Novalee and the Spider Secret
Novalee starts the fourth grade determined to not just make friends but to change herself from boring Nova into super Nova. Her mom finds her grandfather's violin, and Nova decides to take lessons. It seems to work as Nova finds acceptance for her growing skill.
But her world soon tumbles out of control when her violin teacher does something that threatens her universe: he kisses her. She makes an unlikely friendship with a fellow outcast, Toby, who helps her find the courage, voice, and persistence to confront the spider secret.
About Lori Ann Stephens (Dallas, Texas Author)
Lori Ann Stephens’s forthcoming novel, Novalee and the Spider Secret, tells the semi-autobiographical story of her own childhood secret and the friendship that gave her hope. Lori is also the author of Song of the Orange Moons and two previous children’s books: Young Adult novel Some Act of Vision (winner of the 2014 National Reader’s Choice Award, RWA) and Middle Grade humor Pierre François: 5th Grade Adventures (2018). Her award-winning short stories have been published in Glimmer Train Stories, The Chicago Tribune, and several literary journals.
Her long-time interest in Southern literary novels and trauma narratives culminated in her doctorate on mother/daughter relationships in Southern literature. After winning the English National Opera mini-opera libretto contest, judged by Neil Gaiman and Jeremy Sams, Lori dabbled in libretto-writing; her collaborations have been staged in London, Minneapolis, and Dallas. She loves loud music, visiting Paris, baking French macarons, and embarking of daring DIY projects at home. Lori lives in Texas with her family and teaches at Southern Methodist University.
