book events

Stonewall Ceremony Thank You Remarks

events and news

On June 26, 2023, the American Library Association Rainbow Round Table held the Stonewall Award Ceremony as part of their Youth Media Awards and the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

I’m truly grateful to the ALA Rainbow Round Table and the Stonewall Award Committee for choosing THE REAL RILEY MAYES as a 2023 Stonewall Honor Book. The best part of this experience was meeting all the librarians who serve on the committee. They are each so devoted to LGBTQ+ books for kids, and yet this is also just a small part of their amazing creative lives.

Below is a video of my thank you remarks at the ceremony.

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Juneteenth Banned Books and Literary Festival

events and news

Please join Shawn Pryor, Mariama Lockington, and Rachel Elliott at the Juneteenth Banned Books & Literacy Festival!

FRIDAY June 16th: Join from anywhere! A virtual panel of scholars will discuss literacy and inclusion in K-12 schools

SATURDAY, June 17th: Join us at the University of Kentucky’s Cornerstone Building at 401 S. Limestone in Lexington, KY! Saturday’s program will include youth poet Klitan Adedeji, an author panel, a book signing, and a series of banned book READ IN workshops. Books will be for sale onsite, and a pizza lunch will be provided.

The festival is free with registration, and you can register and read more details here.

School Visits and Workshops

events and news, resources for teachers, teaching with comics

Do you love connecting kids with creators? That’s fantastic, because I love helping creative kids put their ideas into words and pictures! I’ve taught classes in comic making and diary comics at Lexington’s Living Arts and Science Center, and I’ve taught workshops through Kentucky Arts and Humanities. During the pandemic, I also led a weekly drawing hangout for kids for a year and a half, and guest-taught at Homeschool Co-op 2020. Workshop activities include: playing games like “Animal + Emotion + Occupation” or “Ghostwriter”, making four-panel comics, or creating a class-wide zine. Check out the School Visit and Workshop flyer below! Then email re@rachelelliott.me or use the contact form in the ABOUT page.

elliott-workshops-flyer-1Download

What Happened at “The Real Riley Mayes” Book Events in Oklahoma

events and news

My debut graphic novel THE REAL RILEY MAYES is set in Oklahoma. See that tell-tale sky blue flag on the cover? I grew up there, and it was a joy to draw little slices of life from my home state into this book. There are Chevy Silverados in the drop-off circle, mullet haircuts with no irony whatsoever, and frito chili pie in the school cafeteria. There’s also LGBTQ+ characters in the book. Sometimes Oklahoma’s lawmakers are hostile to LGBTQ+ issues and rights, but Oklahomans in general are supportive, and there’s a lot of queer community to be found… in the book, and in real life. Last week I got to visit my home state for four stops on a quick book tour. Here’s the amazing people and places I got to visit:

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REAL RILEY MAYES book signings and talks in Oklahoma

events and news

My debut graphic novel THE REAL RILEY MAYES is set in Oklahoma. I grew up there, and it was a joy to draw little slices of life from my home state into this LGBTQ+ book for kids. So I’m thrilled to come back to Oklahoma for three stops on a little book tour! If you’re in Oklahoma, come say hello!

SEPT 30: I’ll be on a panel “Banning Queer Books” at University of Central Oklahoma’s International Gender and Sexuality Studies Conference in Edmond. The panel is at 1:15 in Constitution Hall at UCO. There will be a REAL RILEY MAYES book signing afterwards, and free postcards for everyone!

OCT 1: I’ll be signing copies of THE REAL RILEY MAYES, and giving out free postcards, at the Pryor Book Exchange and Bible Bookstore in my hometown of Pryor, Oklahoma. I’ll be there 1pm-3pm. While you’re in town, don’t forget to swing by Sandusky’s Market for some jam (the edible kind and the musical kind!)

OCT 2: I’ll be talking about the making of THE REAL RILEY MAYES at Magic City Books in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Come ask a question! Pick up free postcards, and browse a scrapbook of behind-the-scenes sketches. 2pm at Magic City Books.