On Jan. 7, 2025, my first nonfiction picture book will join the world.

UNSTOPPABLE JOHN: HOW JOHN LEWIS GOT HIS LIBRARY CARD AND HELPED MAKE HISTORY is written by me, illustrated by Jerry Jordan and published by Viking Books for Young Readers.

It tells the story of how Civil Rights leader and U.S. Congressman John Lewis asked for a public library card when he was 16, knowing he'd be told "no" because his local library was only for whites.

But John asked anyway, and that request was his first peaceful protest against laws he knew were racist and wrong. John dedicated his life to making sure people of all races were able to get library cards, vote, eat at lunch counters, sit anywhere they liked on a bus and watch movies.

And alway, no matter where he was or what he was doing, John was surrounded by books -- reading and learning so he could continue making the world a better place.

This book is a Junior Library Guild selection and can be preordered now from any of the outlets listed below.

If you’re so inclined, you can order any of my books online through:

• Barnes and Noble.
• Books-A-Million.
• Bookshop
• Hudson Booksellers.
• Powell's.
• Amazon.

Or, you could order from an independent bookstore.

My local favorites are:

• Mystery to Me And, Mystery to Me can get you a signed copy should you so desire. Just ask for one when you order. They ship anywhere in the U.S. Details under Want Autographed Copies of My Books?
• A Room of One's Own.
• Kismet Books.
• Lake City Books.

Indie bookstores might have my books in stock and on their shelves. And, if they don't, they will order them for you. Most stores will even ship your order right to your door.

To find an independent bookstore near you, visit IndieBound. You can enter your ZIP code and see what’s nearby.

Want to give a book to a kid who needs it?

If you order one of my titles from this wish list, the book will be sent directly to The Madison Reading Project, a nonprofit that distributes books to kids with limited access to reading materials. You order the book, they get it to a child, and you get a sense of satisfaction and a tax dedection.

Other ways to support authors you know and/or admire:

• Ask your local public library to order the book. Most libraries have purchase request forms you can fill out online — or paper versions you can fill out in the library.
• Check it out or request it from your public library. If enough people want to check out the book, the library may order extra copies.
• Post a review. You can share your thoughts on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com or goodreads. If you say positive things, that’s a bonus.
• Post something on social media. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Something like this is fine. “My friend ADD NAME HERE wrote a book called ADD TITLE HERE. It’s awesome. You can check it out at: ADD LINK TO AUTHOR’S WEBSITE OR BOOKSELLER HERE.”