Author Interviews – Page 3

Choir Grrrl: An Interview with Author Ashley Granillo

Sing it loud, sing it proud! In Choir Grrrl, thirteen-year-old Alondra was born into a musical family; her dad, former frontman of an alt-rock band, has taught her and her sisters to follow in his footsteps. Despite secretly liking quieter music, Alondra is committed to the band she and her sisters have formed. But when a classmate recruits her for a choir group, Alondra rediscovers her love of singing and making music. Afraid to upset the delicate balance in her family, she covertly practices with the choir between shows with the band—until her secrets are exposed. Can she bring the different parts of her life into harmony?

Musician and author Ashley Granillo joins us today to share her inspiration behind Alondra’s struggles, her favorite bands, and more. And if you’re looking for an encore, keep reading to download the free discussion guide!

Author Interviews

Rules for Liars: An Interview with Author Debra Garfinkle

Rebecca is overwhelmed by the pressure of preparing for her bat mitzvah while grieving the loss of her mother and dealing with growing insecurity. Her friendship with Hailey is fraying, leaving Rebecca to find comfort in her dog, Meatball. Meanwhile, Nikki’s family has lost their home, forcing them to move into a smaller, less glamorous apartment. Nikki hides her financial struggles by lying to her old friends, even stealing money to maintain appearances. As their paths cross, Rebecca and Nikki form a deep, unexpected bond. Funny, fast-paced, and heartfelt, Rules for Liars is about making mistakes, asking for second chances, and discovering the truth is worth telling.

Today author Debra Garfinkle spills all the secrets including her favorite part of writing books, what it was like working with April Patten, and more!

Author Interviews

A Home on the Page: An Interview with Author Kao Kalia Yang

Award-winning author Kao Kalia Yang and dynamic illustrator Seo Kim team up once more to create the heartfelt picture book A Home on the Page. In this story, young Nou finds the hateful message “Asians Go Home” spray-painted outside on her family’s mailbox. She starts to wonder where home truly is. Family members share how they find home, and Nou begins writing stories, creating a place where she belongs.

Today author Kao Kalia Yang joins us to share what writing this picture book meant to her and how it felt to team up with Seo Kim who illustrated her first book A Map into the World.

Author Interviews

Lullabies for the Insomniacs: An Interview with Author Ella Grace Foutz

In Lullabies for the Insomniacs: A Memoir in Verse, Ella Grace Foutz weaves an intimate and gripping chronicle of her experience with mental illness. Amidst the turbulence of manic and depressive episodes, often accompanied by insomnia, she relentlessly pursues stability and self-understanding. Balancing poignancy with moments of levity, Foutz invites the reader along for her journey as she navigates the complex terrain of mental health to forge her path forward.

Today Ella Grace Foutz joins us to share her journey as a writer, the beginning stages of her memoir, and more.

Author Interviews

The Writing Room: An Interview with Author Marcia Argueta Mickelson

The Writing Room is a slice-of-life coming-of-age story that gracefully addresses larger themes of immigration, economic disparity, and familial struggles. Immediately after high school graduation, eighteen-year-old Maya is kicked out of her wealthy dad’s NYC home.
She struggles to find her footing until she gets access to a “writing room,” a shared workspace where she can focus—and get to know the intriguing neighbor, Jake, who’s often there. When she discovers her dad is bankrolling a virulently anti-immigrant candidate for governor, Maya―the daughter of an immigrant―realizes she can’t continue quietly accepting his choices. She’ll have to take a stand, using the voice she’s found in the writing room.

Award-winning author Marcia Argueta Mickelson joins us today to share why she loves writing stories, how real life inspires her work, and more. Read on to download a free discussion guide to spark conversation after reading.

Author Interviews

So Rude!: An Interview with Author Jessica Fries-Gaither

Humans have rules for how to behave, but sometimes animals need to break those rules to survive. So Rude!: Animals Behaving Badly introduces seven human behavior rules and the animals that break them! Scarlet kingsnakes lie; they pretend to be venomous coral snakes to scare off predators. And hippos make a mess; they spray waste to defend their territories.

Today author Jessica Fries-Gaither joins us to share why she writes about animals, how she chose the creatures she featured, and her biggest pet peeve.

Author Interviews

Absolutely Everything: An Interview with Author Damian Alexander

Lately, life feels like a lot for Marcella. Sixth grade seems complicated on purpose. She keeps forgetting her homework or getting distracted while she’s doing it. Plus, her bestie has new friends, and her parents even want to move apartments. She’s trying to keep track of the changes—but absolutely everything is stressing her out! Absolutely Everything is a funny, thoughtful graphic novel about growing up, ADHD, and focusing on what makes you who you are.

Today author Damian Alexander joins us to share what inspired him to create this story, why he chose the graphic novel format, and more. Read on to find more interviews and exclusive previews!

Author Interviews

Arm in Arm: An Interview with Author Angelica Shirley Carpenter

As historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich said, “Well-behaved women seldom make history,” and the Grimké sisters were anything but well-behaved. Born into a family of enslavers in the South, Sarah Grimké and Angelina Grimké Weld were some of the first women to speak out about abolition and women’s rights. Arm in Arm: The Grimké Sisters’ Fight for Abolition and Women’s Rights explores the mostly forgotten lives of these complex women leaders.

Today author Angelica Shirley Carpenter joins us to share her source of inspiration for this YA nonfiction, her research process, and some of the most surprising finds.

Author Interviews

Wild Song: An Interview with Author Candy Gourlay

In 1904, sixteen-year-old Luki travels from the US-controlled Philippines to the World’s Fair in Saint Louis, Missouri, where she discovers a wider world. But even as Luki makes friends and discovers intriguing things, she learns dangerous secrets and difficult truths. Facing pressures from all sides, she must decide what kind of future she wants after the fair. Wild Song is Luki’s personal journey of self-discovery set against a little-known, but pivotal moment in US. history.

Today author Candy Gourlay joins us to share her own writing journey and what the story meant to her. Read on to download the free teaching guide to accompany the text!