Author Interviews – The Lerner Blog

Hmong: An Interview with Author and Illustrator Vicky Lyfoung

Hmong: A Graphic History retraces the account of a vibrant Asian ethnic group, blending rich documentation and personal stories. Long oppressed, the Hmong struggle to preserve their traditions and way of life in a homeland torn by war and strife. Their history is closely linked to France, which colonized Indochina in 1893 and for whom the Hmong worked tirelessly, first as opium suppliers and then as soldiers. With great sensitivity and humor, author Vicky Lyfoung tells the story of these people through the lens of her own family.

Vicky joins us today to share why she chose to write this story as her debut, why the comic book format fits so perfectly, and the challenges she faced while crafting the story. Read on to discover early artwork and an exclusive peek at the finished book!

Author Interviews

When It’s Your Turn for Midnight: An Interview with Author Blessing Musariri

What would you do if everything you believed about your life began to unravel? In When It’s Your Turn for Midnight, author Blessing Musariri explores identity, family secrets, and the quiet strength it takes to face the truth, all set against the rich cultural backdrop of Zimbabwe.

In this interview, Blessing shares the personal and cultural inspirations behind the novel, the emotional journey of her main character, and how themes of community, resilience, and self-discovery shape this powerful story.

Author Interviews

The Real Rosalind: An Interview with Authors Debbie Loren Dunn and Janet Fox

For years, Rosalind Franklin’s name has lingered in the background of one of science’s greatest discoveries, but her full story has remained largely untold. In The Real Rosalind, authors Debbie Loren Dunn and Janet Fox bring her out of the margins and into focus, revealing a scientist whose work, curiosity, and determination extended far beyond DNA.

Today, Debbie and Janet join us to share what surprised them most in their research, how they uncovered Rosalind’s life through rare archival materials, and why they felt compelled to tell the story of a woman whose contributions shaped science in ways many still don’t fully recognize.

Author Interviews

What Good Is a Dead Tree?: An Interview with Author Doug Wechsler

What happens when a tree falls and begins to decay? In What Good Is a Dead Tree?: A Science Mystery, author and photographer Doug Wechsler reveals the hidden world inside a rotting log, where insects, fungi, and other organisms work together to recycle nutrients and sustain the forest.

Today, Doug joins us to share what inspired this fascinating deep dive into decomposition, his process for capturing nature up close, and the discoveries that made this story come alive.

Author Interviews

Whose Tree Is This?: An Interview with Author Marilyn Singer

From the tallest leaf to the buried roots, the oak tree provides food and shelter for many creatures. Whose Tree Is This?: Poems About the Mighty Oak and Its Companions takes readers on a poetic tour from the perspective of thirteen animals to discover the ways oaks benefit them and the environment.

Today award-winning author Marilyn Singer joins us to share her experience writing this new picture book, why she finds oaks so fascinating, and more!

Author Interviews

Red Stones: An Interview with Author and Illustrator Ernesto Saade

In 1981, the Salvadoran Civil War reached Miriam’s village of Santa Marta. In 2021, Ernesto Saade visited to hear her story. Red Stones: A Graphic Account of the Salvadoran Civil War chronicles the conflict and displacement of the Red Stones massacre with nuance and care.

Today author and illustrator Ernesto Saade joins us to explore his work, his inspirations, and his favorite comic book creators. Read on to see exclusive sketches and early art from the creation of Red Stones.

Author Interviews

Wild Mountain Ivy: An Interview with Author Shannon Hitchcock

COVID changed the lives of so many young people and many are still recovering. In Wild Mountain Ivy twelve-year-old Ivy is still sick months after catching a common virus. Hoping a change of scenery will help, she’s spending the summer in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, where her uncle has converted an old house into a bed and breakfast. There she starts dreaming about another sick girl, Jessie, who lived in the same house a century ago. As Ivy delves into the history of the house, hoping to find out what happened to Jessie, she makes other discoveries that turn her summer in the mountains into a new beginning.

Today, author Shannon Hitchcock joins us to talk about how Wild Mountain Ivy came to be and how her debut novel The Ballad of Jessie Pearl ties into the story. Read on to download a free discussion guide!

Author Interviews

The Ocean’s Heart: An Interview with Author Jilanne Hoffman

Every night zooplankton race to the ocean’s surface to feed on tiny plants called phytoplankton, creating the largest migration of animals on Earth. The Ocean’s Heart: The Tiny Creatures Essential to Life by Jilanne Hoffmann and illustrated by Khoa Le takes readers on an unforgettable journey as these zooplankton bring nutrients from the surface down into the depths, helping to nourish the many larger animals that prey on them.

Today Jilanne Hoffmann joins us to share why she writes science books for children, how she discovered the zooplankton’s migration, and why the zooplankton are so important.

Author Interviews

Béisbol Begins: An Interview with Author Ramon Olivera

Ramon Olivera hits it out of the park with Béisbol Begins: How Nemesio Guilló Brought Baseball to Cuba! This picture book biography follows Nemesio as he travels from his home in Havana, Cuba, to a school in Alabama and falls in love with baseball. When he returned in 1864, he brought a baseball bat in his luggage and began teaching others how to play the game.

Today author and illustrator Ramon Olivera shares what surprised him the most during his research, his favorite baseball teams, and more!