Greetings from the other side of my book launch!

Begun in a paper notebook in 2005, CONFESSIONS OF A CANDY SNATCHER (CoaCS) arrived with a whoop of well-wishes at a dance party in its honor on August 15, 2023. Friends and family joined to listen to an excerpt of the novel, participate in a Q&A, and dance in celebration to the beats of DJ Univers-AL (Alison Brill: hire her! Socially conscious DJ, dj.univers.al.beats@gmail.com).

One guest remarked, “Why isn’t every book launch a dance party?”

Why, indeed.

Here are some highlights from the rest of Launch Season::

SeptemberFeatured blog post, name pronunciation guide, and reading excerpt on Teaching Books – Sept 4Author chat on YA and Kids Books Central websiteNerdy Book Club blog postOctoberThe audiobook version of CoaCS, read by narrator Ruffin Prentiss, launched on Recorded BooksMassachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE) workshop “1 Question + 8 Pages = 1 Mini-Zine” – Oct 1Watertown Zine Fest “30 Days of Mini-Zines” – Oct 14Author Talk at Silver Unicorn Books with Erin Dionne, author of Shiver by the Sea, a spooky new chapter book series – Oct 17Story Behind the Book article, published in the Boston Globe newspaper, featuring me (!) – Oct 22Official Launch at Porter Square Books – Oct 25NovemberBlack Creator Series Podcast with Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul – Nov 9Author appearance with Raúl the Third at Papercuts Bookshop in JP on Small Business Saturday – Nov 25DecemberSleep, sleep, sleepOfficial Launch Event

On the evening of Wednesday, October 25, 2023, I debuted CoaCS to a packed house at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, MA. My friend, artist-illustrator-author Raúl the Third, interviewed me, asking questions about the novel, my creative process, and my favorite scary movie (none; too frightened). I’m deeply grateful to Raúl for being so giving of his time and for helping me create the best in-person event I could have imagined!

As well, I thank everyone who attended IRL or via Zoom, with a special shout out to Diane Martin and her young friend, who helped set up and managed the most / least favorite candy game, and also Anna Borges, local musician and Creative / Art Director at Sounds of Brazil Anna Borges Productions, who took the amazing photos you’ll see below.