Westbank librarian: ‘Kidlit’ authors to visit for Storytimes, panel discussion

Maybe if I worked at a library in another town, meeting authors at the checkout counter would be unheard of. But in Austin, a city with a thriving literary community, the checkout counter is a fabulous place to meet creative people.

It starts with a comment like, “These look like great books,” and ends with a discussion about a patron’s own upcoming book release. No matter how many times I discover I’m talking with an author, I’m always thrilled to hear about their creative process, inspiration, and how they got published.

Two patrons of Westbank Libraries, Debbie Zapata and Melissa Coffey, have debut children’s books coming out this year. Both will visit Westbank’s Storytime in the coming months to read their books to a room full of kids and their caregivers.

Zapata will join Storytime on Wednesday, Sept. 14, to read her new book, “Up and Adam,” a story about a young boy named Adam with Down syndrome who, along with his dog Up, helps his neighbors after a storm. The story is close to her heart, as the character of Adam is inspired by Zapata’s own son, and it has been years in the making.

“As a child I loved to write stories,” Zapata said. “It wasn’t until my son was born with Down syndrome that the story concept for ‘Up and Adam’ took shape.”

Although she wrote the first draft years ago, she’s taken many writing classes and has incorporated feedback from teachers and critique partners alike to shape it into the book now on shelves. It’s been a journey, but the result has been worth it.

“Seeing my work in print has been a tremendous joy because I believe in a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book,” Zapata said. “Only about 3% of children’s picture books include a prominent character with a disability. ‘Up and Adam’ features a protagonist with Down syndrome and focuses on the character’s abilities. I hope it inspires young readers to see how everyone can make a difference in their community.”

Zapata’s friend and fellow library patron Melissa Coffey also has a new book coming out. “Fridge-opolis,” set to be released on Sept. 6, tackles the serious issue of food waste but does so in an uplifting, fun way through wordplay and anthropomorphic food characters.

“We often don't equate food waste with pollution,” Coffey said, “but it's the number one thing dumped in landfills and a major contributor to climate change. It's a huge problem, but one that everyone can help solve. That's empowering.”

While Coffey’s visit to the library’s Storytime is tentatively scheduled for the new year, families eager to hear her book may attend her Storytime in Pease Park at 10 a.m. on Sept. 17. The event will be free and will include an ASL interpreter. It is sponsored by BookPeople, the Pease Park Conservancy and Keep Austin Beautiful, and families are asked to register ahead of time. (Print readers can Google “Storytime for Our Littlest Readers Fridge-opolis” for the registration link.)

“Everyone's invited,” Coffey said, “and we're going to have prizes, stickers and hands-on activities for kids, including some wiggly vermicomposting worm friends.”

For up-and-coming writers interested in getting a children’s book published, the library will be hosting a panel discussion on Monday, Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. at Laura’s Library. The panel, comprised of local “kidlit” authors with new books in the library’s collection, will feature Zapata, Coffey, Lindsay Leslie and Kari Lavelle as they talk about their creative process, inspiration, path to publication, and any advice for up-and-coming writers.

Leslie’s most recent book, “So You Want to Build a Library,” lets readers act as architects of their fantasy library, imagining what their library might look like if their wildest dreams came true. Lavelle’s debut, “We Move the World,” is an inspiring look at people who have changed the world for the better, using them as models for how the everyday achievements of children can be the first steps to accomplishing big things.

All the panelists are members of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a wellspring of resources for new and established writers and illustrators.

When asked for a “sneak peek” of her advice for unpublished writers, Zapata said, “Write the stories only you can tell.”

And while it can be tempting to focus on the end goal of getting published, Zapata said writers should continue to focus on developing their craft.

“It’s essential to grow as a writer independent of one’s road to publication. Although we aren’t in control of publishing milestones like landing an agent or signing a book contract, we are in control of our writing goals. With hard work and persistence, we can achieve success in both writing and publishing.”

Maureen Turner Carey is a public service and PR librarian at the Westbank Community Library District.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Westbank librarian: ‘Kidlit’ authors to visit for Storytimes, panel discussion