Dr. Sarah and Daniela St. Hilaire mid-laugh during the Colorism book talk at A Small Place Bookshop in SE Atlanta
Over the weekend, I kicked off my national book tour with Atlanta as my first stop! Atlanta is one of those cities where extraordinary experiences happen for me. Since 2023, I’ve been at least 3 times and always feel like a celebrity when I’m there.
The 48 hours leading up to my Atlanta trip, I found myself getting emotional. I imagine it was similar to the kind of emotions parents have when their children graduate or leave for college. I was hyper-aware of all it’s taken to get to this point, and I was filled with so much pride. But that pride was measured with a big sense of responsibility, like this moment was precious in a way that also made it serious. Not serious as in “no fun.” Serious as in, I know I have to really and truly show up for this moment as the best version of myself. Show up for the moment of Atlanta, show up for the moment of this book tour, show up for this moment of being a first time author, and beyond.
I was traveling solo and preparing to solicit support from various folks to help me document the events. I was meeting a few longtime friends, a cousin, and a couple of new people who have already been lovely additions to my social network.
Kimberly, for example, is the founder and host of Flowers Bookclub. I’ve only known Kimberly a few weeks, yet in that short time, she helped me get a book signing table at Barnes & Noble in Atlanta. And we bonded over our love for music and rocked out to Olivia Dean on the way to lunch. And the following week, Kimberly hosted a book club meeting on Zoom featuring Robinne Lee, author of the new novel Crash Into Me.
Dr. Sarah sitting at her author table in Barnes & Noble Perimeter in Atlanta
Dr. Sarah and Kimberly Lett, founder of Flowers Bookclub
So on Friday, I’m meeting my cousin for lunch. She calls to tell me she just got to my hotel and that she’s got her daughter with her, just FYI. I was excited because I hadn’t seen her daughter in a few years. I walk up to my cousin’s car, wave at the backseat where I assume her daughter is sitting, and then slide into the passenger seat.
When I turn around to say hello to her daughter, I’m shocked by how big she’s gotten. And when she pulls her hood down, I notice blonde locs that I don’t expect her to have, blonde locs that look quite familiar…
Dr. Sarah’s surprised face as her ATL book tour plot twist is revealed
What I expect to be my young cousin’s face morphs before my eyes into my SISTER’S face!!
Dr. Sarah and her sister
Now mind you, I had just spoken to my sister on the phone minutes before, and she claimed to be in the carpool line at my nephews school, lol.
Plot twist, indeed!
A colorful line of the most lovely people waiting to have their books signed by Dr. Sarah
My trip went a whole lot better after my sister showed up! I’m so glad for so many reasons that Atlanta was my first book tour stop outside of NYC. It was an Atlanta dream come true (swidt 😉).
