Nico Tortorella, the actor known for his roles in Younger and City on Fire, is making his debut as a children’s author with a new picture book titled Olivette Is You. The cover of the book, illustrated by Melissa Kashiwagi, has been exclusively revealed by PEOPLE. Tortorella, who identifies as gender fluid, describes the book as a gift to his children and a reflection of his own experiences.
Tortorella, who has previously authored a poetry collection and a memoir, has always had a desire to work in the children’s space. The actor sees Olivette Is You as a way to impart important messages of self-acceptance and identity to young readers. The title of the book is inspired by Tortorella’s drag persona, Olivette Isyou, and explores themes of hope and universality.
The idea for Olivette Is You came to Tortorella while he and his spouse, Bethany C. Meyers, were starting their fertility journey. As they navigated the challenges of trying to have a baby, Tortorella found solace in creating the character of Olivette. The book became an outlet for expressing their own experiences and the hope they held for the future.
For Tortorella, the message of acceptance in Olivette Is You is especially important in today’s divided world. As a vocal advocate for the LGBTQ community, Tortorella hopes the book will bring people together and encourage acceptance and understanding. He also wants the book to inspire parents to embrace their own identities and all aspects of who they are.
In addition to his writing, Tortorella recently appeared in the Apple TV+ series City on Fire and continues to be actively involved in promoting inclusivity and representation. He believes that anything is possible in life and wants to inspire others to embrace that belief.
Olivette Is You is set to be published on April 20, 2024, by Random House Books for Young Readers. Tortorella is already reading the book to his daughter and hopes it will inspire children and parents alike.
Overall, Tortorella’s debut picture book aims to deliver an empowering message of acceptance and self-discovery to young readers, drawing from the author’s own experiences and advocacy for the LGBTQ community.
