Celebrate the release of This Is How You Love Her with Traci Saulsberry!

EVENT DEETS

When: Sunday, September 27 @ 6 PM CST

Where: 2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004

How:

• RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat.
• RSVP WITH BOOK to reserve your seat and purchase a copy This Is How You Love Her, supporting both the author and our store programming. The book will be available for pickup at the event.

Please Note: Books purchased from other retailers are not permitted in the bookstore and are not eligible for the signing or photo line. To participate in the signing and photo opportunity, you must purchase a copy from Kindred Stories. If you already purchased your book from Kindred Stories, you may select the RSVP Only ticket option and bring your Kindred Stories copy to the event.

If you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend the event, your ticket is non-refundable. If your ticket includes a book, an email will be sent to all attendees before and after the event with instructions on how to receive your book. Books must be claimed within 14 days following the event. If your book is not retrieved it will be returned to the publisher and will not be available for pick up in the future.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A fiercely candid, funny, and sometimes heartbreaking blend of memoir and self-help on vulnerability, identity, and reclaiming your life

What if you didn't need Bali to find yourself? For 14 years, Traci Saulsberry led communications at NBC, becoming one of the youngest Black executives at the company. She had everything a modern woman is told to want—the house, her son, the high-powered job.

But when her carefully constructed life collapsed, Saulsberry was confronted with a question she'd been avoiding for years: Who was she, really?

Here I was, caught on my heels, with no backup lover to pick up the slack. Naturally, because I am a product of an adolescence spent binging rom-coms filled with sweeping tales, I wanted to run away and leave it all behind. I romanticized that there must be a flight to the farthest island on the edge of the world where I could just start over again. My archnemesis, reality, quickly snapped me out of that daydream. I wasn't going anywhere. I felt trapped.

This Is How You Love Her is a vulnerable narrative guide to uncovering your identity in life's small moments, right where you are. With wit and insight, heart and cinematic prose, Saulsberry weaves together pages from her journal, conversational guides, poetry, and reflection prompts in this memoir-meets-guide that gives readers permission to get to know themselves at their own pace.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Traci Saulsberry is a senior communications executive, leadership coach, and writer. At twenty-seven, she became one of the youngest Black executives at NBC, where she spent fourteen years shaping narratives at the highest levels of entertainment. She later built and led the communications team at Peacock, managing a team of more than thirty people during the platform’s launch and growth.

She is currently a host and narrator for Calm, the world’s leading meditation and sleep app, where she guides original series including Workplace Wellbeing, Professional Growth, and Processing World Events, designed to help audiences navigate life with clarity and care.

As a leadership coach, keynote speaker, and learning facilitator, Saulsberry works with early-career professionals, executives, and business owners, with a focus on helping individuals find and own their voice—particularly while navigating spaces where they are underrepresented. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, where she teaches entertainment publicity.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Dee Brown is a former television reporter and producer, media personality, and founder of Happy + Home Collective, a boutique media agency specializing in home and garden PR, social marketing campaigns, production, and storytelling. Her background in television and brand communications has given her a passion for telling the stories behind beautiful spaces, the people who create them, and the transformations that make a house feel like home. Dee’s work and expertise have been featured by leading media outlets and platforms, including HGTV, NBC, Oprah Daily, and FOX SOUL, among others.

Celebrate the release of Writer In Residence with Rhonda McKnight!

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, September 28 @ 6:30 PM CST

Where: Virtual via Zoom.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85955526083?pwd=YcqxDwhEWlqeoahsmg4aTVaCEzJYh0.1

Meeting ID: 859 5552 6083
Passcode: 184602

How: 

• RSVP ONLY to reserve your spot.
• RSVP WITH BOOK to reserve your spot and purchase a copy of Writer In Residence, supporting both the author and our store programming. The book will be available for pickup or shipped on the day of the event.

If you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend the event, your ticket is non-refundable. If your ticket includes a book, an email will be sent to all attendees before and after the event with instructions on how to receive your book. Books must be claimed within 14 days following the event. If you do not retrieve your event book , it will be returned to the publisher and you are not eligible for a refund. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

From award-winning author Rhonda McKnight comes a new story of faith, history, and the power of legacy that merges the romance of The Bookshop Sisterhood with the rich Lowcountry setting of Mary Alice Monroe.

Alexandra Chambers is a writer who has run out of words. Struggling with writer's block and the pressure to secure a new book deal, she wins a week in a writer-friendly cabin through a drawing held at a Lowcountry literacy center.

What she finds is far more than she expected--a vibrant community brimming with inspiration, a past steeped in history and culture, and a man who both intrigues and unsettles her.

Gabe Scott, a bestselling author and the former writer-in-residence, is everything Alex feels she's not--acclaimed, award-winning, and unshakably confident. When their paths cross at the center, his literary brilliance and dedication to helping struggling Gullah students stir feelings Alex isn't ready to confront. Though undeniably attracted to him, Alex wrestles with the fear that her books pale beside his celebrated work.

When a surprising family connection unearths long-hidden truths about her past, Alex is forced to confront a lie that has shaped her life. Guided by the quiet wisdom of Ms. Kate, an elderly Gullah cleaning woman with losses of her own, Alex finds the strength to forgive truths long withheld, embrace her voice, and write the story only she can tell.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rhonda McKnight is the author of the 2025 Christy Award winning novel, BITTER AND SWEET, and the 2024 Emma Award winner, The Thing About Home. She has twenty-eight books, including other award-winning, bestselling romances. She currently writes book club fiction set in the South Carolina Lowcountry for an imprint at HarperCollins Publishing. Originally from a small coastal town in New Jersey, she writes from the comfort of her Midlands South Carolina home..

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Celebrate the release of The Period and Puberty Parenting Revolution with Dr. Charis Chambers!

EVENT DEETS

When: Friday, September 18 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, HTX 77004)

• RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat.
• RSVP WITH BOOK to reserve your seat and purchase a copy The Period and Puberty Parenting Revolution, supporting both the author and our store programming. The book will be available for pickup at the event.

Please Note: Books purchased from other retailers are not permitted in the bookstore and are not eligible for the signing or photo line. To participate in the signing and photo opportunity, you must purchase a copy from Kindred Stories. If you already purchased your book from Kindred Stories, you may select the RSVP Only ticket option and bring your Kindred Stories copy to the event.

If you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend the event, your ticket is non-refundable. If your ticket includes a book, an email will be sent to all attendees before and after the event with instructions on how to receive your book. Books must be claimed within 14 days following the event. If your book is not retrieved it will be returned to the publisher and will not be available for pick up in the future.

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Charis Chambers is a board-certified OB/GYN and fellowship-trained Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecologist. She is the founder of The Period Doctor, an award winning and internationally recognized social media platform dedicated to reproductive health education and equity. She is also the Chief Medical Officer at the #1 women founded and women led menstrual tracking app, Clue. She currently practices part-time in Greenville, SC but will soon be opening her private practice in Atlanta, GA.

Dr. Chambers is a proud Spelman College alumna where she served on the Miss Spelman Court as 1st Attendant and was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Mu Pi Chapter in the Spring of 2008. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2010 with a degree in Biology. She is a 2024 Distinguished Young Alumni Award recipient from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she earned her medical degree. She completed OB/GYN residency at Greenville Memorial Hospital and fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine.

Beyond clinical care and digital education, Dr. Chambers serves on the governing board of Movement Charter Schools Atlanta and the Medical Review Committee for PERIOD. She is the author of the upcoming book “The Period & Puberty Parenting Revolution,” a compassionate and medically accurate guide that transforms how we parent kids through puberty. She is also a wife and new mom who is passionate about raising the next generation with a foundation in health equity and reproductive justice.

