Beep Boop Blog

Sometime in 2019, I noticed a new graphic novel in the library that focused on ghosts and…laundry. I was drawn at once into Brenna Thummler‘s enchanting story of loss and friendship, which expanded into a nearly 1,000 page trilogy. When I learned Brenna was following Sheets up with a new tale about mail delivery(!) in the recent but still wild West, I knew I had to learn more:

Me: Congratulations on the release of your new graphic novel GUMSHOE (HarperAlley, Jan. 2026)! Like many, I’ve been waiting for a follow up to your acclaimed Sheets series (one of the recent highlights in all of comics, at least to this fanboy), and Gumshoe did not disappoint. What inspired you to create this book?

Brenna: Thank you! My first intention was to center the story around social anxiety and continue my streak of mental health narratives for kids. As someone who gets nervous in social situations and loves the mail, I thought this combo lent itself to a compelling protagonist. I love weird combos. Sheets grew from the overlap of ghosts and laundry, and Gumshoe was very much my attempt to combine anxiety, mail, and the wild west. It was also important, at the very least for my own enjoyment, that I deviate from the sad tone of the Sheets series. I wanted to create something that was pure joy and adventure. I wanted Gumshoe to be an absurd, vibrant story for kids to get lost in. Sometimes young readers need an escape from the world’s problems just as much as they need to confront them.

Me: Your detailed and evocative settings play a large role in your work. How did you build the convincing world of Stony Lonesome, Arizona?

Brenna: I like my settings to feel real—the narrative hits closer to home that way. In the early stages of Gumshoe, I drove to Arizona with my mom for research and photo reference. I had discovered Bisbee while googling cool wild west towns and knew it would become Stony Lonesome. Bisbee was our first stop, and then we took the Gumshoe Gang’s lead and headed north, hitting tons of quirky towns and landscapes as we made our way towards the Grand Canyon. I have close to 4000 photos and videos from this trip, so truly, any credit to world-building goes to the state of Arizona.

Me: Your books are intricately detailed and colored; and so thick! Can you talk about your process of planning and drawing a book of this scope?

Brenna: For me, the story always dictates the art. I finalize my manuscripts before any visual planning—a “cross that bridge when I get there” sort of process—and it both makes sense and challenges me. It makes sense because I use visuals to fill in the gaps of what the characters can’t say. My rule is this: Words tell the story, but the art tells the truth. It’s challenging, though, to contain my stories within set page limits and not linger on every single emotional high. If I had it my way, Gumshoe would probably be 600 pages long. Editors really help reign their authors in! As for the intricate details, I wish I could simplify, but my brain simply won’t allow it. My illustration style is “intricately-detailed” and boy, is it annoying.

Me: One little Easter egg I have to inquire about: Louis Sacher (the author of Holes, which, hmm, is also a folklore-tinged tale set in the West). Fan mail from Willa?

Brenna: Holes is the greatest middle-grade novel that has ever been penned. It’s also the best book-to-movie adaptation that has ever graced us with its presence. There’s no point in disputing this–you will be wrong.

Me: I love Holes! (my signed Holes happily shares space on my shelf near my signed Sheets trilogy! I like meeting authors, what can I say…)

And speaking of authoring, how did you get into creating graphic novels for young readers?

Brenna: I never planned to become a graphic novelist. I was pretty against it, in fact. Until the end of 2015, I had never even read a graphic novel, and in my ignorance, thought very little of them. And then I was asked to illustrate Anne of Green Gables—a favorite book from childhood—and I couldn’t possibly say “no.” It was during this learning process that I discovered how much I loved graphic novels. Storytelling through sequential art is like solving a puzzle—it’s great brain stimulation. It’s incredibly fulfilling to have to work so hard to get it right, which is why I chose to keep going and write my own.

Me: Can you share what you’re working on next?

Brenna: Yes! I’m working on another graphic novel with HarperAlley. It’s a new story–not at all affiliated with Gumshoe. Again, I started with my love of “weird combos” and found a way to blend croquet, the pursuit of fame in the social media age, and eating disorders. This is my favorite story yet.

Me: Can’t wait! Thank you so much for chatting, Brenna. Wishing your book much success!

To learn more, please go to Brenna Thummler.

Photo by Jessica Hunter

Many of my earliest memories are musical, though I never really tried to make music or perform. But I love when kids are musical, and David McMullin certainly captures that boisterous spirit in his fun new board book. I caught up with David to learn more:

Me: Congratulations on your rockin’ new book, ROCK N’ ROLL BABY (Random House Books for Young Readers, March 2026)! It’s a really fun intro to musical genres. What inspired you to create this book?

