Shelby Van Pelt spoke to a packed room at the Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo on Oct. 21, according to My Edmonds News. The event was part of Sno-Isle Libraries' Reads Together programme, which has chosen her debut, Remarkably Bright Creatures, as its 2026 community read.
The same report says Van Pelt told the audience she is currently working on a new novel. No title or further details were reported.
A community read with a regional tour attached
The Herald of Everett reported that Sno-Isle Libraries had announced the novel as this year's Sno-Isle Reads Together selection. The programme asks readers across the library system to read one title and then attend events built around it.
The Mukilteo evening was a conversation with Van Pelt. The Mukilteo Beacon's preview billed it as a discussion with librarian Nancy Pearl.
The tour did not stop there. The South Whidbey Record reported that Van Pelt was due at the Oak Harbor Yacht Club the evening after the Mukilteo event.
An online author event was scheduled for Oct. 28.
Remarkably Bright Creatures and why a library read suits it
Remarkably Bright Creatures, published by Ecco in May 2022, pairs a widowed aquarium cleaner with a giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus. According to Wikipedia's entry on the novel, it has appeared on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list several times.
It also won the 2023 McLaughlin-Esstman-Stearns First Novel Prize from the Writer's Center.
Community-read schemes tend to favour books that can start conversations across age groups. A debut set in a Pacific Northwest coastal town, by a Washington-born author who now lives in the Chicago area, fits that remit neatly.
The novel is also in development as a Netflix adaptation starring Sally Field. For the verdict on the book itself, read our review of Remarkably Bright Creatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel worth reading in 2026?
It was chosen as Sno-Isle Libraries' 2026 community read and has appeared on the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list several times. Our review gives the full verdict.
What is Sno-Isle Reads Together?
It is an annual Sno-Isle Libraries programme in which the community is invited to read one selected title and attend related events. This year's pick is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.
Where did Shelby Van Pelt appear for the Sno-Isle Reads Together events?
She spoke at the Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo on Oct. 21 and was scheduled for the Oak Harbor Yacht Club the following evening. An online author event was set for Oct. 28.
Is Shelby Van Pelt writing a new book?
She said at the Mukilteo event that she is currently working on a new novel. No title or publication details were reported.
Should I read Remarkably Bright Creatures or wait for the Netflix adaptation?
The novel is in development as a Netflix adaptation starring Sally Field, but the book is available now. Our review can help you decide whether it suits you.
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