Author Storytime: Michael Genhart
Celebrate Pride Month this Saturday, June 15th at 9:30am during a storytime with local picture book author Michael Genhart, reading from his storybooks ‘They're So Flamboyant’ and ‘Rainbow: A First Book of Pride.’
When Michael’s daughter began applying to colleges, he was brought back to memories of reading picture books together when she was young: one of their favorite shared activities. Knowing he would miss her when she moved away prompted the idea of writing picture books himself.
“The creative process is really, for me, about finding stories that are meaningful for me to tell in a heartfelt way; that will reach the heart of a reader.”
After 2 years as a student of the craft, Michael began writing from the perspective of his lived experience: first about themes that came out of his full-time psychology practice, then later through the lens of being a gay man and dad, followed by his experience growing up in a multicultural, Mexican-American and Swiss-American household.
"Pen and paper literally keeps me close to the words ... and it helps me be near the story at all times ... it’s with me wherever I go.”
Michael keeps a physical pen and pad of paper with him wherever he goes, finding many of his ideas come while shopping at Safeway or taking a walk. By the time he sits down at the table to write, he has a good idea of what he wants to say. He always writes to music, as well, because he imagines writing a story is like writing a song: both have limited time and only so many words to tell a story that hopefully people will resonate with.
His forthcoming books include picture book biographies highlighting the true stories of LGBTQ+-rights activist Edith Windsor and chicana muralist Judy Baca.
“I wanted to write books that address kids, but also the grown-ups that would have benefited from books about issues they were carrying over many, many years.”