New Milford's author-illustrator of books for young audiences, Vesper Stamper, is well placed. Her husband, Ben, gave her an orange tree, and she illustrates and writes under its blossoms at her grandfather's old drafting table. Now, from under its leaves comes her new book, A Cloud of Outrageous Blue, and Bethel's Byrd's Books is pleased to host her on a special Zoom In discussion on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 7 - 9 p.m.
The event, true to Byrd's Books owner Alice Hutchinson's support of play to learn, learn to play, and making reading essential, will not only present a discussion of what it's like to both write and illustrate a YA book, including a chance to see original sketches and artwork from the book, but will host a few artist-led games like "Bookshelf Bingo" and "Two Truths and a Lie," with surprise prizes for the winners. To join in the fun with, Vesper Stamper, the youth-full award-winning creator of What the Night Sings, and to obtain copies of her books, visit conta.cc/34zc4Bc.
Though A Cloud of Outrageous Blue is aimed at young adult readers, Vesper Stamper's lushly illustrated historical fiction is for all ages. It tells the story of a young woman, paving her own path and falling in love during the Great Plague of 1348, while coming to terms with the gifts she discovers in herself.
Vesper's first book, What the Night Sings drew critical acclaim, with New York Times bestselling author, Kristin Hannah urging that the "powerful story of love, loss, and survival is not to be missed." Vesper Stamper was born in Nuremberg, Germany, raised in New York City, married filmmaker Ben Stamper right out of college, and together they have two wildly creative children. She earned her MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts.