David: Thanks so much, Jonathan. I wrote the first version of this book ten years ago when fractured fairytales were being published left and right. While exploring titles, I discovered that the nursery rhyme Rock-a-bye Baby hadn’t really been touched yet. A rock ’n’ roll parody seemed obvious.

Me: Music can influence us even before we’re born! My dad was a jazz musician, and I grew up in a house where jazz and classical music was always in the air, as well as a generous helping of Beatles’ records that I snuck into my room to play countless times. And this is still the music that speaks to me most. What music formed your childhood?

David: Other than liking a few Beatles’ albums also, I was about as un-rock as a child could get. I liked my world to be quiet and calm. One thing I did discover was a stack of old broadway cast albums hidden away in a closet. I made them mine! I was really drawn to the classical voices, and the variety of soaring melodies and quick humorous songs. I was particularly drawn to the way each song contributed to telling the story. All of that lead to my first career as a singer. I even ended up on a Broadway stage!

Me: Allison Black’s bright and warm illustrations really help us ‘feel the noise’. What was your experience seeing her illustrations bring your story to life?

David: It is impossible to not fall in love with her adorable characters. What I really love is how well she captured the feeling of each type of music while still keeping the illustrations simple. I enjoy scanning the spreads to see how she used each child’s everyday objects to be part of their musical story.

Me: How did you get into writing books for kids?

David: I eventually left performing and started working in education. But then, I found I had a creativity hole in my life. I started by taking a few art classes, then simple stories started popping into my head. The combination of the two lead me to memories my favorite childhood picture books, and suddenly I was on a runaway train. Now what drives me is a bit different. I was a reluctant reader as a child, so I hope to create books that help kids, like there one I was, to get excited about reading.

Me: Can you share what you’re working on next?

David: My next project will hopefully be announced any day now. I am working on an early reader series about perspectives. I’ve just seen the first art sketches, and I’m so excited to share more.

Me: Hmm, sounds intriguing. Thank you so much for chatting, David. Wishing your book much success!

To learn more, please go to davidmcmullinbooks.com.

It’s no secret that I’m always on the lookout for new books, especially for kids, that give insight into scientific and astronomic discoveries and those who made them. When I saw this title about early thinking of stars as gasses, I knew I had to catch up with author Laura Alary to learn more:

Me: Congratulations on your enlightening new picture book, THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE: Discovering the Stuff of Stars (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Jan. 2026)! I was enamored to learn about Cecilia Payne and her insightful discoveries. What inspired you to create this book?

Laura: I was introduced to Cecilia Payne through an episode of Cosmos (the Neil deGrasse Tyson version). I was struck by the magnitude of her discovery and by the fact that I had never heard of her before! I wanted to know more, so I started doing some background reading. The more I learned about Cecilia, the more convinced I became that her story should be better known. Not only did she have a lasting impact on astrophysics and our understanding of the chemical composition of the universe, she’s also a great example of someone who bumped up against a lot of obstacles but kept on doing her work to the best of her ability. She had a lot of gumption and I admire that. I wanted kids to have the chance to get to know her and her contributions to science much sooner than I did.

Me: We take so much for granted – stars are made of gas – that was mere speculation 100 years ago. What is something little understood now that you’d like the Cecilia’s of today to illuminate for common understanding 100 years in the future?

Laura: Well, there are plenty of big questions still unanswered. What are the invisible parts of the universe made of? Are we alone? What is consciousness and who (or what) has it? That last question is especially intriguing to me because how we answer it could have a big impact on how we perceive (and treat) other living beings. When I was a kid, for instance, I never thought of plants as being conscious in any way. Since then, science has taught us so much about how trees communicate and how forests are intricate systems or communities. These discoveries have given me a much greater appreciation for other kinds of life.  I hope there are some young Cecilias out there who can make new discoveries that show us more clearly than ever that we are part of an interconnected cosmos. Maybe if that was more widely accepted humans might do some things differently.

Me: Yas Imamura’s beautifully detailed and expressive watercolor (and/or gouache?) illustrations really help Cecilia shine. What was your experience or involvement in seeing her help bring your words to life?

Laura: I feel so fortunate that Yas has brought her talents to this book. She is such a gifted visual storyteller. My main contribution was to stay out of the way and let her work her magic! As is typical in publishing, Yas and I had no direct communication throughout the process. However, I did get to see the art taking shape, starting with the rough sketches. Because I had done more of the background reading and research, I was able to add a few historical and biographical details, like the fact that Cecilia’s mother was an accomplished artist (Yas ended up depicting her in her studio).