Celebrate the release of Ashes at the Altar with LaDarrion Williams!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, September 17 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

What: 

• Bookclub Discussion for Books 1 & 2 in the series
• Q&A with the author about Ashes at the Altar
• Activities and Games 
• Author Signing
• Giveaways

How:

• RSVP Only – Reserve your spot at the event.
• RSVP with Book – Reserve your spot and a copy of Ashes At The Altar
• RSVP with the Blood At The Root Trilogy Hardcover Bundle – Reserve your spot and receive a hardcover bundle of all three books in the Root Trilogy.

Please Note: Copies of Ashes at the Altar purchased from other retailers are not permitted inside the bookstore and are not eligible for the signing or photo line. To participate in the signing and photo opportunity, you must purchase the event book from Kindred Stories. If you have already purchased your copy from Kindred Stories, you may select the RSVP Only ticket option and bring your Kindred Stories copy to the event. You are also welcome to bring additional books by the author to be signed, but a Kindred Stories event book purchase is required to join the signing line.

If you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend the event, your ticket is non-refundable. If your ticket includes a book, an email will be sent to all attendees before and after the event with instructions on how to receive your book. Books must be claimed within 14 days following the event. If your book is not retrieved it will be returned to the publisher and will not be available for pick up in the future.

ABOUT THE BOOK

At a hidden magical HBCU a teen boy must confront evil spirits, family secrets and tested loyalties. In this haunting finale to the New York Times bestselling Blood at the Root trilogy, bloodlines, betrayal, and legacy collide in a battle that may cost everything.

Malik Baron has learned a lot since he first came to Caiman University: History is power. Family is more than just blood. You can't escape your past. And magic always comes with a price. 

But nothing he's been taught could have prepared him for what this semester will bring. Even after he risked it all to trap the evil spirit Marinette that has been possessing his mother, her power continues to grow. And with her and the Bokors still at large, the cracks in the magical community have reached a breaking point. Just as Malik begins to get to know his father's family, the Bonclairs' power is challenged, leaving him to decide where his loyalties lie. And it's not just the future of Caiman at stake, but the very magic that runs in his veins. 

In the propulsive and emotional conclusion to this powerful trilogy, the future and the family Malik has fought so hard to build and protect is in greater danger than ever. But with the power of ancestors and the strength of his loved ones behind him, can he fight for what the world has always said is impossible for a Black boy like him—a happy ending?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hailing from the small town of Helena, Alabama, LaDarrion Williams is a self-taught playwright, filmmaker, author, and screenwriter committed to shaping a new era of Black fantasy. His theatrical work has garnered attention at notable venues, including the Echo Theatre Playwrights Lab, the Great Plains Theatre Conference in Omaha, TSU’s Black and Latino Playwrights Festival, and the Boise Contemporary Theater BIPOC Playwrights Festival.

Beyond theater, LaDarrion has directed three short films featured on YouTube and made his mark as a debut author with Blood at the Root, a New York Times and USA Today Bestseller. Through storytelling across multiple mediums, he continues to craft narratives that amplify Black voices, history, and imagination.

Celebrate the release of The Black Madonna with Christena Cleveland!

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, September 21 @ 6:30 PM CST

Where: Virtual via Zoom. (We'll send you the Zoom link!)

How: 

• RSVP ONLY to reserve your spot.
• RSVP WITH BOOK to reserve your spot and purchase a copy of The Black Madonna, supporting both the author and our store programming. The book will be available for pickup or shipped on the day of the event.

If you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend the event, your ticket is non-refundable. If your ticket includes a book, an email will be sent to all attendees before and after the event with instructions on how to receive your book. Books must be claimed within 14 days following the event. If you do not retrieve your event book , it will be returned to the publisher and you are not eligible for a refund. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Meet Black Madonna—Mother of Abundance, Holy Insurrectionist, Our Lady of F Around and Find Out

This bold reclamation of the divine feminine offers a new vision of Black Madonna as a unifying figure of refuge, resistance, and renewal. When we are exhausted and burned out, Black Madonna invites us to surrender to her protective embrace and be revitalized by her subversive life force. When disillusionment takes hold, Black Madonna offers radical belonging—urging us to reclaim our own sacred power.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christena Cleveland, Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. A weaver of Black liberation and the Divine Feminine, Dr. Cleveland embraces the archetype of the Black Madonna as she guides people of all races and genders into freedom, wholeness, and embodied justice. She is the founder of the Black Madonna Freedom School, which nurtures courageous and compassionate people who are uprooting white patriarchal religious conditioning in themselves and their communities, while skillfully planting intersectional divine feminine wisdom. Her latest book is The Black Madonna: Icon of Resistance & Nourisher of Souls where she explores the miraculous, liberating, and zany ways that the Black Madonna has protected, empowered, and nourished people around the globe and throughout history. An award-winning researcher and former professor at Duke University’s Divinity School, Christena lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can discover more about the Black Madonna and Christena at www.christenacleveland.com.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Natasha Gordon-Chipembere, PhD., is an African Diasporic literature professor and writer. Her first academic book was Representation and Black Womanhood: The Legacy of Sarah Baartman (Palgrave 2011). Gordon-Chipembere has been published in various academic presses, including Callaloo and Small Axe and also writes public facing non-fiction, which has been published in Essence. She has been the recipient of three Fulbright Fellowships, where she conducted research and taught at the University of Nairobi Kenya (1992-1993), Chancellor College, the University of Malawi (June-August 2010) and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark (June-July 2025). She continues to serve as a co-editor of the AfroLatin@Diasporas Book Series at Palgrave/Springer, as a founder with the late Miriam Jimenez-Roman and Juan Flores. Born and raised in New York to Costa Rican and Panamanian parents, Gordon-Chipembere relocated to Costa Rica with her husband and two children in 2014. In Costa Rica, Gordon-Chipembere focuses on promoting the Afro-descendant  legacy.  For five years, she wrote a monthly column on race and diversity, "Musings from an AfroCosta Rican¨ for the Tico Times, the longest established English language newspaper in Costa Rica. Her first historical fiction novel, Finding La Negrita (part one in a trilogy on AfroCosta Ricans) was published in 2022 (Jaded Ibis Press). It is a re-writing of the Black Madonna narrative in Costa Rica from an Africanist perspective.  Finding La Negrita won the 2023 Silver IPPY Award for Best Historical Fiction and was nominated for a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Best Debut Novel in 2023. Her second work-in-progress, 1710, focuses on the shipwrecks of two Danish slave ships on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica on March 2, 1710. Gordon-Chipembere is the founder and host of the annual Tengo Sed Writing Retreat for writers of color in Costa Rica. She co-edited with Yndia Lorick-Wilmont, Tengo Sed: An Anthology of Works Celebrating Black Voices, Identities, and Personhood (University of Illinois Press 2026), which documents the artistic production of Tengo Sed participants since its inception in 2015. Gordon-Chipembere is a member of a large AfroCosta Rican women advocacy group (CostaRicaAfro) in San Jose which provides mentorship, community discussions and cultural events to highlight the legacy of AfroCosta Ricans, who are not highly visible in the country. Dr. Gordon-Chipembere lectures widely on these issues nationally and internationally.

