This year at the #ALAAC25, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a special dinner hosted by the publishing company ABRAMS, where I got to mingle with some of the most outstanding authors and illustrators in the industry. The event was held at Royal Boucherie, a dark, quiet restaurant with delicious food, but honestly, the highlight was the chance to sit down and chat with these amazing creators about their work, their creative processes, and, of course, their love for literature.
The dinner was more of a cozy reception, with about forty people in attendance. When I RSVP’d, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but I can tell you, what I didn’t expect was the warmth, the laughter, and the wonderful conversations that flowed throughout the night.
The room was filled with the creative energy of some fantastic talent, and I was lucky enough to meet:
- Mariko Tamaki, author of This Place Kills Me
- Hannah V. Sawyerr, author of Truth Is
- Kwame Mbalia, co-author of On Again, Awkward Again
- Nathan Hale, author of Bones & Berserkers (Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales #13)
- David Brame, graphic novel artist for Parable of the Talents, an adaptation of Octavia Butler’s novel
- Jonathan Auxier, author of The War of the Maps (The Vanished Kingdom)
The opportunity to converse directly with these authors was priceless. What stood out to me the most was how approachable they were, there was no hierarchy or formality, just a bunch of people who are passionate about their craft and eager to connect with others who share that enthusiasm.
One of the first surprises of the night was discovering that both Hannah V. Sawyerr and Kwame Mbalia are fans of reality TV. We laughed over Love Island, and talked about all the drama, the romance, and the ridiculousness of it all. It was fun to find such a relatable connection outside of books, and it made the evening feel so much more personal.
Another great conversation came when David Brame and Mariko Tamaki dove into a discussion about swearing in YA literature. As a high school librarian, I can tell you that teens swear, and anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a fantasy world. But the debate wasn’t about whether teens swear, it was about making sure the language in books stays authentic. Swearing shouldn’t be used just for shock value; it should fit the characters and the world they live in. We agreed that kids want a story that is real and relatable.
One of my favorite moments of the evening was my chat with Hannah V. Sawyerr, whose book Truth Is is written in verse. I shared with her that I’ve always struggled with verse novels. They intimidate me, and I often feel like I might miss something. She laughed, and we joked that the root of my fear probably stemmed from high school English classes where we had to analyze poetry to the point of exhaustion.
Hannah also mentioned that she hopes to narrate the audiobook of Truth Is herself, which sounds like an amazing experience for readers to connect even more deeply with her work.
Jonathan Auxier spoke about the long and winding journey to completing The War of the Maps (part of The Vanished Kingdom series). It was a reminder of the perseverance it takes to bring a series to life. He shared that he suffered trying to complete this book, wanting to do it the justice it deserved. He mentioned how, as a fantasy reader, every time he finished a book or series, he felt a deep sense of loss as he returned to the “real world.” Honestly, I get that feeling too. Especially in today’s world, filled with so much uncertainty, who wouldn’t want to escape into a world of magic and dragons? But Jonathan offered a hopeful thought: in the real world, you can still find magic. How you could take a piece of a tree and write the word “dragon” on it, and make is appear, just like magic.
I have to admit, I wasn’t familiar with Nathan Hale’s work before the dinner, but after hearing about his Hazardous Tales series, I’m hooked! His newest release, Bones & Berserkers, will be out in the fall, and it’s officially on my TBR list.
In all, the dinner was a wonderful, relaxed evening where I was able to connect with some truly brilliant minds. I’m beyond grateful for the chance to meet these talented authors and illustrators, and I’m thankful to ABRAMS for hosting such an amazing event. The evening was a perfect blend of inspiration, laughter, and camaraderie, and it’s an experience I’ll never forget.
If you’re a reader, librarian, or teacher looking for your next great read, I highly recommend checking out the books we discussed. There’s a little something for everyone, from fantasy and graphic novels to verse books and middle-grade adventures.
Arlene Laverde (she/her/hers) is an adjunct and academic advisor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies Program at Queens College, CUNY, where she prepares future school librarians for school library life. She has a strong background in education and librarianship, and brings real-world experience and a passion for intellectual freedom, equity, and access to her teaching. She retired from her full time school librarian job in the summer of 2024 And is now focusing on a variety of library passions: children’s books, information freedom, and advocacy. She is looking forward to hearing George Takei and attending the Newbery/Caldecott Reception. Her life isn’t all about libraries though, she has been married for over 32 years and has two grown sons.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.
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