I received a box of ARCs (advanced reading copies) for my debut middle grade novel Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence! Instead of an unboxing video, I did a carousel post on Instagram. For those not on IG, watch the unboxing in still motion here on my blog! 

I also had my first impromptu book signing! We'd stopped by Waucoma Bookstore in Hood River, Oregon and as we were leaving, my friend spotted a stack of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic. It was amazing to see my first writer-for-hire project in a bookstore!!!

I proudly gushed to the bookseller that I was one of the three contributing authors. Next thing I knew, I was signing book stock!!
 

I made my very first book list!!!

On Afoma's Reading Middle Grade Blog, Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence was included on her "100 Middle Grade Books to Read in 2022." To be alongside some of my favorite authors like Lisa Yee, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Tae Keller is a dream come true!

I was also included in Afoma's Twitter thread where she shared 30 middle grade books she's excited to read in the first half of 2022 and Sir Fig Newton was Pick #5!!! Excuse me while I ugly cry.

I'm part of a group of traditionally published middle grade, young adult, and adult authors debuting in 2022 called 22Debuts. It's a wonderful online community where we support one another during this long debut author journey (usually over a two-year period), from book contract acceptance to publishing day and all the millions of things that happen in between.

Not only have we created a website where readers can learn all about over 300 books debuting in 2022 (including mine!), but you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram or by using the hashtag #22Debuts.

One of the great perks (outside of the constant emotional support), is the chance to read ARCs (advanced reader copies). I'm lucky enough to have already read the following middle grade '22 debuts: Pirate Queens by Leigh Lewis, The Way I Say It by Nancy Tandon, The Unforgettable Logan Foster by Shawn Peters, and Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins! by Karina Evans. Click on the covers below to read my Goodreads review for that book.

Spoiler alert: Whether reading about real-life female pirates, 80s/90s heavy metal music and the life of Muhammed Ali speech therapy tactics, an orphaned boy with an eidetic memory adopted by superheroes, or getting—and surviving—your first period, every single one of these books are AMAZING & FUN reads!