A Little Check-In!
Hey Escape Artists!
When I tell you I’m having the time of my life, I’m having the time of my life. I’m truly living my dream of being an author. I spent so many years doubting myself. And now that I’m finally living in the moment, I see so many blessings I can barely keep track of them all. My mood has brightened. Anxiety levels are surprisingly low! It’s all thanks to Nora and to you all for your kind words and support.
I want to give you guys an update on what I’ve been doing and what’s coming up!
Fall into Escaping!
Nora Escapes the Bakery is on sale! I decided to offer a special 22% discount on this book I worked so hard on. It has a beautiful, glossy cover and includes a recipe and a discussion activity. There are sound effects throughout the book, and it’s a wonderful read-along for younger children ages 5–7 and a great immersive experience for readers ages 8 and older. If she’s been on your shopping list, now is the best time to add her to your cart and check out.
Festivals, Tiptoes, and Crafts!
I truly enjoyed the connections I made at the Storytellers Book Festival in Baltimore including meeting Gillette Dickens of Partnerships in Literacy! I was also so grateful to The Children’s Inn at NIH for welcoming me so well and loving on the kids (I talked about this in detail on my previous post).
It was also super fun going on vacation with God and the children during Children’s Church at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. We tiptoed our way through the sand and made some fun carved crumb cookies!
Finally, my mom brought me so much joy by helping me set up and sitting with me through the HRAAF African-American Festival in Harrisonburg. I met local council members, librarians, and Parks and Recreation staff who were very interested in Nora Escapes the Bakery!
I thought I would be so tired and physically worn out after three events in one week, but I wasn’t. I felt energized to keep going, and I kept sending out emails! My hard work certainly paid off.
What’s Coming Up this Fall
I’m excited to announce that I have been selected to be featured in Southern Soul Music Magazine this October, a specialized publication dedicated to the culture, history, and community of Southern soul music.
Next, I’ll be headed to Indigo Montessori in Baltimore on October 14th! I’ll be doing a book reading and providing a social-emotional learning (SEL) mirror play activity! We’ll discover how we each express our emotions individually and talk about how Nora experiences some emotions for the first time. Indigo Montessori is a community-embedded elementary micro-school in Baltimore, Maryland. Founding educators Kate Lechner and Sarah Tupper lead the school, and I actually met Sarah at the Storytellers Book Festival!
Then it gets even better. I’ll be appearing on a live-recorded video podcast called Books and Besties Book Club with Avalon S. Brown and Angie Bee. The show will be live on Facebook and YouTube on Saturday, October 17 at 12 p.m. I’ll provide you with a Facebook event closer to the date so you can easily access it and listen in! The Books and Besties Book Club functions as a virtual book fair, chat room, and community broadcast. They talk about reading, writing journeys, faith, and the stories behind different books.
Last, but certainly not least, I connected with Aaron Butler, founder of Book Butler, an independent, family-driven book publishing company. On November 7th, I’ll have a table and games set up at the BLK Author Expo Suitland 2026! Come by to see Nora and me.
Let’s Work Together
I’m currently available for school readings, literary events, workshops, and family events such as birthdays and baby showers!
I’m also opening up a few services for fellow authors, using skills I’ve developed over the years and techniques I’ve used in creating Nora Escapes the Bakery and my other fiction projects. At the moment, I’m offering proofreading, copyediting, Story Grids, and select collaborations. My Story Grid process is a technique I created for my own fiction using a Story Funnel to help organize and shape a story from idea to structure.
So, fellow authors, this part is for you too. I’m taking booking requests via email and Facebook Messenger. If you’re interested in bringing me to your event or working together on your writing, feel free to reach out!
Something New Is in the Shadows
I told you guys I’ve been working very hard, and I’ve been incredibly motivated since Nora came out. Well, make sure you tune in to the Books and Besties Book Club interview next month, on Saturday, October 17 at noon, because I’ll be revealing something special.
There’s something new coming from Crumb Trail Publishing that you cannot overlook.
Don’t worry I’ll send you a reminder! 👁️
Until then, let’s enjoy this fall season as the holidays roll in. Make sure you grab a coat and a warm latte when you step out the door. And pick up a copy of Nora while you’re at it, since she’s on sale. :-)