Join the Easthampton Public Library for a family-friendly event with Lisa Stringfellow, author of the Massachusetts Book Awards–honored novel Kingdom of Dust. Stringfellow will read from her work, share folktales that have influenced her storytelling, and talk about the traditions and inspirations that shape her fantasy worlds. The program will conclude with an audience Q&A.

Honored in the Mass Book Awards in the Middle Grade/YA category, Kingdom of Dust follows Amara, a young girl on a quest to find her land’s lost storytellers in order to save her family and society. Drawing inspiration from West African mythology, the novel blends lush prose with accessible writing for readers of all ages. Amara’s journey—rooted in themes of climate justice, cultural memory, and the restoration of her people’s stories—has earned the book recognition within the growing canon of modern fantasy for children.

This program is sponsored by the Mass Book Awards Speakers Bureau and is presented in collaboration with the Massachusetts Center for the Book.

LISA STRINGFELLOW is a middle-grade author and longtime educator who has taught Language Arts and technology to middle-school students for over 30 years. She writes fantasy with a dark, folkloric twist, inspired by her love of fairy tales. A member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, the Authors Guild, and Black Creators HQ, she is an active advocate for equity and inclusivity in children’s literature.