Celebrate the release of Coloring with Coco: Passport to Paradise with author Andrea Ballo! Join us for a fun and relaxing event featuring a live coloring demonstration, where Andrea will share techniques, creative tips, and inspiration from the book. Feel free to bring your favorite coloring utensils and join in the fun!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, August 13 @ 7 PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (231o Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How:

• RSVP WITH BOOK to reserve your spot and purchase a copy of one of the coloring books, supporting both the author and our store programming. The book will be available for pickup at the event.
• RSVP (I Already Have the Book) to reserve your spot and let us know you plan to bring one you previously purchased from Kindred or another bookseller.

If you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend the event, your ticket is non-refundable. If your ticket includes a book, an email will be sent to all attendees before and after the event with instructions on how to receive your copy. Books must be claimed within 14 days following the event.

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Event Tickets are Non-Refundable.

Join us for our very first Legos & Audiobooks Party: Brick Lit!

Bring a LEGO set you've been working on at home or purchase one from us and join the fun. Settle in, listen to your current audiobook, and let the vibes flow. We'll have plenty of refreshments, great vibes, giveaways, and fun throughout the evening.

*This event is open to teens and adults.

EVENT DEETS:

When: Wednesday, August 12 at 6:30 PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How:

RSVP: Bring Your Own LEGO Set

Reserve your spot at the party and bring your favorite LEGO set from home to build while you relax, listen to an audiobook, and connect with fellow builders.

RSVP: LEGO Set Included

Reserve your spot and choose from a selection of LEGO sets available at the event. Your ticket includes one LEGO set to build during the party, and it's yours to take home afterward!

Celebrate the release of The Book of Chuck with LaToya Watkins!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, August 20 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to grab your copy of the book, support the author and our store programming.

Please note outside copies of The Book of Chuck will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories.

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LaToya Watkins is an award-winning author of two books. Her short story collection, Holler, Child, was longlisted for the National Book Award and the winner of Reading the West Book Award in Fiction and the Writer’s League of Texas Book Award in Fiction. Her debut novel, Perish, was published to great acclaim in 2022. LaToya’s writing has appeared in A Public Space, The Sun, McSweeney’s, and the Kenyon Review, among other publications.

Celebrate the release of Root Therapy with Felicia Leatherwood!

EVENT DEETS

When: Wednesday, August 19 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: 

• RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat.
• RSVP WITH BOOK to reserve your seat and purchase a copy of the book, supporting both the author and our store programming. The book will be available for pickup at the event.

Please note that books purchased from other retailers are not permitted inside the bookstore and will not qualify for the signing or photo line. To participate in the signing and photo opportunity, you must purchase a copy of the book from Kindred Stories.If you already purchased your book from Kindred Stories, you may select the RSVP Only ticket option and bring your Kindred Stories copy to the event.

If you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend the event, your ticket is non-refundable. If your ticket includes a book, an email will be sent to all attendees before and after the event with instructions on how to receive your copy. Books must be claimed within 14 days following the event.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Embrace and learn to love your natural hair with this eye-opening guide from “hair whisperer” to the stars, Felicia Leatherwood.

As a child there was nothing Felicia Leatherwood wanted more than long, flowy hair. But Felicia’s short afro grew up and out, not down. Her father who styled Felicia’s hair in her mother’s place, often didn’t know his own strength, and would rip Felicia’s delicate strands as he combed through her hair. At a young age, Felicia internalizes her hair as something to be managed, tamed, instead of a source of pride.

As hair trends come and go, Felicia’s beloved Jherri curl is replaced by every braided style in the book. She even tries her hand at weaves and relaxers. Felicia finds she loves doing hair so much she leaves her high-paying corporate job to enroll in beauty school and lands a hot new job at a salon where celebrities breeze through to freshen up their look. It isn’t long until Felicia is styling her first celebrity client. Felicia’s love of hair takes her around the world, to movie sets and several red carpets.

In Root Therapy, Felicia shares her journey of hair positivity, which opens the door to a beautiful spiritual journey of self-love. As a celebrity stylist and natural hair educator, Felicia has made it her life’s mission to share the message of hair acceptance. Complete with exercises that show you the merits of owning one’s complete self, Felicia encourages you to embrace your natural hair.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Felicia Leatherwood is the world’s leading celebrity stylist and inspirational beauty speaker regarding natural hair with over twenty-six years of experience. She conducts hair care workshops for audiences around the globe under the brand and slogan “Loving Your Hair with Natural Care.” Leatherwood’s styles have been featured on such high-profile acts as Oscar Award nominee Ava Duvernay (Selma director), Issa Rae of HBO’s Insecure, megastar Will Smith, Grammy winner/R&B superstar Jill Scott, Iron Man/Empire star Terrence Howard, Mad Men star Teyonah Parris, Black-ish star Anthony Anderson, and countless others. Leatherwood’s message is rooted in the idea of holistic health and fundamentally loving yourself—a true inside out approach to hair care.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Bianca is an educator, cultural storyteller, and passionate advocate for Black history. A native Houstonian, she grew up in the city’s historic Pleasantville neighborhood and attends church in the historic 5th Ward. Communities that helped shape her deep appreciation for culture, heritage, and service. A proud graduate of Howard University, she has built a dynamic career in public education.

Deeply committed to service and sisterhood, Bianca is an active member of the Houston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and volunteers with the Black Heritage Committee of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo amongst many other organizations. Her work in the community reflects her dedication to cultural enrichment, education, and the preservation of Black heritage.
Driven by her love of food, culture, and history, Bianca frequently shares stories of Black food traditions and the African American experience both in the U.S. and across the diaspora. A devoted reader and supporter/fan of Kindred Stories, she is drawn to narratives that illuminate the richness of Black life.

Celebrate the release of Madly Driven with Tiye!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, August 6 @ 7 PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to grab your copy of the book, support the author and our store programming.

*Please note outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories.

ABOUT THE BOOK

An addictive, enemies-to-lovers romance about fame, power, and two people fighting to stay in control, even as they fall madly, recklessly in love.

Kensie Garrett turned her worst heartbreak into a bestselling brand. As a social-media influencer and author of a hit self-help book teaching women how to find love without losing themselves, she’s built a career on staying in command. But one reckless night threatens everything she’s created when she gives in to the magnetic pull of Canaan Jackson, the infuriating race car driver she’s despised since college.

When a private video from that night leaks, Kensie’s credibility and Canaan’s shot at racing glory are suddenly on the line. To save them both, he does the unthinkable: announces their engagement during a live press conference. What begins as damage control quickly spirals into a dangerous chemistry neither can contain.

Thrown together under the scorching Miami sun in the months leading up to his first Formula One race, Kensie and Canaan must outmaneuver paparazzi, past betrayals, and a passion that refuses to stay off camera. But as lies blur into truth and old wounds resurface, Kensie has to decide whether protecting her image is worth losing her heart to the one man who may know her better than she knows herself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tiye is a USA Today Bestselling author known for her emotional and captivating novels. She has enchanted readers with stories that offer an escape into richly imagined worlds. Professionally, Tiye works in the mental health field, providing services through her private practice and teaching. A Southern girl currently residing in Houston finds inspiration from her travels and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Charity Shane’ is a USA Today Best-selling author. She holds a Bachelor degree and a Juris Doctor degree. She’s an Author, Higher Education Leader, Legal Expert., and Creative. 

Writing stories that create feelings through her words is her true passion. 
To date, she has published many books, traditional and indie, including a USA Today Best Seller and a number of Amazon best sellers. She has been featured in Entertainment Weekly and Woman’s World Magazine for her traditionally published book, A Novel Christmas. 

