Stories of Youth: YA Author Panel

Join a panel of young adult novelists—including Emily Locker, Hannah Reynolds, Alex Thayer, and C.W. Farnsworth—on Sunday, March 23, from 5 to 7 PM at Lovestruck Books. Moderated by Lucy Keating, the authors will discuss a range of charming, compassionate, and witty stories featuring bold youth overcoming the trials of love, friendship, growing up, and everything in between. Learn more about the story and character inspirations that influence these novels and grab a signature to close out the night!

TICKETS
When purchasing your ticket, choose which book(s) you’d like to receive. Ticket options include:

• by Emily Locker
• by Hannah Reynolds
• by Alex Thayer
• by C.W Farnsworth

If you wish to take home multiple books, these titles will also be available for purchase in-store during the event!

EVENT DETAILS:

• 4:30 PM: Doors Open – Get settled in and ready for the discussion!
• 5:00 PM: Discussion Begins – Learn more about the writing behind YA novels.

• 5:45 PM: Q&A Session – Your chance to ask anything.
• 6:00 PM: Signatures, Salutations and Snapping Pics – Meet the authors, get your books signed, and snap a photo!
• 7:00 PM: Event Wraps Up – Thanks for joining us!

Tickets are limited, so grab yours soon! If the event sells out, you can join the waitlist. Should any spots open up, you’ll have 24 hours to register before we offer them to the next person.

ABOUT EMILY LOCKER
Emily Locker spent most of fourth grade persuading her friends to reenact scenes from Sweet Valley High. She was raised in Washington, D.C., by two psychotherapists, who often caught her reading well past midnight and who inspired her early interest in the human psyche and relationship dynamics.

Emily moved to New York City after graduating from the University of Rochester to complete a Social Work graduate program at New York University. Her first job was at The World Trade Center Program where she provided individual and group psychotherapy to first responders. She recently returned to Washington where she lives with her husband and two young sons. When Emily is not writing or chasing after her "lively" boys, she works as a therapist in private practice. This is her first novel.

ABOUT RUNNING MATES
In the quaint yet politically charged town of Edgartown, North Carolina, two worlds are about to collide. Meet Annabelle Morningstar, an impassioned, quirky high school activist raised by her news anchor and surgeon mothers, both champions of progressive ideals. Across town, there's Gabe Delgado, the quintessential all-American boy, molded by his conservative, Cuban senator father. Edgartown is a town literally divided—the Liberal East and the Conservative North coexisting as neighbors but rarely as friends. But what happens when the two sides meet in the least likely of places: a local bookstore?

When employees at Annabelle's favorite literary haven decide to unionize, she finds her path unexpectedly crossing with Gabe's. And then they're tossed together weekly as they get special training help for their beloved cross-country competitions. With their worlds thrown into disarray, the two high schoolers must navigate their complex feelings for each other while wrestling with their polarized upbringings. Can love bloom in the crossfire of political discord?

“Running Mates” is not just a heartwarming coming-of-age tale. It's a deep dive into the complexities of ideological divide, a vivid portrayal of modern youth activism, and a rallying cry for empathy. As Annabelle and Gabe discover the gray areas in a world seemingly divided into black & white and red & blue, they learn that both politics and love require courage, compromise, and a touch of rebellion.

Engaging, timely, funny, and at times poignant, “Running Mates” serves as a mirror to our times, daring us to question, to feel, to laugh, and above all, to love despite our differences.

ABOUT HANNAH REYNOLDS
Hannah Reynolds is the two-time Sydney Taylor Honor author of young adult romantic comedies. She grew up outside of Boston, where she spent most of her childhood and teenage years recommending books to friends, working at a bookstore, and making chocolate desserts. She received her BA in Creative Writing and Archaeology from Ithaca College, which meant she never needed to stop telling romantic stories or playing in the dirt. After living in San Francisco, New York, and Paris, she came back to Massachusetts and now lives in Cambridge.

