Library Journal Day of Dialog Fall 2026: Virtual, Free, and Features ME

Join us October 22 for our Library Journal Day of Dialog virtual event! Spanning a variety of genres, this free, day-long program will offer an in-depth look at the biggest forthcoming books for fall/winter 2026. You’ll hear directly from top authors as they discuss their new titles, inspiration, process, and more.

And don’t forget the virtual exhibit hall! Visit the booths to download free resources and chat with publishing representatives. 

EVENT HOURS: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET

 

I am going to share the full program below, but please note, there are often 3 concurrent programs. This is all good because all sessions will be available for on-demand viewing within 24 hours, and the entire event will be accessible for three months from the event date. So pick your first go around faves and then join in after, but you have to register to have access.

Speaking of the schedule, I am doing one of those first sessions:

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Nightmares on the Page
Creepy novels, full of atmosphere, foreboding dread, and shocking scares.

Gerardo Sámano Córdova, Imps! (Tin House: Zando)
Elle Engel, He Always Comes Back (akaSTORY: Abrams)
Eric LaRocca, Brute (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press: Simon & Schuster)
Gus Moreno, If You Think You're Lonely Now (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin Random House)
Tanya Pell, This B Just Won't Die! (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Becky Spratford, LJ Horror Review Columnist

But there is SO much more.  

Go to the main page and you will find everything you need know: full schedule, registration link, another bios, and the sponsors who will be in the virtual exhibit hall. 

I hope to see some of you there.

FULL PROGRAM is below or at this link.

9:00 – 9:30 AM ET | The Exhibit Hall Opens
 

9:30 – 10:00 AM ET | Opening Keynote
Jojo Moyes discusses Three Sisters (Pamela Dorman Books: Penguin Random House), a novel about a family reunion that is by turns comic, tempestuous, heartfelt, and ultimately redemptive.
Moderator: Jill Cox-Cordova, former LJ Associate Editor

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS
 

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Nightmares on the Page
Creepy novels, full of atmosphere, foreboding dread, and shocking scares.

Gerardo Sámano Córdova, Imps! (Tin House: Zando)
Elle Engel, He Always Comes Back (akaSTORY: Abrams)
Eric LaRocca, Brute (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press: Simon & Schuster)
Gus Moreno, If You Think You're Lonely Now (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin Random House)
Tanya Pell, This B Just Won't Die! (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Becky Spratford, LJ Horror Review Columnist

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Spellbound for Love
A conversation on crafting fantastical worlds with romance, adventure, and high stakes.

Ruby Dixon, Villain Origin Story (Ace: Penguin Random House)
Tzeyi Koay, A Curse Carved in Ink (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Alexis L. Menard, Vices & Virtues (Forever: Hachette)
Lexi Ryan, Night Tide (Deluxe Limited Edition) (Avon: HarperCollins)
Tasha Suri, The Lady of Thorns (Orbit: Hachette)
Moderator: Nicole Gaudier Alemañy, Assistant Branch Manager, Brooklyn Public Library (NY)

10:05 – 10:55 AM ET | Turning the Page Together
A lively discussion on books worth talking about, perfect for sharing with friends and book clubs.

Karen Joy Fowler, Otter Music (G.P. Putnam's Sons: Penguin Random House)
Elizabeth Wellington Rollins, The Three Graces of Pearl Street (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Nina Michiko Tam, Tastes Like Seeing God (Pamela Dorman Books: Penguin Random House)
Rory Squire, Small Talk (Cardinal: Hachette)
Marisel Vera, The Girls from Humboldt Park (Liveright: Norton)
Moderator: Lynnanne Pearson, Head of Adult Services, DeKalb Public Library (IL)

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS
 

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Nobody Told Me This About Parenting
Experts provide practical, compassionate approaches to raising kids today.

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, The Dysregulated Kid (Page Two: Page Two)
Lisa Damour, The Emotional Lives of Parents (Ballantine Books: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Ashley Rayner, Librarian at NORC, University of Chicago (IL)

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Nonfiction Illustrated
Discover culinary traditions, experience a life-changing journey, and reflect upon a tragic moment in history.

