PBS Books Readers Club launches season two with award-winning author Shelby Van Pelt to examine her extraordinary story, Remarkably Bright Creatures
Join PBS Books Readers Club on Wednesday, January 29 for a captivating conversation with Shelby Van Pelt as she discusses her heartwarming debut novel, Remarkably Bright Creatures. This engaging virtual event will offer an in-depth exploration of Van Pelt’s extraordinary narrative, which blends humor, emotion, and an unforgettable bond between a widowed woman and an octopus named Marcellus.
Remarkably Bright Creatures tells the story of Tova Sullivan, a grieving widow who forms an unlikely friendship with Marcellus, an intelligent and insightful octopus at the local aquarium. As their lives intertwine, Tova embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing, with Marcellus offering wisdom in ways no one could have expected. The novel celebrates themes of connection, loss, and second chances, drawing readers into a world full of compassion and surprises.
In this PBS Books exclusive event, Shelby Van Pelt will share the inspiration behind her novel, delve into the unique characters that drive the story, and explore the ways in which art and storytelling can bridge the gap between humans and the natural world. Readers will delight in learning about her writing and research process and discover the family member who inspired the central protagonist, Tova, in this heartwarming story about unexpected friendships and second chances.
Remarkably Bright Creatures is the perfect pairing for fans of the PBS Masterpiece series All Creatures Great and Small, highlighting the unique bonds we share with our animal friends.
Don’t miss this special opportunity to engage with one of today’s most exciting new authors and to discover the magic of Remarkably Bright Creatures. This unforgettable evening of literary discussion takes place on the PBS Books Facebook and YouTube channel, January 29 at 8pm ET.
About the Book
Dazzling and unexpected, Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel, REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES (Ecco; On-sale: May 3, 2022; ISBN: 9780063204157), is set over the course of a summer in a fictional town on Puget Sound. This is a witty and warm tale of a widow’s friendship with a giant Pacific octopus reluctantly residing at the local aquarium—and the truths she finally uncovers about her son’s disappearance thirty years ago.
Tova Sullivan began mopping floors and tidying up on the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium after her husband died. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Finding the sea creatures around her easier to talk to than the humans in her life, Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors—until he forms an unlikely friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. As his affection for Tova grows, Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Shelby Van Pelt vividly renders the small town of Sowell Bay and the characters that live within it. Inspired by her own pragmatic, first-generation Swedish-American grandmother, Van Pelt imbues the character of Tova with warmth and specificity, from her love of coffee to her fondness for stray cats. Our favorite octopus Marcellus, however, began as a writing exercise. Long fascinated by the creatures, Van Pelt immediately thought of a captive octopus when asked to write from an unexpected point of view. How bored must it feel? How indignant at the thought that it wouldn’t be able to slip out of its tank? Over the course of writing the book, Van Pelt spent a lot of time wandering aquariums, staring at octopus’ tanks, and hoping that the occupant might emerge from its hiding place to stare back.
Charming, compulsively readable, and full of wit, Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a beautiful exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope—a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.
As Van Pelt says in her author’s note, “To gaze at an octopus and have it gaze back at you will make anyone wonder who the brighter creature is.”
Guest Biography
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Shelby Van Pelt lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her family. Remarkably Bright Creatures is her first novel.
Readers Club Hosts
Heather-Marie Montilla
Heather-Marie Montilla, a dynamic integrative leader, is an educator and nonprofit manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector and libraries for over two decades, making a positive impact in arts, cultural, educational, and community-building arenas.
Having joined the PBS Books team as their Library Bureau Chief in Fall 2018, Montilla is now the National Director of PBS Books and has interviewed more than 150 writers. In addition, she is a faculty member at Michigan State University and Eastern Michigan University for their Arts and Cultural/Entertainment Management Programs. Having been an Executive Director for 8 years, Heather has a wide range of experience in management, finance, strategic planning, marketing, and fundraising. Heather holds a MPA From Columbia University, a MLIS from Wayne State University, and a bachelor’s from Duke University. She lives in Chicagoland, and is married with four children, a dog, and a bird.
Princess Weekes
Princess Weekes is an award winning writer and video essayist who works at breaking down the intersections between race, gender, and pop culture. Formally an Assistant Editor at The Mary Sue, co-host of Netflix’s The Geeked Podcast, and co-host and co-writer on the PBS Digital Series It’s Lit. On weekends she works as a bookseller at a local bookstore. When not reading or writing she can be found playing TTRPGs of cuddling with her cat, Lola.
Lauren Smith
Executive Producer and host of national PBS programming at Detroit Public TV, Lauren develops content for PBS and other distributors of public media for broadcast, streaming, and other digital channels and has executive-produced and/or produced over 60 national broadcast and programs. Her passion is to develop inspiring, entertaining, and educational content alongside the best national and international talent, and to engage important content with communities across the country. Lauren loves to read and has worked to develop and produce PBS Books content for nearly ten years!
Fred Nahhat
Fred Nahhat is an Emmy Award-winning producer, host, and presenter for Detroit’s PBS station, where he serves as Sr. VP of Production. A 30-year broadcast veteran, Fred has hosted and produced numerous programs for Public TV – including music specials from Il Volo, Celtic Gold and the New Divas – as well as other series and specials “New Year’s Eve with the DSO”, “The Detroit Dream Cruise,” “The PBS Books Readers Club” and “Get Up, Get Out,” among others.
He is a graduate of Wayne State University and a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Michigan Chapter, USA Hockey, and Leadership Detroit.
