All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and A.J. Sass.
And that’s it! We’re at the end of our Spotlight series for the THIS IS OUR RAINBOW anthology!
Huge thank you to all of the authors who were able to contribute a post.
It was a ton of fun getting to hear more about you and your work!
Kick-butt Kidlit friends, make sure you check out THIS IS OUR RAINBOW! It’s on shelves now!
And scroll down to enter the giveaway to win a copy!
All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and A.J. Sass.
Today we’re chatting with one of the contributing authors, A.J. Sass!
This is A.J. Everyone say, “Hi, A.J.!”
Photo Credit: Deven Cao
Welcome to Kick-butt Kidlit, A.J.!Tell us about yourself!
Hi! My name is A.J. Sass. I’m a competitive figure skater who is passionate about the intersections of neurodiversity, queer, and Jewish identity in children’s literature. I am the author of Ana on the Edge, which is a Junior Library Guild Selection that was named an ALA Rainbow Book List 2021 Top Ten Choice for Young Readers as well as a 2020 Booklist Editors’ Choice. I grew up in the Upper Midwest, came of age in the South, and now call the San Francisco Bay Area home with my partner and our two cats. My next book, Ellen Outside the Lines, releases on March 22, 2022.
What was the inspiration behind your contribution to THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
My debut novel, Ana on the Edge, featured a figure skating navigating her nonbinary identity, both on and off the ice. Once my main character, Ana, realizes she is nonbinary, she chooses to stay in her sport and find program, choreography, and costumes that complement her identity. But I know that isn’t always feasible for nonbinary kids.
I wanted to explore the experience of being a nonbinary athlete from a different angle in my contribution to This Is Our Rainbow. In my story, Balancing Acts, former gymnast Kai (e/eir/em) is returning to the gym for the first time since e quit gymnastics to cheer on eir old teammates who are competing at a meet. As you can imagine, a lot of emotions rise to the surface as Kai watches eir former teammates: regret that e’s not out there with them, but also relief that no one is watching em compete and seeing a girl when e isn’t one. The biggest message I hoped to share with this story is there is a place in sports for trans and nonbinary athletes, whether it’s participating in a sport you already love or discovering a new, more inclusive sport to take part in.
What’s your favourite line from your story in THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
The last one! It goes:
“Shoulders back, head high, Kai doesn’t hesitate when e steps forward to tumble this time.”
For so much of this short story, Kai remembers feeling insecure and unhappy when e was participating in the sport e loves. By the end, Kai has found a new way to continue eir passion for athletics, an activity that affirms eir identity and makes em feel confident. All of these feelings, desires, and hopes feel like they are reflected in that line, making it my favorite.
What are you currently reading?
I’m in between books at the moment. I just finished reading Eliot Schrefer’s The Darkness Outside Us, which is a YA sci-fi with a mystery surrounding two queer characters. And I’m looking forward to diving into Both Can Be True by Jules Machias soon. It’s a dual-perspective middle grade contemporary novel, and one of the characters is nonbinary.
What’s your best piece of kick-butt advice?
Give yourself the same grace you’d extend to others when you encounter a setback.
My athletic- and academic-focused backgrounds both placed high emphasis on hard work, winning, and success. That’s great and it can be a wonderful motivator. But it can also produce undue stress and anxiety if things don’t go the way you’d hoped. It can also lead to negative self-talk and feeling like an imposter if you don’t live up to your own high standards.
So, if you’ve experienced a setback, or if you’re struggling or don’t feel like you are living up to your own high expectations, imagine how you’d speak to a loved one facing a similar situation. Encourage yourself. Remember how far you’ve already come. A little grace can go a long way.
It really can.
Thank you so much for joining us, A.J.!
Kick-butt Kidlit friends, make sure you check out THIS IS OUR RAINBOW! It’s on shelves now!
All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Today we’re chatting with one of the contributing authors, Lisa Jenn Bigelow!
This is Lisa. Everyone say, “Hi, Lisa!”
Welcome to Kick-butt Kidlit, Lisa!Tell us about yourself!
I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now live outside Chicago with my child and my dog. I got hooked on writing in second grade and have three published books, including two for middle grade readers:Drum Roll, Please, and Hazel’s Theory of Evolution. I’m also a children’s librarian, which is a great job if you love books, helping people, and hanging out with kids. I don’t have a ton of free time, but sometimes I’ll go on a guitar, piano, or crochet kick.
