November 2024 Author of the Month

Kwame Mbalia is an acclaimed American author born on December 15, 1984, thirty-eight years old. He is a devoted husband and father who loves to write and tell stories about African American folklore, not just through books. Mbalia is best known for his fantasy series, "The Tristan Strong Chronicles," which I enjoyed. The first book, "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is about African American folklore and gods with a lot of humor and powerful themes. His stories have been recognized with several awards, and he has quickly become a beloved author in children's literature, particularly for his interesting stories similar to Rick Riordan's writing. Rick Riordan is one of the most popular children's authors and the Tristan Strong series was part of the Rick Riordan presents list (https://rickriordan.com/rick-riordan-presents/)

I chose Kwame Mbalia as the month's author because his ability to create a funny, interesting novel with a world full of mystical creatures and mythical gods with different characters and cultural significance is really amazing. Through the adventures of Tristan Strong, Mbalia expertly writes about elements of African mythology and combines them with issues of today, making his stories not only entertaining but also deeply important. His writing captures the importance of childhood wonder and the importance of friendship, family, and resilience. I was particularly amazed by how easily he adds humor to his books while addressing complex themes, making his books accessible and engaging for young readers.

 For more about Kwame Mbalia and his fantastic works, visit his official website. (https://www.kwamembalia.com/)