This month, a debut writer appeared on a radio show to discuss her new picture book; a book launch took its inspiration from a pivotal high school ritual; a YA novelist went virtual for her launch event; an author celebrated her bilingual picture book release; a picture book paid tribute to a legendary writer; and an author spotted her own advertising.


On Air with an Author

Lisa Gerin discussed her debut picture book Rosalind Looked Closer: An Unsung Hero of Molecular Science (Beaming Books) on Arizona Public Media on September 7. The picture book details the life of molecular scientist Rosalind Franklin, tracing her childhood in London to her college career in Cambridge, and her discoveries that changed the world of science.


Prom Night

Attendees celebrating Tiffany D. Jackson’s new Carrie-inspired YA horror novel The Weight of Blood arrived at Columbia High School in Decatur, Ga., dressed to the nines for a prom-themed event. Jackson (center) partnered with local bookstore Brave + Kind Bookshop to discuss her new book with authors Nic Stone (r.) and Mark Oshiro (l.) on September 9.


A Digital Debut

Zoulfa Katouh marked the release of her debut YA novel As Long as The Lemon Trees Grow with a virtual event hosted by Washington, D.C., bookstore Politics & Prose on September 13. Katouh (r.) appeared in conversation with fellow YA author Sabaa Tahir about the book’s reflections of the Syrian war, the representation of Muslim stories in young adult literature, and what she plans to write next.


Picture Book Series Give a Scare

On September 10, the South Street Seaport location of McNally Jackson Books welcomed Susie Jaramillo, co-founder and CEO of storyteaching app Encantos, for her event kicking off her picture book series Skeletina and the In-Between World and its Spanish-language edition Skeletina y el Entremundo (Roaring Brook). Jaramillo held a read-aloud of the book in both languages, shared how her dreams and nightmares inspired the story.


Hurston Tales for Kids

Detroit indie bookstore Source Booksellers partnered with youth programming organization Class Act Detroit to host Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on his book tour promoting his Zora Neale Hurston-inspired picture book Magnolia Flower (HarperCollins), illustrated by Loveis Wise. On September 11, Kendi held a conversation with Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas about the picture book adaptation of the Zora Neale Hurston story by the same name.


Posing with a Poster

Author Karen M. McManus appeared in front of advertising touting all of her books in the Boston area for the release of her YA mystery, Nothing More to Tell (Delacorte). In her latest release, 17-year-old Brynn returns to the scene of a murder at her previous prep school determined to catch the killer, even if it may be one of her former friends.