Hey community,
Well I’m partway into the Bay Area book launch and events for Bringing the Beach Home, and it’s been a mostly sweet and sometimes angsty experience. I’d imagine others who have launched things, including books, might relate.
I took this photo of pelicans flying last weekend when I went to the beach after my Pt. Reyes book event. Friend Tanya and I strolled on the shore, and I think saw more pelicans than either of us had seen before, flying by in flock after flock. Or is there a different collective noun for pelicans? Wouldn’t it be a relief to be a pelican, not worrying or comparing yourself to others, but just doing what you do: fly, eat, sleep, and hang out with other pelicans.
I’ll share more below about recent experiences, but for those of you who want to cut to the chase…
List of upcoming book events:
This weekend, Sunday, August 10th, at 10:30 am at Linden Tree Books in Los Altos, I’ll be reading and running a craft activity: https://www.lindentreebooks.com/events-calendar/
Friday, August 22nd, 4:00-5:00 pm, at Berkeley Public Library downtown on the fourth floor, I’ll be reading and running a craft activity: https://berkeleypubliclibrary.libnet.info/event/14116904
Saturday, Sept. 20th, 10:00-4:00 pm at Fairyland in Oakland, I’ll be I’ll be one of over 30 book creators signing books at the 2025 Children’s Book Festival: https://fairyland.org/event-calendar/book-festival/
The launch event at Mrs. Dalloway’s was super sweet. So many friends and family members showed up, including folks who had a crucial role in creating the book. There was my fabulous publisher, Angela Engle of the Collective Book Studio. My editor, Molly Woodward, who had so much to do with helping me shape and craft the book into what it became. My mom and her best friend Jo Anne, in the front row! And my always supportive partner Mitch, who helped to whoosh swoosh the waves with a scarf. Co-author Stan of Fred Korematsu Speaks Up came to offer his support. Nicole and Alejandra from my Manzanita Writers Collective who had been there to see and support iterations of the story, including at the beach. And of course the wonderful Rob Liu-Trujillo who came prepared with such thoughtful and honoring questions. Plus other dear friends, and even two people I didn’t know!
I so appreciate Jessica and Eric Green of Mrs. Dalloways who warmly welcomed us and created a fantastic environment for this event. I felt very lucky, and kept shouting out to all the wonderful folks in the room. Because I know it takes a village. You can order signed copies from Mrs. Dalloway’s as I left a nice stack. Just add a note to your order requesting a signed copy, or pick it up from their Berkeley store.
Now to the challenging side. We pretty much filled seats at Mrs. Dalloways (more came in after the above photo). But with more events, would that happen again? And I get this feeling that I have to shout out about everything. But also worry that I’ll overwhelm people. And how much does this all relate to a “successful” book launch anyways?
When I went to the East Coast, I reached out to many bookstores in New York and Boston to see if they wanted to do book events, and got a few “no’s” and mostly no response. Which left me feeling somewhat dejected. Rejected. Not as important as the “big name” folks who get the slots, especially at New York stores. Of course! There are so many children’s book creators there. I help people all the time who are bringing their books into the world, especially indie-published folks. So I know how hard it is to try to make some kind of splash in a very busy ocean (pun definitely intended).
For that trip, I ended up turning it into a “This is my life” trip, and made my own events. I met up with friends, organized gatherings and read/sold books, even went to the Mermaid Parade and asked mer-people to take photos with my book. These were creative attempts to do things I loved and to CONNECT with people. Which is really one of the things I love most.
So here I am on the Bay Area part of bringing this book out. The launch event was in Berkeley and I could focus on it to get everyone there. But the next events?
Last weekend I had an event scheduled in Point Reyes Station in partnership with the Mesa Refuge and several other organizations. The plan was for me to read and do a nature-connection craft activity. I did my best to get the word out, including with this email list. And the other partners promoted the event as well. I had no idea who would show up—especially if there would be kids.
I gathered a ridiculous array of art supplies with a plan for people to make their own books after the reading. The wonderful Kamala Tully of the Mesa Refuge picked me up at 9 am for us to go and set up. The Dance Palace, an old church turned community space, offered a gorgeous location. And we waited.
