Love in 280 Pub Week in Review
Here's where to find the book & my many, many thanks.
I did it! We did it!
Love in 280 Characters or Less, my YA digital epistolary, is officially out in the world.
If you’d like to get a signed copy of 280, Resist Booksellers in Petersburg, VA has a few! They also have a few signed copies of my debut, Love Requires Chocolate. They ship, so even if you’re not in the central VA area, go ahead and get yours today!
Syd’s entry into the world has been very quiet, but she’s been met with an abundance of love. And for this I have to make a non-exhaustive list of gratitudes from this week.
Sarah Thomas, my dear friend. It was Sarah’s idea to have me back to William & Mary for a Lemon Project Porch Talk. She did the bulk of the organizing. One thing she’s going to do is look out for me, and I appreciate that. (middle photo)
Dr. Elizabeth Losh, my dissertation advisor who told me 280 could be more than a dissertation project. She was so right. (left photo)
A chance to return to the Hearth, William & Mary’s Memorial to the Enslaved. I didn’t know how much I needed a quiet moment alone at that structure. Back in the summer of 2019, I did some archival research on folks enslaved by William & Mary for the Lemon Project and that work was some of the most heaviest I had ever done. Maybe it’s several years late, but standing at the memorial I feel like I finally exhaled some of what lingered with me from that experience.
Katherine D. Morgan and Grand Gesture Bookstore for always being willing to host me, even when the turn out’s low. I remember when opening a shop was a thing Katherine tweeted about from time to time, and now she owns this glorious business. If you ever happen to be in Portland, stop by her shop, or if you are buying from Bookshop, you can set GGB as your store to support with your purchase.
Jill Tew for reading 280 and being in conversation with me Friday night. What’s been sticking with me is the video she posted that called my book “Grownish meets Nikki Giovanni.” I was flattered and also overwhelmed. I want to be worthy of such a thing as to be considered in the same sentence as Nikki Giovanni.
Resist Booksellers for literally making me feel so welcome before I even entered the store for my event yesterday! Not only that, but they facilitated kindnesses that mean a lot to me, like making sure to set aside a book to personalize for a OG supporter that ordered through them.
The ladies’ bookclub from Richmond that happened to be in the shop right before my event and spent time talking to me, buying my books, and getting them signed. I didn’t know her at all, but one of the women said, “I’m proud of you.” And she meant it so sincerely I thought I was going to cry.
My dear friends and loved ones who came out to the event. My best friend made the trip down from Maryland; my high school and grad school besties also showed up; my college scholarship chair made an appearance. I even got to see folks I met at William & Mary and internet friends!
Faith Sims, the Resist bookseller who has read both my books with an astonishing amount of care. I’ve been stunned both times to see the annotations she has in her books! Her moderation of our conversation was fantastic. It is so rare to be able to speak with someone who has read your work so thoughtfully and wants other to see what she sees. Her attention to detail is impeccable; she even pulled out books I referenced in 280 to put on display for our conversation.
Faith’s heavily marked up copy of 280 The truly phenomenal readers who have been shared their emotional responses to this book. T. L. Faith, who sent me lots of DMs of quotes she loved. Tanesha Johnson, who live texted me reactions to the book. Keara Rodriguez, who immediately went to her library and got a stack of books that were referenced. Sierra Wells and Chanea Bond, the sisters I’ve never met but who truly ride for me/my work. The folks who made graphics and playlists and other content to support. People that participated in the preorder campaign. Everyone who left the most moving reviews. Friends and family members who sent me pictures with their copies. I see you and I appreciate you.
Sierra Wells called 280 “a quiet powerhouse of a story—authentic, funny, moving, and affirming.”
Keara Rodriguez said, “Love in 280 Characters or Less is not the typical coming-of-age love story, it’s a book about how storytellers and art are necessary for movements, you cannot have one without the other. How we (society) place an inordinate amount of expectations on young people, especially young Black people to have a perfect voice or comment or opinion straight out the gate.”
People have found this book extremely quotable. I can’t tell you how many different quotes folks have found that resonated with them. As someone who scrawled the classic “And in that moment, I swear we were infinite” on the back of just about every high school notebook I had, knowing this book is quotable makes me feel like I’ve truly done something.
There’s still so much I can say, so many more gratitudes, but I’ll leave us here, full and hopeful.
ily irl,
Ravynn
More places you can find Love in 280: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250899378/lovein280charactersorless/
What a magnificent week!! So happy for you!!