Christopher Benson, Framing Emmett Till (Abrams ComicArts - Megascope: Abrams)
Matthew Maxwell, How to Hold a Cockroach (Penguin Random House)
Linda Yi, Let's Make Sichuan! (Ten Speed Graphic: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Alexander Zalben, Host and Editor, Comic Book Club

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Supernatural Curiosity
Explore the museum of lost things, travel to enchanted fairy lands, and encounter ghostly hauntings.

Sarah Clegg, Perilous Enchantment: The True History of Faeries (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Sam Kean, The Museum of Lost Things (National Geographic: Disney)
Margo MacDonald, A Curious Presence: An Exploration of Ghosts and the People Who Haunt Them (ECW Press: ECW)
Moderator: Sarah-Ruth Tasko, Readers' Advisory Librarian - Darien Library (CT)

THREE CONCURRENT PANELS
 

11:35 AM – 12:25 PM ET | Culinary Adventures
Discover fresh ways to cook, eat, and feel your best with these four Union Square cookbook authors. From Italian favorites and fiber-fueled meals to the science of flavor and everyday wellness, this panel serves up practical recipes, expert insights, and delicious inspiration for every home cook.

Anna Francese Gass, Instant Italian: 100 Modern Classics—Ready in Under an Hour
Dr. Emily Leeming, Fiber Power: 60 Recipes to Transform Your Energy and Boost Your Health in Four Weeks
Helen Rennie, The Science of Dinner: Lessons in Flavor and Texture with 60 Essential Recipes
Elizabeth Stein, Nourish and Thrive: 100 Balanced Recipes for Everyday Wellness
Moderator: Ron Block, Branch Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library System (OH)

11:35 AM – 12:25 PM ET | Novels of Twists and Turns
These mysteries and thrillers range from cozy to creepy and are full of suspense, misdirection, and plot twists.

Tempest Black, Bitter Fruit (Little, Brown and Company: Hachette)
Meg Blakemore, When Harriet Met Homicide (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Lauren Ling Brown, The Inheritance Thief (Bantam: Penguin Random House)
Alyssa Cole, It Takes a Village (Wildthorn: Macmillan)
Rebecca Connolly, Webs of Ink (Shadow Mountain: Shadow Mountain)
Moderator: Tina Panik, Reference Manager, Avon Free Public Library (CT)

11:35 AM – 12:25 PM ET | Sea Stories
Nonfiction books that capture the drama and danger of life at sea, with accounts of shipwrecks, science, and tragedy.

Caitlin Doughty, Dead in the Water (W. W. Norton & Company: Norton)
Mark Harris, Deep End (W. W. Norton & Company: Norton)
Ben Rawlence, The River in the Sea (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Decker Watson, The Sinking of The Scandies Rose (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Dontaná McPherson-Joseph, Collection Management Librarian, Oak Park Public Library (IL)

12:25 – 12:55 PM ET | Break / Visit the Exhibit Hall

12:55 – 1:25 PM ET | Afternoon Keynote
Join Isabel Ibañez in conversation with St. Martin’s Publishing Group’s Executive Editor Eileen Rothschild as they discuss Witch Dance (St. Martin's Publishing Group / Saturday Books: Macmillan Library Marketing), an atmospheric, historical fantasy where forbidden magic, a deadly mystery, and an enemies-to-lovers romance collide in Renaissance Europe.

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

1:30 – 2:20 PM ET | Enchantment in the Everyday
These books blend time travel, alternate realities, and magical recipes into daily life.

Sarah Addison Allen, Paper Ghosts (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Tabitha Bouldin, Seven Recipes for Second Chances (Bethany House Publishers: Baker)
Emilia Hart, The Enigmas (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Kelly Murashige, Milkiverse (Soho Press) 
Alex Schulman, June 17th (Harper: HarperCollins)
Moderator: James Gardner, Reference Librarian at Clark County Public Library

1:30 – 2:20 PM ET | Make Your World Better
Self-help authors discuss reconnecting with one’s self, focusing on what's really important, and practicing social bravery.

