Celebrate the release of Coloring with Coco: Rest and Reflect with Andrea Ballo!

EVENT DEETS

When: Tuesday, November 4 @ 7PM

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

How: RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming.

*There will be a coloring station available before the event and during the signing, with provided markers and coloring sheets

ABOUT THE BOOK

Celebrate the beauty, confidence, and style of Black women with this empowering coloring book, designed to inspire rest, reflection, and creativity. With illustrations by Andrea Ballo, the founder of The Coco Michele Illustrations brand, this coloring book is perfect for self-care or as a thoughtful gift, offering a relaxing space to color and embrace your true self. Andrea Ballo began making coloring books as an ode to her inner child, who never saw herself reflected in the coloring books that she enjoyed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrea Ballo is the founder of Coco Michele Illustrations. After nearly a decade in the retail buying industry, Andrea left her corporate job to pursue her passion for the arts. Andrea founded Coco Michele in 2018 with the mission to make the black woman the protagonist of her work - celebrating their beauty, values, and accomplishments. Andrea has built an audience of over 900K engaged members across her social platforms and her content brings in well over 1M monthly impressions. Coloring with Coco: Rest and Reflect, is her first published book. Coloring with Coco: Sisterhood in Solidarity, will be released in January.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Safon Floyd is executive editor at Callisto Publishing, an imprint at Sourcebooks. Prior to joining Callisto Publishing, she was the digital editor at Black Enterprise Magazine and editor for the Girl Scouts of the USA. She hosts monthly book club, Books & BS, and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Celebrate the release of Bitter Honey with Lolá Ákínmádé!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, November 6 @ 7:30 PM

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Antonia Adams is an educator, avid reader, and proud Houstonian. She runs the platform BlackGirlThatReads, which aims to connect a wide range of readers with books by Black women. When she is not reading, she spends her time traveling to visit museums and bookstores across the country. 

Join us at Kindred Stories to celebrate two legendary authors: Beverly Jenkins and Brenda Jackson!

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, October 25 @ 7PM

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

How: RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming

*Attendees are required to purchase at least one recent release by one of the attending authors.

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Calling All Blessings

Tamar July, town matriarch of Henry Adams, KS, is being haunted by dreams of her humiliating wedding day, sixty years ago, when she discovered her intended, Joel Newton, was already married. The truth left her furious, heartbroken, and carrying a child, her son Malachi “Mal” July. Why are these dreams coming to her now? And is the great horned owl perched on her backyard shed somehow connected? When Joel’s legitimate son comes to Henry Adams wanting to meet his half-brother, Mal, Tamar must deal with her past, her anger, and explore what it means to truly forgive.

Tamar isn’t the only one being tested. Teenager Devon July wants to be anyone but himself. When he first arrived in Henry Adams, as an eight-year-old foster child, he wanted to be a preacher. Then, to be like his adopted brother, Amari. Now, he’s decided to be a variant of James Brown—wig included—rather than who he really is, a boy who lost his beloved grandmother and is the son of a mentally challenged woman. Will Tamar be able to guide his spirit quest and place him on the road to finally being at peace within himself?

As the big August 1^st celebration nears, town owner Bernadine Brown has a lot on her plate, chief among them, what to do with former mayor Riley Curry’s monstrous tribute to his hog Cletus. There are no secrets in Henry Adams, but there’s never a dull moment either. 

Spilling the Tea

After sustaining injuries in Iraq, Chancellor Madaris was told he’d never walk again. Chance credits his great-grandmother Mama Laverne with giving him the will to heal and prove the doctors wrong. He has a healthy respect for her meddling ways and knows he’ll eventually end up next on her matchmaking list.

When Zoey Pritchard was eight, she survived a car accident that took the lives of her mother and father, and was sent to live with her great-aunt who refused to speak about her parents. Zoey has no memory from before the crash, but she’s been having the same dream over and over…

Searching for answers, Zoey travels to Houston, where she uncovers a scandal involving her parents and the wealthy and powerful Madaris family. Her trail leads her straight to Chance’s door. The dislike and intense attraction are instant and simultaneous. But to help Zoey restore her memory, he grudgingly introduces her to his great-grandmother…

Was it chance, or Mama Laverne’s plan, that threw this pair together?

