Tee Mail: August Recap
9/2/2024: Outside behavior—Mama Style
Hey, Friend, hey! Happy September! I am a couple of days late getting this newsletter out. The end of August crept on ya’ girl!
In this edition of the Tee Mail, we’re getting into:
Outside shenanigans—my trips to Houston and Virginia.
My day of freedom… A.K.A, My kids went back to school.
Preparing for my next book release.
A little sneak peek of my upcoming releases.
And, of course, what I am reading.
P.S. And perhaps a giveaway…
Okay, let’s dive into this tea, Chile!
I have always loved August. I like to use it as a month to reset and get back on track. However, this time, Friend… I got outside two weekends in a row! You couldn’t tell me anything!
This past March marked my 20th year in the greatest sorority on earth, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. To celebrate this milestone, 11 of us—we had 16 women on our line—came together in Houston. And a time was had!
This was the first weekend I had no work to do—well… sort of. There’s always something that can be done. But I intentionally left my laptop at home and came to Texas fully to be present with my line sisters. Seeing them each gave me such joy. It allowed me to let my hair down and be completely uninhibited.
Then the following week it was back to #MomDuty as I prepared for my day freedom—the kiddos going back to school. While I enjoyed being at home with my babies this summer, I was more than ready for them to head back to school. I will say I was a little sad dropping them because this was Baby Boy’s kindergarten year, and he didn’t want me to walk him to class. However, when I got home and crawled back into the bed, those feelings had moved on.
Aww! Ain’t they cute! I love those little humans of mine.
Speaking of things I love, I am enjoying seeing my life as an author through their perspective. My oldest always asks if I am famous. And I’m like, nahhhh… I am just your mom, who happens to write books. If I were, I would think my bank account would reflect my famous life. But I digress.
So on day two of them going to school they got dropped off via the car service booked for my trip to Virgina—complete with our driver opening the door for them when dropping them off in car line. #Fancy
After dropping them off, I headed to the airport and made my way to the New Voices New Rooms Conference—the combined annual conference for the Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association and Southern Independent Booksellers Conference. I was there for the conference’s Bedtime Story Hour Reception to share with booksellers WHEN BLACK GIRLS DREAM BIG. The event started at 9 p.m. And Chile, I almost missed it, oversleeping! I was sleeping so well that I woke up a few minutes before nine and hightailed it downstairs in time to meet some incredible booksellers and catch up with some friends.
The following day, I also had the opportunity to speak with a group of independent Black booksellers to share a sneak peek of WASH DAY LOVE (out March 4, 2025). In that room, it was like being around family as some of us went down memory lane of getting our hair washed as children.
As you can see, being outside was good to and for me!
What about you? How was your August?
Life Lesson: Reflect. Relate. Release.
Since turning 40 this year, I have been doing much more sitting and reflecting on my life. For some reason, this year feels like I’m starting to grow and mature into a woman. If that makes sense…
It’s as if an internal clock went off inside of me, waking me up to the possibility that now is the time to start living life. It’s time for me to decide how I truly want to live my life because I have entered the next phase of this journey.
Can I say that this is a bit scary and overwhelming? Part of this I believe is because I am on my healing journey. I have reached the point of no return as it concerns my path to healing. The life I envision for myself and my family requires me to dig past the surface level and go to the gutta’ baby. I gotta get my hands dirty and pull up and out the things that no longer serve me. I have to reach out to my inner child and let her know that I am now steering this ship and have us. If not for me, then for my children, because they deserve a better version of their mom. And I deserve to be the best me for me.
So, there has been a lot of reflecting on my life. There are questions I am asking myself that cause my cheeks to clinch a bit because “whew… that’s a lot.” There are decisions that I need to make but am too afraid to make because it’s safer to stay in the orchestrated chaos.
However, once I move past the fear and start to relate, I find myself slowing down and letting go. It’s not always easy, but when I think about the life ahead of me, I see the freedom of choosing a path that allows me to live my authentic, best life.
I hope the same for you, Friend.
Did you know that August 8th was National Book Lover’s Day? I always feel as if I am the last to know these things. Before I was a writer, I was and still am a reader. I love getting lost in between the pages of a great book. Last month, I found myself heavy in my David Baldacci bag. I started reading his King and Maxwell series. I also am re-reading Dr. Anita Phillip’s book. For September, I am reading THE FIRST LIE WINS for book club and The Explosive Child. While finishing the ARC, I received Jamie Wesley’s LEGEND IN THE BAKING. It is such a cute romcom!
Speaking of reading books, don’t forget to grab your preorder of WHEN BLACK GIRLS DREAM BIG. Angela Bassett—yes, THE ANGELA BASSETT—said that this book “allows readers to see themselves beautifully depicted.” The Southern Booksellers Reviewers placed it on their READ THIS NEXT list, saying, “It makes you stronger reading it.” And while this is the love letter I needed for myself growing up in California, the School Library Journal nailed it when they said, “…[it’s] a love letter for all children locating their role models and never thinking or feeling small.”
Friend, this is THAT book! This is for the dreamer in all of us. Make sure you preorder, tell a friend, and request it at your local library. Let’s get WHEN BLACK GIRLS DREAM BIG into the hands of all readers.
Since you made it this far, I might as well give you something… here is a special reveal of the cover of WASH DAY LOVE, illustrated by Coretta Scott King Honoree and Raissa Figueroa.
Ain’t she a beauty!!! LOVE IT!!!
This book follows our main character, Tasha, as she attempts to avoid getting her hair washed. I had a lot of fun writing this book, so much so that I would love to gift two ARCs to a couple of lucky peeps. I am also giving away signed copies of all of my books written to date.
To enter, make sure you are following me on Instagram. No purchase is necessary, and the giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. I will pick a winner on October 1, 2024.
Okay, Friend! That’s it! Until next time…
P.S. Season 4 of the podcast is about to start back up. Get caught up here!
P.P.S. Some of the links are affiliate links. I receive a nominal commission from your purchase.