Autumn Brown, Temper (St. Martin's Essentials / Sounds True: Macmillan)
Chris Cleave, Human Again (Scribner: Simon & Schuster)
Amy Cuddy, Bullied (Harper Wave: HarperCollins)
Jedidiah Jenkins, Go Quiet on the Mountain (Convergent Books: Penguin Random House)
John S. Kruse, ADHD World (New Harbinger Publications: New Harbinger)
Moderator: Emily Bowles, Lecturer in English, Georgia Gwinnett College

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS
 

2:25 – 3:15 PM ET | First-Time Authors
Learn about debut novels that run the gamut from ping-pong to magical party islands.

Renny Gong, Ping Pong Kids (Ecco: HarperCollins)
CJ Green, Record Lows (Cardinal: Hachette)
Jordan Harrison, Miss Archer (William Morrow: HarperCollins)
Ronald Lee Robertson, Goliath (Scribner: Simon & Schuster)
Raelle Tucker, Obscura (Crown: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Jen Jumba, MLIS, Popular Department Manager, Cleveland Public Library (OH)

2:25 – 3:15 PM ET | The Heart of the Matter
Romance books that celebrate connection, character, and unforgettable love stories.

Liana Cincotti, Don't Be in Love (Forever: Hachette)
Kristina Forest, The Unrequited Love Department (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Roxanne LoMarc, Love and Other Two-Player Games (Haven: Baker)
Martha Waters, Spellstruck (Atria Books: Simon & Schuster)
Julia Whelan, Casanova LLC: Deluxe Limited Edition (Kensington: Kensington)
Moderator: Migdalia Jimenez, Librarian, Chicago Public Library (IL)

3:15 – 3:40 PM ET | Break / Visit the Exhibit Hall

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS
 

3:40 – 4:30 PM ET | The Stories We Carry
Authors share the vulnerability and craft of telling their unique histories in their own words.

Miranda Brown, Dumpling Therapy: My Mother, Chinese Food, and Five Thousand Years of Not-So-Ancient Recipes (St. Martin's Press: Macmillan)
Tamra Davis, Girl with a Camera (Gallery Books: Simon & Schuster)
Ana Hebra Flaster, Property of the Revolution: From a Cuban Barrio to a New Hampshire Mill Town (She Writes Press: Indie Author Project)
Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, Both and Neither: A Memoir and History of Gender (or a Haunting) (Doubleday: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Natalie Marshall, Executive Director, Flint River Regional Library System (GA)

3:40 – 4:30 PM ET | Worlds Beyond
Books filled with cozy magic shops, dystopian cli-fi futures, and desert kingdoms readers won't want to leave.

Delemhach, The Dues & Don'ts of Magic (Simon & Schuster/Saga Press: Simon & Schuster)
Sara Hashem, Merciful Carnage (Orbit: Hachette)
Ashley Poston, Elodie and the Dark Lord (Ace: Penguin Random House)
Lev AC Rosen, All Her Potential (Erewhon Books: Kensington)
A.D. Sui, Our Infinite and Inevitable Ends (ECW Press: ECW)
Moderator: Jessica Trotter, Collection Development Specialist, Capital Area District Libraries (MI)

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS

4:35 – 5:25 PM ET | Fantastic Fiction
From the mountains of Jamaica to the hills of Ireland, these books have stories that defy the ordinary.

Mateo Askaripour, Pure Ox (Dutton: Penguin Random House)
Wiley Cash, Same River Twice (William Morrow: HarperCollins)
Nicole Dennis-Benn, Black Gold (Random House: Penguin Random House)
Mary Beth Keane, Whale Harbor (Scribner: Simon & Schuster)
Susan Meissner, Somewhere, Something Incredible (Berkley: Penguin Random House)
Moderator: Andrea Gough, Adult Services Librarian, Seattle (WA)

4:35 – 5:25 PM ET | Reading the Past
Writers weave historical elements, including the Space Race and 19th-century immigration, into compelling narratives.