In one of the spreads of Cecilia as an undergraduate at Cambridge, the text talks about Cecilia being out of place as a woman. In her original sketch, Yas placed Cecilia in the back row of the lecture hall, which makes sense because we often think of excluded people being pushed to the back or the margins. But I had read that Cecilia actually had to sit in the front row, where there was no place for her to put her books and she was right under the nose of the lecturer. That detail shaped the final art. I was also able to find and share some archival photos that helped a bit with questions like: What did those glass plates really look like? What should be written on the blackboard?

Apart from that, I just sat back and was delighted by the subtle and beautiful ways Yas interpreted the story through images. Another spread I love is the one where Cecilia first arrives at Cambridge. The text talks about what exciting days those were and the kind of cutting-edge work that was being done in atomic physics. But the history of scholarship at Cambridge goes back centuries (Isaac Newton was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics there) and Cecilia must have been aware of that. In her illustrations, Yas shows Cecilia striding through stars (and other symbols of her studies) and in the background are silhouettes of scholars from earlier times. In a single image she has depicted both past and present. I thought that was brilliant.

Me: How did you get into writing books for kids?

Laura: I’ve always loved reading and writing. As an only child, I turned to books as companions and was rarely without one. Early on I started making my own little books, but never seriously considered writing for children as a career. That happened after my first child was born. At the time, I had just finished my Ph.D. and was worn out from writing my thesis. As I was learning how to be a mum, I was also trying to find my way back to enjoying writing. Going to the library, reading stacks of picture books, singing songs and playing with language with my little son helped me with both tasks. After a while, I decided to try writing a picture book of my own. I loved it so much I haven’t stop since!

Me: Can you share what you’re working on next?

Laura: I have two more books coming out in 2026. Around the Circle: Celebrating the Church Year is a journey through the liturgical seasons for young children. It will be published in July by Beaming Books. In the fall, Nimbus is publishing a picture book about friendship and communication set in Newfoundland in 1901, with a real historical event in the background. The title hasn’t been announced yet, so I can’t say more, but it’s a sweet story and in its own way includes a bit of science and technology. Anyone who wants to keep up with my book news is welcome to follow me on Instagram (@laura.alary) or FB (@lauraalaryauthor). Or you can check out my website (lauraalary.ca) and sign up for my newsletter.

Thank you, Jonathan, for the chance to talk about my work, especially The Curious Life of Cecilia Payne!

Me: Thank you so much for chatting, Laura. Wishing your book much success!

To learn more, please go to Laura Alary – Writing stories that make us bigger on the inside.

Like me, my teacher colleague Michelle Ray (we work in the same district) has been balancing the teaching with a writing life for many years. Unlike me, her work is aimed at secondary and older readers (note the kissing on the cover; my elementary students would be horrified beyond repair!) and draws inspiration from the classics. I’m happy to have finally caught up with Michelle to learn more:

Me: Congratulations on the release of your novel, OPHELIA: LIVE (Box Hill Books, Dec. 2025), which is the rerelease of your book FALLING FOR HAMLET (which itself was the inspiration for a TV show)! What’s the story behind your story?

Michelle: I went to a production of Hamlet at DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company, and it used the original language but in a modern setting. At the time, there weren’t as many theaters modernizing Shakespeare, and this one was so well done. It just made sense: angry, depressed college guy in a black hoodie dealing with the death of his father by lashing out while trying to sort if those around him could be trusted. Everything worked…except Ophelia. The actress was great, but I didn’t see why a modern girl would allow her father to eavesdrop on a conversation with her boyfriend, or why she would kill herself over a boy (both key plot points). As I walked to the subway, I mulled this over and wondered, “What if she didn’t die?” That was it! Thus, Ophelia: Live was born. I went home and started writing the “Get thee to a nunnery” scene in a modern times to see if it would work, and when it did, I started back at the beginning.

Making it clear from page one that she didn’t die interested me, and technology made it possible for Ophelia to see important moments from the story that she wasn’t part of in the original. I also decided at if she lived through the tragedy at the castle (being a Shakespeare tragedy, the body count is high), she would become an object of curiosity and suspicion. First, I tried framing her story with an Oprah-style talk show appearance, and then a police investigation. Both worked for different reasons, so I decided to keep both, beginning each chapter with one and end with the other, and allowed her to speak freely as herself in between. I wanted her to have her say, and to navigate her voice in those various settings, often with dark humor.

Me: Many of your books use Shakespeare – and Jane Austen – as source material. What are the fun parts – and the challenges – in trying to reinterpret some of the most famous works in the English language?

