This week, married illustrators enjoy an in-person launch with surprise guests; a renowned YA author celebrates a week-long launch; an artful affair takes place in NYC; the Boston Book Festival gets dreamy; and an author gets caught signing stock at a bookstore.
Free to Be Me
On November 6, the Brave + Kind Bookshop in Decatur, Ga., hosted an in-person event with married co-illustrators Regis (l.) and Kaharan Bethencourt for the launch of their new picture book The Me I Choose to Be (Little, Brown), written by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley. Many of the models from the book were in attendance as well as surprise guests, including Dr. Yusef Salaam and actor Christine Adams of the TV series Black Lightning.
A ‘Gilded’ Start
The launch of Marissa Meyer’s (r.) Gilded (Feiwel and Friends) started on November 3 with a virtual in-conversation with Danielle Paige (l.) (Dorothy Must Die series), chatting about retellings, writing, and more. The event was hosted by Barnes & Noble. Then on November 4, Meyer participated in a Crowdcast event, hosted by Little Shop of Stories and Schuler. The event featured special guests such as Rebecca Soler (Meyer’s longtime audiobook narrator) and Anna-Marie McLemore, a contributor on Meyer’s upcoming YA anthology, Serendipity.
Keyed In
On November 9, Clavis Publishing hosted a celebration for the winners of its inaugural US Key Colors Competition at the Society of Illustrators in New York City. Gold medalist Amal, author-illustrator of My Key, and Susie Oh, creator of Soomie’s Sweater, discussed their award-winning picture books and their artistic process with moderator Emma Kantor of Publishers Weekly (who served on the Key Colors jury). The panel coincided with the society’s annual Original Art exhibit, featuring illustrations from some of the best U.S. children’s books of the year. Pictured (from l.): Clare Pernice of the Society of Illustrators, Emma Kantor, Susie Oh, Amal, and Carolina Schwarz of Clavis.
Sweet Dream Street
Roxbury natives and cousins—author Tricia Elam Walker (l.) and artist Ekua Holmes (r.)—read from their picture book Dream Street (Random House/Schwartz), a love letter to growing up in Roxbury, at the local Boston Public Library branch reopening. The event took place as part of the Boston Book Festival. Photo: Meg McClafferty.
A Not-So-Secret Signing
Ivy Noelle Weir, author of The Secret Garden on 81st Street: A Modern Retelling of The Secret Garden (Little, Brown), signed stock at Brookline Booksmith in Massachusetts, following her virtual launch event in conversation with the book’s illustrator Amber Padilla and fellow New England author Elly Swartz (Give and Take, Delacorte).