Her soul sings Black romance and Black Women’s fiction. 

Celebrate the release of We Exist in the Whisper with Lupe Mendez!

EVENT DEETS

When: Wednesday, August 5 @ 7 PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St. Houston, TX 77004)

How:

• RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat.
• RSVP WITH BOOK to reserve your seat and purchase a copy of the book, supporting both the author and our store programming.
• RSVP (I ALREADY HAVE THE BOOK) if you plan to bring a copy you previously purchased from another bookseller.

Please note outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories or purchase the RSVP ( I ALREADY HAVE THE BOOK) ticket. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

"One day all these classrooms / will no longer hold any of us. / Leave no evidence we were here. / We exist in the whisper…." Lupe Mendez's innovative new collection captures a unique time in Houston, Texas, "a sliver of a moment for Mexican-American and Mexican communities in the early 1970s," that explores Houston ISD's racist plan to integrate schools by sending Mexican-American children-labeled as white-to predominantly African-American schools, thereby satisfying federal desegregation laws.

Incensed that its children would have to travel to schools that were no better than the ones they could walk to, the Chicano community resisted by instituting a walkout, or huelga, and creating its own schools in churches, homes and neighborhood centers. Weaving poetry and history, the book contains "found" poems created from newspaper articles about the strike; oral history interviews with teachers, principals and students; notes from visits the author made to the sites where classes were held more than 50 years ago; docupoems created from official Huelga School papers; and historical documents such as photographs, charts, fliers and letters.

In his illuminating notes about the book, Mendez describes the methodology for creating this collection and includes a list of best practices for the "poethnographer." His research revealed the racism that existed in this era, perpetuated by the majority white population and between brown and black populations forced to compete for every resource. Ultimately, Mendez asserts the Huelga School strike had a critical impact on Houston, both in the development of Mexican-American leaders who got their start in these "freedom schools" and the nascent collaborations between diverse communities. This creative, thought-provoking volume is a must-read for anyone interested in education, history and Mexican Americans' fight for equality.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Originally from Galveston, TX, Lupe Mendez is a Writer, Editor, Educator, and Artivist…  
He is the author several books poetry and multi-genre works, including WHY I AM LIKE TEQUILA (Willow Books, 2019), winner of the 2019 John A. Robertson Award for Best First Book of Poetry, PRAYER HOLDING NIGHT: NEW & SELECTED WORKS (Texas Christian University Press, 2025) and WE EXIST IN THE WHISPER: HUELGA SCHOOL WORKS (Arte Publico Press, 2026). He is the founder of Tintero Projects which works with emerging Latinx writers and other writers of color within the Texas Gulf Coast Region, with Houston as its hub.

Lupe earned his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Texas @ El Paso and currently serves as Poetry Editor for the Texas Observer  and Huizache: the Magazine of a New America and Associate Editor for the Acentos Review.  He has been awarded residencies and fellowships from CantoMundo, Macondo, the National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures, the Poetry Foundation + Crescendo Literary Poetry Incubator, the Betsy Hotel Writer’s Room and was one of twenty-five recipients of the inaugural Houston BIPOC Arts Network Fund (now HOUSTON IN COLOR) Artist Award for 2023. . Lupe is a 20+ year veteran in education having served classrooms across K through College in public, private and charter school settings.  Mendez is Texas Poet Laureate Emeritus (Texas Poet Laureate 2022 - 2023).

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Aris Kian (she/her) is a Houston enthusiast and student of abolition. Her poems are published with Button Poetry, West Branch, Obsidian Lit, and elsewhere. As an Inprint C. Glenn Cambor Fellow, she received her MFA from the University of Houston. Her team Smoke Slam coached by Ebony Stewart ranked #1 at the 2025 Bigfoot Regional Poetry Slam and #1 at the 2024 Southern Fried Poetry Slam. She previously served as the 2023-2025 Houston Poet Laureate and was chosen as a 2025 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellow.

Celebrate the release of Cooking From Scratch with Toya Boudy! This specially curated event will feature a food and beverage tastings that perfectly complement the conversation and bring the book's flavors to life.

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, July 16 @ 7 PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, #2, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP Only ticket to reserve your seat and participate in the event, or select RSVP with Book to receive a copy of the book while supporting the author and our store programming. Both ticket options include a tasting portion of the gumbo featured in the book and a specially curated. 

*Please note that outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore, and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. All tickets are nonrefundable. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Toya Boudy is a New Orleans chef, artist, poet, television personality, and storyteller whose work lives at the intersection of food, culture, and community. Known for her warm, approachable teaching style and deep respect for culinary tradition, she uses food as a way to preserve memory, share wisdom, and bring people together.

Her cookbook journey began with Cook Like a New Orleanian, followed by Cooking for the Culture, both of which celebrate the flavors, techniques, and spirit of New Orleans while honoring the broader cultural influences that shape Southern cooking.

Her third cookbook, Cooking from Scratch, continues that mission with an even deeper focus on foundational kitchen skills, recipes, remedies, pantry building, and practical household knowledge. It is designed as a modern guide to self-sufficiency in the kitchen—teaching readers not just what to cook, but how to build confidence and create from the ground up. The work also pays homage to the legacy of early Black culinary pioneers such as Malinda Russell, whose contributions helped shape American cookbook history.

Her work continues to center food as culture, memory, and a way of building and sustaining community.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Michelle Wallace is a Houston-based chef, pitmaster, and tv-personality originally from St. Louis. Her passion for food began while studying Healthcare Administration at Texas Southern University.  Houston's rich culinary diversity shaped her approach to how she cooks today. She pursued formal culinary training at The Art Institute of Houston and expanded her global perspective while studying abroad in China.

Once settled in Houston, she trained under renowned chef Mark Holley at Pesce and cooked privately for various professional athletes. In 2017, she joined forces with legendary pitmaster and James Beard Nominated, Greg Gatlin, spending over six years honing her craft. Drawing from a childhood love of sandwiches, Wallace developed smoked creations that earned statewide acclaim.

In 2023, Wallace launched B’tween Sandwich Co., specializing in comfort food, smoked meats, and traditional fare for creative sandwich lovers. That same year she competed on Bravo’s Top Chef (Season 21), making it to the Top 6 and earning the coveted Fan Favorite title. She has also competed on Food Network’s BBQ Brawl (Season 3) and appeared on Food Network’s Bobby’s Triple Threat (Season 4), taking on Bobby Flay’s Titans in the secret kitchen arena. Additional notable appearances include Food Network's Flavortown (Season 1),  Netflix’s High on the Hog docuseries (Season 1) and BET’s The Recipe: Juneteenth Celebration. Wallace is also a resident expert contributor to online publications Tasting Table and Mashed and you can listen to her talk food on the Houston Matters Podcast: The Full Menu via Houston Public Media. 

Celebrate the release of In Hush To Harbor with La-Toya L. Scott!

This interactive community book talk includes a conversation and workshop designed to engage participants with the themes and writing in In Hush Harbor. Attendees will have opportunities to reflect on the book, share perspectives, and participate in an open discussion exploring the history and present-day realities of Black safe spaces. Together, neighbors, readers, and curious minds will examine how these spaces have fostered community, resilience, and belonging across generations.

EVENT DEETS

When: Wednesday, July 22 @ 6:30 CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St., HTX, 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to grab your copy of the book, support the author and our store programming.

