Spotlights on six notable children’s and YA debuts this spring.
Spring 2015 Flying Starts: Becky AlbertalliBecky Albertalli went to her first writing conference in November 2013 in Atlanta, her hometown, because she knew that Brooks Sherman of the Bent Agency was going to be there.
Spring 2015 Flying Starts: Adam Silvera
Years ago, Adam Silvera gave himself the goal of becoming a published writer before he turned 25. He made it, but just barely. His debut novel, More Happy Than Not (Soho Teen), was initially scheduled for fall 2015 publication.
Spring 2015 Flying Starts: Meg HuntWhen Chronicle Children’s Books design director Kristine Brogno called artist Meg Hunt in June 2013 to ask whether she wanted to illustrate Interstellar Cinderella, written by Deborah Underwood, Hunt was delighted—but she had to tell Brogno that she was too busy to start on it.
Spring 2015 Flying Starts: David ArnoldAfter years as a freelance musician, becoming a stay-at-home dad afforded David Arnold, author of Mosquitoland (Viking, Mar.), time to agonize over what direction he wanted to take his career.
Spring 2015 Flying Starts: I.W. GregorioI was an utter bookworm growing up, a book-a-day reader,” says I.W. Gregorio (the pen name of Pennsylvania surgeon Ilene Wong).
Spring 2015 Flying Starts: Jessixa BagleyThe story of a beaver who casts driftwood boats to sea for his absent father came to author-illustrator Jessixa Bagley in a “lightning bolt” of inspiration.
