On Signing My First Book Deal

Only a few months ago, my outlook on the creative and art world was bleak. I was in muddy waters with my manuscript that had been on submissions for six months. I turned down a book offer from an editor that I’m pretty sure hadn’t even read the book. I was stressed about the prospect of finding a new agent while trying to finish a new project. Then I went to a residency and left due to all sorts of white toxicity. I boarded my plane back to Ohio, both proud of myself and so conflicted about where I was headed next.

When I was 12 years old and learned to love writing, I could have never imagined freelancing, winning grants, or hustling for paychecks. I couldn’t have imagined my words taking me to my first writing residency in Bengaluru, India, to France and my first boyfriend, and to some of the scarier questions of my life thus far. I couldn’t have imagined finding a home like Tin House for my debut memoir.

My debut memoir, WHEN THEY TELL YOU TO BE GOOD, will be published with Tin House in Fall 2022; edited by Hanif Abdurraqib and praised by Morgan Jerkins, NY-Times Bestselling Author.

To be notified when you can preorder, sign up here.

To learn more about the behind the scenes process to getting my first book deal, check out my Youtube channel: