Tag: kid lit

Q&A with Jenni Holm, author of Turtle in Paradise

August 8, 2021
by Robin Wood
Group of Jennifer Holm's books on a table, including Full of Beans, Turtle in Paradise and Turtle in Paradise: The Graphic Novel


We had the opportunity to meet Jennifer L. Holm, author of Turtle in Paradise, The Lion of Mars, Full of Beans, the Sunny series and the Babymouse series, while she was vacationing in Key West this summer.

Store co-founder Judy Blume and Jennifer Holm outside of Books & Books @ The Studios in Key West
Store co-founder Judy Blume (left) and Jenni Holm

Q: Please tell us a little about how you came to write Turtle in Paradise?

A: My great-grandmother, Jennie Lewin, was a Key West “conch”. Which is to say, she and her family emigrated from the Bahamas and settled in Key West in the late 1800s. I’d always been interested in that side of my family, so it seemed natural to write a book that takes place in Key West.

Q: How did it come to be graphic novel? What do you feel the graphic novel format brings to the story?

A: Fans of Turtle in Paradise had been begging me for years to make it into a graphic novel! I was so fortunate to have Savanna agree to adapt it. I was one of her biggest fans—she illustrated an incredible graphic novel called Bloom, that I absolutely loved.

I think that the graphic novel really helps readers—kids and grown-ups—visualize what Key West looked like during the Great Depression. It makes historic fiction more approachable.

Q: What was the process of creating the graphic novel like? Were you surprised by anything in the look of the book?

A: Savanna just took it and ran with it. Honestly, she did almost all of the work. I helped with the historical research. I was blown away by her interpretation. It feels so fresh. And I love the anime style.

Q: If you don’t mind saying, what are you working on now? What’s coming up next from you?

A: The fourth book in the Sunny series, Sunny Makes a Splash, is coming out in September! And my brother, Matt, and I are working on two new top-secret  Babymouse books. We’re returning to the original graphic novel format with some extra surprises!

Q: What are you reading and recommending? For adults? For kids?

A: I’m reading Home at the End of the World, which is an adult book about Key West. For kids, you should absolutely check out Twins, by Varian Johnson.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about visiting Key West? What’s one thing visitors shouldn’t miss?

A: Wandering down hidden lanes in Old Town, especially around the cemetery. It’s like stepping back into the past. Also, I love El Siboney. It has the most delicious Cuban food (be sure to try the pork!)

If you weren’t able to attend the virtual event featuring Jennifer L. Holm, Savanna Ganucheau and Hope Larson, presented by Books & Books, check out the video:

A Q&A with Holly Goldberg Sloan, co-author of TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH

February 2, 2019
by Robin Wood

Photo credit: Gary A. Rosen

Come meet Holly Goldberg Sloan, co-author of TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH and be among the first people to read her new middle-grade book. Attendees at Holly’s Sunday, February 10, reading and book signing will have the opportunity to get the book two days before its official release.This 2pm store event is free, family friendly and open to the public.

Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of the New York Times bestsellers COUNTING BY 7s and SHORT, has teamed up with Meg Wolitzer, the New York Times-bestselling author of novels for adults and kids, on TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH, a moving, exuberant, laugh-out-loud novel about friendship and family, told entirely in emails and letters. Get to know a little bit about Holly and her new book below and come ready with your own questions.

Q: How did you and Meg Wolitzer come to write this novel together?

A: Meg and I met in Naperville, Illinois at Anderson’s Bookshop’s YA Conference. I thought Meg was so funny, and it wasn’t long before we discovered that we had so many life similarities. We’re both writers married to writers. We both have two sons. We both want to laugh more than anything. Over the course of the next few years, as we sent each other email and text messages, we decided we wanted to write something together. We didn’t know how, exactly. I remember asking my husband, and he said, “Just start by emailing each other.” He meant, for the record, that we should send emails back and forth with ideas, themes and possible outlines. I didn’t understand. I thought he meant I should email Meg as a character. So I did that. The very first email of TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH remains very, very close to that first message! I’m pretty proud of that. We never had an outline. And in fact, I resisted talking much about the story. It was so exciting to not know where it was all going.

Q: What do you hope readers will take away from Avery, Bett and their family?

A: Our book is about two young girls who are trying to navigate the fact that their single fathers are now in a relationship. It’s about identity and family, and it’s funny and, I hope, moving. The big take away, I believe, is one of acceptance. We live in times of great division. If these two girls (and their two dads) can find a way to work things out, there’s hope for us all.

Q: What do you like about writing for middle-grade readers?

A: I think that both Meg and I write stories that interest us. So we don’t target readers so much as we target intriguing characters and stories. I believe that adults will get as much out of TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH as kids.

Q: What are you reading and recommending? For adults? For kids?

I loved EDUCATED, by Tara Westover. And I just finished ASYMMETRY, by Lisa Halliday. I love all of Kate Dicamillo’s books. And Jackie Woodson makes the world go round.

Q: Have you been to Key West before? What are you most looking forward to here?

A: I have never been to Key West and I will visit 15 cities in the next month as Meg and I promote this new novel. Key West is by far the place I’m most excited to see. I have heard that the drive from Miami is epic. I’m ready!

~ Robin Wood, Associate Manager

Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH

January 28, 2019
by Robin Wood

Photo credit: Gary A. Rosen

Sunday, February 10, at 2pm, a reading and book signing with Holly Goldberg Sloan, co-author of TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH. Meet author Holly Goldberg Sloan and get TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH two days before its official release.

Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of the New York Times bestsellers Counting by 7s and Short, has teamed up with Meg Wolitzer, the New York Times-bestselling author of novels for adults and kids, on TO NIGHT OWL FROM DOGFISH, a moving, exuberant, laugh-out-loud novel about friendship and family, told entirely in emails and letters.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Avery Bloom, who’s bookish, intense, and afraid of many things, particularly deep water, lives in New York City. Bett Devlin, who’s fearless, outgoing, and loves all animals as well as the ocean, lives in California. What they have in common is that they are both twelve years old, and are both being raised by single, gay dads.

When their dads fall in love, Bett and Avery are sent, against their will, to the same sleepaway camp. Their dads hope that they will find common ground and become friends – and possibly, one day, even sisters.

But things soon go off the rails for the girls (and for their dads too), and they find themselves on a summer adventure that neither of them could have predicted. Now that they can’t imagine life without each other, will the two girls (who sometimes call themselves Night Owl and Dogfish) figure out a way to be a family?

EARLY PRAISE FOR To Night Owl From Dogfish:

“Featuring a dramatic climax and a host of surprising twists, the novel affirms that families conventional and unconventional are families just the same.” – Publishers Weekly

“The Parent Trap gets a modern makeover in this entertaining and endearing middle-grade novel about two 12-year-old girls, one camp, and a summer that will bond them for a lifetime….A sweet and amusing tale that celebrates diversity while reinforcing the power of love and the importance of family.” – Kirkus