It's been a busy couple of weeks, which have included not only the start of the school year, but Auburn and Miami launches of my new book, A Falling Star.

I had a wonderful time at a Cuban-themed launch here in Auburn. Drove all the way to Atlanta to get Cuban sandwiches and pastelitos for the party. As they say here in the South, I was loved on plenty at this event, and I am grateful to this community more than I can say.

I'd post a picture, except I had a fever of 103 degrees just before reading, and I look like a bowl of death in each of the photos I've seen. I will spare you all. But it says something about what a great time I had. Sick and all, I was so happy. Instead, have some pictures of some of the terrific folks who came out:

Angie, James and Savannah! Students/alums/writers/extraordinary humans.
Megan Forrester, Chris Green, and author Ash Parsons got chummy
My colleague, Emily Friedman, talking with writer Lauri Anderson. Someone needs to caption this one.
As for Miami...

It was an honor and a pleasure to read from A Falling Star this past Friday at Books & Books in Coral Gables. Of course, many of my friends and family were present and accounted for, as were some new faces, and faces I've only come to know via the internet and social media, and who now I've hugged in person.

Here's the livestream of the event for those who couldn't make it. I'm afraid to watch it myself. I know I almost started to cry right at the beginning when I began to talk about feeling at home in Miami, and I'm sort of tearing up now, I miss it so.

Voila! And thanks to Books & Books for being such wonderful hosts and live-streamerers;)