Loan Stars is the readers' advisory tool that allows libraries across Canada to indicate popular upcoming titles. Using LibraryData, the library data aggregation service, the forthcoming titles with the most orders become Loan Stars top picks!
But who are the authors and illustrators behind these great Loan Stars reads?
We find out in our series, Meet the Loan Stars.
Meet Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki
Photo credit: Richard Man
Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki is a Nigerian speculative fiction writer and editor. He is a multiple Hugo finalist and a 2021 Nebula award winner for Best Novelette with his climate fiction story O2 Arena. He is also the founder of Jembefola Press and the Emeka Walter Dinjos Memorial Award For Disability In Speculative Fiction.
Meet Sheree Renée Thomas
Photo credit: Danian Darrell Jerry
Sheree Renée Thomas is a New York Times bestselling, award-winning writer and editor. She is the author of the Marvel novel adaptation of the legendary comics, Black Panther: Panther's Rage. She lives in her hometown, Memphis, Tennessee near a mighty river and a pyramid.
Oghenechovwe and Sheree are the editors, alongside Zelda Knight, of the book Africa Risen, which is on the November 2022 Adult list! They were also editors for Bridging Worlds, a non-fiction anthology about African writers and their challenges during the pandemic. Meet Oghenechovwe and Sheree and learn all about their love for libraries, their book recommendations, and more in the interview below.
If you could visit any library in the world, where would you go?
Oghenechovwe: The past: Alexandria.
Sheree: The Al-Qarawiyyin Library in Fez, Morocco! Founded in 859, it is the oldest library in the world and it looks absolutely gorgeous.
Do you have a favourite librarian, real or fictional?
Sheree: It's a toss up between Lucien from The Sandman and Burgess Meredith in “The Obsolete Man” from The Twilight Zone, poor thing. All doesn't go well for the latter but his glee in having unlimited time to read definitely resonated with me.
Which book would you choose to recommend to library patrons?
Oghenechovwe: The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins.
Sheree: Will Do Magic for Small Change by Andrea Hairston. I love her writing, as it always lifts my spirits and this one is a wonderful mix of science fiction, magic, aliens, family secrets, and lore with characters I really cared about. I could see it all, like the best movie.
What does being a Loan Stars pick mean to you?
Oghenechovwe: It's an immense and appreciated honour.
Sheree: This is such an honour to have librarians recommend our anthology to their readers across Canada. It makes my child self who relied so heavily on the wisdom and kindness of librarians very happy. Thank you! We hope you enjoy each of these wonderful stories.
Thank you for answering our questionnaire, Oghenechovwe & Sheree.
Are you a Loan Stars-recommended author or illustrator who wants to be featured on our blog? Get in touch with us to get started.
Until next time!
You can easily request advance reading copies (ARCs) on CataList.