This week, Kalynn Bayron has a fairytale launch; Rachel Lynn Solomon reads to an unusual listener; Paige McKenzie and Nancy Ohlin have a bewitching conversation; and Rob Sanders celebrates a new book.

Black Girl Magic

On July 7, Kalynn Bayron (bottom r.) celebrated her YA fantasy debut Cinderella Is Dead (Bloomsbury) in a digital event hosted by Loyalty Bookstore, located in Washington, D.C., and Silver Springs, Md. Bayron spoke with CAKE Literary co-founder and author Dhonielle Clayton (top l.) (The Belles series), People of Color in Publishing founder and literary agent Patrice Caldwell (top r.) (editor of A Phoenix First Must Burn and the forthcoming Eternally Yours), and Loyalty Bookstore owner Hannah Oliver Depp (bottom l.). The foursome discussed Bayron’s debut, as well as fantasy novels, centering Black female characters, and more.

That’s Just the Way We Troll

Rachel Lynn Solomon (Today Tonight Tomorrow, Simon Pulse) recently paid a visit to the Fremont Troll, a public sculpture in Seattle. Pictured here, Solomon reads the Troll an excerpt of her forthcoming YA rom-com, which follows two academic rivals who explore Seattle together as part of a senior class sendoff game—and find themselves inadvertently growing closer as the night goes on. The famous Troll makes a cameo in the novel.

Waking the Witch

On July 7, Paige McKenzie (top l.) and Nancy Ohlin (bottom l.) launched B*Witch (Little, Brown) with the help of Powell’s Books in Portland, Ore. In an online conversation with E. Latimer (top r.) (Witches of Ash and Ruin), the trio discussed the timelessness of witches, their co-writing process, and inclusivity, followed by a q&a from audience members.

Raising the Bar(n)

Last month, the Writing Barn, a workshop and writing retreat center in Austin, Tex., threw a virtual release party for The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D. J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldier (Little Bee) by Rob Sanders and #OwnVoices illustrator Nabi Ali. Anthony Ramos, head of talent at GLAAD, the LGBTQ+ media advocacy organization, introduced the event. Author Bethany Hegedus, creative director of the Writing Barn, then moderated a discussion between Sanders and Ali.