*Please note outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. All tickets are nonrefundable. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Join us for a community-centered writing workshop that blends craft, creativity, and conversation. Led by Dr. La-Toya Scott, professor and founder of In House Scholar, this series brings the structure and depth of a college-level writing class into an accessible and supportive public space. Each session includes a short craft lecture, guided discussion of a sample text, dedicated writing time, and space to share work with fellow writers. Whether you’re new to writing or returning to the page, The Writer’s Table offers tools, prompts, and encouragement to help you develop your voice, sharpen your craft, and write with intention.

Workshop 4: “Structure and Flow: Building the Arc”

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, July 13 @ 6 PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP reserve your spot 

Celebrate the release of No Sense in Wishing with Lawrence Burney!

EVENT DEETS

When: Friday July 10 @ 6 PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to grab your copy of No Sense In Wishing, support the author and our store programming.

Please note outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories 

ABOUT THE BOOK

A personal and analytical essay collection from culture critic Lawrence Burney that is a personal and analytical look at his home city of Baltimore, music from throughout the global Black diaspora, and the traditions that raised him.

There are moments in our lives when we discover an artist, an album, a film, or a cultural artifact that leaves a lasting impression. These moments inform how we understand the world, and ourselves, moving forward.

In a time when music is spurring Black Americans’ connection with Africans on the Continent, culture critic Lawrence Burney takes us on a journey from the streets of Baltimore to the concert halls of Lagos, reminisces on seeing his mother perform as the opening act of a Gil Scott-Heron show when he was a child, and sits at a Maryland crab feast with family, assessing how the Black people in his home state have historically improvised paths for their liberation. Burney explores these profound interactions with incisive and energizing prose, offering us a personal and critical perspective on the people, places, music, and art that transformed him.

No Sense in Wishing is a kaleidoscopic exploration of Burney’s search for self. With its gutsy and uncompromising criticism alongside intimate personal storytelling, this “powerful collection of essays” (Rolling Stone) is like an album that hits all the right notes, from a promising writer on the rise.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lawrence Burney is a writer, editor, critic, and the founder of True Laurels, an independent magazine covering Baltimore’s music and culture scene. His work has appeared in publications such as New York Magazine, GQ, Washington Post and Pitchfork. He has also worked as an editor at The Fader, a staff writer at VICE, and an editor/reporter at The Baltimore Banner. His first book, No Sense in Wishing, a collection of essays, was published in July 2025 via Atria Books. His second book, Sing Back To Me, will also be published by Atria Books. Follow him on Instagram and X @TrueLaurels.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Kiese Laymon is a Black southern writer from Jackson, Mississippi. Laymon is the Libbie Shearn Moody Professor of English and Creative Writing at Rice University. Laymon is the author of Long Division, which won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for fiction, and the essay collection, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, named a notable book of 2021 by the New York Times critics. Laymon’s bestselling memoir, Heavy: An American Memoir, won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, the Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose, the Barnes and Noble Discovery Award, the Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media, and was named one of the 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years by The New York Times. The audiobook, read by the author, was named the Audible 2018 Audiobook of the Year. Laymon is the recipient of 2020-2021 Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard.

Laymon is at work on the books, Good God, and City Summer, Country Summer, and a number of other film and television projects. He is the founder of The Catherine Coleman Literary Arts and Justice Initiative, a program based out of the Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University, aimed at aiding young people in Jackson get more comfortable reading, writing, revising and sharing on their on their own terms, in their own communities. He is the co-host of Reckon True Stories with Deesha Philyaw. Kiese Laymon was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2022.

Celebrate the release of My Monsters Ain't Like Yours with R.J. Joseph! This event is a SIGNING ONLY. 

EVENT DEETS

When: Sunday, July 19 @ 3 PM - 5PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin Street  Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP WITH BOOK to grab your copy of the book and reserve your spot in the signing line while supporting the author and our store programming. The author will be on site from 3 PM–5 PM, and you may arrive at any point during that time slot to pick up your book and meet the author.

Please note: Outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore and will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must purchase a copy from Kindred Stories.

ABOUT THE BOOK

At its core, the horror genre is an effective vehicle for exploring human behavior. From within its terrifying boundaries, and lack thereof, we can examine monstrosity. We can determine how monsters are labeled, analyze the actions of those deemed monstrous, and prophesy the impacts this labeling and actions have on the world around us.

Monsters are personal. Monsters are universal. These facts create an intriguing juxtaposition where the things deemed monstrous or frightening can be shaped by personal experiences, while also representing many aspects of the human condition; our fears are much more similar than dissimilar. This means my monsters are absolutely like yours: they are our collective nightmares.

My Monsters Ain't Like Yours reflects this irony through Black feminist intersectional horror at its rawest.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

R. J. Joseph is an award winning, Shirley Jackson and Stoker Award™ nominated
Texas based writer/speaker/editor. Her creative and academic work examines the
intersections of race, gender, and class in the horror genre andpopular culture. Her
next short story collection, My Monsters Ain’t like Yours, will be released in summer
2026 by Quill & Crow Publishing. Her nonfiction book, Mothers, Lovers, and Others: An
Examination of Black Women in Horror Films, will be released in fall 2027 by Creature Publishing.

She occasionally peeks out on various social media platforms from behind 
@rjacksonjoseph or at www.rhondajacksonjoseph.com

Celebrate the release of The Houston Negro Hospital with Carlton Houston!

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, June 15 @ 6PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to get your copy of The Houston Negro Hospital and to support our store programming. If you already have a copy of the book that you bought from Kindred Stories, please use RSVP BUT I BOUGHT FROM KINDRED STORIES. If you bought your book from another retailer, you are required to register using RSVP BUT I BOUGHT THE BOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE.

Please note that copies of The Houston Negro Hospital not purchased at Kindred Stories will not be allowed in the event unless you register using RSVP BUT I BOUGHT THE BOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE.

ABOUT THE BOOK

At the height of racial and political tensions in early twentieth-century Houston, two unlikely figures became allies. Dr. William M. Drake, a pioneering surgeon and Black community leader, and Joseph Cullinan, a white oil magnate and founder of the company that became Texaco, united in a desperate effort to save a hospital that symbolized hope. The Houston Negro Hospital was born from America’s Black hospital movement. Dedicated on Juneteenth 1926, it embodied a bold experiment to bring dignity and health care access to a community that was systematically denied both in the Jim Crow South.

Journalist and storyteller Carlton Houston—whose ancestors played a role in this remarkable heritage—reveals the untold, human drama behind the institution that would become Riverside General. Discover the vision, conflict, and resilience that shaped a century of health care through the struggle of those determined to save lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carlton Houston is an Emmy Award–winning journalist and storyteller whose work is distinguished by its clarity, restraint, and cinematic precision. A former television reporter and anchor, he is known for transforming complex histories into narratives that reveal both human vulnerability and structural truth. Shaped in part by a family legacy tied to Houston’s historic medical community, Houston's writing is marked by a commitment to illuminating stories that have long existed in the margins of American history. Houston Negro Hospital, the Untold Legacy of Riverside General is his debut work of long-form narrative nonfiction.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Dr. Michelle Watts is a native Houstonian and humanities educator who is committed to using humanist literature to bring diverse groups of people together to find common ground. Over the years, Dr. Watts has taught a full range of students – from Kindergarten to graduate school- and delights in her students’ achievements and efforts to effect substantive change in the world around them.

