We were so excited co-host a panel on children’s literature with World Kid Lit! If you missed this incredibly fun and thoughtful conversation, you can watch a recording here. When the panel ended, our amazing moderator, Bunmi, asked the group to share their favorite #ReadingAfrica books for young readers. You could, of course, watch the video in full, rewind and pause as needed, and then jot down their recommendations. But we won’t make you do that. Instead, you can keep reading for some great suggestions from the panel for books to share with the young reader in your life! You can also take a look at our #ReadingAfrica2021 list on Bookshop.org, which featured illustrated stories for all ages. Continue reading “#ReadingAfrica for the Young Reader”
The Remote Reading Series: JL Powers Reads from Under Water
Since many literary events have been cancelled recently, and since sharing art is always important, we here at Catalyst HQ have decided to put on a remote reading series. Over the next days/weeks, we’ll be releasing videos of our authors/editors. These are tough times, and we hope that our books (and all arts) are playing a part in helping you through them.
Our first video comes from Catalyst founder Jessica Powers, who introduces the series and reads from her YA novel Under Water, published by our friends Cinco Puntos Press. You can pick up Jessica’s novel at your favorite bookseller, but independent bookstores are having a tough time right now, so, if you can, please support your local one by purchasing through Indiebound, Bookshop, or their websites.
Stay tuned for more videos from more of our authors!
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
Designing the Cover for The Thousand Steps
There is a lot that has to happen behind the scenes before we can get our books to readers. Edits, rewrites, marketing, event planning, design—it’s nothing if not exciting! While our author Q&As and From the Editor’s Desk features generally cover many of those (and if you don’t know what those are, all will be revealed if you subscribe to our newsletter!), but we focus on cover design a bit less often. That changes today! We talked extensively with artist Karen Vermeulen last year about her work, and now we’re chatting with Karen again about just one cover— the upcoming YA sci-fi novel The Thousand Steps by Helen Brain.
The Thousand Steps is the first in Helen Brain’s Fiery Spiral Trilogy, and is a dystopic sci-fi Young Adult novel set in Cape Town in 2055. After spending her entire life living in a bunker deep inside of Table Mountain, 16-year-old Ebba is released when the truth of her lineage is revealed. While learning to navigate the unfamiliar “Above,” Ebba must fight for her survival, and that of her friends still below. The Fiery Spiral is an eco-feminist trilogy that examines how class, race, and social identity are foundational to the ways in which society is organized and power wielded. It releases on January 7.
You can learn more about Karen and her work at her website, Instagram, and Twitter.
Continue reading “Designing the Cover for The Thousand Steps”