What was the inspiration behind your contribution to THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
Katherine and Nicole asked us to imagine a story our middle grade self would have wanted to read. My mind went to Ruth Chew’s Matter-of-Fact Magic books—fantasy stories that take place in everyday settings. I also wanted to try writing an aromantic queer story about getting the girl in which friendship is the goal, not a consolation prize. The result is “Girl’s Best Friend,” about a tween witch experiencing such a strong platonic attraction to a non-magical girl that she’ll go to extremes to gain her attention and trust. Obviously, she’ll use magic to do it.
What’s your favourite line from your story in THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
“She craned her neck toward the kitchen. She hoped nothing incriminating lay in plain sight—no jars of pickled frogs’ feet, or neon pink potions simmering on the stove. But there was only the aftermath of the tuna casserole.”
This paragraph is low fantasy in a nutshell for me: the juxtaposition of the strange and magical with the completely ordinary. And nothing is more ordinary than a tuna casserole.
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading The Year I Flew Away, by Marie Arnold. The main character, Gabrielle, has just moved from Haiti to Brooklyn, and the other kids at school bully her. Gabrielle makes a deal with a witch to help her fit in, but of course, these deals always have catches. I’m enjoying the magic, humor, and voice, literally brought to life by the author, who does a wonderful job performing the audiobook.
What’s your best piece of kick-butt advice?
The biggest mistake I’ve ever made was thinking I was alone. That’s one of the lies fear tells, and it feeds on itself. We get really good at hiding our struggles, isolating ourselves further. The truth is, there are always other people who are going through the same thing we are, but you can only find them by being brave and vulnerable enough to speak your truth. This is true in the wild world of writing or the rest of life. You can’t wait for someone else to throw you a lifeline. Reach out. Speak up.
Beautifully said.
Thank you so much for joining us, Lisa!
Kick-butt Kidlit friends, make sure you check out THIS IS OUR RAINBOW! It’s on shelves now!
All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Today we’re chatting with one of the contributing authors, Alex Gino!
This is Alex. Everyone say, “Hi, Alex!”
Photo Credit: Blake C. Aarens
Welcome to Kick-butt Kidlit, Alex!Tell us about yourself!
Hi! I’m Alex Gino, middle grade author of MELISSA (a.k.a. GEORGE); YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING, JILLY P!; and RICK. I love glitter, ice cream, gardening, awe-ful puns, and stories that reflect the complexity of being alive. I grew up on Staten Island, NY, and after thirteen years in Oakland, CA, recently moved back to New York State to live in the Hudson Valley. I’m excited to have a place to write surrounded by peaceful green space – there’s even a pond outside my window!
What was the inspiration behind your contribution to THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
My story is about kitten adoption after the loss of an older cat. I have two wonderful black cats, named Thunder and Lightning, who I got after my dear kitty Scout passed away, It was a big decision to get new furballs, and an emotional process. There are a lot of stories about pet death out there, but I wanted to look at another part of the circle: deciding to let another animal fill that hole, both in your heart and in your lap.
What’s your favourite line from your story in THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
Oooh, tough question, but I think I have to go with this exchange:
“The truest and most important things are sometimes also very silly.”
“Like kittens.”
“Exactly like kittens.”
What areyou currently reading?
I just had the pleasure of reading Ann Clare LeZotte’s SET ME FREE, the superb follow up to the Schneider Award-winning SHOW ME A SIGN. SET ME FREE continues Mary’s story of a wonderful young Deaf person in the early 1800s coming into her power. She comes from a signing community, and is thrust into helping a Deaf girl who is surrounded by people who don’t sign and who is struggling to communicate. LeZotte’s writing is so genuine and thoughtful, and meaningfully incorporates the stories of Black and Indigenous people in her tale about a young white girl. It’s not out until next spring, but you can read SHOW ME A SIGN now to be ready – it’s an engaging adventure worth at least half a dozen gasps.
What’s your best piece of kick-butt advice?
Take breaks! Whether it’s schoolwork or activism or dealing with family or coming out or whatever it is that’s on your plate – you can’t be at full-steam all the time. Your body, mind, heart, and soul need time to recover from whatever hard work you’re undertaking in this world. Find places you can let down your guard – whether it’s a close friend, a family member, a group, a hotline, a journal, or some other outlet, make sure you have a place to come back to where you can feel at ease and not take on anything more than being kind to yourself for a little bit.
Yes, yes, yes! Always.
Thank you so much for joining us, Alex!
Kick-butt Kidlit friends, make sure you check out THIS IS OUR RAINBOW! It hits shelves on October 19th!
