  Today we celebrate the book birthday of A Flicker of Hope. We sat down with Musa Cynthia Harmony to learn all about the inspiration behind this book. But first, a little bit about the book: A FLICKER OF HOPE - A Kirkus and Publishers Weekly Star recipient. LUCÍA loves to watch the monarcas’ annual migration with her papá. But this year, their flight north holds extra weight: Papá is heading north, too, to work on faraway farms to feed his family. Though she hates to see him go, he leaves her a song and a promise that when the weather turns cold and the monarcas return, so will he. After many months apart, Lucía watches the skies for a flicker of hope, the monarchs’ homecoming that signals Papá’s return. Through parallel journeys, this love letter to the bonds that connect us celebrates the power of families and nature, both of which know no borders. Published by Viking Books for Young Readers. On sale: February 27, 2024; ISBN: 9780593525791; ages 4-8 ★ “A beautiful story about cycles and traditions that shines a light on migration.” –Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW ★ “[A] smartly twined telling.” –Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW ★ “This magnificent and hopeful tale of journey and returns is recommended for first purchase.” –School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW “Harmony employs a number of motifs throughout the story… if the prose is sensational, the addition of Holzwarth’s glowing illustrations makes this book a treasure.” –BCCB What 3 words would you use to describe your book? Hope, family love, connection. Where did you get the idea to write this particular story? A few years ago my sister worked with the indigenous communities in Mexico to develop and brand sustainable crafts, products, and tourism offerings within the Monarch Reserve region and produce videos. Watching this footage and listening to her experience inspired me to share the story about monarchs and the community in Mexico that welcomes them back every Winter. What was your favorite part of the publication process with this story? This story had a long process and it was shared with many industry professionals who kindly shared their feedback to make it stronger along the way. I’m especially grateful to my We Need Diverse Voices mentor Rob Sanders, a fantastic writing teacher who helps you find the elements that serve your story better. And also working with my editors through a seamless revision and discussing potential illustrators which led to having the amazing Devon Holzwarth agree to share her talents to create this beautiful book. Receiving the art in color for the first time, is probably my favorite moment so far. What message are you hoping readers will take away from this story? That we are all connected to people and nature more than we know. We follow similar patterns, traditions, heritage and the seasons to care for our families and survive. The challenges of a whole community or of a little girl in a different country, can be directly linked to the food we are eating at our table right now. When we make those threads visible we can strengthen our understanding and compassion and hopefully we can make better decisions that will positively impact everyone around us. What comes next for you as an author? My next picture book APAPACHO LOVE comes out in Fall 2025 illustrated by Erika Meza published by Farrar Strauss Giroux Macmillan. It’s the story of a little girl that wonders how she will cope without her mom’s apapachos-cuddles when Mami leaves on her first work trip. Slowly, she finds comfort in her friends and family by discovering her own power to grow Apapacho Love.
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