JAN M. FLYNN at Books Inc. Laurel Village

This unforgettable middle grade fantasy series starter is perfect for 8-12 year olds who loved Impossible Creatures!

Jan will be in conversation with Kiyash Monsef, fellow fantasy writer for younger readers!

About the book: When twelve-year-old Rain bonds with the last wild griffin, she has the chance to change her fortune—and possibly her world.

As an orphan on the lowest rung of society, twelve-year-old Rain is destined for a future of hard labor—until she meets a wild griffin and bonds with him.
An old law says that bond entitles Rain to an education at the elite Griffin Riders Academy instead of a life in the mines. But Rain’s Rise threatens to topple Griffin Land’s fragile hierarchy, and those at the top are determined to see her fail. So they task Rain with proving herself: Armed with just her wit and accompanied by her best friend and an unlikely ally, Rain must scale the highest peak in Griffin Land and defeat the monster at its summit.
Rain’s success could change the world. But with an impossible quest ahead, will she and her griffin even survive?
Filled with awe-inspiring black-and-white illustrations, Griffin Speaker is both a delightful friendship-adventure story and a hopeful tale of resistance in an unequal world.

“Powerful, inspiring, and absolutely wonderful. Rain and Griff are an incredible team—it's impossible not to love them and cheer them on through every exciting adventure.”
—Shannon Messenger, New York Times best-selling author of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series
“A brave new take with fabulous animals, friendship, strong girls, and victory over a hard world. Readers of all ages will hunger for more. I think this is seriously cool!”
—Tamora Pierce, Margaret A. Edwards Award–winning author of the Song of the Lioness Quartet
“Utterly unputdownable! I was hooked from the very first chapter. Rain Rising is the new, younger Katniss Everdeen. I am already desperate for the next book. I'm obsessed!”
—Graci Kim, New York Times best-selling author of The Last Fallen Star
“Sky high praise for Griffin Speaker. It’s a roller coaster ride of thrills and excitement with so much to love. Everyone should have a friend like Griff!”
—Kate O’Hearn, international best-selling author of Pegasus
“A brilliant debut from Jan M. Flynn! Griffin Speaker features a unique and meticulously constructed fantasy world that is great fun and amazingly relevant to our times. I became completely wrapped up in the tale, and as it neared its conclusion I was flipping pages faster and faster, desperate to see how it would all turn out!”
—Bruce Coville, best-selling author of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher
“I loved this tale of magic and friendship with a huge dose of adventure! It made me wish for a griffin best friend of my own.”
—Julie Kagawa, New York Times best-selling author of the Storm Dragons series
“Instantly captivating! Griffin Speaker is a thrilling coming-of-age narrative, the perfect blend of fantasy and adventure with subtle social commentary. Middle-school readers (and their parents, teachers, and librarians) will adore this story!"
—Melissa Hart, author of Daisy Woodworm Changes the World

Jan M. Flynn has worked as a stage and television actor, a middle school English and drama teacher, a specialty hardwoods store owner, and a state director of a national non-profit health organization. At one point she performed in a theme park where she rode a camel, a water buffalo, a Brahma bull, and a temperamental llama. So it makes complete sense that she is now a writer! Her award-winning short fiction has appeared in anthologies, literary magazines, and journals. She lives in Boise, Idaho, with her husband and their needy cat. Find her on Facebook @JanMFlynnAuthor, on Instagram @Jan_M_Flynn, on BlueSky @JanMFlynn, and on her website at JanMFlynn.net.

Kiyash Monsef is an Emmy Award–nominated producer and director; a writer of short stories, videos, comic books, and games; and a designer of innovative conversational and voice interface experiences. He’s the author of Once There Was, which was a finalist for the Morris Award, and Bird of a Thousand Stories.

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