Michelle: I love re-imaging stories. When I was little, I could never sleep, so my parents told me tell myself stories in bed. The first I remember doing was Little House on the Prairie. As I got older, I preferred stories that didn’t have girls (The Outsiders, Stand By Me, Dead Poet’s Society), wishing a female could be part of boy-world, but knowing it would change everything. I never wrote any of these down, but I loved solving the riddle. Changing one character or the setting really changes the entire story, which I thought was fun. Additionally, it’s amazing when something as old as Shakespeare or Austen feels so “of the moment.” Love, heartbreak, jealousy, longing, grief – these do not change over the centuries. However, when the source material is sexist or the women are limited, it takes some doing to make it work for me. When I’m doing Austen reimaginings, I have to stay in-period. I sometimes get frustrated by the rules of behavior, but I have to remember they are living differently and would not see issues like I do. For Shakespeare, I have only done modern retellings, so the challenge there is to find a setting that matched the original story’s themes. For Ophelia: Live, I wanted to keep the main characters as royalty, since I have spent my life watching today’s royals struggle with paparazzi and living in the public eye. Having a commoner dating a prince, as happens in both Hamlet and Ophelia: Live, adds a whole other conflict. Much Ado About Something felt like a high school story, with its public loves and losses, and social media adds to the stress of relationships. For Mac/Beth, I set it in Hollywood because the story is about power, and how a death can launch someone into a position of having all they dreamed of, which can then become a nightmare. The biggest challenge of that one was the Weird Sisters, since today, most of us don’t see the supernatural in our daily lives, so I added characters who play witches on a show who have very odd, unexplained things happening around them. Another real challenge of reimaginings is that many readers have their own ideas of what “should” happen. And I can do is, to paraphrase Ophelia’s dad, be true to myself, and write the story I want to write.

Me: I appreciate the humor in your book. People think of Shakespeare as very.serious.writing, but he was an entertainer who used a lot of humor, correct? Do you always aim to sprinkle humor in, or does it depend of the story?

Michelle: Shakespeare plays are hilarious, and dirty, and silly, and beautiful, and heartbreaking, and romantic. They are everything. Yes, when writing my own stories, I always try to add humor. I actually think I’m funnier in person than in my writing, but I try to add at least a few witty exchanges or a wry comebacks into everything I write. In real life serious situations, people laugh. Most funerals I’ve gone to have had jokes and laughter as a way of coping and remembering. As teachers, we laugh a lot about the crazy things that happen in class. And Shakespeare was a master of undercutting the gravity of a scene with a joke. For instance, in Hamlet, the gravedigger that Hamlet talks to at Ophelia’s grave is not only profound, but truly comical. I love a good laugh, a good fart joke, a beautiful piece of writing, and a good cry. Humor deepens the human experience.

Me: By day, like me, your secret identity is a public school teacher (in the same school district I should point out). What do you teach and how do you balance the two careers?

Michelle: I teach middle school English, as well as two electives that combine reading, history, and multi-media sources to learn about 20^th century events, mythology, and, of course, Shakespeare. Finding time for everything varies. When my kids were little, I was writing ideas on scraps of paper (this was before cell phone voice recordings were possible) at children’s museums and playgrounds, and writing when they went to bed. Now they are grown, but I’ve taken on more responsibilities, like adapting and directing our school’s Shakespeare show. I’ve learned that when I have the time and energy to write, I have to write like I’m on fire because I’m not sure when the “spirit” will move me again or when I’ll have the chance. I used to write more consistently, and have learned to be less angry at myself when I am not feeling creative.

Me: Do you have any advice for writers who want to be published?

Michelle: Write. Write it all down. (I really wish I had been doing this all along. I’d love to see what my voice was like was I little and was making up storied in bed.) Don’t judge yourself or erase too much. Keep drafts. Then work on one draft and show it to someone you trust. That was huge for me because I was really afraid my work was terrible, and it only took one person’s encouragement to make me believe that, even if it wasn’t perfect, there was something there. I would also say read. I know it’s a cliché, but it matters. I can write fancy words in historical novels because I’ve read enough of them to know how they sound. Watching quality movies and TV shows helps, too, for understanding solid plotting, character creation, and pacing. If someone is serious about being published, writing conferences are amazing. The workshops are informative about the publishing process, and you get to meet other authors and publishing professionals. Finally, I would say that if someone want to be traditionally published, they have to (try to) get used to rejection. My first novel was rejected by over thirty agents, and then multiple publishers, but then it was published and became a TV show (The Royals), which ran for four seasons. I’ve had success and a lot of disappointment, but my husband asks when I despair, “Why do you do it?” That answer will vary for everyone, and mine has changed over the years. For me now, it’s not about fame or money, but loving the process of writing and the creative outpouring, the game of it, and having friends and family tell me about plot points and characters they love. It’s a real kick.

