Robby Webber began his New York City career in fashion and brings the creativity of the industry to life in his new title, Everything About You. Two aspiring fashion interns travel to Paris to compete for a full-time position at one of the most prestigious fashion houses. Yet Paris loves a plot twist, especially when it involves romance.

Alexandra Leigh Young has traveled on tour with superstars, including Rihanna and Jay-Z, and has channeled those experiences into Lou with the Band. From rockstar love interests to the gritty details of hitting the road, her new title highlights the freedom and self-discovery that come from stepping outside of your comfort zone to perhaps, maybe, find the “new you” in the process.

And lastly, we have the book our own Professor Orlando Dos Reis helped bring to life, Mint to Be: Cicatelli-Kuc’s second installment in a romance series set around the holidays in the small town of Briar Glen. As a Senior Editor at Scholastic, and the professor of Editorial Principles and Practices in our program, Professor Dos Reis is responsible for directing the editorial process for the books. The first title in the series, Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice, has hit the New York Times bestseller list and received a Barnes & Noble “Hot Coffee, Hot Book” promotion this fall, with a special edition complete with sprayed edges and foil stamping.

Featured authors on the panel: Robby Webber (Everything About You), Alexandra Leigh Young (Lou with the Band), and Katie Cicatelli-Kuc (Mint to Be).

Mint to Be follows Emma, who left her quaint hometown to attend boarding school and has returned for the holidays accompanied by her new boyfriend. Waiting for her is her childhood best friend, Aiden, who has missed her since the day she left and has been harboring hidden feelings ever since. Will their reunion be joy-filled (and peppermint-sweet) or contentious? And will they warm up to each other in time for the holidays despite the time apart?

Written against the backdrop of holiday Hallmark movies and British baking shows, and set in a town inspired by Beacon, NY, Cicatelli-Kuc has crafted a cozy childhood-friends-to-lovers romance, perfect for reading by the fireplace with a peppermint hot chocolate in hand.

Between laughter, inspiration, and plenty of book talk, the Swoonworthy YA panel was the perfect reminder of why we all fell in love with stories in the first place, and a special moment to see Professor Dos Reis’s work celebrated in person.