Mount Holyoke College which was fertile ground for her interests and activism and while there, she began her lifelong journey with the theory and practice of Black feminism. After graduating from Mount Holyoke College, Michelle returned to Houston to study American Literature and Culture at Rice University, where she earned both a Master’s and Doctorate. She went on to teach at Miami University in Oxford, OH and the University of Cincinnati. While at Miami, she was recognized as an Honored Professor for her ‘remarkable commitment to students.’ She has extensive experience in the public sector where she has worked to advance educational equity and social justice causes in youth-serving organizations. She is currently at work on a research project on African American children’s and young adult literature, and is the New Member Coordinator for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Houston Chapter.

Celebrate the release of Lift Every Voice with Phillip B. Williams!

EVENT DEETS

When: Tuesday, July 14 @ 7PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin Street, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to get a copy of Lift Every Voice and our store programming. 

Please note that copies of Lift Every Voice that were not purchased at Kindred Stories will not be allowed in the event and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Captivating for both its grandeur and intimacy, Lift Every Voice explores the capacity for the past to be both a source of dread and empowerment, an unshakable reminder of violence and an indelible testament to the endurance of love. In virtuosic poems that are wise, musical, richly layered, and saturated with vivid imagery, Williams honors a mother “who knew seven ways to say bitch under her breath,” a grandma whose smile “reflects the world,” and wonders at “the impossible lift” of forgiveness. Lift Every Voice is a staggering tribute to personal and collective evolutions, a vital chorus that answers only to God, community, and the empowered self.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Phillip B. Williams is the author of the novel Ours and two collections of poetry: Thief in the Interior, which was the winner of the Kate Tufts Discovery Award and a Lambda Literary Award; and Mutiny, which was a finalist for the PEN/Voelcker Award for Poetry and the winner of a 2022 American Book Award. Williams is also the recipient of a Whiting Award and fellowships from the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and the National Endowment for the Arts. Raised in Chicago, he is currently a professor of creative writing at Rice University and founding faculty of the Randolph College Low-res MFA.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

AYOKUNLE FALOMO is Nigerian, American, and the author of Autobiomythography of (Alice James Books, 2024—winner of the 2025 Maine Literary Award for Excellence in Publishing and honor-winner for the Texas Institute of Letters' Burdine C. Johnson Award for Best Book of Poetry), AFRICANAMERICAN’T (FlowerSong Press, 2022—finalist for the Texas Institute of Letters' Helen C. Smith Memorial Award for Best Book of Poetry), two self-published collections and African, American (New Delta Review, 2019; selected by Selah Saterstrom as the winner of New Delta Review’s 8th annual chapbook contest). A recipient of fellowships from Vermont Studio Center, MacDowell, and the University of Michigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program, where he obtained his MFA in Creative Writing—Poetry, his work has been anthologized and widely published. You can find out more information about him at afalomo.com.

Celebrate the release of Never Tell A Black Girl How To Black Girl with Amena Brown!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, July 23 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming. 

Please note that books purchased from other retailers are not permitted inside the bookstore and will not qualify for the signing or photo line. To participate in the signing and photo opportunity, you must purchase a copy of the book from Kindred Stories.

If you purchase a ticket and are unable to attend the event, your ticket is non-refundable. If your ticket includes a book, an email will be sent to all attendees before and after the event with instructions on how to receive your copy. Books must be claimed within 14 days following the event.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A delightfully funny essay collection about growing up in the south, the pitfalls of date night, the things you wish you could say to your therapist, and why no one should ever tell a Black girl how to Black Girl.

Black women always find a place to meet: in the natural hair aisle, at Beyoncé concerts, even online in memes and catchphrases. This book is one of those places: a living room where readers can contemplate how a well-picked afro can defy the laws of physics and why boob sweat has to exist in the first place. Here, Black Girl is a verb. Here, Black women can Black Girl in every way we want to.

Brown’s book Never Tell a Black Girl How to Black Girl blends storytelling, humor, and pop culture commentary to traverse the magic and wisdom she's gleaned from being raised by Southern Black women, and by being supported by the community of Black women who hold her down today. After graduating from International Black Girl Headquarters (the renowned HBCU Spelman College), Amena had built a career sharing stories and celebrating Black womanhood. In her book, she shares stories of dancing in Janelle Monae's Tightrope music video and partnering with Tracee Ellis Ross to compose odes to natural hair. She imparts essential life lessons from the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and from her grandmother before her upcoming swirl marriage (“Don’t kiss white boys too hard, because they bruise easily”). She also tells hair tales, sharing the collected wisdom from her committee of friends when it came to the ideal style for her first speaking gig at Essence Fest (box braids, 100%).

In the end, Brown shares that Black women are a whole world. A galaxy of customs, language, code, and unspoken understandings, all explored with humor and heart in this unforgettable book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amena Brown is a spoken-word poet and performing artist whose work interweaves keep-it-real storytelling with humor. She is the author of How to Fix a Broken Record and Breaking Old Rhythms. Her poetry was featured in the New York Times bestselling book Rhythm of Prayer. Brown was featured in Olay’s Face Anything campaign alongside Jennifer Hudson. She was also the poetic partner for PATTERN Beauty, Tracee Ellis Ross’s natural hair care and beauty brand. She lives in Atlanta.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Wale Okerayi is a licensed mental health therapist and a passionate literary enthusiast, uniquely blending her professional insights with her profound love for literature. Her work as a book influencer, particularly through her platform @theehottgirlbooks, focuses on celebrating and sharing BIPOC stories. Wale’s dual role enriches her contributions to both fields, making her a valuable voice in discussions around mental health and literature.

When she’s not reading or in the therapy room, you can find her building Lego sets and watching The Real Housewives. 

Spring is in the air, and love is on the page. Join D.W. Brooks, Alexandra Lechelle, and Zee Renee at Kindred Stories for a celebration of local romance authors.

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, May 23 @ 6PM

Where: Kindred Stories: (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP WITH BOOK to support the authors and our store programming. There are four options available: you can choose to support an individual author or select the Romance In Spring Bundle, which includes one book from all participating authors.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

D. W. Brooks

D. W. Brooks  is an author who has independently published three romantic suspense books and two contemporary romance novels. In addition to writing books, D. W. is also a retired ophthalmologist and a kidney transplant recipient of over eight years. She is originally from Alabama but now lives in Texas with her husband and daughter.

Alexandrea LeChelle

Alexandrea LeChelle is a contemporary romance author whose stories explore love, grief, healing, and the complicated beauty of human connection.

Her novels unfold between Houston and Louisiana and center Black characters navigating family legacies, emotional vulnerability, and the quiet courage it takes to love deeply and unapologetically.

Through rich, emotional storytelling and cinematic detail, Alexandrea writes the kind of love stories she rarely saw growing up and entering adulthood. Stories where Black characters are allowed to be flawed, passionate, and deeply human.

What began as a way to process emotions and channel creativity through her own healing journey, slowly evolved into something much bigger: an urge to create and share stories about love, healing, and the complicated paths of life that bring people together.

Her stories often explore themes such as emotional healing, family dynamics, grief and growth, healthy Black love, the courage to begin again. Every story is planted in the belief that love, in all its forms, has the power to change us for the better.

When she’s not reading, Alexandrea can be found working her way through her own TBR, journaling or planning new creative projects, adding recipes to her personal cookbook, and listening to playlists that eventually inspire new stories.

At the heart of everything she creates is a simple hope: That readers will find pieces of themselves in her stories.

Zee Renee

Writing is where Zee thrives, finding peace and purpose. Her journey began at thirteen with a black-and-white composition book, later blossoming on Wattpad, where she captivated over two million readers. In December 2023, she released her debut novel, All In, and was nominated for the 2023 Black Girl Who Writes Best New Author award. By November 2024, Zee became a National Best-Selling Author with the release of When He’s Not There, her third book.

