San Mateo County Library’s 5th annual Young Adult Novelist Convention (YANovCon) is coming up soon! Saturday January 25, 12:00-6:00pm to be exact. This year’s YANovCon will be held at Millbrae Library and will feature panel discussions, hangouts, and signings with about 20 YA authors, including Gloria Chao, Anna-Marie McLemore, CB Lee, and others. And the event is free!

Click here for more information about the schedule, a list of participating authors, and to RSVP.

Abigail Hing Wen with Sabaa Tahir in celebration of Abigail’s debut novel, Loveboat, Taipei.
Monday January 6, 7:00-9:00pm
Kepler’s Books
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
More information here

Tara Sim with Kat Cho for the launch of Tara’s novel, Scavenge the Stars.
Tuesday January 7, 7:00-9:00pm
Kepler’s Books
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
More information here

Amy Spalding in conversation with Jasmine Guillory about Amy’s new novel, We Used to Be Friends.
Tuesday January 7, 7:00pm
Books Inc. Opera Plaza
601 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
More information here

Kiersten White with Katy Rose Pool celebrating Chosen, sequel to Slayer.
Saturday January 11, 3:00-5:00pm
Kepler’s Books
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
More information here

Emery Lord in conversation with Chirsty Jane to discuss Emery’s new book, The Map from Here to There.
Tuesday January 14, 7:00pm
Books Inc. Palo Alto
74 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto
More information here

Mathangi Subramanian discusses her novel, A People’s History of Heaven.
Tuesday January 14, 7:00pm
Books Inc. Campbell
1875 S. Bascom Avenue, Campbell
More information here

Rebecca Roanhorse celebrates her new novel, Race to the Sun.
Saturday January 18, 3:00pm
Books Inc. Palo Alto
74 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto
More information here

Lilly Williams, Karen Schneemann, Kate Schatz, and Mariko Tamaki in conversation for Lily and Karen’s new graphic novel, Go with the Flow.
Saturday January 18, 3:00pm
Books Inc. Laurel Village
3515 California Street, San Francisco
More information here

Parker Peevyhouse launches her new novel, Strange Exit.
Saturday January 18, 6:00-8:00pm
Hicklebee’s
1378 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose
More information here

Echo Brown celebrates her debut novel, Black Girl Unlimited.
Tuesday January 21, 7:00pm
Books Inc. Alameda
1344 Park Street, Alameda
More information here

Jerry Craft in celebration of his graphic novel, New Kid.
Wednesday January 22, 7:00pm
Books Inc. in the Marina
2251 Chestnut Street, San Francisco
More information here

Anna Wiener discusses her new memior, Uncanny Valley, with Mike Isaac.
Monday January 27, 7:30pm
Green Apple Books
1231 9th Street, San Francisco
More information here

Diana Kapp discusses her book, Girls Who Run the World: 31 CEOs Who Mean Business, with Emily Núñez Cavness.
Tuesday January 28, 7:00pm
Book Inc. Palo Alto
74 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto
More information here

The love of books meets hands-on making in this new series of workshops. Everyone’s invited – students, siblings, parents and grandparents – come one, come all! But space will be limited, so sign up promptly. First workshop: 11/22/19 at 3:15 – Making Matchbox Books with Casti Alumna Kit Day! Questions? Email a librarian.

Matchbox Books
Instructor Kit Davey
Book artist and Casti Alumna Kit Davey offers a hands-on workshop for young and old! Integrating paper collage and three dimensional components, matchbox books allow for originality and creativity to shine through. Check out some of Kit’s work on Instagram @daveykit and at found-object-art.com
Location: Casti Library
Friday 11/22/19 3:15 – 5:30 pm  – no need to stay the whole time. The goal is to start and finish your own project!
Limited to 25 participants RSVP here

Tinkering with Type 
Instructor Patrick Fenton
Instructor Patrick Fenton Brooklyn’s Swayspace Studio introduces traditional typesetting techniques. Participants will set type for a collaborative project and create finished pieces to take home.
Location: Lockey House Printing Studio
Saturday 4/25/20 10:30 am – 2 pm with a break for lunch
RSVP will be available in April.

Text and Image in Letterpress 
Instructor Lara Durback
This class will incorporate multiple printing techniques. We will experiment with layering graphic imagery, using polymer plate printing, and text, using classic wooden type. Leave with some creative prints!
Friday 1/10/20 (a non-school day) 10:30 am – 2 pm with a break for lunch
RSVP will be available in January.

Between the games, trivia, and abundance of cakes and tasty treats, yesterday’s Edible Book Festival was a great event! Thanks to everyone who helped out, attended, or participated, and a big congratulations to this year’s winners!

For those who couldn’t make it for the awards presentation, here are the results of the vote:

Best Simple Idea “A Snicker” Nina F. ’22

Healthiest “Two Healthy Sisters” Ademi R. ’26

Punniest/Funniest “Lord of the Funyun Rings” Alida C. ’26 and Clara K. ’26

Best Food Eaten in a Book “Mr. Wolf’s Pancakes” Finn L. ’23

Most Original “The Pied Piper” Hannah R. ’23

Most Shakespeare-licious “The Horrible Hand of Murder” Claire C. ’22

Technical Merit “Tea Time in Wonderland” Zara M. ’25

People’s Choice “Between Shades of Oreos” Ella D. ’24, Julie S. ’24, Sam S. ’24

Shannon Messenger with Lisa McMann discuss Legacy, the newest installment in the Keeper of the Lost Cities series.
Thursday November 7, 6:00-9:00
Smithwick Theater, Foothill College presented by Kepler’s Books
12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills
More information here

Marissa Meyer in celebration of Supernova, the final book in the Renegades trilogy.
Friday November 8, 7:00-9:00
Kepler’s Books
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
More information here

Sally Rooney, author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends, in conversation with Heidi Julavits and benefiting the 826 Valencia Scholarship Program.
Friday November 8, 7:30
Sydney Goldstein Theater
275 Hayes Street, San Francisco
More information here

Local writer Shannon Price talks to Randy Ribay about her debut novel, A Thousand Fires.
Saturday November 9, 4:00
Books Inc.
1875 S. Bascom Avenue Suite #600, Campbell
More information here

Laura Taylor Namey in celebration of her debut novel, The Library of Lost Things.
Thursday November 14, 7:00
1875 S. Bascom Avenue Suite #600, Campbell
More information here

Eoin Colfer introduces his new book, The Fowl Twins, part of the expanded Artemis Fowl universe.
Friday November 15, 7:00-9:o0
Kepler’s Books
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
More information here

Get excited!!!

The highly anticipated Edible Book Festival is right around the corner! Feel free to stop in during the day on Monday, November 4 but be sure to join us after school until 5:30 for trivia, prizes, tasty treats, and a chance to win a super cute and cuddly avocado!

Award categories are: Best Simple Idea, Healthiest, Funniest/Punniest, Best Food Eaten in a Book, Most Original, Technical Merit, Most Shakespeare-licious, and People’s Choice. We can’t wait to see what you all cook up! Pre-register here. Here are a few of last year’s entries for inspiration: