Recently, local Minnesotan authors came together in solidarity for a strike, an author gave a reading for her own students, authors discussed book bans at a conference, and an Olympian joined an author for an event.
Using Your Voice
Minnesota children’s book author Bao Phi organized “My Outside Voice,” a virtual storytime on January 23, bringing together local children’s authors for a read-aloud session held in solidarity with the state-wide strike against ICE. An estimated 200 guests tuned in to hear from participating authors (clockwise from top l.) Molly Beth Griffin, Stephen Shaskan, Trisha Speed Shaskan, Bao Phi, Kao Kalia Yang, and Monica Rojas.
Hometown Hero
On January 13, author and teacher Megan Davidhizar celebrated the launch of her YA thriller, Gaslit (Delacorte), with an event at the school where she teaches, hosted by Fables Books. The novel follows teen Ella, who is forced to choose which of her babysitting charges to rescue during a gas leak, and faces lies that come up in the subsequent investigation. Students at Fairfield Junior–Senior High School in Goshen, Ind., were treated to a presentation by Davidhizar (r.) who was in conversation with local writer Kayla Rundquist (l.) and answered questions from students.
Banned But Never Broken
On January 17 at the SCBWI 2026 Winter Conference, (from l.) moderator Lesa Cline-Ransome and authors Tiffany D. Jackson, A.S. King, Meg Medina, and Jason Reynolds took the stage for “Banned But Not Silenced: Authors Tell Their Stories,” a panel highlighting their experiences with censorship.
Hit the Ice
On January 14, author-illustrator Sarah S. Brannen made an appearance at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Mass., for the launch of her picture book Lolly on the Ice (Random House). In the book, titular ice skater Lolly learns to face her stage fright. Brannen was joined by 2018 Olympic figure skater Mirai Nagasu, who won a bronze medal for the U.S. in the team event, to talk all things ice skating.