Crafting urban fiction and romance, Zee transforms raw emotions into powerful stories. Her characters are deeply personal, each carrying a piece of her spirit. She is grateful for the opportunity to share her God-given talent and hopes readers will feel the same passion in her words as she does in writing them.

Celebrate spring and togetherness with a relaxed night of puzzles, conversation, and community.

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, May 7th at 6:30PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 ELGIN ST, HTX, 77004)

How: $5 to reserve your spot and libations. 

ABOUT THE EVENT

Join Kindred Stories for a cozy puzzle night celebrating spring and the joy of gentle connection. Enjoy light refreshments and a variety of puzzles to work on with friends, whether you come solo or with a group.

During the evening, browse a special sale of gently used art puzzles curated by our community member, Ms. Desyre.

Come unwind, connect, and piece something beautiful together.

Note: This event is intended for adults!

We're meeting to discuss The Conjuring of America by Lindsey Stewart!

BOOK CLUB MEETING DEETS

When: Tuesday, May 19 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to let us know you plan to attend! Support the Non-Fiction Book Club by purchasing a copy of the book from Kindred Stories here!

ABOUT THE CONJURING OF AMERICA 

We're meeting to discuss Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite!

BOOK CLUB MEETING DEETS

When: Wednesday, May 27 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to let us know you plan to attend! Support the Fiction Book Club by purchasing a copy of the book from Kindred Stories here!

ABOUT CURSED DAUGHTERS

A young woman must shake off a family curse and the widely held belief that she is the reincarnation of her dead cousin in this wickedly funny, brilliantly perceptive novel about love, female rivalry, and superstition from the author of the smash hit My Sister, the Serial Killer (“A bombshell of a book... Sharp, explosive, hilarious'--New York Times)

When Ebun gives birth to her daughter, Eniiyi, on the day they bury her cousin Monife, there is no denying the startling resemblance between the child and the dead woman. So begins the belief, fostered and fanned by the entire family, that Eniiyi is the actual reincarnation of Monife, fated to follow in her footsteps in all ways, including that tragic end.

There is also the matter of the family curse: “No man will call your house his home. And if they try, they will not have peace...” which has been handed down from generation to generation, breaking hearts and causing three generations of abandoned Falodun women to live under the same roof.

When Eniiyi falls in love with the handsome boy she saves from drowning, she can no longer run from her family’s history. As several women in her family have done before, she ill-advisedly seeks answers in older, darker spiritual corners of Lagos, demanding solutions. Is she destined to live out the habitual story of love and heartbreak? Or can she break the pattern once and for all, not only avoiding the spiral that led Monife to her lonely death, but liberating herself from all the family secrets and unspoken traumas that have dogged her steps since before she could remember?

Cursed Daughters is a brilliant cocktail of modernity and superstition, vibrant humor and hard-won wisdom, romantic love and familial obligation. With its unforgettable cast of characters, it asks us what it means to be given a second chance and how to live both wisely and well with what we’ve been given.

We're meeting to discuss I Don't Wish You Well by Jumata Emil!

BOOK CLUB MEETING DEETS

When: Tuesday, May 26 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to let us know you plan to attend! Support the Mystery/Thriller Book Club by purchasing a copy of the book from Kindred Stories here!

ABOUT I DON'T WISH YOU WELL

We're meeting to discuss Big Girl Blitz by Danielle Allen!

BOOK CLUB MEETING DEETS

When: Tuesday, May 12 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to let us know you plan to attend! Support the Romance Book Club by purchasing a copy of the book from Kindred Stories here!

*This book is currently on PRE-ORDER and has an on sale date for April 14th. You can purchase now for your book to be picked up or shipped on April 14th. 

ABOUT Big Girl Blitz

UPDATE: We have added a waitlist for this event. Waitlist tickets are not guaranteed. If a ticket becomes available, you will receive an email with steps to get a ticket 

Celebrate the release of Rich and Rotten with Jahquel J!

EVENT DEETS

When: Friday, May 1 @ 6PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St., Houston, TX 77004).

What: This event is a signing only. You will have the opportunity to get a signed copy of Rich and Rotten and take a photo with the author. Each Signing Line Ticket comes with a copy of the book of Rich and Rotten.

How: Purchase a SIGNING LINE TICKET to guarantee a spot in the signing line. Each Signing Line Ticket comes with a copy of the book of Rich and Rotten. You can bring up to 5 previous books by Jahquel that you would like signed. Please note that each ticket is for entry of ONE person. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Explosive, sensual, and unapologetically raw, Rich and Rotten delivers Jahquel J.’s signature blend of passionate romance and high-stakes family drama—where love is the most dangerous game, and trust is the rarest luxury.

In Greenwich Pointe’s world of Black wealth and power, Tatiana Rich has everything money can buy—except freedom. When her kingpin father forces her into a strategic marriage with the Sterling dynasty’s heir, she begs Nazir Kane—the man she fell for during her college years—to run away with her.

By morning, he’s vanished without a word.

A decade later, Tatiana is rebuilding her life after her husband Karim’s tragic death. While raising their daughter and growing her luxury spa empire, an assassination attempt on her father brings an unexpected guardian: Nazir Kane—now a powerful security specialist assigned to protect her family.

Living under the same roof as the man who shattered her heart is torture enough. But as old flames reignite, darker truths emerge about the father who controlled her and the husband she mourned.

With enemies closing in and whispers that her husband’s death wasn’t an accident, Tatiana must decide if the man who once betrayed her is the only one who can save her now . . .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Celebrate the release of While We're Here with Anne Wynter!

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, April 11 @ 12 PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St #2, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to let us know you're coming or RSVP WITH BOOK to secure your copy of While We're Here.

Please note outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anne Wynter is the author of numerous board books and picture books, including So Many Years, Everybody in the Red Brick Building, and Nell Plants a Tree, which won the Ezra Jack Keats Award and the Golden Kite Award and was selected as the 2023 Texas Great Read. Originally from Houston, Texas, Anne currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her family. To learn more or say hello, visit annewynter.com.  

Celebrate the release of Revive Me with J.L. Seegars!

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, April 18 @ 7PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: Grab your ticket to support the author and our store programming. You can also grab a special book bundle for the first two books in the series, which includes Restore Me and Revive Me (Book 1).

Please note outside copies of Revive Me will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The next book in the New Haven series, interconnected standalones featuring second chances, fiery passion, and Black heroines who get their happily ever afters. This is part one of a trilogy.

Mallory

The first time I kissed Christopher Johnson, I knew he would be my biggest mistake. It didn't stop me from wanting him though, and when the ghosts from my past came barging into the present, it didn't stop me from agreeing to let him help.

It was supposed to be a simple business arrangement, a few months of playing a role that came far too easily to the both of us, but it wasn't long before it became more.

Love. Devotion. Heartbreak in its truest form.

Some people say life is for the living, but I say life is for the prepared. For the planners who know that controlling every piece on the board is the only way to get the result you want.

To avoid unfortunate complications like having your heart broken by a man past experiences taught you, you never should have trusted in the first place.

Christopher

There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do for Mallory Kent.

I think I knew it the first time I laid eyes on her, and it's remained one of my unspoken truths for the two years that I've known her. But I never thought I'd get the opportunity to do anything about it because Mallory is one of those people who doesn't need anyone.

She's strong, serious, and always in control of every situation around her, which is why the second I see her looking panicked and uncertain in the arms of a figure from her past, I don't think. I just act.

