Celebrate the launch of THE MANY MEANINGS OF MEILAN with award-winning author Andrea Wang (WFYP, June 2011), in conversation with Debbi Michiko Florence who is celebrating the release of JUST BE COOL, JENNA SAKAI. Copies of Debbi’s books are not able to be personalized at this time. Only Andrea’s MG novel will offer personalization.

Andrea Wang is the award-winning author of the picture books The Nian Monster, Magic Ramen, and Watercress. The Many Meanings of Meilan is her debut middle-grade novel. The first character in Andrea’s Chinese name is an archaic one that means fragrant, but her parents’ friends all thought it was the character for jade, which sounds exactly the same. That sparked her lifelong interest in names and identity. She’d much rather be a rock than smelly. Andrea likes to write about family, food, and culture. She spent her childhood in Ohio and Boston and now lives in Colorado with her family.

Debbi Michiko Florence is the author of middle grade novels Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai, which received a starred review from Kirkus, Keep It Together, Keiko Carter, a New England Book Award finalist; and the Jasmine Toguchi chapter books. A third-generation Japanese American and native Californian, Debbi lives in Connecticut with her husband, rescue dog, rabbit, and duck. Visit her online at debbimichikoflorence.com.