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Celebrate the release of Talk To Me Nice with Minda Harts!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, October 23 @ 7PM

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Minda Harts is a bestselling author, workplace consultant, and sought-after keynote speaker, helping organizations turn trust into their most significant competitive advantage. Through her groundbreaking Seven Trust Languages® framework, she equips leaders, teams, and professionals with actionable strategies to build high-trust, high-impact workplaces.

Minda has shaped conversations on workplace equity, self-advocacy, and leadership as the author of The Memo, Right Within, and You Are More Than Magic. Her impact spans boardrooms and conference stages worldwide, with companies like Nike, Google, Best Buy, and JPMorgan Chase calling on her to redefine leadership and workplace culture. LinkedIn has recognized her as the #1 Top Voice in the Workplace and by Business Insider as one of the top 100 People Transforming Business.

Minda’s next book, Talk to Me Nice: The Seven Trust Languages for a Better Workplace (July 22, 2025), is set to revolutionize how leaders and teams harness trust as their most valuable asset.

In addition to her work as a speaker and consultant, Minda is an assistant professor at NYU and the founder of The Memo LLC, where she is shaping the next generation of leaders.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Keisha Nicole is a nationally recognized radio personality, cultural impacter, and host whose voice moves markets and her energy moves people. She currently hosts The Keisha Nicole Show, which airs in major cities like Houston and Indianapolis, and she's also the imaging voice for top radio stations in Atlanta, Cleveland, and more. 

Her journey began in Los Angeles as an intern and receptionist at KDAY and evolved into one of the most respected careers in urban radio. From 2010 to 2017, Keisha dominated the airwaves in Louisville and Indianapolis, leading multiple #1 shows in primetime. After making the leap to Houston, she became the lead host of Good Morning H-Town on 97.9 The Box - earning the show the title of Best Morning Show. Today, her midday show The Keisha Nicole Show is a staple across multiple markets, known for its real conversations, cultural commentary, and unmatched connection with listeners. 

Beyond radio, Keisha has hosted for the NFL team Houston Texans for the past two seasons, and frequently serves as an emcee and on-air personality for local TV and major national brands. Her voice has been heard in campaigns for Legacy Community Health, Mint Dentistry, and numerous commercial brands across the country, making her one of the most in-demand voiceover artists in Houston. 

In 2023, Keisha launched her personal brand Say It With Your Heart - a product line featuring affirmation journals and tools for mental and emotional wellness. She's also deeply involved in the community through mentoring, nonprofit partnerships, and school outreach, always committed to empowering the next generation. Keisha Nicole is more than just a radio host - she's a trusted voice, a cultural connector, and a woman on a mission to uplift, inspire, and leave a legacy that goes far beyond the mic.

Celebrate the release of Toni At Random with Dana A. Williams!

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, October 13 @ 7PM

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

An insightful exploration that unveils the lesser-known dimensions of this legendary writer and her legacy, revealing the cultural icon’s profound impact as a visionary editor who helped define an important period in American publishing and literature.

A multifaceted genius, Toni Morrison transcended her role as an author, helping to shape an important period in American publishing and literature as an editor at one of the nation’s most prestigious publishing houses. While Toni Morrison's literary achievements are widely celebrated, her editorial work is little known. Drawing on extensive research and firsthand accounts, this comprehensive study discusses Morrison's remarkable journey from her early days at Random House to her emergence as one of its most important editors. During her tenure in editorial, Morrison refashioned the literary landscape, working with important authors, including Toni Cade Bambara, Leon Forrest, and Lucille Clifton, and empowering cultural icons such as Angela Davis and Muhammad Ali to tell their stories on their own terms.