Marianne Fons, The Dressmaker of Winterset (Union Square & Co.: Union Square)
Jennifer Galvão, Maria, Maria (Random House: Penguin Random House)
Pam Jenoff, The Society of Forgotten Wives (Park Row: HarperCollins)
Shirin Yim Leos, Of Wind and Dust (The Dial Press: Penguin Random House)
Erin Litteken, Find Me in the Stars (Harper Muse: HarperCollins Christian/Focus)
Moderator: Felicia Humphries, Asst. Director Library Services, Boston Public Schools (MA)

5:30 – 6:00 PM ET | Closing Keynote
Bestselling crime writer S.A. Cosby brings his signature grit and suspense to the Marvel Universe with Truth to Power: A Luke Cage Marvel Crime Novel (Hyperion Avenue: Disney), a thrilling tale of justice and power that pushes heroes to their limits.
Moderator: Ron Block, Branch Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library System (OH)

Free Virtual Program with Horror Authors for All Ages Through Anderson County [SC] Library System and a Chance to Get on the HWA Libraries Mailing List

Popping in today with an invitation for every single one o you and your patrons-- all ages of patrons. Join me and best-selling authors Rory Power (YA), Lisa Springer (MG/YA), Andrew Joseph White(YA and Adult), and Nat Cassidy (Adult) as we have a conversation about horror hosted by Anderson County (SC) Library System. And it is 1 week from today! Tuesday, April 15th from 6-7:30pm eastern.

While anytime of year is the perfect time of year to talk about Horror, April does mark Halfway to Halloween making this month a great time to have horror programming.

I want to give a shout out to Cash from the library. She emailed "libraries at horror dot org" asking for help increasing her horror based programming. She was noticing an uptick in horror readers at all age levels in their library system and knew more programming was needed to satisfy demand.

After a phone call and a few more emails back and forth, Cash sent me a "wish list" of authors (see some of those above) and I helped to organize this event for her.

This is all part of the work the Horror Writers' Association's Libraries Committee does each and every day. As part of the HWA's 501c3 status, we provide free programming to libraries includingconnecting them to authors.

The HWA Libraries Committee is currently in the midst of a strategic planning process as well. It is going well and we will have more to share with the world by September, but in the meantime, we are gathering names of people who want to be a part of our work. We have a short form where you can share your interest and expertise with us. Click here to access that. You do not have to be a library worker to fill it out. Library supporters are welcome as well. Again, click here.

We are in the process of starting a HWA Libraries newsletter [target Fall 2026], and if you share your info with us now, we will get you on the list ASAP.

Back to next week's program-- any and all are welcome to join us, but you need to register here to get the link.

From the registration page:

Description

It's never too early to celebrate Halloween! Start the countdown by joining us for this exclusive online event, as best-selling authors Rory Power, Lisa Springer, Andrew Joseph White, and Nat Cassidy discuss the horror genre and share insights into their writing processes, moderated by horror advocate and author Becky Spratford! Now, that's something to scream about!  

While we cannot promise that every burning question will be answered, we encourage you to email us your best ones to eccstaff@andersonlibrary.org before the discussion.

I hope to see many of you there.

Summer Scares Programming Guide is Now Live

Huge thanks to Konrad Stump and the HWA's Library Advisory Council for getting the useful (and gorgeous) Summer Scares Programming Guide out for all of you to use. It is 100% free.

You can access it on the Summer Scares Resource Page here or directly with this link.

Below, I have reposted the Summer Scares Resource page as it stands today. It will be updated as the year goes on. We already have 3 known podcasts coming soon that are all about Summer Scares.

There is a lot of information you can use anytime of year to help your horror readers. And check out the links to sign up for the free Booklist Webinars featuring our 2026 authors. I will be at every webinar hanging out in the background to answer your questions. 

Finally, I leave you with this fun fact: 3 of this year's authors are nominated for a 2025 Bram Stoker Award-- Linda Cheng, Ally Russell, and Ally Malinenko.

This is the resource page for the 2026 Summer Scares program. Please visit the Summer Scares Archive for access to the resources and titles from 2019-2025 here.

