Diving into Summer!
Spring into Summer means life is in full swing! Enjoy a sneak peek into my next projects, travels, what I've been reading lately, and more.
Hello, hello, hello.
This year has somehow been both a whirlwind and a slog so far. This time last year I was actively promoting my debut novel Murray Out of Water, which came out on May 21st, 2024. I feel so much more confident and sure of myself as a writer going into the release of my second book, Pasta Girls, this September. While I’m anxious about the future for my books and writing overall, I have a ton of irons in the fire and I’m going to *cue Dory voice* just keep writing, just keep writing, just keep writing…
On Saturday, June 14th from 11am-4pm, I will be at the Passaic County Book Festival in Weasel “Book” Park in Clifton, NJ. Brave the rainy weather and come check out this day of authors, poetry, arts and crafts, food trucks, and more if you’re local. I'll be on a panel with Nadine Haruni and Valerie Munro, moderated by Nick Bastean from the Wayne Public Library (with special guest) at 2:15pm in Tent 2! Otherwise I’ll be hanging out at my table with some copies of Murray and some swag.
April Travels!
This April, I went out to Indiana with my partner to spend her spring break from teaching and Easter with her family in Evansville.
While we were there, we made a donation of books to Greater Evansville Youth, which has collaborated with Indiana Youth Group on a GORGEOUS new space that helps them provide support, services and space to LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults up to age 25. We are talking the works: a food pantry, a video game room, a sensory room, tons of meeting spaces and a busy calendar of programming to provide support, socialization and more for queer teens and young adults in southern Indiana.
This is so huge! They always need donations and support. You can donate to them directly, purchase needed items from their Amazon wishlist, or drop off needed items if you’re local (they always need food, plus-sized clothing and toiletry items especially!). You can learn more about them and their mission here.
I can’t wait to go back and talk about writing with the kiddos the next time we make the trip next year.
On our trip, we also stopped in Oglebay, my favorite little slice of West Virginia almost heaven, to do some on-site research & relaxation for the next middle grade project I’m outlining that’s all about messy family dynamics, weddings, and wild, wonderful West Virginia sunsets.
Independent Bookstore Day…and Farewell, Perhaps, The Curious Reader?
This year on Independent Bookstore Day, I was in downtown Cincinnati on my way back to New Jersey. We walked across the Ohio River on the Roebling Bridge to Roebling Books in Covington, Kentucky. I adored this meandering bookstore filled with so many good reads and a wonderful cafe. We bought a bunch of books before heading over to the Cincinnati Art Museum!
I also visited Thunder Road Books’ new location recently and was so blown away by their new space. If you haven’t gotten the chance to check it out or if you’re a big fan of the store, I’ll be doing an event there for Pasta Girls on Sunday, September 14th at 3pm with Nicole Melleby. You can buy your copy and reserve your ticket here.
If you can’t make it, you can also preorder signed and personalized copies of Pasta Girls from Thunder Road Books here. Also a reminder—if you’ve preordered the book from any other retailer (including Libro.fm!) or requested it be in the catalog of your public library, you can fill out this form to receive the same swag plus a signed bookplate.
Last year for Murray, I offered preorders from my local indie, The Curious Reader, as well. Unfortunately, they have decided to close the store by summer (unless they have a buyer). I will sincerely miss the store as well as Chris, Sally, and Jim who were such lovely and dedicated supporters of me and my work. I wish them all well on their next adventures and have my fingers crossed tightly for a new chapter of The Curious Reader. Northern New Jersey needs a dedicated children’s bookstore!
Blurbing Books for Others
I’ve been having a blast blurbing books for friends lately and I’m always willing to blurb books for debut middle grade authors, especially queer and trans stories.
I had the chance to blurb Kyle Casey Chu’s debut middle grade novel, The Queen Bees of Tybee County:
“Kyle’s debut dazzles with heart in this bold, beautiful story about embracing your true self and the value of having an affirming community behind you every step of the way. Derrick Chan has my vote for queen bee of queer middle grade this year.”
