As we eagerly await The Peach Seed paperback release on July 30th, I watch my birthday year disappear in the review —June ’23 ~ June ’24—THE YEAR OF THE BOOK!
I’m reflecting on the amazing journey this has been, starting with recording the audio book and ending with a birthday bash in our back garden with 50 dear friends, good wishes, loads of food & drink—including my late sister Bettye Jean’s delicious cornbread served piping hot with cane syrup butter. Slap yo’ mama good!!
In this post I’m celebrating book clubs everywhere by thanking and highlighting those I visited who showed so much love for The Peach Seed. Readers across the country uplifted food and other motifs from the novel in the most creative ways ✨ My Noe Valley host featured character Fletcher Dukes’ crisp white handkerchief (embellished with felted peaches—for real y’all!!), and she had me make drop biscuits on site, to go with her delish collard greens, black-eyed peas and caramel cake. Trust me, (as we say in southwest Georgia), these book clubbers “be throwing down” in the kitchen!
From New York City, to the Midwest, to Georgia to northern and southern California, a few of the book clubs I visited have been together 20-30 years, which is truly impressive. Nothing delights me more than hanging out with such seasoned readers, who open their homes and kitchens to The Peach Seed experience.
One group I met here in Novato, CA combined mothers and daughters. It was a special treat to hear from both generational perspectives.
Thanks so much…
for your insightful questions and comments, your attention to details and plot points, your appreciation for the years it took to get this book between covers. And your genuine interest in research and process.
Enjoy this gallery of photos!
Mill Valley, CA ~ Well-Read Black Girl Book Club
Oakland, CA
Mill Valley, CA
Placentia, CA ~ Pasadena Area
Mill Valley, CA ~ Marin BIPOC Women’s Collective
San Anselmo, CA . . .
. . . San Anselmo
Novato, CA . . . Mother/Daughter Clubs combine . . .
. . . Novato
San Francisco, CA ~ Noe Valley
Novato, CA
Ohio, South Dakota, Alabama and Georgia ~ The Mint Juleps
San Francisco, CA ~ Laurel Heights
New York City ~ Upper West Side ~ Book the Writer Pop-up Book Club
Ways to support The Peach Seed ~
We need and appreciate anything you can do to help push the book further out into the world:
✅ Watch and Share our BOOK TRAILER!
✅ Subscribe to Anita’s Newsletter and YouTube Channel
✅ Tell EVERYBODY you know!
✅ Ask for The Peach Seed at libraries and bookstores
✅ Suggest title to History, English and Writing teachers
✅ Post pictures of you with the book in the wild—and remember to tag me!