Leave it to me to forget to post about my book's release on its release date. But that's neither here nor there. JUST SAY YES IS OUT NOW!
How do writers typically celebrate their book release? Everyone's different. Lots of people spend the day going around to bookstores brandishing sharpies and timidly asking booksellers to let them sign their stock.
Most people do a book launch, which is an event held at a bookstore where you talk or read aloud. Here's my dirty author secret about book launches: I don't like doing them. 🤐 I love going to them. But sitting in front of an audience, all eyes on me? Nah. The only thing worse would be no eyes on me. As in, no one showing up to my event. Honestly, it's the stuff of nightmares for me. When people ask what my least favorite part of being an author is, it's that. The book launch.
I know this makes me a bad author. A “difficult” author, even. But it is my one cross to bear. I try to make it up to my publisher in all other aspects of my work. But a party for me and my book? Nahhhhhh couldn't be me.
So back to the original question: how did I celebrate JUST SAY YES's release? Why, I took her out for a birthday dinner of course.
When you take a book to dinner, the hostess asks you about it, the waitress asks you about it, the chef comes out to meet you, and they all get very excited and bring you a teqila shot to celebrate. Love this new book launch idea. Would recommend 10/10.
Thanks to everyone at MalkaNYC For making it such a great night! Here's an obligatory authorial pic me and my girl on our night out on the town:
This book is good, guys. But don't take my word for it, here are some nice quotes from some very reputable reviewing bodies:
“A sweet, compelling read” - Booklist
“Pulls at the heartstrings” - Kirkus Reviews
“Deftly elevates the popular marriage of convenience trope” - Publishers Weekly
⭐️ “Brightly celebrates resilience, determination, and the universal desire for a place to call home” - School Library Journal
That last one is a starred review, which is very nice for me as it's only my second star ever in my writing career. (My first was for The Mary Shelley Club, from Publishers Weekly.)
Speaking of Publishers Weekly, I had so much fun talking to them for their Four Questions series. You can find the interview here.
And if you'd like read a chapter-long excerpt from JUST SAY YES, you can find one at The Nerd Daily.
And this wouldn’t be a release date post without some buy links. If you are so inclined, please do go buy Just Say Yes so my publisher will be happy so that I can make more books.
And here’s a reminder of what JUST SAY YES is all about.
Seventeen-year-old Jimena Romero is your typical teenage New Yorker—dazzling, fearless, and determined. When she discovers she's been living her life undocumented, she decides there's only one way to keep it on track: marry an American.
Maybe Jimena can find a husband on a dating app?
Maybe she should try approaching this marriage thing like a business deal?
Or maybe her new starry-eyed activist friend can help . . .
Meanwhile, the only person she can trust with her secret is Vitaly, her overachieving and adorkable next-door neighbor and friend. Vitaly makes it clear he's not a candidate for a green card marriage though. He has his own plans for the future and won't let anything derail them. But as Jimena and Vitaly confide in each other, sparks fly, and their feelings for each other become undeniable.
Jimena faces an impossible choice–continue to pursue a secure future in the only home she's ever known, or risk it all for real love?
Filled with humor, electric chemistry, and high stakes, this is perfect for fans of The Proposal and The Sun is Also a Star.