In the last three months, I’ve traveled to Van Buren, AR; Santa Monica, CA; Long Beach, CA; Newport Beach, CA; Laguna Beach, CA; Hilton Head, SC; Pittsburgh, PA; and Fayetteville, AR.
Before the summer’s out, I will have gone on four additional trips.
It’s been a busy time full of wide eyes, laughter, and reflection.
When I sat down to write about this season, I started to tell you that it’s been unexpected and messy and joyful and beautiful and exciting but hard, all at the same time. But then, I remembered One Year and Two Days Later and Catching My Breath and A Day with Delta and Same Sky, Different City, and I realized that I’ve already written about it all, one way or another.
What more can I offer you on these topics?
If we’re all being honest, I’ve come to expect that life will not go according to plan. And in that respect, everything is going quite normally for me.
And that’s enough to say for now.
(Don’t worry though—I’m still writing a version with this year’s details. Soon, I’ll post a this is my life at twenty-eight essay, and it’ll be funny and sad and deep and have a mouse or a dog or a bunny, and I’ll mention a beautiful sunset or clouds or a rainbow, and you will feel a full range of emotions and a deep desire for a cup of coffee or a tequila shot, depending on your preference. But that day is not today.)
Today, I’m going to remind you that I’m a writer. An up-and-coming writer. A writer that wrote a book that’s about everything that isn’t. A book that I really—objectively speaking—think you should own if you don’t already.
On April 19, I had the tremendous pleasure of being a part of An Evening with Mason Jar Press at the Enoch Pratt free Library in Baltimore. I owe a huge thank you to Mason Jar Press, the Enoch Pratt, the Black Ladies Brunch Collective, Stephen Zerance, Matthew Falk, and Dave K. as well as everyone who came out to support all of us.
Thank you!
If you weren’t able to make the event, you can listen to the full podcast from the Enoch Pratt free Library here. If you’re pressed for time, you can listen to my portion of the reading below. (There’s a bit of an echo on the recording, but it does get slightly better.):
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You can also see photos and a short video clip below. (Big thanks to Mason Jar Press and Anna Anderson of Like a Girl Productions for sharing these with me.)
The clip below is the last few minutes of my set:
I have several readings on the East Coast and in Louisiana on the horizon that I’m excited to announce in the coming weeks. Until then, you can take advantage of my summer sale in my new online store.
As always, thank you all for your continued support. The first half of 2017 has been rich and full of change and opportunity—I’m looking forward to the next six months and the many projects that are in the works.
Stay tuned.
–Michelle
