Where in the world is Ravynn—and where's she going next?

Haven't posted in 6 weeks; let's talk about it.

Sometimes you don’t know you’re trying to outrun grief until it catches up with you.

I tried my best to do business as usual after saying good-bye to my best pal, Genghis, but after that and a big, poorly timed publishing disappointment, my body eventually just completely shut down.

I’ve spent the last several weeks trying to coax myself back into a semi-normal state. I’ve spent more time than I’d like admit in emergency rooms, urgent care facilities and doctors offices. I think I’m on the mend, but everything still feels very fragile. Like a teacup on the very edge a table. You can’t walk too heavy next to it or it’ll fall and break.

But normalcy didn’t quite stick as another disappointment hit.

And then another.

The hits don’t stop coming long enough for me to get my feet back under myself.

Somehow, though, I’ve managed to show up. There have been such beautiful moments. A baby shower. A 27th birthday party. A local comic con. A call that was mostly screams as my friend shares her engagement. A trip to Richmond to break bread with my soul sister. An S. A. Cosby book talk with Lamar Giles in Petersburg. A silent reading party in the park.

There has been work, mentoring with PocketMFA.

And writing—always writing.

Somehow, I have managed to do a few book events through all this. I had a great signing in Glen Allen, Virginia at the newly reopened Barnes & Noble at the start of July.

Stills from Glen Allen B&N; also featured, Nashae Jones, Virginia author of Courtesy of Cupid!

Then I got invited to do an event at Barnes & Noble in Virginia Beach earlier this month. That one was lovely: the host of Hush Reads VA, Shequandra, agreed to moderate a Q&A and it was followed by a signing. A great turn out, but especially special because my family got to see me do my thing.

Still from my Barnes & Noble, Virginia Beach signing on August 16th!

Most recently, I made it back from a trip to the Atlanta suburbs. A friend invited me out to Gwinnett County Public Library (Duluth Branch) to do a Q&A hosted by Brown Girl Collective’s Marcie Thomas and a signing. I had a great time meeting readers in Georgia and seeing some old friends, and meeting some folks I only knew from the internet. (That session was recorded, so I’ll definitely share that when it’s available.)

Some still from my August 27th event at Gwinnett Public Library!

In the coming weeks, I am going to be booked. I’ll be at William & Mary for a Women’s Weekend literary panel on September 12th, followed by Petersburg Book Festival on Saturday, September 13th where I’ll be moderating the romance panel with Danielle Allen, Natasha Bishop, and J. L. Seegars. Petersburg Book Fest is free to attend, you just have to register! The next weekend, I’ll be attending the Library of Virginia Literary Awards in Richmond. The week after that, I’ll be at a writing retreat for Virginia authors. And after that, I’ll be in Jacksonville, Florida for Black Book Bash from October 3-5.

If you know me, you know I love to be in the house.

I’m pre-tired.

It’s going to be a ton of fun, but the ripping and running on top of not feeling my best physically is going to be a lot.

Things look like they’ll slow down a little once I get back from Jacksonville, so I’ll have a little time to recover, but a few friends booked me to visit their classes, so I’ll be busy doing some guest lectures.¹

In some ways, I can’t believe this is my life. It still feels like I’m designing it from the ground up.

I’m so up for the challenge.

Catch me if you can.

1. I love doing classroom visits and guest lectures! Especially to talk about Love in 280 Characters or Less, which I think would be a great text for a college digital media course, let me know if you have any interest in having me visit your class this semester! But I would also be a good guest for any high school college-prep organizations or programs. We can make something shake.