Welcome to my first author newsletter! I'm so happy to be able to share my journey to publication and updates about my debut middle grade fantasy.
I plan for this newsletter to be quarterly, with occasional announcements about big milestones or upcoming events. If you have suggestions for things you'd like to see, please share by replying to this email.
And for my first big announcement...
My novel has a new title! DARK TIDE is actually my book’s third title since I began drafting in 2013, but its final name was chosen last week!
In honor of this, I am sponsoring a giveaway featuring AMAZING KidLit titles by Black creators and featuring Black mermaids.
FOUR LUCKY WINNERS will be chosen to receive ONE the following prizes full of Black Mermaid Magic:
THE LITTLE MERMAID by Jerry Pinkney is a picture book reimagining of the classic Hans Christian Andersen tale.
RISE OF THE JUMBIES is the second book in Tracey Baptiste's middle grade JUMBIES trilogy. Like my book, it is set in the Caribbean and draws inspiration from West Indian and African folklore.
A SONG BELOW WATER by Bethany C. Morrow is a young adult novel featuring Black sirens dealing with the challenges of school and family, as well as racism and sexism in our contemporary world.
The last prize is a pair of "KITANA" EARRINGS from Afropolitan, a shop featuring handmade items created by African designers. "Kitana" means "comb" in Swahili, which hints at my book's new title!
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Enter using Rafflecopter. To be eligible, you must:
- Subscribe to my newsletter
- Retweet and Like my pinned post on Twitter
- Answer in the Twitter post's comments: What’s your favorite book featuring a mermaid?
Enter the giveaway HERE!
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I think this title captures the themes and atmosphere of the book perfectly! I can't wait until it is available and in the hands of readers.
You can support me and my book by adding it on Goodreads and following me on social media. I'm @EngageReaders on Twitter and Instagram. Also, check out my wonderful author friends in KidLit in Color and the amazing #22Debuts.
Don't forget to enter the giveaway by Monday, December 21, 2020 (11:59 pm). That's it! Good luck and happy tails (and tales)!
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This year I dipped my toes into the world of book festivals and webinar presentations!
I did my first webinar for The Writers' Loft on "The Essentials of an Author Website" and I've been invited to do another author website presentation for a different organization in spring 2021. More info to come!
I participated in the Middle Ground Book Fest in August, and this fall, I volunteered behind the scenes with the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival that took place on December 4-5, 2020.
So much work went into creating these amazing book festivals for young readers! Presentations from both events are still available to view on their websites.
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In August, I had the honor of participating in an educator panel for the inaugural Middle Ground Book Fest on "Curating Books As Windows and Mirrors."
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I recently finished reading Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park. So good! My fifth grade students were able to engage deeply and discuss microaggressions and other forms of racism, connecting this historical text to life in the present day.
I'm currently enjoying When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk.
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