All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Today we’re chatting with one of the contributing authors, Mariama J. Lockington!
This is Mariama. Everyone say, “Hi, Mariama!”
Welcome to Kick-butt Kidlit, Mariama!Tell us about yourself!
Hi! I’m Mariama. I’ve been creating my own stories and books since I was in 2nd grade, and I grew up in a very musical family. I write books about the messiness/joys of growing up and what it means to find a place to belong. My debut novelFor Black Girls Like Me(FSG BYR July 2019) is a story inspired by own experiences growing up as a Black girl adopted into a white family, and my second book In The Key Us(FSG BYR April 26, 2022) is about two queer, Black girls who meet at a music camp and fall in love with nature, themselves, and each other. I’ve lived in 7 different states, but currently live in Kentucky with my wife and my dog Henry, in a house full of plants. In my free time I like to box, cook, teach storytelling workshops, and work in my garden.
What was the inspiration behind your contribution to THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
My story “Devoyn’s Pod” is about an 8th grade girl named Dev who LOVES all things to do with the ocean and her best friends, Ella and Marcel. It was inspired by my time living in Fort Greene Brooklyn and the trips I would make with my queer friends and family to Riis Beach in Queens. I love the beach, but being on a beach full of other queer people like me felt like a homecoming of sorts. I wanted my character to feel this kind of belonging, as she struggles with an unrequited crush, growing pains, and the dynamics of her best friend group changing one summer. I also wanted to write a story in which a Grandparent is affirming and safe for a young person to be in community with, to remind young people that we— LGBTQIA+ folks— are everywhere and have always been so. This is OUR rainbow, after all.
What’syour favourite line from your story in THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
Oh, wow! This is so hard because I loved writing this story, but I would have to go with this one:
In fact, most days when I wake up the first thing I think about is her smile and how when I get close to her my skin feels like it’s glowing, like I’m bioluminescent.
All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Today we have a guest post from one of the contributing authors, Lisa Bunker!
This is Lisa. Everyone say, “Hi, Lisa!”
The Author Visits Her Twelve-Year-Old Self in a Dream
by Lisa Bunker
—Hello, young one. It is strange to see you. Strange, but good.
—Who are you?
—I’m not sure I should say.
—And what are you doing in my dream?
—I’m not sure. Maybe I’m dreaming too.
—Well, you interrupted me. I was figuring out how to skim above the ground by keeping my feet lifted during a step.
—I remember that dream!
—What do you mean? Have you had the same dream?
—The exact same dream. It’s time for me to tell you who I am.
—Who?
—I’m you.
—How can that be? You’re an old lady.
—I’m you from the future.
—And I’m a boy.
—Are you sure about that?
—Of course I’m sure.
—Then why have you worn your hair so long since you were seven?
—I don’t know. I’m being a hippie, I guess.
—The question makes you uncomfortable, I know. I also know that you get teased by the other kids at school. They say all mean, “You look like a girl!” It’s a lot of trouble for a random idea about being a hippie. Are you sure it’s not something else?
—I don’t know. I just feel like it, I guess.
—I remember now. Mommy made it clear so firmly and so early that there was no room, no way for me to be me, so I taught myself to stop thinking the thoughts. But I still knew. People would say, “You look like a girl,” and deep inside my silent answer was, “Duh, I am a girl.”
— It’s only a dream, it’s only a dream.
—Sweetheart, I’m sorry I disturbed you. You are still so young. And you love your mother and you need her love, and she said no. Honey, don’t cry. It’s OK.
—Really? I’m a girl? Really?
—Yes, really. But listen, dear one, you don’t have to do anything about it right now if it scares you too much. Because it would be hard. The world isn’t ready for you, sadly. So, you have a choice.
—What choice?
—The choice to remember this dream, or to forget it. It’s a hard choice, but either way it’s going to be OK. You are strong. You will survive.
—I will?
—Listen: I remember, because I’m you, that when you were younger, you dreamed you could fly.
—Yes.
—And then it changed to skimming, and then after a while the flying dreams stopped. But just the other day, I dreamed I was standing on a hillside, and I thought, this is stupid, of course I can fly, and I took off like a rocket. I shot hundreds of feet into the air. I had no fear, and I could fly as high and far and fast as I wanted.
—Really? That sounds cool. —Sweetheart, I have to go. You can remember, or forget for a while longer, whichever you need. You have no easy choices, but you are strong and you will survive. Happy skimming, as long as it lasts. I love you.
