, "Race, Equity, and Justice: Empowering your students to be voices of change.” And the virtual launch party for the book featuring DJ Annie Red and hosted by an Unlikely Story was a huge success.
Watch the replay of the Beatrix Potter author event with Lindsay Metcalf, Junyi Wu—author and illustrator of BEATRIX POTTER, SCIENTIST—and Linda Marshall, author of SAVING THE COUNTRYSIDE, hosted by Mainstreet Books in St. Charles, Mo., and the St. Charles City-County Library.
Rajani LaRocca's SEVEN GOLDEN RINGS received a starred review from Booklist, which called it a "charming folk tale." Celebrate with Rajani as she unboxes the book. She's also guested on Picture Book Buzz, Pragmatic Mom (plus giveaway!), and Tara Lazar's blog (plus giveaway!) and launched a new podcast: STEM Women in Kidlit! The first episode featured fellow Soaring '20s author Vicky Fang.
And speaking of Vicky Fang, she launched her I CAN CODE board books. Her chapter book, Layla and the Bots, made the Forbes list of recommended fall books. And her FRIENDBOTS early reader graphic novel was featured by Harper Collins in their rollout of the new line.
Greg Barrington (COW BOY IS NOT A COWBOY) revealed the adorable book trailer for his book.
Angela Kunkel's DIGGING FOR WORDS was part of the Bixby Library's first story walk. The book also was featured in Colorado Parent Magazine and on KidsVT. The Spanish version appeared in the Children's Book Council's Fall showcase.
Susan Kusel and Sean Rubin unveiled the cover of THE PASSOVER GUEST on School Library Journal's 100 Scope Notes.
Kirsten Larson's WOOD, WIRE, WINGS was featured in Voices of the Past: Nonfiction reads for all ages from World News Group.
Jen Malia (TOO STICKY!) presented “10 Top Tips for Getting Published as a Children’s Book Author” at the Writer Moms Conference for Writer Moms, Inc.
SATURDAYS ARE FOR STELLA (Candy Wellins) was featured on the Picture Book Builders blog.
Kelly Baptist's middle-grade novel, ISAIAH DUNN IS MY HERO was reviewed by the New York Times. And the cover for her picture book, THE ELECTRIC SLIDE AND KAI, appeared on Here We Read.
NoNieqa Ramos (YOUR MAMA) interviewed author Yamile Saied Méndez for the Virginia Festival of Books. And she will be a part of the NFA High School Libraries Virtual Book Club.
Watch author Anna Crowley Redding unveil her next picture book, CHOWDER RULES.
Jasmyn Wright (I'M GONNA PUSH THROUGH) kicked off the International Literacy Association Next conference.
Christina Soontornvat launched her middle-grade nonfiction ALL THIRTEEN, which has multiple starred reviews.
Julie Rowan-Zoch's LOUIS was featured as one of Amazon's editors' top books for ages 3 to 5.
