One Week Later...

Signing a copy of Between the Waves and the Stars at the release party at Flagship Brewery on Aug. 5

Last Tuesday was a milestone I will never forget: the release party for my debut novel, Between the Waves and the Stars. I was overwhelmed by the love and support from my family, friends, and Staten Island community.

I had messages and support from as far away as Los Angeles and Jacksonville. Multiple friends make the trip from New Jersey. I had family and friends from all five boroughs make the trip to Staten Island (and any New Yorker will tell you that is no small feat, let alone on a Tuesday night). Chris Knight even drove all the way from Pennsylvania to celebrate before making the trip back. Having my aunts, my cousin, my sister, my parents, and so many familiar faces in one place meant more to me than I can put into words.

Readers lining up for signed copies of Between the Waves and the Stars

I was thrilled to sign dozens of copies and share Kiko’s story with everyone. At its heart, Between the Waves and the Stars is about self-discovery, taking initiative in your own life, and recognizing the power of the people who stand beside you. Just like Kiko has his crew, I am lucky enough to have mine, and this night proved how strong and supportive they are.

The book launched as the number one New Release in Gay Young Adult Fiction on Amazon on its first day and has stayed in the top three ever since. It has also remained a top-three bestseller in the category and even reached the top ten in LGBTQ+ Coming of Age Fiction overall.

A huge thank-you to Flagship Brewery for going above and beyond to make the evening a success. The space, the atmosphere, and the care they put into every detail made it truly special, (and for those asking, yes, there might just be more ideas brewing for what comes next...).

Writing fiction has always been my dream. It has taken years of work, half-finished stories, and long stretches of wondering if I would ever get here. A big part of that dream has been creating stories with the representation I needed when I was younger, ones that show characters like me living, loving, and finding their place in the world. Watching one of those stories finally make its way into readers’ hands, make every challenge worth it.

Thank you to everyone who came out, picked up a copy, sent a message, or cheered me on from afar. Kiko’s journey may be on the page (and now on Kindle), but it has also been my journey, and I cannot wait to share what is ahead.

Celebrating with friends and readers at the launch of Between the Waves and the Stars (Photo by Sean Sweeney)

Check out more photos from the event here!