That was so lovely. Thank you so much for joining us, Lisa!
(Lisa Bunker works full time as a writer. Her first novel, Felix Yz, about a boy fused with an alien, was published by Viking in June 2017. Her second novel, Zenobia July, about a trans girl getting to live as a girl for the first time in a new family and school, came out, also from Viking, in Spring 2019. She lives in Exeter, New Hampshire with her wife, Dawn Huebner, a child psychologist and author in her own right. Between them they have three grown children. Since 2018 Lisa has served her town in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. She is also an online entrepreneur: in July 2021 she founded Crucinova, an indie subscription service dedicated to championing innovation in crossword puzzle construction.)
Kick-butt Kidlit friends, make sure you check out THIS IS OUR RAINBOW! It hits shelves on October 19th!
All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Today we’re chatting with one of the contributing authors, Ashley Herring Blake!
This is Ashley. Everyone say, “Hi, Ashley!”
Welcome to Kick-butt Kidlit, Ashley!Tell us about yourself!
I am an author, literary agent, and teacher living in coastal Georgia with my family. I’m a cat mom, tiny human mom, and love organizing my books by color. I also teach middle school writing.
What was your inspiration behind your contribution to THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
One thing I love about writing middle grade is that it’s a time in life where everything not only feels new, it is new. With Sylvie and Jenna’s story, I wanted to explore those first crush feelings, but pair them with a sort of second-chance feel. There are so many tiny moments that happen to us when we’re growing up, moments that, in retrospect, might seem small, but when they are happening, and the ways in which they help form us, feel huge. For Sylvie, she had such a moment with Jenna in elementary school, but when Jenna returned in middle school, all of her feelings had changed. She had changed. And she had to decide if she was going to embrace that change or hang on to a past hurt. It’s a story about growing up, in all its mess and heartbreak and hope.
What’s your favorite line from your story in THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
My favorite line (lines?) is actually the very last paragraph of the story: I don’t know what to say. Sometimes, there isn’t anything to say and no reason to try. I uncurl my fingers, and this time I don’t fight it. I reach out and take her hand. She lets me, lacing her fingers between mine and squeezing. Then we sit like that for the rest of ride, two queer girls—messy and mean, sad and sorry and hopeful—holding hands on top of the world.
What are you currently reading?
I’m reading LIKE OTHER GIRLS by Britta Lundin right now. It’s about a queer girl in a very small, conservative town in Oregon, who decides to play football. It brilliant tackles internal misogyny, and the complicated dynamics of figuring out who you are in a small town–when who you are isn’t at all like everyone else. Highly recommend!
What is your best piece of kick-butt advice?
Well, I doubt it’s very kick-butt, and might even border on cliche, but “Eyes on your own paper” comes up in my own life almost daily, particularly as a creative. It’s so tempting to compare oneself to others–physcially, professionally, in terms of success or romance or general happiness. But at the end of the day, we can only live our own life, and in order to make it all that we want it to be, we have to let go of that comparison game.
Thank you so much for joining us, Ashley!
Kick-butt Kidlit friends, make sure you check out THIS IS OUR RAINBOW! It hits shelves on October 19th!
All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Today we’re chatting with one of the contributing authors, Marieke Nijkamp!
This is Marieke. Everyone say, “Hi, Marieke!”
Welcome to Kick-butt Kidlit, Marieke!Tell us about yourself!
What was the inspiration behind your contribution to THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
I wanted to write a story in the tradition of Tamora Pierce’s Tortall books—and books like Tonke Dragt’s The Letter for the King, which I devoured growing up—but with actual gender feels. A story about kids who dreams of becoming knights, but who don’t feel like they fit in with the world around them. My main character is Splinter, the “unfortunate youngest” of an old noble family, whose uncle and guardian has very different ideas of what is right and proper. Splinter is determined to find her own path, so on the night of the kingdom’s youngest princess’s birthday party, Splinter sneaks out to the festivities wearing her brother’s old squire gear, and chaos ensues.
What’s your favourite line from your story in THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
“In all fairness to the guards, I wasn’t just the person who punched the prince. I was the person who gave the prince a black eye and didn’t regret it.”
What are you currently reading?
I just finished Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright’s Twins, which was absolutely lovely, and I loved Emma Steinkellner’s sequel to The Okay Witch.
I’m currently reading Margaret Owen’s Little Thieves and Victoria Schwab’s Gallant, both of which are completely magical in their own (very different!) ways.
What’s your best piece of kick-butt advice?
