Everybody's Got a Story, with Patti Calkosz and Louise Hung

Patti and Louise will talk about making story ideas come to life, share what inspired them to become authors, read excerpts from their books, and answer questions from the audience.

You can purchase Olaf and Essex and Hungry Bones at the event—and meet the authors when you get them signed too!

Please note: This event is best suited for ages 8 to 12.

As a child, Patti Calkosz would have loved to have been rescued by a talking fox and bear. Like many kids, she grew up in an environment where it didn’t feel safe to be her authentic self. She created a protective shell in which to hide, which led to deep unhappiness, social isolation, a self-perception of being “dull,” and escalating health problems.

Employing “alternative” healing practices later in life, Patti’s energy began to open up, unleashing her creativity. She loves making people laugh and writing about important social issues in an entertaining way.

Praise for Olaf and Essex

“This funny, sentimental, and heartfelt tale highlights the importance of family, multi-species or otherwise…entertaining and emotional…tugs at the heartstrings before it ends with a memorable denouement.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This delightful adventure introduces you to a cast of characters that are not just intriguing but masterfully crafted to draw you in deeper with every page.” —Midwest Book Review

Author of the middle grade novel Hungry Bones (Scholastic), Louise has written and produced countless videos for the successful YouTube channel, Ask a Mortician (she's literally lost count). You may also remember Louise's work from HuffPost, The Order of the Good Death, xoJane's "Creepy Corner," School Library Journal, and the podcast Death in the Afternoon. When she's not writing about spooky or mortal matters, Louise works in cat rescue & adoption in Brooklyn where she lives with four black cats, her husband, and an immortal cactus.

Praise for Hungry Bones

"Spooky and intriguing, with plenty of heart." —Kirkus Reviews

"Using empathetic yet incisive language to skillfully balance the intensity of past events with steadily increasing stakes tied to Jade’s presence, Hung cloaks history lessons in ghostly garb to showcase the palpable echoes of racism against Chinese Americans that still haunts contemporary society" —Publishers Weekly

"A terrific book that uses horror to discuss the importance of family, remembrance, and the matrix of support needed to thrive in this world and beyond." —School Library Journal

Host or Publisher Lofty Pigeon Books