The Telling Room’s 2025 Young Emerging Authors Book Launch
Join The Telling Room’s 2025 Young Emerging Authors Fellows as they celebrate their book launch at SPACE! Readings by Beetle Rooke-Dutton, Ramona Rowe, Sophia Tyutyunnyk, and Ruby Van Dyk.
Beetle Rooke-Dutton is a freshman from southern Maine, a long-time participant in Telling Room programs (most specifically SWARM), and a recipient of the 2023 Founders’ Prize. His book, a collection of poetry, focuses on the beauty in roadkill, the importance of celebrating both the living and the dead, and coming into yourself as a trans boy who relates more to the tiny mouse sprawled on the pavement than the person he sees in the mirror. Pre-order Deer, Silent and Open-Eyed by Beetle Rooke-Dutton here.
Ramona Rowe is a junior at Portland High School with a love of bad sci-fi, ridiculous fantasy, and her irritating cats. Her novel follows the journey of a young robot introduced to the human world as he tracks an android that turned against his society. Half wacky, half palate cleanser, her book touches on themes of individuality, humanity, and lemurs. Pre-order Factory Town by Ramona Rowe here.
Sophia Tyutyunnyk is a sophomore at Orono High School in Orono, Maine. In 2023, she won The Telling Room’s Writing Contest for Penobscot County. Sophia is the daughter of two Ukrainian immigrants, and through her forthcoming collection of vignettes, she wants to share her experience living in Ukraine as an American, while her parents and sister were waiting to receive approval to legally reside in the United States. Sophia hopes her story will give readers a deeper understanding of the Ukrainian people and culture. Pre-order Candle On the Tree by Sophia Tyutyunnyk here.
Ruby Van Dyk is a junior (almost senior) at Casco Bay High School. She is very passionate about everything related to food. She spends her time outside of school engaged in Portland’s local food systems and in nature. Her book will be centered around why we should all care about food: how it impacts us and the environment, and ways we must change this system. This will all be explored through the mediums of poetry, essay, and short story. Pre-order Clearing Out the Fridge by Ruby Van Dyk here.