I had no idea that one small decision would lead to this. A fake relationship―designed to solve her problems and mine―turned real. An earth shattering love torn apart by the very forces that led to its conception. Forces that turned me into the source of our destruction.

There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do for Mallory Kent, including break her heart to save her soul.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

J.L. Seegars is a dedicated smut peddler and lifelong nerd who’s always had a love of words, storytelling and drama. When she isn’t writing messy and emotionally complex characters like the ones she grew up around, she’s watching reality TV, supporting her fellow authors by devouring their work or spending time with her husband and son.

Celebrate the release of Nasty Work with Ericka Hart!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, April 16 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2310 Elgin St. Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming.

Please note outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When you think about sex ed, your mind likely goes back to those uncomfortable school desks and the stifled laughs of your teenage years. But what we’ve been socialized to believe about sexuality actually hinders our own pleasure well into adulthood. Whether we know it or not, even the most progressive among us are often using 400-year-old inherited thoughts and belief systems in the twenty-first century. Why are we still carrying forth these ancient values that have never served the vast majority? 

As a Black, queer, non-binary, disabled femme, Ericka Hart believes that sex ed done right can actually be a tool for liberation. In Nasty Work, she breaks down the ways that social implications keep us from experiencing pleasure, particularly for marginalized communities across race, gender, sexuality, and ability, and how we can dismantle these oppressive myths. From examining what guides our attraction to others to the history of consent, Ericka Hart takes the blinders off and reveals a more empowering view of sex and sexuality.

Nasty Work blends eye-opening research with powerful, poignant personal narrative that disrupts everything you thought you knew about sex and society; offering a liberatory framework that makes pleasure accessible for all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ericka Hart, M.Ed. (she/they) has been teaching comprehensive, trauma informed, consent- and pleasure-based sex ed at the elementary, high school, undergraduate and graduate levels for the past 15 years and is now the founder of her own sexuality education training program, Sex Ed as Resistance. She is the co-host of the critically acclaimed podcast, Hoodrat to Headwrap with her partner Ebony and is mom to East Francis Coltrane (and cockapoo Baguette).

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Kiese Laymon is a Black southern writer from Jackson, Mississippi. Laymon is the Libbie Shearn Moody Professor of English and Creative Writing at Rice University. Laymon is the author of Long Division, which won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for fiction, and the essay collection, How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, named a notable book of 2021 by the New York Times critics. Laymon’s bestselling memoir, Heavy: An American Memoir, won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, the Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose, the Barnes and Noble Discovery Award, the Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media, and was named one of the 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years by The New York Times. The audiobook, read by the author, was named the Audible 2018 Audiobook of the Year. Laymon is the recipient of 2020-2021 Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard. Laymon is at work on the books, Good God, and City Summer, Country Summer, and a number of other film and television projects. He is the founder of The Catherine Coleman Literary Arts and Justice Initiative, a program based out of the Margaret Walker Center at Jackson State University, aimed at aiding young people in Jackson get more comfortable reading, writing, revising and sharing on their on their own terms, in their own communities. He is the co-host of Reckon True Stories with Deesha Philyaw. Kiese Laymon was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship in 2022.

Celebrate the release of Pleasure Please with Ashley Cobb!

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, May 16 @ 6:30 PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories(2310 Elgin St, Houston, TX 77004)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming.

Please note outside copies of the book will not be allowed in the bookstore and you will not be eligible for the signing/photo line. You must buy a book from Kindred Stories, or purchase the I ALREADy HAVE BOOK option. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

A fun, exciting, and informative guide to sexual health, wellness, and pleasure for women of color

In Pleasure, Please! The Black Woman's Guide to Unapologetic Pleasure and Confidence, certified sex educator Ashley Cobb delivers a comprehensive and empowering new exploration of sexual wellness for women of color (and especially Black women). Cobb draws on her extensive experience and expertise in women's health, sexuality, and activism to walk you through everything from individual empowerment to effective ways to confront and overcome the barriers and stigma that Black women face.

You'll discover expert advice interwoven with real stories from real women who have been in your shoes and dealt with the same issues you deal with every day. You'll also find answers to the questions women most frequently ask the author to answer, as well as crystal-clear, informative guidance you can apply in your own life and relationships to help you make your life better now.

Pleasure, Please! also includes:

* Tips and advice on self-love, body positivity, and improving your sense of sexual agency
* Techniques for pleasure and self-exploration to help you enhance your sexual pleasure and explore what you desire – and how to best satisfy those desires
* Specific guidance for navigating the unique sexual health and pleasure challenges that Black women often face

Perfect for all women of color who want to improve their sexual health and get more fulfilment, enjoyment, and pleasure from their bodies, Pleasure, Please! is also an essential read for the partners of those women who want to help and support their partners' sex education and body positivity.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashley Cobb (she/her) is an award-winning sexual health expert and author of Pleasure Please! The Black Woman’s Guide to Unapologetic Pleasure and Confidence. Known for her inclusive and forward-thinking approach, Ashley empowers women of color and marginalized communities by offering expert guidance on sexual health, wellness, and pleasure.

With a passion for breaking stigmas and promoting sexual liberation, Ashley’s work spans from reproductive health and HIV prevention to pleasure and sexual empowerment. Her writing, featured in outlets like Essence, The New York Times, and Women's Health, provides practical advice and thought-provoking insights that encourage individuals to embrace their sexuality with confidence.

Ashley advocates for equitable access to sexual health resources, focusing on supporting those disproportionately affected by health disparities. Through her work, she continues to inspire others to lead fulfilling, liberated sexual lives, challenging social norms and promoting open conversations about pleasure and identity.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Nikquan Lewis is a licensed relationship and sex therapist, keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and author who helps people move beyond survival and into a pleasure-centered life.

She is the founder of Intimate Connections PLLC, where she works with women and couples to understand how trauma and shame shape the way they love, communicate, and experience intimacy. Through her work, she teaches people how to reconnect with their bodies, identify their wants, needs, and desires, and reauthor their relationship with sex and connection.

Nikquan is the creator of the S.A.D. Framework and the author of When Trauma Is Your Author. Her expertise has been featured in Essence, Cosmopolitan, and Glamour, and she has appeared on national television, including TV One, as well as radio and news platforms, where she continues to advocate for culturally relevant healing and transformational conversations.

Celebrate the release of Mayhem and the Mortal with Shanora Williams!

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, March 30 @ 6:30 PM CST

Where: Virtual via Zoom. (We'll send you the Zoom link!)

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your spot or RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming.

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shanora Williams is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for her versatile voice, diverse characters, and high-stakes stories. Whether grounded in reality, set in a world of magic, or immersed in suspense, her books explore connection, chaos, and emotions that linger long after the last page.

As a self-proclaimed “mood writer”, Shanora has never believed in boxing herself in. Her desire has always been to take risks and challenge herself. If a plot is relentlessly on her mind, she will try her hand at it.

When she isn’t writing, she’s deep in family life, binge-watching shows and movies, working out, gaming, or getting cozy with a book. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and three sons.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

N.E. Davenport attended the University of Southern California and studied Biological Sciences and Theatre. She has an M.A. in Secondary Education, and she teaches English and Biology. She is also the author of Out of Body and the adult sci-fi novel The Blood Trials and The Blood Gift. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys vacationing with her family, skiing, and is a huge foodie. She lives in Texas with her kids. You can find her online at www.nedavenport.com, on Twitter @nia_davenport, or on Instagram @nia.davenport.