Entertainment

NY Comic con -Disney Publishing Worldwide Celebrates Fun, Fabulous, Feel-Good Stories with the Launch of Melissa de la Cruz Studio.

Published on October 11, 2022

NY Comic con -Disney Publishing Worldwide celebrates Fun, Fabulous, Feel-Good Stories with the Launch of Melissa de la Cruz Studio.

The longtime Disney author is launching her very own eponymous imprint—Melissa de la Cruz Studio. The collaboration between Disney Publishing Worldwide and de la Cruz will focus on publishing both new and seasoned authors for original content to be developed and expanded across multiple platforms, including for streaming service Disney+. The platform’s range will include everything from picture books through adult titles but will specialize in middle grade and YA stories. De la Cruz and Mariko Tamaki chatted with Beauty Within about “The After Life” a Blue Blood novel and ”Anne of Greenville”.

Beauty Within spoke to the Melissa about “ Blue Bloods”. What can you share about The Blue Bloods? The story is about defeating Lucifer and sacrificing the love of her life, Jack, Schuyler wakes up back in New York safe and sound. Only it’s not quite the New York she knows, and she’s not in her regular body. She looks different and feels different, and so does everyone else. Schuyler soon discovers that in this world, her best friend has a different last name, her parents are both alive and happy, and the love of her life? Not so dead after all. The catch? Jack has no idea who she is.

As it turns out, Schuyler is not in her New York. She’s not even in her universe. This is an alternate reality. One where Lucifer is alive and well, Blue Bloods are hardly benevolent, and Jack may have turned to the dark side. Just when she thinks all is lost, Schuyler is contacted by a familiar friend—a friend from her world who actually remembers the Schuyler she used to be! But the friend also has a theory, and it’s one she doesn’t like: that Schuyler was sent here to defeat Lucifer. Again. And that she’s the only person in this universe—or any universe—who can defeat him.

Beauty Within spoke to the author about the amazing Mariko Tamaki. What can you share about Anne of Greenville?

I am over the moon that Mariko is on our list! I don’t want to give too much away, but the story is a YA retelling of Anne of Green Gables. This modern reimagining of Anne of Green Gables, Anne is an ABBA-loving singer/actor/writer of disco-operas, queer, Japanese-American who longs to be understood for her artistic genius. Recently relocated to middle-of-nowhere Greenville and starting at a new school, Anne has a tendency to A) fall in love quickly, deeply, and effervescently and B) fly off the handle in the face of jerks. Both personality quirks quickly come into play when the soccer team boos the premiere of her disco performance, which—in a roundabout way—introduces her to her new BFF, Berry, and she soon after meets the girl of her dreams, Gilly.