This week, Jennifer E. Smith talks about her new book with Lauren Graham; Patricia Hruby Powell and Shadra Strickland discuss the civil rights case that inspired their book; David A. Kelly catches spring fever; and Debbie Ridpath Ohi is surrounded by a sea of fans.
A Meeting of Minds
Jennifer E. Smith (r.) celebrated the publication of her new YA romance, Windfall, at Barnes & Noble The Grove in Los Angeles on May 2. Joining Smith was actress and author Lauren Graham. Smith, a former Ballantine editor, left publishing to focus on writing YA books, but continues to work closely with Graham as her editor. The two spoke about the writing process, their editor-author relationship, and how much they admire one another’s work.
A Landmark Occasion
Patricia Hruby Powell (center l.) and illustrator Shadra Strickland (center r.) spoke about their book, Loving vs. Virginia: A Documentary Novel of the Landmark Civil Rights Case, at the Coolidge Auditorium of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress on May 3. Joining them on stage to talk about the Loving case was Deborah D. Taylor (far l.), coordinator of school and student services at the Enoch Pratt Public Library; and Elizabeth Hayes Patterson (far r.), associate director at the Association of American Law Schools. The event was organized by Karen Jaffe, director of the Young Readers Center at the Library of Congress.
In the Ballpark
Author David A. Kelly visited a Little League field in Sandwich, Mass., for the launch of the new book in his Ballpark Mysteries series, The Capital Catch (Random House), on April 30. Kelly greeted and signed books for 450 Little League baseball players who came to the field for Opening Day ceremonies. The books were provided by Titcomb’s Bookshop in East Sandwich, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
All Together Now!
Author Aaron Reynolds and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi recently wrapped up their April tour for their new picture book Sea Monkey & Bob (Simon & Schuster). While in Decatur, Ga., Ohi shared a big moment with students from the Friends School of Atlanta.