Toni Morrison herself had great enthusiasm about Dana Williams's work on this story, generously sharing memories and thoughts with the author over the years, even giving her the book's title. From the manuscripts she molded, the authors she nurtured, and the readers she inspired, Toni at Random demonstrates how Toni Morrison has influenced American culture beyond the individual titles or authors she published. Morrison’s contribution as an editor transformed the broader literary landscape and deepened the cultural conversation. With unparalleled insight and sensitivity, Toni at Random charts this editorial odyssey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dana A. Williams is Professor of African American literature and Dean of the Graduate School at Howard University. She is former president of the College Language Association and the Modern Languages Association, and is the author of In the Light of Likeness—Transformed: The Literary Art of Leon Forrest. She is also the editor of several books. Her work has been published in prestigious journals, including PMLA, CLA Journal, African American Review, Early American Literature, American Literary History, and the Langston Hughes Review. Her research has been supported by the Ford Foundation, the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. She co-directs the Center for Medical Humanities and Health Justice, a Mellon Foundation-funded collaboration between Howard and Georgetown universities. Williams lives in Maryland.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Dr. Tara T. Green is the CLASS Distinguished Professor and Chair of African American Studies at the a University of Houston. She also has a joint appointment in the English department. Dr. Green is a literature and interdisciplinary scholar with degrees in English. She is the award-winning author and editor of six books, including Love, Activism, and the Respectable Life of Alice Dunbar Nelson and See Me Naked: Black Women Defining Pleasure During the Interwar Era as well as the co-curator of the Triad Black Lives Matter Collection housed at University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Celebrate the release of  Design Against Racism : Creating Work That Transforms Communities with Omari Souza!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, October 9 @ 7PM

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.

*Copies of Design Against Racism that were not purchased at Kindred Stories will not be permitted at the event. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

A historical and philosophical exploration of the impact of design on underserved communities, examining the field’s shortcomings as well as its potential to create positive change. Through essays that delve into history and practice, and case studies that demonstrate practical strategies, Design Against Racism explores how designers of all disciplines can address, through their work, the legacies of racism and oppression.

Design profoundly influences culture. The heart of this book is its powerful blend of essays on design history, illustrated case studies, and discussions of practical methods to approach design work, adapted from the restorative justice movement. It explores how design as a professional practice and academic discipline directly affects historically excluded communities, offering frameworks and examples that foster collective improvement.

Topics from author Omari Souza, founder of the annual State of Black Design conference, and contributing design professionals include:

• Unveiling the White Gaze: The Narrative of Whiteness and Colonial Nostalgia
• Language as a Tool for Marginalization—and Resistance
• Hip-Hop Architecture: Transforming Spaces through Culture and Innovation
• Afrofuturism as a Design Strategy
• Whose Knowledge Is It? Reclaiming Histories, Narratives, and the Plurality of Knowledge
• Nonhierarchical Engagement with Communities—Anti-Racist Design Community Pop-Up

This is a critique of design and a practical handbook that will teach designers and educators how a restorative justice approach can transform their design practice to counteract and fight racism.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Omari Souza is a first-generation American of Jamaican descent who was raised in the Bronx, NY. He is an Assistant Professor of Communication Design at the University of North Texas and organizer of the State of Black Design conference. He received his BFA in Digital Media from the Cleveland Institute of Art and his MFA in Design from Kent State University.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Tracey L. Moore is an Associate Professor and Interim Director of the Digital Media Arts Program at Prairie View A&M University. She holds a BA in Advertising Art from Prairie View and an MFA in Studio Art from the University of Houston. Moore teaches upper-division courses, including Layout, Typography, and Branding, and has developed the DesignView Media Center, a student-run studio offering graphic design services and real-world experience for Digital Media Arts majors. One of her studio projects was featured in Anthology of Blackness: State of Black Design, and a second project won the Texas Association of Schools of Art 2024 Excellence in the Field Award.

Join fellows from the University of Houston-Downtown's Center for Social Inquiry and Transformation for a three-hour session of writing, reflection, and community. This writing cafe is hosted in support of our Mellon-funded writing project, Reimagining Black Studies Research and Teaching in an Age of Backlash.  We welcome scholars and graduate students in Black Studies or related disciplines, as well as independent scholars and creatives whose work speaks to or intersects with Black Studies. Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to submit an abstract for consideration to be included in our forthcoming anthologies on research and teaching.

EVENT DEETS

When: Tuesday, September 23 @ 9:30 AM

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

How: RSVP to reserve your spot.(Limited Space Available) 

Join fellows from the University of Houston-Downtown's Center for Social Inquiry and Transformation for a three-hour session of writing, reflection, and community. This writing cafe is hosted in support of our Mellon-funded writing project, Reimagining Black Studies Research and Teaching in an Age of Backlash.  We welcome scholars and graduate students in Black Studies or related disciplines, as well as independent scholars and creatives whose work speaks to or intersects with Black Studies. Attendees are encouraged, but not required, to submit an abstract for consideration to be included in our forthcoming anthologies on research and teaching.

