I’m back after a little break and catching up on everything: book festival recaps, a new release I snuck out, my reading update, what I’ve been watching, and some fun fan fiction plans. Reading Challenge Update I’ve read 87 of my 150 book goal for 2026, which puts me at 58% and eight books ahead of schedule. Recently Read: Straps and Sparkles, Carmen Lee Petty Season, DL White IRL, Aja August Lane, Regina Black A Paid Companion, Nea Forester Group Trip, Aria Days The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule The View from Here, Rachel Howzell-Hall Love, PRN: Hearts of Midtown Hospital Book 1, Cadence Rush Chasing a Second Chance: Westmoreland Legacy Book 8, Brenda Jackson Currently Reading: No One Knows You’re Here, Rachel Howzell-Hall The Stranger Beside Me was my July pick for the 12 Lives biography challenge, and it took me deep into the story of Ted Bundy and Ann Rule’s real relationship with him before his crimes came to light. What I’ve Been Watching I’ve been spending a lot of time on Black BookTube, following the creators who’ve built out a whole playlist of book hauls, interviews, and vlogs. I’ve also got my eye on the new Little House on the Prairie adaptation on Netflix, all eight episodes of which dropped on July 9th. Before I dive in, I’m listening to the Wilder podcast by Joe Piazza and reading Prairie Fires, a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, so I can go into the new version with the real history in mind. Writing and Publishing Updates I released Petty Season the week of July 4th, an age gap romance set in the British Virgin Islands. Theo is 29, runs the water taxi out to a resort on Peter Island, and has a thing for women over 40. Camille Augustine is 49, freshly out of a marriage, and finally taking a vacation for herself. It’s spicy, it’s fun, and you can grab it at booksbydlwhite.com/pettyseason, through retail, or at the library (the library version is a touch less spicy). I’m working on a Labor Day short next and have the cover art already confirmed. Order Forms & Upcoming Events My personal signed book order form is open on my link in bio page through August 8th, maybe a little later. I’m using that order to stock up for the Petersburg Book Festival on September 12th in Petersburg, Virginia, which is free to attend. I also have a wholesale order form available for bookstores or bulk orders. Fan Fiction Corner: Awesome August It’s almost time for Awesome August, my annual celebration of JC Chasez’s birthday (he’s turning 50 this year). This year’s theme is storytelling through album, song titles, or lyrics, and I’m building my story off “I Want You Back.” I’ve got until August 31st to finish and post it, and if you write NSYNC fan fiction, I’d love to see you join in. Wine with Writers Recap I spent the weekend in Baltimore for Wine with Writers at the Last Resort Artist Retreat with a group of authors, including Takara Allen, Rae Lyse, Danielle Allen, Piper Huguley, and Beverly Jenkins. The weekend included a wine and small bites evening with a Black-owned wine company and Black woman-owned caterer, a wellness morning with a sound bath and yoga, a signing session where I completely sold out of books for the first time ever, and an author panel on staying in the business long term. Bosk Pop-Up I also popped up at Bosk, a wine, coffee, and tapas shop, after seeing a call for vendors on Threads. I was the only book vendor there, sold a good amount, and had a great time until the rain rolled in. I’m considering doing more local vendor markets this fall Links & Resources Petty Season: booksbydlwhite.com/pettyseason Shop all books: booksbydlwhite.com/shop Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite Newsletter signup: booksbydlwhite.com/linkinbio Episode page: booksbydlwhite.com/bookcast141 Substack: authordlwhite.substack.com Support the show Stay connected: Visit my website–Booksbydlwhite.com Join my newsletter – booksbydlwhite.com/newsletter Follow me on Substack–Main Substack | Short Fiction Substack Buy books & merch – booksbydlwhite.com/shop Support this show with a recurring gift at bookcast.buzzsprout.com or Buymeacoffee.com/booksbydlwhite. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you really liked it, tell a friend.