ABOUT SUMMER NIGHTS AND METEORITES
Jordan Edelman’s messy dating days are over. After a few too many broken hearts, and a father who worries a bit too much, she’s sworn off boys—at least for the summer. And since she’ll be tagging along on her father’s research trip to Nantucket, she doesn’t think it’ll be too hard to stick to her resolution.

But hooking up with the cute boy on the ferry doesn’t count, right? At least, not until that cute boy turns out to be Ethan Barbanel. As in, her father’s longtime research assistant Ethan Barbanel, the boy Jordan has hated from afar for years. And to make matters worse, Jordan might actually be falling for him.

As if that didn’t complicate her life enough, Jordan’s new summer job with a local astronomer turns up a centuries-old mystery surrounding Gibson’s Comet—and as she dives into her research, what she learns just might put her growing relationship with Ethan in jeopardy.

ABOUT ALEX THAYER
Alex Thayer is a former film and television actress and elementary school teacher. She lives in New England with her two sons. Happy & Sad & Everything True is her debut novel.

ABOUT HAPPY & SAD & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
With charm and sincerity reminiscent of Judy Blume and Rebecca Stead, this debut middle grade novel is a “compassionate” (Kirkus Reviews), hopeful story about a girl finding herself through secretly giving out advice to classmates.

Back when Dee and Juniper were still friends, Dee never hid in the bathroom. Now, at the beginning of sixth grade, Dee finds herself there often. The dripping faucet is annoying, and there are other places she’d rather be—like at home and in her room with her cat, Norman. But at least Dee is safe from overenthusiastic teachers and having to see Juniper walking through the halls with her new friends. Dee would rather be alone than witness that.

But it turns out Dee isn’t the only one hiding from something. There are kids all over the school worrying in secret and needing someone to talk to. After Dee helps a second grader with spelling advice, more students begin coming to Dee with their problems. It turns out she’s a good listener, and she likes helping people. And when she starts receiving mysterious notes, it seems someone out there wants to be her friend—if only they would reveal themselves.

ABOUT C.W. FARNSWORTH
C.W. Farnsworth is the author of numerous adult and young adult romance novels featuring sports, strong female leads, and happy endings. Charlotte lives in Rhode Island and when she isn’t writing spends her free time reading, at the beach, or snuggling with her Australian Shepherd.
authorcwfarnsworth.com

ABOUT KISS NOW, LIE LATER (RIVAL BOOK 1)
One boy. One girl. Two feuding towns.

MAEVE: I've heard a lot of things about Weston Cole. He’s popular. Conceited. Obnoxious. Most importantly, he’s spent the past three years steadily dismantling my family’s football legacy. I should hate him. And I did. Until I encountered him freshman year and discovered he’s also troubled. Captivating. Considerate. When our paths cross again senior year, that knowledge becomes even more dangerous than his suggestive smirk. Hating him was easy. Before I met him.

WESTON: No girl in Glenmont is more untouchable than Maeve Stevens. She lives across enemy lines. Her father is Glenmont’s head football coach. Her twin brother is their quarterback. My latest problem? One conversation with Maeve makes me forget about the decades long rivalry between our two towns. Makes me forget there’s a team of guys relying on me to lead them to victory against our main rival. A few forbidden kisses, and there’s only one thing I want to fight for. Her.

ABOUT LUCY KEATING
Lucy Keating is a writer living in Somerville with her husband, son, and ancient scruffy dog. She is a graduate of Williams College and the Cuttyhunk Writers Residency. Lucy has written three young adult novels with HarperCollins and is at work on her first adult book. In her work she enjoys combining big romantic tropes with just a pinch of suspension of disbelief. For the past decade Lucy has worked in the interactive fiction space, advising companies like Netflix on how to make mobile games out of their popular IP.

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PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO
Your presence at the Lovestruck Books event acknowledges that you have been informed of the potential to be documented as part of a video or photo release, and that you grant permission for your likeness to be included in publication of any footage.

Host or Publisher Lovestruck Books