The 2026 Summer Scares Programming Guide is available for free here.

It includes information on each title, readalikes, program ideas, book discussion questions and more. Basically if you want to use these titles for your summer reading plans, this guide has everything you need.

Please click here for access to our free folder of graphics including title collages courtesy of Kelly Jensen.

The 2026 Adult selections are:

A Botanical Daughter, by Noah Medlock (Titan, 2024) 

Never Whistle at Night, ed. Shane Hawk & Theodore C. Van Alst (Vintage, 2023)

Maeve Fly, by CJ Leede (Tor Nightfire, 2023)

The 2026 Young Adult selections are:

What We Harvest, by Ann Fraistat (Delacorte Press, 2022) 

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces, by Linda Cheng (Roaring Brook Press, 2023) 

Our Shadows Have Claws, ed. Yamile Saied Méndez & Amparo Ortiz (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022)  

The 2026 Middle Grade selections are:

Garlic and the Vampire, by Bree Paulsen (Harper, 2021) 

It Came from the Trees, by Ally Russell (Delacorte Press, 2023)  

This Appearing House, by Ally Malinenko (Harper, 2022)

Watch the authors talk about their books, horror, and libraries via our Free Booklist Webinars:

• Thursday, March 12, 2026, at 2pm Eastern, featuring our Middle-Grade authors and moderated by Julia Smith. Click here to register.
• Monday, March 23, 2026, at 2pm Eastern, featuring our Young Adult authors and moderated by Kelly Jensen. Click here to register.
• Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 2pm Eastern, featuring our Adult authors and moderated by Jennifer McMahon. Click here to register.

.Recordings will be available for on demand viewing after the live events at https://www.booklistonline.com/webinars-archive.

More information will be posted here as it becomes available.

Click on the image to access the
Summer Scares 2026 Graphics folder

Coming to a Computer Near You-- Booklist's Summer Scares 2026 Author Panels

Huge shout out to Booklist for taking on the administration of 3 webinars to introduce library workers all over the world to our Summer Scares authors and editors. From the marketing copy for the webinars:

Blood still chilled from the winter? Keep the feeling going with our upcoming Summer Scares webinar series, which will see discussions of the horror genre with this year’s selected authors for middle-grade, YA, and adult audiences. Booklist is proud to continue its partnership with the Horror Writers Association’s Summer Scares Reading Program—alongside Book Riot, iREAD, and NoveList—to bring free library programming and a broad range of horror recommendations to readers of all ages. Invite us into your library, won’t you?

 Click here to see all of the webinars or use the links below to register.

Booklist Books for Youth senior editor Julia Smith will get things started by chatting with the authors of the 2026 middle-grade picks: Ally Malinenko (THIS APPEARING HOUSE), Bree Paulsen (GARLIC AND THE VAMPIRE), and Ally Russell (IT CAME FROM THE TREES). This free, one-hour webinar will take place on Thursday, March 12 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. Click here to register for the Summer Scares Middle Grade webinar.

Author, Book Riot senior editor, and fierce YA lit advocate Kelly Jensen will peer into the shadows with the 2026 Summer Scares YA authors and editors: Linda Cheng (GORGEOUS GRUESOME FACES), Ann Fraistat (WHAT WE HARVEST), and Yamile Saied Méndez and Amparo Ortiz (OUR SHADOWS HAVE CLAWS). This free, one-hour webinar will take place on Monday, March 23 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. Click here to register for the Summer Scares YA Webinar.

Join 2026 Summer Scares spokesperson and New York Times bestselling author, Jennifer McMahon, as she hashes out all things horror with authors and editors of this year’s adult selections: Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst (NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT), CJ Leede (MAEVE FLY), and Noah Medlock (A BOTANICAL DAUGHTER). This free, one-hour webinar will take place on Thursday, March 26 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT. Click here to register for the Summer Scares Adult Webinar.

Before the first webinar, we will be debuting the Summer Scares Programing Guide (estimated release date is 3/2/26). The link will be made available at each webinar and it will be posted on the Summer Scares resource page as well.