Then I was so grateful to have people come. And again, they were ALL people I knew. Some had already been to the launch event (I’m looking at you, Mitch, wonderful friends Tanya and Grant, and amazing stepmother Mari). Some new folks included Heather and Rachel from my MFA days who brought a husband and a mother, and old family friend Margaret. One of my dad’s dear friends Sara came who lives in Pt. Reyes Station. A small and sweet group. But I knew every person and no children.
I tapped into gratitude and thought, “The perfect people—those who are supposed to be here—are here.” I handed out scarves for interactive reading, and turned to page one. My engaged adult group listened attentively, and satisfyingly waved scarves and called and responsed.
Then something magical happened. I saw some kids walking by outside. They looked like they might speak Spanish, so I called out “libro para niños.” They continued by, but then came back and pulled their mother inside. I and others in the group met the family with a lot of enthusiasm. Come in! Pulled up chairs. Gave them scarves. And I shifted. My Spanish is rusty but I got to practice during a recent trip to Mexico. So I asked the group if they were OK to go back to the beginning. Of course they were. I then attempted a spontaneous Spanish translation of the book.
I got help. From Heather and husband Teg who spent over a year in Costa Rica. Teg even ended up “playing” the dad and helping to translate his dialog, as well as coming up with other words. And most of all, the mom and two kids were right there. We found words and meaning together. Everyone in the room helped. I would read in Spanish first, and then English. And I think we all felt so lucky to be part of this sweet unexpected magical moment. The kids had arrived! And these kids were so special and excited to be part of this moment.
The kids were then really excited to jump into the craft activity. I had planned to take people outside for some nature connection first. But it became clear that art was wanted! So the kids, with conversation and company from various adults in the group, got busy making their own books. The boy ended up making a book about his dog George who had died. And the girl put beautiful images together. The rest of the group hung out, speaking Spanish when they could with the parents (the dad showed up after the reading).
And it turns out Pt. Reyes Station has events and community gatherings for Latinx members along with allies during these times when our government targets people based on the language they speak and the way they look. There’s a monthly dinner for Latinx families and ally community members to come together with fun activities, free food, and more. Lourdes, who runs a beautiful store/tienda that sells crafts and objects from Mexico, also runs a bilingual preschool and helps organize these events. Emails were exchanged and information shared. And the whole thing ended up feeling like a community gathering and celebration of story.
Friend Grant in the group bought a book for the kids, and the family was happy to take many pictures together for themselves and others. The mom told me this would be a recuerdo or memory. She gave permission for me to post, but given our current moment, I do worry about posting photos of kids and any families that are potentially targets. So I bring some beachiness to this photo, and so much appreciation for the magic that brought these kids to my reading, and for the kids and their mom. They said later that they looked in and saw the craft activities and said to their mother, it’s escuela or school. And I’m so glad our momentary escuela was there for them at that perfect moment. They had even been collecting leaves outside!
Now I face upcoming events, and I really don’t know who, if anyone, will be there. I guess there’s an element of surrender to this book promotion thing. You do your best, and then hope for the magic. The right people, and the magic, will show up.
With hugs,
Laura
Laura Atkins (She/They)
Children’s book author, editor, and co-organizer of the Social Justice Children’s Book Fair, co-host of Family Day at the Bay Area Book Festival
w: www.lauraatkins.com e: laura@lauraatkins.com
Find me and my musings about indie children’s books on Substack!
Bringing the Beach Home (July 1, 2025) with the Collective Book Studio. I was a featured interview in Kirkus Reviews talking about the book’s creation. And here’s a book guide with activites and inspiration.
"Delicately warm and lovely. This is an understated yet graceful portrait of a child channeling negative feelings into something beautiful." —Kirkus Reviews
With Edward Hailes Jr.and Jennifer Lai-Peterson, co-author of Calling All Future Voters! With Stan Yogi, co-author of Fred Korematsu Speaks Up. Winner, Carter G. Woodson Book Award and Jane Addams Children’s Book Honor Award. With Arisa White, co-author of Biddy Mason Speaks Up, featured in The New York Times and on KQED’s Forum. Visit the Fighting for Justice series website for more. And author of the light-hearted picture book, Sled Dog Dachshund.
Congratulations Laura!!! Yes, the folks at Mrs. D's are AWESOME!!!
Congratulations Laura.