- Baby’s first book signing! At the evening author reception, I was placed at a table between National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett and Newbery Award-winner Laura Amy Schlitz. Perks of being a Candlewick author!
- Many booksellers who stopped by my table said they were excited about the neurodivergent and ace representation in the book. One bookseller reported that she’d ordered three cartons of the book while I was speaking during the Indies Introduce panel!
- I also met booksellers from places where I have personal connections, such as New Orleans, Virginia, DC, and North Carolina. I promised to stop by the next time I’m in town!
- Cedar Fields recently transitioned to running the Indies Introduce program.
- At the dinner thrown by Walker Books Group, I got to sit with booksellers and get to know them better. I got along famously with Charlie of Square Books, Jr, in Mississippi.
- At the end of the dinner, booksellers got to grab ARCs and final copies from me and my fellow authors, Marker Snyder (First Kiss with Fangs), Autumn Krause (Grave Flowers), and Mac Barnett (Twenty Questions).
A smattering of photos from Children’s Institute 2025 in Portland, June 12-14! Photos are labeled starting in the top left and moving left to right.
- As one of the Indies Introduce authors for Summer/Fall 2025, I had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A panel with fellow authors! Pictured here (left to right): Nicole Johnson, a Maryland bookseller and member of the Indies Introduce selection committee; me; Ruby Martinez, author of An Embroidery of Souls; and Helena Haywood Henry, author of Last Chance Live.
- The panel was introduced by American Booksellers Association COO Joy Dallanegra-Sanger (standing). Also pictured (left to right): Cassandra Ramos-Gomez, author of Lost on Doll Island; Joanne Yi, author of All the Tomorrows After; Nicole Johnson; me; and Ruby Martinez.
- I spoke about what I hope Reasons to Hate Me means to teen readers and why I wish I’d had books like this when I was an undiagnosed neurodivergent, closeted queer teen fighting to feel less alone in the world. Pictured are Joanne, Nicole, me, Ruby, and Helena, plus (left to right): Brad and Julia Riew, authors of The Last Tiger; Grace Lane, a California bookseller and member of the Indies Introduce selection committee; Lauren Pronger, a Texas bookseller and member of the Indies Introduce selection committee; and Mara Luther, a Montana bookseller and member of the Indies Introduce selection committee.
- The whole crew! Everyone previously mentioned plus Sarah J. Mendonca, author of An Encantadora’s Guide to Monstros and Magic (left) and Heather Albinson, Minnesota bookseller and chair of the Indies Introduce selection committee.