aloha! We are supposed to talk about our launch parties and swag this week. It is a miracle that I had a book come out in February 2019. The story that led to The Atlas Of Reds and Blues was
first begun in 2004. And I lost most of my work in 2010 during the police raid on my former home in Georgia. So, I had to start over. It took two years, once I was able to sit down and attempt prose. It was a miracle that in 2018 I got an offer from Counterpoint and the book came out 365 days later. My fourth “kid” though my first “book baby.”
My friends and family had been waiting for decades for this moment, and it was such a thrill to see their familiar faces in the audience and celebrate with them during the tour. As the daughter of Bengali immigrants, it is customary to feed our guests — so as many places as I could I brought cupcakes and samosas.
My technologically savvy children made cupcake flags and off I went, pinning “The Atlas of Reds and Blues” to the sweets and savories on hand. I had envisioned making t-shirts or sweatshirts, but it didn’t work out. I was able to make broadsides (once again, thanks to the technologically savvy teens) — and have been passing out the small posters at various events over the past six months.
I hope I have a chance to do this again, publish another book, embark on another tour. It has been thrilling. But if I never get this lucky again, I am grateful to everyone who made my debut such a wonderful experience. Mahalo.
