LAURA G: The trope of girl-dressed-as-boy has historical precedence from Shakespeare to Tolkien. Usually the crossdressing heroine makes her choice after suffocating under the pressures of being a woman: marriage, etiquette, etc. The same is certainly true of Maia who dreams of becoming a tailor yet is held back by her gender. Why did you choose to incorporate this into your story? Why do you think it’s a theme we return to time and again?
I first came across Crown of Feathers back in October and let me tell you, it has been so difficult to wait for it to hit shelves! I read the book in one day, completely engrossed in the world building and characters. I am so thrilled I was able to interview the author, Nicki Pau Preto, about her gorgeous story of sisterhood, deception, and betrayal.
Kate Gavino is a writer and illustrator from Houston. She is the creator of the website, Last Night’s Reading, which was compiled into a published collection by Penguin Books in 2015. She was recently named one of Brooklyn Magazine’s 30 Under 30. Now, she is working in Paris. Kate and I got together to discuss her forthcoming graphic novel, SANPAKU, which comes out on August 21st.
Keaton: In your two previous novels, THE BLOOD OF HEAVEN and SECESSIA, you immersed us in the dark, convoluted history of the Gulf Coast. But those works hewed closely to the human story of the region--its wars and unruly frontier, the stain of slavery. In THE NEW INHERITORS, you expand your perspective way beyond and put the natural history of the Gulf front and center to the point that it at times even supersedes the human narrative. How did you come to approach such an expansion of time and scope?
The world-famous Waldo comes to Houston in July and will be hiding out in 22 local businesses all month (starting July 1). Drop into any of the locations to pick up your Find Waldo Passport and get it stamped every time you find him. Once you have collected ten stamps, you can come to Brazos Bookstore and get a “I Found Waldo!” button and $1 off coupon for any of the Where’s Waldo books we have on display.
I first had the privilege of meeting Brendan Kiely in Fall 2016 at the Young Adult Literature Conference hosted by Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, Illinois, just south of Chicago, where we were both speaking. I had read his ALL AMERICAN BOYS, which he co-wrote with Jason Reynolds and which deftly explores racism and police violence in America. Like everyone else, I was in awe of this book and its authors. Kiely himself was funny and humble and kind and a million other adjectives that basically boil down to awesome human being.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Nafkote Tamirat for her amazing debut novel The Parking Lot Attendant, a suspenseful thriller that takes place on an island where the unnamed narrator and her father are living with a cult. She traces backward to the mysterious circumstances and interactions with enigmatic Ayale, parking lots, and the Ethiopian-American culture in Boston that led them to their current situation.
We give out a LOT of bookmarks here at Brazos, and we are always looking for new ideas for their design. This spring we’re asking kids to lend their artistic expertise to our annual Bookmark Contest! Download the official entry form here and return it to the store by Sunday, April 29, 2018. We’ll announce the winners at our summer reading kickoff party on Saturday, June 2nd at 2pm!
I first met author Anna Meriano through author and friend of the store Caroline Leech, who couldn’t sing Anna’s praises loud enough. So I’ve been eagerly anticipating Anna’s debut middle grade fantasy, LOVE SUGAR MAGIC, which is out now and garnering lots of wonderful starred reviews! We are all doubly delighted to be able to host the LOVE SUGAR MAGIC Houston Launch Party on Friday 1/12 at 7 PM. It’s going to be a blast.