EVENT DEETS

When: Tuesday, September 9 @ 9:30 AM

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

How: RSVP to reserve your spot.(Limited Space Available) 

Join us for this epic party in celebration of Our Vicious Oaths with N. E. Davenport and special guest Gabi Burton! 

Don't forget your most enchanting Fae attire to compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place Best Dressed prizes. (Costumes are optional)

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, October 27 @ 9PM

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

How:  RSVP to reserve your spot.

RSVP Includes:

• Signed Book 
• Author Talk and Signing 
• Exclusive Art Print
• Cocktails and Light Bites

*If you Pre- Ordered Oath Vicious Oaths from Kindred Stories, there is a special discount ticket price. You must provide your order # in the notes of the order. Make sure to check out using the same email as your Pre-Order. This Ticket can only be used for the same # of books you purchased in your PRE-ORDER. (Ex. 1 Book -1 RSVP). If order # is not included your order will be rejected. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Enter a new world of romantic fantasy from award-winning author N.E. Davenport—a journey of powerful magic, enemies-to-lovers, and political intrigue—as a warrior-princess and a vengeful king from rival fae courts form a fierce alliance to take down a merciless despot.

Princess of the Aether Dominion, Kadeesha wants nothing to do with fae politics. She is a warrior, first and foremost, and believes her greatest strength is leading her squadron of elite winged serpent flyers to protect her homeland. But bound since infancy to be betrothed to the Hyperion High King, ruler of all Dominions, she has no choice but to do what men have chosen for her.

Repulsed by the idea, she decides to spend one last night of freedom—in the arms of a dangerous stranger who takes her to sexual heights she’s never experienced before…but who is only using Kadeesha to set a trap for the High King.

For the High King and the kings of his six Dominions were responsible for the decimation of the Apollyon Court, and its new king, Malachi, wants his pounds of flesh.

On Kadeesha’s wedding day, Malachi and his special forces attack. Her father is killed, and Malachi wounds the High King, ultimately taking Kadeesha as hostage back to his land.

But she is no true hostage. The two form a pact: she will help lure the High King so Malachi can kill him once and for all, and he in turn will not harm Kadeesha or the Aether people. And as much as Kadeesha hates politics, she is now the Queen of her folk. Fae bonds are unbreakable…and so, perhaps, is the attraction Kadeesha and Malachi feel for each other. For even as they must publicly display their connection to provoke the High King’s jealousy, they struggle to resist the powerful allure between them in order to achieve their ultimate goals.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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 husband and kids. You can find her online at www.nedavenport.com, on Twitter @nia_davenport, or on Instagram @nia.davenport.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Gabi Burton is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Sing Me to Sleep and Drown Me with Dreams. She grew up reading and writing in St. Louis, Missouri. She majored in English and Government at Bowdoin College. When she’s not working or writing, she’s probably watching Netflix, mindlessly scrolling on Tiktok, or finding beautiful places to walk—preferably near a body of water. 

Celebrate the release of The Wilderness with Angela Flournoy!

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, October 6 @ 7PM

Where: 2310 Elgin Street, Unit 2, Houston, Texas, 77004

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

Please note that only copies of The Wilderness purchased from Kindred Stories will be allowed in the signing line. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

An era-defining novel about five Black women over the course of their twenty-year friendship, as they move through the dizzying and sometimes precarious period between young adulthood and midlife—in the much-anticipated second book from National Book Award finalist Angela Flournoy.

Desiree, Danielle, January, Monique, and Nakia are in their early twenties and at the beginning. Of their careers, of marriage, of motherhood, and of big-city lives in New York and Los Angeles. Together, they are finding their way through the wilderness, that period of life when the reality of contemporary adulthood—overwhelming, mysterious, and full of freedom and consequences—swoops in and stays.

Desiree and Danielle, sisters whose shared history has done little to prevent their estrangement, nurse bitter family wounds in different ways. January’s got a relationship with a “good” man she feels ambivalent about, even after her surprise pregnancy. Monique, a librarian and aspiring blogger, finds unexpected online fame after calling out the university where she works for its plans to whitewash fraught history. And Nakia is trying to get her restaurant off the ground, without relying on the largesse of her upper middle-class family who wonder aloud if she should be doing something better with her life.