Me: Can you share what you’re working on next?

Michelle: I’m in the final stages of an Austen reimagining, and I’m thinking of starting a sequel to my medieval historical novel A World on Fire, following the daughter of the original protagonist as the world’s first ghetto is established in Venice. Who knows. My next real work is grading some essay outlines and giving feedback to try to help my students organize their thoughts so they can effectively communicate their great ideas.

Me: Always thinking of the students. Thank you so much for chatting, Michelle. Wishing your book much success – again!

To learn more, please go to MichelleRayBooks.

Because I’ve written many books based in space, kids often ask if I’d like to go there. Big no! I love observing and learning about the moon and stars, but no way you’d get me up there. My favorite planet is Earth! I love hiking, cycling, camping, birdwatching; the list goes on. And though I haven’t written about it myself, I was excited to learn that author-illustrator Tiffany Everett has a new graphic novel out for kids about kids exploring the great outdoors. I caught up with Tiffany to learn more:

Me: Congratulations on your outdoor adventurous new graphic novel, DIARY OF A NATURE NERD (Scholastic Graphix August 2025)! With kids spending so much time less in nature these days, they could use more role models like Brooke and Jayla. What inspired you to create this book?

Tiffany: Thank you so much! I didn’t really discover how much I loved the outdoors until I was in my twenties, and I wish I had found that connection much earlier. With Diary of a Nature Nerd, I wanted to share some of that sense of wonder with kids. The simple thrill of wondering what’s around the next bend on the trail, the excitement of spotting a wild animal, and the joy of learning its name and story. My hope is that Brooke and Jayla will inspire young readers to embrace curiosity and get excited about the natural world.

Me: My wife and I just got our first camper van (a 1997 Leisure Travel Wide Body), mostly for weekends trips for now. Any tips about RV life?

Tiffany: That is a really cool van! I hope you guys are loving it so far.

My partner and I have spent months on end living and travelling in various adventure rigs and one of the biggest things we’ve learned is that where you stay really shapes the experience. If you enjoy campgrounds with amenities, I recommend state parks over RV parks. RV parks often feel more like parking lots, while state parks tend to be more affordable, still typically have nice facilities, and give you that feeling of being immersed in nature, rather than surrounded by neighbors. And, if you’re set up to camp off-grid, camping on BLM land often offers the most peaceful experience with real solitude and panoramic views. Most of my favorite campsites are on free BLM land.

Me: Graphic novels (I know) are a lot of work! What’s your process like? Any steps that are particularly enjoyable or challenging for you?

Tiffany: They really are so much work! On the writing side, I love the plotting stage. It’s like a puzzle, figuring out the structure, emotional beats, and how everything fits together. One of my biggest struggles comes from the fact that I am pretty slow and detail-oriented when it comes to drawing. I have to constantly remind myself not to over-polish a single panel when there are hundreds more waiting to be drawn. I have to keep moving forward or else the book would never be finished.

Me: How did you get into writing books for kids?

Tiffany: I have always been an artist. I love illustrating and have wanted to illustrate children’s books since I was a teenager. Never in a million years did I think I would become a writer. But after diving into reading graphic novels, I fell in love with the format. I liked how it is just as much about the pictures as it is about the words. As a very visual person, this made the idea of writing my own story feel less intimidating. When I wrote Diary of a Nature Nerd, I got the opportunity to write exactly the kind of story that I would love to illustrate. Now I’m hooked on writing.

Me: Can you share what you’re working on next?

Tiffany: Yes! I am working on an illustrated middle grade chapter book series called The Bestie Book. It will be published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux Book for Young Readers. I am having so much fun writing it and can’t wait for it to find its readers!

The Bestie Book follows three best friends, Tally, Fia, and Skye who get split up, two zoned to different middle schools, and one moving an hour away. They come up with a plan to stay close: mail a diary back and forth. One at a time, they will take turns writing entries, updating each other on everything: school drama, crushes, embarrassing stories, and all the stuff that’s too big or too weird for a text.

As the girls grow and change, so does their friendship. But the diary, and the awkward, honest, and hilarious moments they share in it, keeps them tethered. Even when life pulls them in different directions, the diary reminds them that even if they aren’t in the same school, they’re all on the same page.

Me: Sounds great! Thank you so much for chatting, Tiffany. Wishing your book much success!

To learn more, please go to Tiffany Everett Illustration.