Gloria Muñoz, who appears at Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg, Florida on Jan. 6, 2024. Credit: Photo via Ayesha Pande Literary

Perfect for whatever this year is going to bring, Gloria Muñoz‘s debut young adult literature novel is “written in prose and verse will speak to any reader struggling with the state of our world and how to understand their place in it.”

To celebrate its release, the homegrown author and St. Pete’s poet laureate takes part in a courtyard talk at Tombolo Books about the work, which centers around Julieta Villarreal an aspiring writer whose life is more-or-less in shambles (sister died in a hit-and-run, house is literally crumbling). The 17-year-old gets a chance to take part in a private space program, which helps her find hope in unexpected places.

Tombolo Books’ “This is the Year” book launch with Gloria Muñoz on Monday, Jan. 6 is free with registration. Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.

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This article appears in Dec 26, 2024 – Jan 1, 2025.