It’s Tuesday, dear friends…and you know what that means! It’s time to sing Happy Birthday to a brand new book from a long-time kid lit buddy of mine, Melissa Stoller.  

It’s called: HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART…and it’s illustrated by Anita Bagdi and published by Gnome Road Publishing!

And because Melissa is a sweetheart – she’s stopped by to share a bit of the story behind the story. She knows we always love to get a peek at what inspires writers to write a particular story.
ME: Welcome, Melissa! Thank you so much for visiting with us today! Please share a little bit about the story and why you wrote it.

MELISSA: Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Vivian! I could not think of a better book birthday launch for HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART, illustrated by the extremely talented Anita Bagdi, and published by Gnome Road Publishing. It’s a story about friendship, and I am grateful for our amazing friendship which has spanned many years.

This book is about what happens after a best friend moves away, and when she returns, things don’t feel exactly as they used to. I was inspired to write this story because my children and I have experienced people moving and friendships shifting and changing. Through Hazel and Mabel’s adventures, I wanted children to see that while someone can change, the friendship can still survive. Also, Hazel and Mabel communicate through letters and they both love writing and storytelling. This becomes part of the creative way they find to get the heart of their friendship beating again. Including characters who enjoy writing made my heart sing!

ME: Can you share a bit about how it was to work with your editor? And also, how did you feel when you saw the illustrations?

MELISSA: It has been a dream working with Sandra Sutter and her team at Gnome Road Publishing! And Anita’s illustrations are absolutely stunning and capture all the emotions the characters feel such as disappointment, longing, happiness, and more. I especially appreciate all the details she includes, and I love that she shows Mabel moving away in a hot air balloon. Too cute! And she illustrates how Hazel and Mabel send their letters back and forth – through an Owl Post – truly adorable! 

ME: I’m so glad it was such a positive experience, Melissa! And thank you for writing this story…we need all the friendship stories we can get to help mend our somewhat broken world. Plus, I understand you have teacher resources on your website.

MELISSA: Thank you again for highlighting HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART on launch day! I am so excited for young readers to discover the enduring friendship of Hazel and Mabel! And for educators: check out my website at www.MelissaStoller.com for a complimentary Educator’s Curriculum Guide with discussion questions, enrichment materials, and lesson ideas. 

Dear friends, here’s a little bit about author Melissa Stoller:
 
Melissa Stoller writes to bring connection, joy, and a bit of magic to her readers. Her newest picture book, Hazel and Mabel: Two Hearts Apart, illustrated by Anita Bagdi, releases from Gnome Road Publishing on September 30, 2025. Melissa’s next picture book, Stella’s Special Recipe, illustrated by Valerya Milovanova, will release from Kar-Ben Publishing in Fall 2026.                                                                                        

Melissa is also the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection – Return to Coney Island, and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; Sadie’s Shabbat Stories; Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom; and Building Bridges: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written). Melissa is a Blogger for the Children’s Book Academy, a Rate Your Story Judge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, and a Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center Trustee. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer/editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and Central Park walks with family and friends. 
 
 TO CONNECT WITH MELISSA AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HER BOOKS:
 https://www.MelissaStoller.com
https://www.MelissaStoller.com/blog 
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaStoller
http://www.twitter.com/melissastoller
http://www.instagram.com/Melissa_Stoller
www.pinterest.com/melissa_Stoller

@MelissaStoller.bsky.social
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You can purchase HAZEL AND MABEL: TWO HEARTS APART at these bookstores:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/hazel-and-mabel-two-hearts-apart-melissa-stoller/960a747616a2c234?ean=9781957655574&next=t&next=t

https://www.amazon.com/Hazel-Mabel-Two-Hearts-Apart/dp/1957655577/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hazel-and-mabel-melissa-stoller/1146882184?ean=9781957655574

And because we want beautiful books like this one to become a success and get into the hands of young readers, we can:
Buy the book – use one of the links above
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (PLEASE share this post on your social media)
Ask local libraries to purchase copies for their collection

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your precious time with us. I hope you all have a wonderful week!