Connecticut, Harry Styles, and Hot Dogs

were not harmed in the making of this post

Hi hi hi. I am just back from a weekend on Long Island, where I drank rose and failed to convince my children to eat anything other than French fries. I signed books at both BookHampton and Sag Harbor Books, so if you happen to be out yonder, go see the nice booksellers and pick up a copy. Here is a picture of some child labor at Book Hampton.

Okay, fine, it’s my child, no labor laws were broken. I took him with me when I left the store. Thank you to Jesse and the whole team for making us feel comfortable and tolerated.

But wait! I also went to a country club in Connecticut to hang out with the ladies of Barrett Bookstore!

My mother took this photo on the train. Despite the sign behind me and the look in my eye, I am not stoned.

Page picked us up in her orange Jeep. It’s easy to find an orange Jeep in a parking lot.

The country club locked us into a fancy room and fed us iced tea and Caesar salads. I would eat a Caesar salad with Jasmine Guillory any day of the week. Did I think we were maybe about to be the stars of a creepy horror movie? Yes! But look at this luminous person! We chatted and drank rose with Jean Hanff Korelitz and a very good time was had by all.

The ladies of Barrett Bookstore! Colorful, friendly, and full of recommendations. Jasmine and I are going to be swathed in Soft Surroundings from here on out.

And then! Last night! I finally was able to do a Tables of Contents event, a reading and eating series run by my incredible friend Evan. It was me, Lydia Conklin, and Daphne Palasi Andreades, both of whom wrote amazing debuts this year, two of my absolute faves. Pick up copies of Brown Girls and Rainbow Rainbow today! Evan and his team cook a dish inspired by each writer’s book, and mine was, well, this.

There was no way it was not going to be hot dogs.

Lydia is a vegetarian and so Evan made them a carrot dog instead.

The deranged face of someone who has just grilled a carrot. (Love you, Evan.)

So fun! My book tour is mostly done now, just with little special events here and there throughout the summer. I have loved every minute of it. If you want me to come to your bookstore, just holler. I’m already missing the wild wonders of life on the road.

To do List:

Buy a father’s day gift! May I suggest This Time Tomorrow?

Or Also a Poet, by Ada Calhoun! Out today!

Listen to Harry’s House on repeat!

Buy yourself some flowers!