This week, Julie Rowan-Zoch and Beth Anderson celebrate new books at an “old” location; Jessica Rinker has a fiery launch; Hena Khan and Aisha Saeed have an event worth singing about; and two bestselling authors team up for a killer conversation.
'Hare' Be Picture Book Makers
This past Saturday, March 20, Julie Rowan-Zoch (r.) had a sunny launch for her author-illustrator picture book debut, I’m a Hare, So There! (HMH). The socially distanced outdoor signing took place at Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins, Colo., where she works as a bookseller. Fellow Colorado picture book creator Beth Anderson (‘Smelly’ Kelly and His Super Senses) joined Rowan-Zoch to sign copies of their books and share springtime treats with guests.
These Girls Are on Fire
Jessica Rinker (top c.) virtually visited Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Ga., on March 18 to honor her picture book, Send a Girl: The True Story of How Women Joined the FDNY (Bloomsbury), which centers Brenda Berkman and her fight to have women join the FDNY. Decatur’s all-female fire command staff—chief Toni Washington (top r.), deputy chief Vera Morrison (bottom r.), and assistant chief Ninetta Violante (bottom l.)—who compose the only all-female fire command staff in the nation—joined Rinker for a post-reading discussion on the history of women as firefighters, Berkman’s legacy, and their own personal experiences being firefighters.
Hena’s Song
Hosted by Politics & Prose in Washington, D.C., Hena Khan celebrated the release of her latest middle grade novel, Amina’s Song (S&S/Salaam Reads), a standalone follow-up to Amina’s Voice, at a March 10 P&P Live! event. Fellow Pakistani American author Aisha Saeed (Amal Unbound, Puffin) joined Khan for a discussion on Amina’s Song, Khan’s inspiration, the writing process, book playlists, and more. More than 100 guests attended the virtual event.
R.L. Stine Is Back
Lifelong Goosebumps fan and acclaimed author Tiffany Jackson (Grown) joined R.L. Stine (and a special guest) for a ticketed Zoom talk on March 5 presented by the Strand in New York City, in celebration of the latest Goosebumps title, Goosebumps SlappyWorld #13: Monster Blood Is Back (Scholastic). The ticketed-book bundle sold 150 signed copies, and there were around 120 people in the audience—including Jackson’s mother and her elementary school teachers, who came to witness Jackson achieving her childhood dream of speaking with R.L. Stine.
