The Vanderbeekers Ever After by Karina Yan Glaser
Hi, Karina Yan Glaser! I’m so grateful you’ve returned to Watch. Connect. Read. to celebrate The Vanderbeekers Ever After. I ALWAYS love celebrating books together, and I especially love when we run into each other in New York City! What do you want everyone to know about the conclusion to your BRILLIANT Vanderbeekers series?
Karina Yan Glaser: Hi, Mr. Schu! It’s always wonderful to celebrate new books with you. Whenever I’m in Times Square or watching a Broadway show, I look for you!
The final book in the Vanderbeekers series was quite a challenge to write. I knew how I wanted the series to end, but I didn’t know how to get the book there. I am usually very diligent about my deadlines, and for the first time I missed one. It was hard to capture everything I wanted for the Vanderbeeker family and this series, but I knew I wanted readers to feel the same hope and love for the characters in the final book as they did in the first one. Thankfully, with the help of my wonderful editor Anne Hoppe, I got this story to where I wanted it to be. I feel very proud of The Vanderbeekers Ever After.
The final book in the Vanderbeekers series was quite a challenge to write. I knew how I wanted the series to end, but I didn’t know how to get the book there. I am usually very diligent about my deadlines, and for the first time I missed one. It was hard to capture everything I wanted for the Vanderbeeker family and this series, but I knew I wanted readers to feel the same hope and love for the characters in the final book as they did in the first one. Thankfully, with the help of my wonderful editor Anne Hoppe, I got this story to where I wanted it to be. I feel very proud of The Vanderbeekers Ever After.
Illustration Credit: Katya Longhi
Design Credit: Julia Tyler
One funny thing that happened while writing this book was I needed more information about therapy dogs. I thought, I have a dog. I can train my dog to be a therapy dog. My dog Lalo still had puppy energy when I had this brilliant idea, but I like challenges so I found a local group that trained teams for therapy animal work. Lalo and I went through the whole course, and out of all the dogs who were doing the program with us, I think Lalo had the most work to do! After much training, we took the test. Miraculously, we passed! I got valuable information about therapy animals for my book, and now Lalo and I are having many adventures together as a therapy dog team.
Share three words that come to mind when you think about the Vanderbeekers.
Karina Yan Glaser: Community. Family. Love.
Karina Yan Glaser: Community. Family. Love.
What is one of your favorite places in New York City? A spot that brings you much comfort and joy!
Karina Yan Glaser: One of my favorite things about New York City is how walkable it is. I love walking and running, and there is always so much to see and observe. So I think some of my favorite places are walking and running paths – Harlem River Park, where Lalo and I walk every morning; Central Park, where I am often huffing and puffing as I run over the hills; and Riverside Park, which has a lovely view of the Hudson River.
Please finish the following sentence starters:
Family surrounds you with love and fresh baked cookies when you’re having hard day.
John Schu, you should have asked me what Broadway shows I’ve seen this year! (I love that we share a love of musicals!) I’ve seen Kimberly Akimbo, Camelot, Funny Girl, Some Like It Hot, and Shucked. I’m looking forward to seeing Parade in early June, and I really want to see & Juliet. What musicals have you seen?
Karina Yan Glaser: One of my favorite things about New York City is how walkable it is. I love walking and running, and there is always so much to see and observe. So I think some of my favorite places are walking and running paths – Harlem River Park, where Lalo and I walk every morning; Central Park, where I am often huffing and puffing as I run over the hills; and Riverside Park, which has a lovely view of the Hudson River.
Family surrounds you with love and fresh baked cookies when you’re having hard day.
John Schu, you should have asked me what Broadway shows I’ve seen this year! (I love that we share a love of musicals!) I’ve seen Kimberly Akimbo, Camelot, Funny Girl, Some Like It Hot, and Shucked. I’m looking forward to seeing Parade in early June, and I really want to see & Juliet. What musicals have you seen?
I'm currently listening to the cast recordings of Kimberly Akimbo and Parade on repeat. Those are my two favorite shows right now! I'm SUPER excited for you to see & Juliet. I've seen it twice, and I'm ready to see it for the third time.
Thank you, Karina!
Look for The Vanderbeekers Ever After on September 19, 2023.
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