Whenever You're Ready Pre-Order Campaign

"If you really say 'gay rights' you'll give us pre-order art of the eyeliner scene" - USA Today and Indie Bestselling Author Alicia Thompson

Hello, Friend! Thank you for joining me on this virtual coffee date.

Today’s Drink Special: I really say “gay rights”

As always, the special newsletter subscribers in my life get to hear it first.

Pre-orders from Third Place Books will not only be signed (request personalization in the comments at checkout), but will ALSO come with this absolutely stunning art print by Natalie Shaw.

I mean… look at them!! Natalie smashed it yet again.

When I filled out the cover mood board for my publisher, I sent two scenes: the one that made it on the final cover, and this one, where Nia does Jade’s eyeliner. When I got back the initial sketches, I felt like the eyeliner scene™️, while definitely a memorable one from the book, communicated the wrong tone—WYR is sexy and romantic, sure, but there’s enough grief and generational trauma mixed in that I didn’t want to project Sexy Romp. Even so, I knew I needed it in its final form.

The only way to guarantee that you’ll get one of these is to order in advance from Third Place. I’ll have prints to bring with me to Steamy Lit Con and on tour (full schedule TBA) in September, but they’re in limited quantity, so I can’t promise I won’t run out.

Good Ol’ Black Coffee

Since we last had one of these coffee dates, WYR got some fun press! It received a glowing review from Publishers Weekly, a recommendation from The Washington Post, and a feature in Seattle Gay News!

There’s also a 25% off pre-order sale from Barnes & Noble going through July 17, and a buy 2 get 1 free deal at Target that ends tomorrow. I still would encourage you buy from your local indie (or mine - see art print above!!!!!!!) instead of a big box store, but I understand that sales are helpful when budgets are tight.

I’m also entering the home stretch of my current project — I should be done by the end of the month, which is sort of wild to think about. I really love these two, and I can’t wait until I can share more about it.

A Biscotti with Your Coffee

Books: I’m not reading so much right now because I’m deep in drafting, but I devoured Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle over this past weekend. Truly amazing, genuinely scary. Highly recommend, and I can’t wait to read his next horror, Bury Your Gays.

Movies: In keeping with the horror theme, my partner and I recently watched the whole Quiet Place franchise, including the newest entry. I cried at the end. Lupita Nyong’o is unreal, as always.

Music: “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar might be my single favorite diss track ever, but are we far enough out from him decisively winning the beef to acknowledge that what OVO for? the other vaginal option? pussy is just a fundamentally wack bar?

Okay that’s all. Back soonish to talk about tour <3

Mwah,

Rachel Runya Katz