Each year I am blown away by how many people sign up and then actually join us (number of live participants is in the 900s +). Thank you for supporting this work and for incorporating horror into your summer reading programs and understanding it is a great reading choice for all ages, all year long.

Use the links above or click on the images for each webinar below to register. Even if you cannot join us live, you will be emailed the recording. I will be behind the scenes for each webinar, there to answer your questions about the program while we all get to know the authors and their books a little bit better.

Any and all Booklist webinars, including last year's Summer Scares events (here, here, and here) are always available for free in the Booklist webinar archive. 

See you there.

A Stacked Issue of Booklist's Corner Shelf is Ready to Help You Help Readers RIGHT NOW!

The just released issue of Corner Shelf newsletter from Booklist is one you 100% cannot miss. It is filled with lists, articles, a FREE three part, virtual event and more.

This newsletter is always helpful and focused on things you can use in your day to day work with readers, but I have not seen one this chock full of so many things you can use RIGHT now, well ever.

From Susan Maguire's letter from the editor to open the newsletter.

Hello Shelfers,

Corner Shelf sits on the corner of readers’ advisory and collection development, but this newsletter is sitting on the RA side of the street. (Of course, the two are inextricably linked, so there’s plenty for CD folks to enjoy as well . . .). We’re talking about a useful Booklist trick, the appeal of audio, and how we produce a Top 10 list. There are also four Heated Rivalry references, because of course there are. Can you find them all?

We’ve also got some stuff going on outside of Corner Shelf:

A lot of us have a go-to tool for readers’ advisoring, but what makes it useful? That’s the question we’re trying to get to the bottom of with our Readers’ Advisory Tools Survey. If you’ve got a few minutes, won’t you consider taking it? We’ll talk about the results at ALA’s Annual Conference in June. Exciting!

Speaking of RA, our *free* annual workshop series, Readers’ Advisory: Ideas and Practice, is back! On Wednesday, March 18, luminaries from library land will explore the appeal of nonfiction, specifically history and memoir; what the deal is with romantasy; and the four cornerstones of reader interest. Did I mention it’s free? Well, it is. Free. If you can’t make it, or you can’t stay for the whole three hours, it will be recorded, so those who register will have access later.

Happy reading!

—Susan Maguire
Senior Editor, Collection Development and Library Outreach, Booklist
smaguire@ala.org
@booklistsusan.bsky.social

Now I have posted about the Survey and Readers' Advisory: Ideas and Practice before, but this is your reminder to do the survey AND sign up for this valuable, FREE half day event (you can do it all live, some live and some with the recording and even all of it recorded, just get signed ups you are notified).

• Click here to lend your thoughts to the survey
• Click here to register for Readers' Advisory: Ideas and Practice

Yes, those are the headlines here, but please click through to see the entire newsletter because there is more.

In particular, I want to draw your attention to this article by Booklist's Audio Editor, Heather Booth entitled, Trade Secrets: Why Audio?. From Booth's introduction:

Successful reader’s advisory for audio can look a lot different from RA for print. The format comes with its own tech requirements, another entire layer of appeal via the narration, and, often, a very different way of interacting with the book from what one might assume with print. Throughout this year of RA explorations, we’ll look at the motivations listeners have behind choosing audio and the particulars of that choice so that we can better understand patrons who listen and better respond to their reading needs. Avid audiobook listeners share some of their motivations for choosing audio below.

And that is just one of the things from the stacked table of contents. Click through or use the free links below to access it all.

• Booklist Better: Save and Share a Search
• Trade Secrets: Why Audio?
• Reference Roundup: Winter 2025–26
• Top 10: Book-Group Books 2026 (plus Anatomy of a Top 10 List)
• Excerpts from the Experts: Challenges to Materials and Programming
• Essentials: The American Revolutionary Era in Fiction, at Home and Abroad
• From Booklist Reader: Black Writers Tell Their Stories
• Shelf Care: Three Conversations about Reading
• From the Backlist: Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be, by Nichole Perkins