As these friends move from the late 2000’s into the late 2020’s, from young adults to grown women, they must figure out what they mean to one another—amid political upheaval, economic and environmental instability, and the increasing volatility of modern American life.

The Wilderness is Angela Flournoy’s masterful and kaleidoscopic follow-up to her critically acclaimed debut The Turner House. A generational talent, she captures with disarming wit and electric language how the most profound connections over a lifetime can lie in the tangled, uncertain thicket of friendship.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Angela Flournoy is the author of The Turner House, which was a finalist for the National Book Award, a finalist for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, an Indie Next pick, and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. Her fiction has appeared in The Paris Review, and she has written for The New York Times, The New Yorker, Los Angeles Times, and elsewhere. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Flournoy has taught at the University of Iowa, Princeton University, and UCLA. She lives in New York

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Kiese Laymon is a Black southern writer from Jackson, Mississippi. In his observant, often hilarious work, Laymon does battle with the personal and the political: race and family, body and shame, poverty and place. His savage humor and clear-eyed perceptiveness have earned him comparisons to Ta-Nehisi Coates, Alice Walker, and Mark Twain. He is the author of the award-winning memoir Heavy, the groundbreaking essay collection How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America, and the genre-defying novel Long Division.

Laymon’s memoir Heavy won the 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, the 2018 Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose, and the Austen Riggs Erikson Prize for Excellence in Mental Health Media. Heavy was also named one of the 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years and one of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century by The New York Times. A personal narrative that illuminates national failures, Heavy is defiant yet vulnerable—an insightful, often comical exploration of weight, identity, art, friendship, and family. In a starred review, Kirkus wrote, “Laymon skillfully couches his provocative subject matter in language that is pyrotechnic and unmistakably his own…. A dynamic memoir that is unsettling in all the best ways.” Heavy was named a best book of 2018 by the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, NPR, Broadly, Buzzfeed, The Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly. The audiobook, read by the author, was named the Audible 2018 Audiobook of the Year.

Celebrate the release of The Princess and the P. I. with Nikki Payne!

EVENT DEETS

When: Sunday, September 21 5:30 PM

Where: 2130 Elgin Street, Unit #2, Houston, Texas, 77004

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

Only copies of the The Princess and the P. I. purchased from Kindred Stories will be allowed inside the venue. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Fiona Addai is ready to set her plan in motion. To honor the anniversary of her brother’s death, she’s going to steal back his brilliant invention from the ruthless corporation that stole and claimed it as their own. As a famed Reddit detective known as @Princess_PI, Fiona has used her online connections and sleuthing skills to time every step down to the minute. But with one disastrous misstep, instead of getting justice, Fiona finds herself accused of murder.

Maurice Bennett is no stranger to insomnia. These days, he’s not losing sleep over the cases he’s solving—but running from the one he couldn’t. Instead, he’s been settling for small-time scandals that don’t stir up the guilt he’s buried. But when he spots Fiona Addai at the center of a murder investigation, something clicks. And for the first time in a long while, Maurice feels that old spark of intrigue.

However, Fiona is not the helpless damsel she appears to be. Sure, she needs Maurice’s help to clear her name, but she’s got conditions of her own: she wants a crash course in real-world detective work. Maurice isn’t exactly thrilled. With every late-night stakeout and tension-filled interrogation, their partnership, rife with tension and unexpected chemistry, unravels a dangerous web of corporate crime and familial secrets. To bring the real killer to light, they'll need to trust each other and that might be the most dangerous gamble of all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Ali Hazelwood is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of multiple romance novels, as well as a writer of peer-reviewed articles about brain science, in which no one makes out and the ever after is not always happy. Originally from Italy, she lived in Germany and Japan before moving to the US to pursue a PhD in neuroscience. When Ali is not at work, she can be found running, eating cake pops, or watching sci-fi movies with her three feline overlords (and her slightly-less-feline husband).

Celebrate the release of The Story of My Anger with Jasminne Mendez!

EVENT DEETS

When: Friday, September 19 @ 6:30PM

Where: 2310 Elgin St #2, Houston, TX 77004

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

*Only copies of The Story of Anger purchased from Kindred Stories will be allowed inside the venue. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Yulieta Lopez is angry. Angry at her racist drama teacher who refuses to cast Black students in lead roles. Angry at the school board threatening her favorite teacher for teaching works of literature that they deem “controversial.” Angry that she has to keep quiet until she can head to college and leave Texas forever.

