One Month Until Death Card

The wait is almost over!

There’s only one more month left until Death Card releases! I can’t believe it! Where did all the time go?

I know it’s been too long since my last newsletter. For a while there, I had also pulled back from posting as much on social media. Admittedly, I’ve been struggling with imposter syndrome for a while now, and promoting this book can be as difficult as pulling teeth at times. I made the mistake of reading too many reviews — both the good and the bad. I let everyone’s thoughts take root in my head. I lost the ability to write. Before last week, I hadn’t read anything in over a month.

Frankly, I’ve also been recovering mentally from my miscarriage at the beginning of the year. It still weighs heavily on my heart. I’ve been on a roller coaster this year. From the lowest of lows to the highest of highs. My brain is all scrambled, and I forgot the joy that writing brings me.

But after a pep talk from the lovely Kamilah Cole, I opened up the Word document with my latest work in progress. I read the chapters that I wrote a few months ago, and that joy began to return to me.

I forgot that I should be writing for myself first and foremost. Writing stories that I enjoy. Everything else is extra.

Death Card isn’t perfect, but it’s mine. My first. I can only hope to grow from here. The next book will be better, and the one after that will be even better than both of them.

If you’ve read an early copy of Death Card and enjoyed it, don’t forget to leave a review. And do me a favor and request that your local library purchases a copy.

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News & Updates

Death Card has received four trade reviews! From Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist. They all had positive things to say about the book!

If you missed the news, I’m having an event at Bright Side Books & Wine with Noelle Monet on August 29th in Raleigh, NC! You can purchase tickets here.

I’m also going to be attending the Charlotte Bookpalooza on October 10th at Truist Field in Charlotte, NC. Tickets can be purchased here.

There’s a Goodreads giveaway happening now until July 15th for 10 print ARCs. Find the link here. (U.S. only).

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I’ve been asked a couple times about a preorder campaign. Here’s the news: There will not be a preorder campaign for Death Card. For multiple reasons.

First of all, when I asked my editor’s advice on this, she told me that they don’t move the needle much for debuts. Which honestly was a relief because I don’t have the mental energy or financial resources to run one.

This year has been an eventful one for me. Besides the miscarriage in January, I got married in April. Death Card releases in August, and I’m being laid off from my job in September. My finances were depleted by our wedding, which was lovely but expensive. Add my impending unemployment to the mix, and I couldn’t justify spending money on preorder swag.

But, I can offer this: Signed bookplates will be available through Kaleidoscopic Books and Alex’s Bookstore (while supplies last). You can preorder from Kaleidoscopic Books here. The Alex’s Bookstore link is not available yet, but here is their website.

Once again, thank you to everyone who has shown support for Death Card so far. If you’ve left a review on Netgalley or Goodreads, requested a copy from your library, preordered, or told a friend: Thank you!