Dis net vel, my pel!
Bait the Toad
Author Q&A: Pearl of the Sea, Part 2
And we’re back! We rejoin the Pearl of Sea team in part two of our Q&A. Missed part one? Check it out here to get all caught up. We’ll wait….
Now that that’s all set, let’s jump back in to the conversation with the writers and illustrators of our newest graphic novel, Pearl of the Sea. Pearl joins a host of new and forthcoming releases as part of Panel & Page, our series of graphic novels for readers of all ages. You’ll be hearing a lot more about other books in the series in the coming months.
In part two of our conversation, Anthony, Raffaella, and Willem discuss the process of bringing words and images together, their love of comics books, and how their new book shows “the importance of opening up and not being scared of showing our vulnerabilities.”
Author Q&A: Pearl of the Sea, Part 1
At the end of January, we finally get to share Pearl of the Sea with the world—an absolutely stunning middle-grade graphic novel about a young South African girl who meets a sea monster while abalone poaching. Everyone at Catalyst has loved working with Pearl of the Sea’s incredible creative team—Anthony Silverston, Raffaella Delle Donne, and Willem Samuel of Cape Town’s renowned Triggerfish Animation Studio—to bring this book to global readers, and it’s been such a treat to receive such amazing reviews in the months leading up to its release. If you haven’t already, make sure to pre-order your copy right now, or check out the book in stores January 31st (or March 1st for readers in South Africa).
Today, I have the immense privilege of introducing you to Anthony, Raffaella and Willem as we chat about the making of this remarkable graphic novel. Let’s dive in!
It’s Just Skin, Silly!
Love the Great Outdoors? Try These #ReadingAfrica Nature Reads!
#ReadingAfrica means opening up your reading to include a wide array of voices, thought, and genre. And it can also mean learning more about the plants and animals that make the continent so special. When we connect to the stories of the land, it helps us understand exactly what we’re protecting, and why it’s so vital we do.
We asked one of our favorite conservationists, David Muirhead, author of Cat Among the Pigeons, the first release from our science-themed Powers Squared imprint, to share some of his favorite science and nature books for #ReadingAfrica Week. As David explains, “These are books that have always stood out from the herd.”
Continue reading “Love the Great Outdoors? Try These #ReadingAfrica Nature Reads!”
This Week in Literary News: Week of March 8
Our weekly round-up of literary news here at Catalyst and beyond, is brought to you by our intern Naomi Valenzuela. Naomi is from Phoenix, Arizona and El Paso, Texas, and is majoring in Creative Writing and minoring in English & American Literature at the University of Texas, El Paso, with plans of working in the publishing business after graduation.
Catalyst’s own David Muirhead (Cat Among the Pigeons) has had a poem read by the AVBOB poetry project, an annual poetry contest open to South African Citizens. Listen to the poem here.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Read it Forward has a list of books written by women journalists, who are still underrepresented in the field.
In Greece’s refugee camps, literature is being used to comfort those in hard times. The Echo mobile library is a minivan filled with books that are lent out to the children and adults at these camps read more about this good deed at The Guardian.
If you’re near the Brooklyn area over the summer and want to learn more about digital publishing, Electric Literature is looking for interns who believe in their mission to make literature more relevant, exciting, and inclusive!
At BBC, there’s an opinion piece about authors writing the stories of those who are different from themselves in fiction and the worries of cultural appropriation.
Related to this topic, NPR has an article and podcast on Grace Halsell’s 1969 book Soul Sister, and the limits of empathy.
Over on LitHub, they have the lists of the finalists for the 2020 Lambda Literary awards, which showcase works that celebrate or explore LGBT+ topics.
Brittle Paper takes a deeper look into the 2020 Lambda awards, acknowledging the representation given to writers from Africa and the Caribbean.
Amidst the chaos around the globe, self-help books about silence and minimalism are becoming more popular among people. Read more about it on the Washington Post.
February New Releases
Another great month of releases here at Catalyst! This month, we’ve got something for the science-lover and for young readers. Both books are available now at your favorite booksellers and right here at our website!
Cat Among the Pigeons by David Muirhead. This collection of short, humorous essays is the first release from our science-focused Powers Squared imprint and a must-have for the animal-lover in your life. Ever wonder why vervet monkeys enjoy an after-dinner drink? (Vervet monkeys. They’re just like us!) Or what Shakespeare thought of hedgehogs (Spoiler: not much)? Or why rain frogs need a rainy day to get, um, romantic? (Hope you had a very rainy Valentine’s Day, rain frogs!) You’ll find out in David’s collection that blends the science, history, and myth of an assortment of African animals. The book also features illustrations by Patricia de Villiers. Cat Among the Pigeons is out now. Learn more about David in this Q&A.
And Small Mercies, the debut middle-grade novel from Bridget Krone. Bridget’s novel about finding your voice and standing up for what’s right has been earning her a lot of praise. She’s earned a starred review from Kirkus who called the book “sensitive, funny, and tender”; School Library Journal praised the book as “a heartfelt, human, and wise addition to middle grade shelves”; and author Kathi Appelt writes, “You will not leave the pages of this book without feeling somehow smarter and wiser and kinder.” The book is also out now in the UK! Learn more about Bridget in this Q&A, and to keep up with her writing, events, news, and more, check out her website: www.bridgetkrone.com
Q&A with David Muirhead
This year, we’re excited to publish the first release from our science-focused Powers Squared imprint. The books released under the Powers Squared banner will feature fun, accessible science writing with an eye on global events that will appeal to a diverse group of readers.
Our first release is a fun one: Cat Among the Pigeons by David Muirhead. This collection of short essays features the science, myth, and folklore behind a host of African animals. Featuring illustrations by Patricia de Villiers, Cat Among the Pigeons is a look at the creatures we share the world with, told with a bit of humor and whimsy. Sy Montgomery, author of Tamed and Untamed: Close Encounters of the Animal Kind praised the book, writing “this clever, breezy book delivers delightful surprises on every page, along with a bracing dose of wonder.”
Matt Powers, the editor for Powers Squared, did this Q&A with David where they covered obscure animals, our relationship with wildlife, and how each of us plays a role in their survival. Cat Among the Pigeons releases on February 4, and pre-orders are available now. Continue reading “Q&A with David Muirhead”
Q&A with Matt & Jessica Powers
In addition to being great friends, brother and sister pair Matt and Jessica are also co-authors of the YA book Broken Circle (Akashic Books) and now, they’re co-workers here at Catalyst HQ. There’s no sibling rivalry here! Matt, who in in his downtime from being a parent and author, will also be heading up the newest Catalyst imprint—Powers Squared! In another life, Matt studied Oncology, eventually earning his PhD in Oncological Studies from the University of Utah. It was during his studies that he realized that science could be, and should be, for all of us. Science can dazzle us, excite us, captivate us, but only when it’s done in engaging ways. We’ll be bringing those kinds of engaging science stories to readers everywhere through the Powers Squared imprint—beginning with the first release Cat Among the Pigeons written by David Muirhead and featuring illustrations by Patricia de Villiers. Welcome to the team, Matt!
Matt and Jessica found some time between parenting, writing, and publishing to have a little chat about life as a Powers kid, reading and writing, and what you can expect from Powers Squared in the coming years. Learn more about the Powers Squared mission and Cat Among the Pigeons here.
This Q&A first appeared in our newsletter. If you want to see more great Q&As like this, plus be the first-to-know about sales, events, and lots of fun extras, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!