Yuli is accustomed to playing various roles: the diligent daughter, the honorable hija, the good girl who serves everyone else before serving herself. But as the fire of Yuli's rage spreads and lights her up, she can no longer be silent. Determined to find a way to fight back, Yuli and her friends start a guerilla theatre club which stirs things up and gets people talking, and finally, Yuli steps into the role she was always meant to play.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jasminne Mendez is Pura Belpré Honor Award recipient and a Dominican-American poet, playwright and author of several books for children and adults. 

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Celebrate the release of You've Got A Place Here, Too with Ebony Ladelle, Kiese Laymon, and Farrah Rochon!

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, September 15 @ 7PM

Where: TBD

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

A heartwarming and unforgettable collection of love stories set at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, exploring hope, endurance, and what it means to leave a legacy, from some of today’s most prominent Black writers and edited by the acclaimed author of Love Radio

Love can be messy, painful, and heartbreaking, but it can also be revolutionary, profound, and hopeful. For Celine, a forbidden crush on a professor evolves into a second chance at romance years later. Myra’s focus on a coveted audition for the Fisk Jubilee Singers is challenged by the handsome music major determined to help her. Kiese investigates the darker side to academia, love, and identity. Like most blessings, love emerges in the most unexpected places—in a training cockpit for new pilots, during a Mardi Gras celebration, or while gathering signatures to start the first-ever LGBTQ+ student organization officially recognized at an HBCU.

These are just a few of the heart-searing, tender, and transporting love stories collected in You’ve Got a Place Here, Too—a true celebration of Black love and the profound impact of HBCUs on the community.

Featuring stories by Elizabeth Acevedo, Jasmine Bell, Carla Bruce, Aaron Foley, Kai Harris, Ebony LaDelle, Kiese Laymon, Christine Platt, Farrah Rochon, Kennedy Ryan, Dawnie Walton, and Nicola Yoon.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Ebony LaDelle (she/her) is the author of Love Radio—which was People magazine’s best book of the summer, an Audie Award Finalist, a Michigan Notable Book, an Apple Books’ best book, and featured on the Today Show. Prior to being an author, Ebony was a brand marketing director in book publishing and worked at Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, and HarperCollins. Ebony holds a BA in journalism from Howard University and an MS in publishing from Pace University.

Kiese Laymon is a Black Southern writer from Jackson, Mississippi. Laymon is the author of the genre-bending novel Long Division and the essay collection How to Slowly Kill Yourself and Others in America. Laymon’s bestselling memoir, Heavy: An American Memoir, won the 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction, the 2018 Christopher Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose, 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. He was also the recipient of the 2020-2021 Radcliffe Fellowship at Harvard and a MacArthur Genius grant. He currently teaches English and creative writing at Rice University.

Farrah Rochon is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of 40-plus adult romance and young adult novels, novellas, and short stories, including the popular Boyfriend Project series from Forever Romance. When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, traveling the world, visiting Walt Disney World, and catching her favorite Broadway shows.

Celebrate Taylor Byas' new poetry collection, Resting Bitch Face! 

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, September 4 @ 7 PM

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

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and the bookstore!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Resting Bitch Face is a book for women, for Black women, for lovers of art and film criticism, and for writers interested in work that finds a middle ground between poetry and prose. Taylor Byas uses some of our most common ways of “watching” throughout history (painting, films, sculpture, and photographs) to explore how these mediums shape Black female subjectivity.

From the examination of artwork by Picasso, Gauguin, Sally Mann, and Nan Goldin, Byas displays her mastery of the poetic form by engaging in intimate and inventive writing. Fluctuating between watcher and watched, the speaker of these poems uses mirrors and reflections to flip the script and talk back to histories of art, text, photography, relationships, and men. From Polaroids to gesso primer to sculpture, Byas creates a world in which the artist calls out and the muse responds. For not only does she enter the world of the long-revered classic artist, but she also infuses her poems with such iconic pop culture works as The Joker, WandaVision, and Last Tango in Paris.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

TAYLOR BYAS is an award-winning poet and a Black Chicago native currently living in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her poetry collection I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times won the Maya Angelou Book Award, the Ohioana Book Award, the CHIRBy Award, and the BCALA Best Poetry Honor.

