Magic, Misfits and Connection
Join Jenn Lyons, Vanessa Vida Kelley and Julie Leong as they explore how they cast misfits and why the best transformations happen when we stop trying to belong and start building our own spaces. These stories celebrate characters who refuse to accept the boxes the world tries to put them in.
| Where: | Student Union Kachina (Seats 100)  |
| When: | Sun, Mar 15, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm |
| Signing area: | UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)
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| Genre: | Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror |
| Moderator: | Katherine Morter |
Panelists
Venessa Vida KelleyVenessa Kelley is a Nuyorican author, illustrator, .and aspiring mermaid who writes fairy tales about the real world so they can draw them too. They hold a BA and MA in English literature with concentrations in film from the University of Delaware and the George Washington University respectively....
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Julie LeongJulie Leong is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of "The Teller of Small Fortunes" and "The Keeper of Magical Things." The daughter of Malaysian Chinese immigrants, she studied economics and political science at Yale University, and currently works in tech....
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Jenn LyonsTwice-nominated Astounding Award finalist, Jenn Lyons lives in Atlanta with her husband, her cats, and a nearly infinite number of opinions on anything from Sumerian mythology to the correct way to make a martini....
Books:
When the Tides Held the Moon
Venessa Vida Kelley
Romance
Kensington Publishing Corp
April 2025
ISBN 9781645661535
464 pages
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The Keeper of Magical Things
Julie Leong
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Penguin Group
October 2025
ISBN 9780593815946
368 pages
Buy nowAn almost-mage discovers friendship—and maybe something more—in the unlikeliest of places in this delightfully charming novel from the USA Today bestselling author of The Teller of Small Fortunes.
Certainty Bulrush wants to be useful—to the Guild of Mages that took her in as a novice, to the little brother who depends on her, and to anyone else she can help. Unfortunately, her tepid magic hasn’t proven much use to anyone. When Certainty has the chance to earn her magehood via a seemingly straightforward assignment, she takes it. Nevermind that she’ll have to work with Mage Aurelia, the brilliant, unfairly attractive overachiever who’s managed to alienate everyone around her.
The two must transport minorly magical artifacts somewhere safe: Shpelling, the dullest, least magical village around. There, they must fix up an old warehouse, separate the gossipy teapots from the kind-of-flaming swords, corral an unruly little catdragon who has tagged along, and above all, avoid complications. The Guild’s uneasy relationship with citizens is at a tipping point, and the last thing needed is a magical incident.
Still, as mage and novice come to know Shpelling’s residents—and each other—they realize the Guild’s hoarded magic might do more good being shared. Friendships blossom while Certainty and Aurelia work to make Shpelling the haven it could be. But magic is fickle—add attraction and it might spell trouble. More/less
Green & Deadly Things
Jenn Lyons
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Tor Publishing Group
March 2026
ISBN 9781250342188
368 pages
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