Jasmine Guillory Published First Young Adult Novel
The author reached a career milestone of 10 published books with her new teenage-focused release.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Dance
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Author Jasmine Guillory has released It's Only Dancing, which marks her 10th published work. This novel is her first written specifically for a teenage audience.
Why it matters
The book explores themes of resilience and self-acceptance as the protagonist deals with the fallout of being body shamed.
Jasmine Guillory has now reached a milestone of 10 published books throughout her career. It's Only Dancing is the first title in her bibliography to be aimed at a teenage audience.
The players
Jasmine Guillory
She is the author of the new novel It's Only Dancing and has achieved a total of 10 published works.
Maggie Tokuda-Hall
She is an author scheduled to appear in conversation with Jasmine Guillory during a book event.
The details
The narrative follows a high school senior named Kat who abandons dancing after experiencing body shaming. Her journey shifts when she attends a summer camp with her family and meets a hip-hop dance instructor.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: Author event in North Oakland.
Industry Dynamics
Guillory's move into the teenage fiction space follows a broader industry trend of established novelists expanding their reach to younger readers. This pivot allows successful adult-fiction writers to engage with a new demographic while diversifying their literary portfolio.
Readers interested in the new book can attend a live discussion event featuring the author in North Oakland. The event provides a chance to hear directly from Guillory about her transition into writing for teenagers.
The takeaway
Authors expanding into new age demographics can reach a broader range of readers by addressing universal experiences like self-esteem. Fans of contemporary fiction should look for local events to gain deeper insight into the creative process behind these new releases.
Further reading
Learn more about local performances and literary arts in the Dance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KALW.
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Do you plan to read more young adult novels this year than you did previously?
