This post uses affiliate links.
Tell me why my heart was racing when I scheduled Cookie Monster (15) for his driver’s permit exam and submitted his driver’s license application? ALSO PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW I HAVE A CHILD I AM PREPARING TO PUT BEHIND A 2 TON VEHICLE?
Also, apologies for the late email. I’ve been trying to do too many things and while that’s great, it didn’t leave me much time to write a newsletter (though I meant to) and so now, here we are. Behind schedule but with the same amount of love!
As with last week, you will find the following in today’s newsletter (feel free to skip to those parts):
Personal note
Speaking of doing too much, I don’t know how folks do this, but it’s so bizarre to do things ahead of time and not get an immediate dopamine bump. HOW DO YOU LIVE LIKE THIS! And then by the time podcasts and articles I have finished finally get published, I’m like, huh. Who did that?
THAT WAS LITERALLY EONS AGO.
ANYHOW, here’s my latest article for Mochi Magazine featuring the incomparable “Books & Boba” podcast. (Also, isn’t that a fantastically alliterative name for a podcast?) Anyhow, check out how the award-nominated podcast featuring books by authors of Asian descent got its start, get to know their hosts, and find out what tropes they’re sick of reading!
Also, if you’re local, come meet me in San Francisco on Saturday, June 7. I will have all three of my books for sale, some candy, and can personalize autographs, too. I would love to meet my readers in person, and meet new folks as well. We’ll be at the Sports Basement on 610 Old Mason Street from 1 to 4 pm.
What brought me joy
I was at j-hope last night in Oakland and I’ll be back at it again tonight!!! I should have a blog about my experience up tomorrow and a concert review for the LA dates in Mochi next week or so.
You can see my fancams from last night on my YouTube channel, but THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE. THIS MTHRFKR BAEPSAED RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE. (iykyk)
I have timestamped it for your viewing pleasure. Don’t say I never did anything for you!
What challenged me
Soooo…you know who did NOT have joy last night while I was in Oakland watching one of the seven LOMLs celebrate dancing, music, and each other…If you guessed the baby, THEN YOU ARE CORRECT!
Kitsune (2) stayed up until I got home around 11:30 p.m. She met me at the garage door, mostly naked and sobbing until I picked her up, at which she promptly shuddered and sniffled until I put her in bed. Then, when I finally joined her in bed and snuggled her, the smug smile she had as she settled against me with a bottle was a sight to behold.
This morning, the baby wouldn’t let me wear my glasses and demanded I lay down with her as she watched “Zootopia” for the zillionth time in Mandarin. SHE WAS SO MAD. She refused to let me see! She was like, NO GLASSES! GLASSES MEAN MAMA GO BYEBYE!
During which time, I discovered that at some point after I left yesterday, she locked me out of my computer. I had to reset my pin and look up so many backup passwords and accounts just to get back in.
Why is this a challenge? Well, it’s not a challenge to ME per se, (except suffering her wrath in the aftermath). But it’s certainly a challenge for Not Yoongi and the rest of the kids she bothers as she refuses to go to bed and everyone else is like GTFTS.
Also, again, not my problem but what is going to happen when I’m in Los Angeles for four days and three nights?
I’ll tell you one thing, this is for sure what I’m coming home to:
What else
I spent all Friday scrambling to find any purchases that qualified for our FSA so that we could use up the remaining balance before yesterday. For the first time in a long time, our medical expenses didn’t immediately get gobbled up thanks to no longer taking my middlest child Glow Worm in for his food allergy immunotherapy every two weeks and paying out-of-pocket.
And while that is great, it’s NOT GREAT if you leave all that monies ON THE TABLE AND NOT SPENT.
Anyhow, I digress.
This is not the challenge portion (although, I would also like to add that they approved almost all my claims and we got most of the monies back YAY ME AND ADDERALL THE UNBEATABLE TEAM).
Pre-sales are up for my new cozy fantasy novella, “Love As Soft As a Distant Star”—including paperbacks!! WHOOHOOOOO!
Here’s the hook: Remi Nomura married Isaiah Won out of duty as fellow Witches’ Council members. She never expected to love him—especially since he’s in love with someone else.
If you love arranged marriage/forced proximity tropes (I sure am a sucker for them), slow burns (seriously, the slowest), cozy feels, and soft, quiet love, then check it out.
If buying a book is not financially feasible right now, you can also fill out this interest form for an Advanced Reader Copy! Honest reviews on Storygraph, Goodreads, or Amazon are one of the biggest ways you can help authors—especially independent ones like me. Reviews are so important, and whether you get the ARC or buy the book, your reviews are so appreciated.
Also, before I forget, I’ve been steadily updating my YouTube channel with Brazn Azn podcast episodes. Right now, I have all of Season 2 up (with our latest episode coming out tomorrow). One easy way to support me is to listen to the podcast on my channel, and this way, I can earn some a little bit from ads.
Support and love our community
This week, I wanted to highlight a local community organization called The Black Neighborhood. Their mission is “to cultivate safe spaces for Black communities where growth, connection, and wellness thrive [through] transformative programs, initiatives, and community events.”
I first heard of them on the local radio about giving out free turkeys for Thanksgiving and I was so curious, I actually checked them out online, and I hope you do, too.
In these shifting and gaslighting times, we need as much joy and community as possible. This is our resistance. This is how we survive.
This is how we thrive.
Do you want to highlight a group or person you think I will love? Please, reply to this email and pass along their info to me. I truly want to shine a light on folks who bring more joy and safety in our world.
Tell me more
Thanks once again for reading. Without readers like you, I’m just shouting into a vacuum and as much as I love myself, even I get tired of my own voice at times. I would love to hear about what is going on with you—especially what made you laugh and smile this week.
May you have a week full of chaotic joy!
