Cover reveal, giveaway, and so much more!
Happy almost spring!
Happy almost spring friends! No, I absolutely do not care that it is snowing outside! In this newsletter I’ll share the cover of my next middle grade comedy, a goatastic giveaway, some Free Period accolades, new school visit representation, my upcoming Library Friends Tour, Period Poverty Awareness Week May 12-18, and some book recs. Let’s goooooooooooooat!
Cover Reveal
I am thrilled to share the completely adorable cover of my next middle grade comedy VOTE FOR THE G.O.A.T. Thank you to this incredibly talented team for making it happen:
Cover illustrator – Laura Catrinella
Jacket designer – Tiara Iandiorio
Editor – Alyson Heller
Publisher – Aladdin / Simon & Schuster
Agent – Molly Ker Hawn, The Bent Agency
This hilarious heist hits shelves on August 26 (ISBN 9781665960489) and is best enjoyed with a plate of disco fries. I hope you’ll add it to your TBR, request it from your library, and if you’d like your own signed copy with swag, place an order with the best indie ever The Curious Reader!!
We usually say this is the book of my heart, but in this case it is also the book of my joints. I hope you have so much fun with it. Here is the blurb:
From the author of National Book Award-longlisted Free Period comes a new hijinks-fueled comedy about finding your voice, perfect for fans of Carrie Firestone and Lisa Yee!
Sporty Meg and fashionista Jo don’t have much in common besides being 7th graders at Somerset Middle School, where everyone is obsessed with being voted the Greatest of All Time and celebrated at the Harvest Ball. But when their mascot Somerset Babette (aka the world’s cutest goat) is kidnapped, Jo and Meg are wrongfully accused of being the culprits. The burned-out soccer star and chronically-ill overachiever band together and assemble a rag-tag squad to steal the goat back. Banter, activism, self-care, double-crosses, big shenanigans, and even bigger feelings follow as the girls fight to change how animals are treated at their school and achieve true freedom for their four-legged, sweater-chewing friend in this laugh-out-loud middle-grade heist centering friendship and bodily autonomy.
Somerset Babette Giveaway
If you head over to my Instagram, you can comment on the cover reveal post for your chance to win your very own crochet cutie. Details in the caption. But as a newsletter subscribing bestie you also get a chance to win a second Somerset Babette here! Just reply to this email and say that you want it by 8pm Eastern on Monday, February 10. One winner chosen from the emails, no purchase necessary, must by 18 or over to enter and have a US mailing address where you can receive a tiny yarn goat package. Baaaaaaaaa!!!
Free Period’s Award-Winning Fart Jokes
I am so thrilled to share that my debut middle grade comedy centering friendship and period equity was included in many nomination and award lists. You can find the full set on my author website. My hope is that it leads even more libraries to include it in their collection and programming. Now more than ever kids deserve the reminder that they can work together to make a difference, there is no need to wait for fancy or formal training when they already have so many creative ways to make their voices heard. Maxi-pad cupcakes anyone? Here are a few of the lists:
National Book Award Longlist
Texas Lone Star Reading List
Chicago Public Schools Battle of the Books
Audiofile Magazine Best Audiobooks of 2024
ALA Rise Feminist Booklist
How Now Booking Announcement
I am so lucky to now work with Sarah and the team at How Now Booking for school visits. You can reach out to them directly to book half day visits around NYC and North Jersey and full day visits nationwide. My author website has some sample visit options if you’d like to take a look!
For non-profit events and zooms with book clubs please feel free to continue to email me directly!
Library Friends Tour!
This year my focus as an author is to connect with and support as many librarians as possible. So this spring I’m hitting the road for events in Texas, Maryland, and Philly. More to come and you can find all the latest info on my events page!
Texas Library Association Annual Conference
Dallas, TX
April 1-4, 2025
Maryland and Delaware Library Associations Annual Conference
Ocean City, MD
May 7-9, 2025
American Library Association Annual Conference
Philadelphia, PA
June 26-30, 2025
Period Poverty Awareness Week
This year the Alliance for Period Supplies is hosting Period Poverty Awareness Week May 12-18 and the theme is Ending the Cycle, Together. Head to their website for all the details. Basic needs work is more important than ever and we’ve already seen some states that provide funding for period products try to rescind it. The Alliance and their local affiliates have lots of ways to get involved. I am offering free zoom visits that week if you’d like me to meet with your non-profit, library, class, or club to discuss FREE PERIOD (schedules must align). I am also putting together activity and swag kits that you may request that include a crochet uterus, bookmarks, stickers, uterus post-cards to decorate, and friendship bracelets to make. You can email me with what you’d like and where to send us—while supplies last, US mailing addresses only. A period is never an insult. We all deserve to live with dignity and get the period care that is our human right.
Spring Book Recs!
Here are just a few new releases that I’m excited about – lots more reviews and recommendations on my Instagram grid!
Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer by Waka T. Brown - February 18, 2025
Bea Mullins Takes A Shot - February 25, 2025