Back from Book Tour!

On MY Terms sorry how horrible it is that I typed it and you have to read it

Mar 06, 2025

I am very tired!

Dear Readers,

I am absolutely exhausted but thrilled and feeling a little bittersweet to be back from the On Her Terms book tour. My team and I started talking about it and planning in September 2024. In September 2024 I was knee-deep in the first draft of Out in Hollywood #4. I was feeling optimistic about our country and the future. I felt neutral-to-calm about the upcoming pile of work on my desk for Academy phases 1 and 2. Literally it feels like I was living in a different world then. The Amy who put cities into emails and made travel plans had no idea where anything would be now, and I guess in a lot of ways that’s nice for her!

That said, I had a wonderful week-ish on the road. I hadn’t been to NYC for a book event in a couple of years, and it was a blast to be back (and to take an extra day in town to see friends and also Oh Mary!). I’d never been to DC before but due to unforeseen circumstances with BOTH Amtraks I was booked on, I did not have any tourist time in DC. In some ways that felt OK because it was strange to be there, to look toward historic famous buildings and shudder at the things happening inside of them while I was in town to talk about my very queer book. Minneapolis and St. Louis were both colder than the forecasts said when I packed, which means I was battling midwestern winters in a denim jacket, as well as the Queer Book Club hat I bought in StL at Open Door Romance (when a hastily-purchased gay hat is your best bet against the cold you know you have planned poorly).

I met SO MANY READERS on this tour, and every single one of you was amazing, somehow? What a time to be celebrating diverse romance novels in groups of enthusiastic people, in independent bookstores who do so, so much for authors. I genuinely could not feel luckier to have had the week I just had. A few photos are below which I hope capture even a little of the energy of the incredible events!

And now a question FOR YOU, my dear readers! We are already talking about where I want to go next year for Out in Hollywood/Preposition Her Noun #4! If I haven’t been to your city on this tour (LA, NYC, DC, Minneapolis, St. Louis), please comment on this post and let me know where you’d like me to come next time! I know I have readers across the whole country, but it’s interesting to wonder where it might be best to see lots of you. So LET ME KNOW, PLEASE.

(I’ll ask again when it’s closer, but, still. I’m thinking about it right now!)

So what’s next for me? I will be part of more than a few festivals and cons coming up! The only one that’s been announced so far is Romance Con in Milwaukee on September 5-6 — obviously, I’d love to see you there! I will definitely have lots of stickers and/or other assorted swag to share, if the cheese curds alone aren’t reason enough to head off to Milwaukee!*

(“Amy I meant what’s next for you BOOK-WISE” OK OK I hear you! I can’t wait to share more with you about the next book in the next few months. I will say that NOT A SOUL has guessed who the main character is, but there have been some wild suggestions (sorry to my very sweet St. Louis reader but, no, a Phoebe/Bianca prequel is not in the works).)

FINALLY… I am teaching my romance class again! There are few a few slots left, and we start a week from tonight! This is an in-person class in Pasadena, but I have heard your pleas and I am looking to offer a virtual class perhaps later this year. However, if you CAN take it in Pasadena… DO! There is really something special about meeting in person!

xoxoAmy

Consumption

Some recent and recent-ish stuff!

Wearing

A lot of people complimented me on the lipstick I wore at a few of my tour stops. (Thank you.) It’s Merit’s Signature Lip in Maison (matte). I also got it in Classic (also matte) which matches my natural lip color a bit more for more casual wear.*

Aging

I haven’t found an undereye product that I feel has done much for me but I do like Decorte’s Liposome Advanced Eye Serum. Is it doing anything? I don’t know? Do I feel like it is? Maybe? Did I learn about it from a celebrity’s watch-me-get-ready video that I was watching for unrelated research purposes? MAYBE? Anyway you can roll that little metal ball on the end under your eyes “for circulation” but it feels satisfying. Is anything I write helpful? MAYBE??

Attending

When I was in St. Louis I went to the Missouri History Museum and checked out the World’s Fair exhibit in addition to the incredible Gateway to Pride exhibit about St. Louis LGBTQ+ history. This is not just a push to one museum but IN GENERAL to check out your local museums and the diverse history they showcase. It felt so good to be in person amongst other people in a physical space set aside to honor queer elders. Go to a museum!