This week brought a chance encounter with a childhood hero; a week-long discussion of retellings of well-known tales; and a graphic novel, all-star event celebrating friendship.
New Love Blumes
On November 11, associate director of publicity at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Siena Koncsol (r.) had a star sighting during her honeymoon in Key West, Fla. Siena visited Books & Books at the Studios on Eaton St. with her husband, who snapped a photo of the proud publicist with one of her childhood heroes—and co-founder of the bookstore—Judy Blume (l.), just after they purchased some books. Photo: Dan Ried.
Once Upon a Twist
From November 29–December 3, Fierce Reads hosted a series via TikTok Live called Fierce Retellings, highlighting authors who’ve written reimaginings of classic tales. Bookselling partners were The Novel Neighbor and Brain Lair Books. The series was hosted by (top) Aiden Thomas (Cemetery Boys), and featured (bottom) Marissa Meyer (Gilded), Alexandra Christo (To Kill a Kingdom), L.L. McKinney (the Nightmare-Verse series), Lyndall Clipstone (Lakesedge), and Margaret Owen (Little Thieves).
Friends Forever
On Monday, December 6, collaborators Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham were joined in an all-star virtual event by friends and fellow creators Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese), Jen Wang (Stargazing), and Jerry Craft (New Kid). Hosted by An Unlikely Story, each guest alternated joining (clockwise from top l.) LeUyen, moderator Kym Havens, and Hale onscreen for about 15 minutes. Craft spoke on his sixth grade experiences referencing Best Friends, then Yang spoke about eighth grade and Friends Forever, and Wang joined to share stories from elementary school, referencing Real Friends. Pham also did a live drawing of each guest during the event, which culminated in an enthusiastic and engaged audience q&a with all of the graphic novelists.
