It takes two to mango: Meet my book tour conversation partners

Spoiler: They are all uh-maaay-zing

It’s incredible how many people it takes to publish a book. There are the obvious people: agents, editors, assistants, marketers, publicists, booksellers, librarians, readers. There are the less obvious: friends, partners, babysitters, caregivers, mentors, coffee (OK not a people) and those who make coffee (people, mostly).

And then, beyond these varyingly obvious people, there are more people. People you don’t consider until your publicist asks, “Would you like to do the book-tour readings on your own, or would you like conversation partners?” Her words don’t make sense at first, and then all of a sudden they do.

She’s asking: “Do you want to talk to groups of unknown folks by yourself, or do you want someone up there with you?” And the answer seems so obvious: Uh duh yes, do people really do this on their own?? HOW.

I get the gist of a self-led reading/lecture; I’ve seen many a TED Talk. But a promotional book tour feels different. I wanted conversation partners. I needed conversation partners. So, I made it my early 2024 mission to recruit some incredible ones. And let me tell you, we nailed it.

Here’s a look at the wonderful folks who’ll be joining me on “The Mango Tree” book tour, which kicks off TUESDAY.

Photo by Avinash Kumar on Unsplash

Cary Barbor

Cary, a WGCU reporter and all-around literary phenom, will join me for the *sold out* (I also cannot believe it) book launch party April 2 at Cape Coral’s Palace Pub & Wine Bar, where she will be recording an episode of her Gulf Coast Life Book Club series live. If you missed out on tickets, you can listen to GCLBC at wgcu.org.

Sheree L. Greer

Sheree is an author, teacher and the founder of Kitchen Table Literary Arts, whose mission is to showcase and support BIPOC women and femme-identifying writers. Sheree’s work has appeared just about everywhere, and you can read one of my favorite essays of hers here. She will be joining me at Tombolo Books in St. Petersburg on April 4.

Author and Kitchen Table Lit founder Sheree L. Greer

Carlos Frías

Two-time James Beard Award-winning food writer and author of “Take Me With You: A Secret Search for Family in a Forbidden Cuba,” Carlos will join me at Books & Books in Coral Gables on April 7. And honestly, it’s going to be very, very difficult for me to stay cool.

Ann VanderMeer

Ann is an award-winning editor, anthologist and teacher who’s dedicated to re-wilding Florida’s green spaces. She and I will be in conversation at Midtown Reader in Tallahassee on April 10.

Rebecca Renner

Rebecca is also a Florida journalist. Her work has appeared in National Geographic and The New York Times, among so many other places. Her first book “Gator Country” came out last year and was named a New York Times Editors Pick. Rebecca and I will be together in a different Gator Country — at Third House books in Gainesville (go Gators!) on April 12.

Robyn George

During my first days at The News-Press, I sat at Robyn’s desk while she was on maternity leave with her son (he’s now at UCF and that makes me queasy). Robyn is my colleague, mentor, editor and friend. She was one of the first people to read “The Mango Tree” in its early drafts. When I left the paper, she took over as restaurant critic, and I love that. She and I will be in conversation (really just catching up on office gossip and empanada spots) at the South County Regional Library in Estero on April 16.

Mariah-Rose Marie

An award-winning cartoonist, illustrator and educator, Mariah-Rose wrote and illustrated “Cook Like Your Ancestors: An Illustrated Guide to Intuitive Cooking with Recipes from Around the World.” The moment I sunk my teeth into this book I fell in love. Mariah-Rose and I will talk about food and family — two ties that bind — as well as so much more at North Figueroa Books in Los Angeles, California when “The Mango Tree” heads west on April 18.

Grace Talusan

I’m not sure anyone is more aptly named than Grace. When “The Mango Tree” was a mere seedling of an idea, I read Grace’s memoir “The Body Papers” and felt compelled to start seriously writing my own book. I emailed Grace to thank her for her words, and she asked me to share some of mine. Then (I still can’t believe it) SHE CALLED ME ON THE TELEPHONE and encouraged me to keep going; a simple act that made me feel so validated. Grace is flying out to Long Beach, California to join me at the Filipina-owned Bel Canto Books. I am going to bawl my eyes out, and then we are going to have soooo much fun. That’s April 19.

Author and educator Grace Talusan

Nathan Hill

You mean THE Nathan Hill, NYT bestselling author of “The Nix,” whose latest masterpiece “Wellness” got the OPRAH WINFREY stamp of approval? Indeed I do. I also cannot believe it. Nathan and I met where all great Southwest Florida writers meet: at the Seasons 52 in North Naples. He was reading for a group of Ivy League alumni. I, a state-school kid, was there to fangirl. Nathan is a brilliant writer and an incredibly kind person for agreeing to this. He’ll be joining me at the Barnes & Noble in Fort Myers on April 25.

Ligaya Figueras

When A Capella Books in Atlanta offered to host an event for the book tour, Ligaya immediately sprung to mind. As a half-Filipina and the senior food & dining editor for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, she and I have a few things in common. Thing I’m sure we’ll get into on May 4.

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Remember last newsletter when I said I was going to be sending this newsletter more often, but that was three weeks ago and now here I am sending it on a Friday evening two days before Easter? Hahahahaha. Sometimes I type silly things. But I will be sending this more often as the book tour gets going (probably? right?). Because, already, there’s so much more to catch you up on.

I don’t think I’ve said it enough, so: Thank you.

I’ve said this more than enough, but I am contractually obligated to say it again: Preorder your copy of “The Mango Tree” now! Because in four days, it’s just going to be an order (no “pre”) and that’s still fun but not as fun.