HarperCollins Children’s Books has announced the first-ever Shelf Stuff tour, a multi-author middle grade program kicking off in March. Launched in fall 2018, Shelf Stuff is the publisher’s digital platform for middle grade readers.
The five-city tour will bring together authors Lisa Greenwald (the TBH series), Peter Lerangis (the Max Tilt and Seven Wonders series), and Janae Marks (From the Desk of Zoe Washington) for interactive events with young readers, hosted by various bookstores and schools. Tour stops will feature book-themed game nights, pizza, drinks, prizes, and more. The authors will also visit local schools in each city.
Lerangis, who is touring with his latest series opener, Throwback, told PW, “I came to writing from an acting career, so I love touring and talking to kids. But it’s a pretty solitary experience, so hats off to Harper for this multi-author idea. I can’t wait to talk books with Janae and Lisa in some of my favorite places in the U.S.”
Debut author Marks said, “I’m so honored to be one of the authors for the very first Shelf Stuff tour! I'm excited to visit schools in each city, and the bookstore game nights are going to be a blast! This will be such a special opportunity to connect with readers, and I can’t wait.”
Greenwald added, “I am so excited about the Shelf Stuff tour. I love school visits and the new format for the bookstore events should be amazing. I can’t wait to connect with all of the readers, librarians, teachers and booksellers!”
The tour schedule is as follows:
- March 9: Blue Willow Bookshop (Houston, Tex.)
- March 10: Best of Books (Edmond, Okla.)
- March 11: Anderson’s Bookshop (LaGrange, Ill.)
- March 12: The Novel Neighbor (St. Louis, Mo.)
- March 13: Barnes and Noble (Fairfax, Va.)
HarperCollins also plans to use the multi-author format for future Shelf Stuff tours, with the next one taking off in fall 2020.