— Taylor Tracy, author of Stonewall Honoree Murray Out of Water
I also blurbed Nicole Melleby’s upcoming 2026 middle grade release Brady Mason’s Perfect Fit:
“Angry, prickly, and perfectly Jersey, Brady Mason is anything but weak. She's a cool kid that readers young and old will root for from page one."
—Taylor Tracy, Stonewall Honor author of Murray Out of Water
And finally, I blurbed Robin Gow’s upcoming 2026 middle grade novel in verse Sabertooth:
"Sabertooth is a gorgeous queer middle grade with a big bite that teaches young readers how to process their big complicated feelings within a fun, high stakes adventure about an autistic trans boy, a sentient sabertooth fossil, and a community of fellow misfits. A true gem for anyone who has ever felt angry and alone."
―Taylor Tracy, Stonewall Honor-winning author of Murray Out of Water
I’m moderating an event with Nicole and Robin early next year, so keep an eye out for those details!
What Friends & Peers Have Said About Pasta Girls
“Pasta Girls is a fun and romantic ride about two neurodivergent lesbians discovering who they are and who they want to be. Tracy has written a Shakespeare retelling that centers her queer middle grade characters' needs within this age old story. A book perfect for any readers' shelf that will have you yearning to be kissed on a ferris wheel, eat all the pasta, and make plans for the next San Gennaro.”
— Nicole Melleby, award-winning author of Winnie Nash is Not Your Sunshine
“Pasta Girls is the middle-grade Romeo and Juliet retelling of my dreams. This aptly constructed tale of pasta and woe is filled to the brim with heart, humor, and forbidden first love. Ro and Jules are as unforgettable as they are lovable and this Shakespearean tale of family, food, and friendship will stay with you long after you have closed the book.”
— Nashae Jones, author of Courtesy of Cupid
“Pasta Girls is a feast: of first love, friendship, family, and finding your way. Readers will root for Ro and Jules as they refuse to settle for anything less than their dreams, even if they are still trying to figure out what shape those dreams will take. A beautiful middle grade love story.”
— Kate Fussner, author of 13 Ways to Say Goodbye and The Song of Us
“With Pasta Girls, Taylor Tracy serves up a queer love story that is sweeter than zeppole and perfect for younger teens! Filled with mouth-watering descriptions of Italian food, adoring nonnas, and young, neurodiverse queer love—this book has something for everyone.”
— Jake Maia Arlow, Stonewall Honor Author of Almost Flying
“As sweet as cannoli and as satisfying as homemade pesto on fresh, crusty bread, Pasta Girls is a delightfully un-tragic riff on Romeo and Juliet that centers two eminently relatable queer, neurodivergent young teens. Readers who crave upper middle grade stories about eighth and ninth grade characters will devour Taylor Tracy's ode to New York City, Italian food, and first love.”
— Laurie Morrison, author of Up for Air and Keeping Pace
Books I’ve Been Enjoying
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump this month. The weather has been rainy every weekend for a couple months now and I’m itching to finally read outside and on the beach. Also, between all my travel and catching up at work, I’ve been too focused to fully slip into a book. I have been enjoying catching up on my backlog of You’re Wrong About episodes to listen to, though!
Nevertheless, here are some of my favorite books I’ve read the past few months:
Kirby’s Lessons for Falling (in Love) by Laura Gao
Pillow Talk by Stephanie Cooke and Mel Valentine Vargas
Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia
Carousel Summer by Kathleen Gros
The Queens of New York by E.L. Shen
The Bi Book by AJ Irving and Cynthia Alonso
Sky Daddy by Kate Folk
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad
That’s it from me for now!
In my next newsletter, I hope to have some updates on my writing projects and more book recommendations for y’all. See you soon—let me know what you’ve been reading and enjoying lately!
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