Probably in line with what Splinter would say as well: Follow your own path. Not everything worth doing is easy, but it is worth doing.
Splinter (and you) are very wise!
Thank you so much for joining us, Marieke!
Kick-butt Kidlit friends, make sure you check out THIS IS OUR RAINBOW! It hits shelves on October 19th!
All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Today we’re chatting with one of the contributing authors, Eric Bell!
This is Eric. Everyone say, “Hi, Eric!”
Welcome to Kick-butt Kidlit, Eric!Tell us about yourself!
Eric Bell (that’s me!) is the author of ALAN COLE IS NOT A COWARD (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, 2017) and ALAN COLE DOESN’T DANCE (Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins, 2018), two middle grade novels about a gay seventh grade boy dealing with bullies, crushes, the power of art, and coming out. The first book was nominated to the Rainbow Book List for GLBTQ Books for Children and Teens. The books have also been translated into multiple languages. I am a teacher of writing classes, a virtual workshop leader, a freelance editor and writing coach, and an employee at a library. I live and write in Pennsylvania.
What was the inspiration behind your contribution to THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
I wanted to tell a somewhat funny story that put an interesting spin on the “coming out narrative.” Sometimes people accidentally out themselves – but what if we could undo that and try again? What if we kept making that same mistake in different ways? And what if, in the end, it turns out to not be a mistake at all?
What’s your favourite line from your story in THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
The ending. You’ll have to read the story to find out what it is!
What are you currently reading?
I just finished the first DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, which I’d somehow managed to go without reading before. Now I’m excited for the animated movie adaptation.
What’s your best piece of kick-butt advice?
Go easy on yourself. One of the themes of my story is that, even when it’s “the right time,” it’s okay to go at your own pace. As somebody who deals with mental health struggles every day, I’ve had to learn that it’s okay to go slow sometimes, to take time away, and to find strength in knowing your limits. You are still valuable – but don’t forget to value yourself.
Easy to forget, but SO important to remember!
Thank you so much for joining us, Eric!
Kick-butt Kidlit friends, make sure you check out THIS IS OUR RAINBOW! It hits shelves on October 19th!
All month long we’re going to be chatting with a few of the awesome authors behind the middle grade anthology:
THIS IS OUR RAINBOW
A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true–but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend’s mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Today we’re chatting with one of the contributing authors AND one of the editors of THIS IS OUR RAINBOW, Nicole Melleby!
This is Nicole. Everyone say, “Hi, Nicole!”
Photo Credit: Liz Welch
Welcome to Kick-butt Kidlit, Nicole! Tell us about yourself!
Hi! My name is Nicole Melleby, and I’m a born-and-bred Jersey girl who writes queer middle grade novels set around my hometown. My books have been Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, recipient of the Skipping Stones Honor Award, and a 2020 Kirkus Reviews best book of the year. My debut novel, Hurricane Season, was a Lambda Literary finalist. I live with my wife and our cat, whose need for attention oddly aligns with my writing schedule.
What was the inspiration behind your contribution to THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
I wanted to write a queer middle grade version of the song Stacy’s Mom by Fountains of Wayne. Once I knew that, I thought about all of the crushes on older women I had growing up—on teachers and other adult women who gave me attention, even if I didn’t know at the time that they were crushes—and I wanted to channel those feelings into a more self-aware queer character, and what that journey might look like for her.
What’s your favourite line from your story in THIS IS OUR RAINBOW?
Gonna cheat with a few lines:
The fall happened right in front of Stacy Mackenzie’s house. This is important to know, because Stacy’s mom worked at home, and she saw the entire incident from her living room window. She was outside the front door before Stacy even dismounted her own bike, and as she crowded around Abigail, Abigail’s mind took the time to think, Stacy’s mom has the softest hair, regardless of the pain.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading a lot of middle grade novels in verse, since I’m starting to work on one of my own, and the next one up on my to-read is The Deepest Breath by Meg Grehan.
What’s your best piece of kick-butt advice?
I tell everyone about my way of handling rejection, because I swear it helps: If you’re facing a rejection, I find it best to sing this ridiculous song, because it’s so ridiculous it makes me feel better every single time I have sung it to myself (which has been often, because rejection is part of being a writer!): Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, I should just go eat worms. Worms! Worms! Worms!
That is amazing and I definitely hope everyone tries it!
Thank you so much for joining us, Nicole!
Kick-butt Kidlit friends, make sure you check out THIS IS OUR RAINBOW! It hits shelves on October 19th!
Kick-butt Kidlit 