Let's celebrate a few of the new-ish Black women mystery writers! 

EVENT DEETS

When: Monday, August 11, 2025 @ 6:30 PM CT

Where: Virtual! Sign up and we'll send you the link to the Zoom. 

How: RSVP ONLY to get the link to the Zoom! RSVP WITH BUNDLE to get a copy of each of the authors' book and support the bookstore!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Zoe B. Wallbrook is a recently tenured professor whose academic research has appeared in outlets such as the New York Times and The New Yorker. She was selected for mentorship by LA Times bestseller Elizabeth Little, and History Lessons, her first novel, was a runner-up for the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award. Zoe’s hobbies include beginning all emails with, “My sincerest apologies for my slow reply,” pretending to understand how astrological signs work, and crying at the end of every Call the Midwife episode. She and her husband live with their stalker, a black lab/pittie mix named Sophie.

SANDRA JACKSON-OPOKU is the author of Hot Johnny and the Women Who Loved Him and the award-winning novel The River Where Blood is Born. She also coedited the anthology Revise the Psalm: Work Celebrating the Writing of Gwendolyn Brooks. Her fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic works have been published and produced in Adi Magazine, Midnight & Indigo, Aunt Chloe, Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction, New Daughters of Africa, Obsidian, storySouth, the Chicago Humanities Festival, and others.

Elise Bryant is the NAACP Image Award-nominated author of Happily Ever Afters, One True Loves, Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling, and It’s Elementary. For many years, Elise had the joy of working as a special education teacher, and now she spends her days reading, writing, and eating dessert. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Long Beach, California. You can visit her online at www.elisebryant.com.

Celebrate the release of The Waterbearers : A Memoir of Mothers and Daughters with Sasha Bonet!

EVENT DEETS

When: Tuesday, September 23 @ 7PM

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

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

Note: Outside copies of The Waterbearers will not be allowed in the venue. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

A sweeping narrative of the unique beauty and trials of Black matriarchy in America that weaves a sharp, tender examination of three single Black mothers—the author's grandmother, mother, and the author herself—with stories of influential Black women in our culture

"Bonét tells the whole history of this country through the relationships of and between Black mothers and daughters."—Imani Perry, National Book Award-winning author of South to America

“Bonét dances on our hearts in this classic creation of will and wit. Electrifying... Wow.”—Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy: An American Memoir

Betty Jean, the author’s grandmother, had a house along a bayou in Texas, a home paid for and run without a man by her side. This home served as the center of Bonét’s family’s universe, the one place that was a constant through all of life’s changes.

Mama Connie, one of Betty Jean’s eleven children, vowed that her life would be different. And in many ways it was: she got married, lived in suburbia, and built a life resembling the American dream. But when it came to raising children of her own, she was more like Betty Jean than she cared to admit. But, like her mother before her, Connie’s sweat was the founding salt of her own universe.

Today, Sasha Bonét navigates all aspects of being a mother—escape, promise, burden, assent, and rebellion—not just for the women in her family who came before her, but for Black women with whom society is acquainted, too: figures like Nina Simone, Betty Davis, and Darnella Frazier, who filmed the murder of George Floyd.

Generations of Black women have borne children, borne the burdens of events untold, and borne witness to unspeakable trials. The Waterbearers carries this history, its fierce eloquence capturing a masterpiece of life written by an author who is intimately acquainted with how Black women have passed down knowledge and culture. Sasha Bonét doesn’t just present genealogical lineages but illuminates the cultural and societal connections of strong Black women who have built legacies and changed the world, sometimes in the most mundane of moments. The fierce eloquence of this story confirms Sasha Bonét as a voice we all now need to hear.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SASHA BONÉT is a writer and cultural critic based in New York City. Her criticism and essays have appeared in The Paris Review, Aperture, New York Magazine, Vogue, and BOMB, among other publications. Bonét is a professor of creative writing for Columbia University and Barnard College.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Amarie Gipson is a Houston-born writer, editor and cultural worker. She has held curatorial positions at various art institutions, including The Studio Museum in Harlem, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Independently, her writing has been published in ARTS.BLACK, Artforum, ArtNews, ESSENCE, Oxford American and many others. She previously held editor positions at Houstonia and Atlanta-based arts criticism publication Burnaway. In 2024, she was awarded the AICA-USA's Irving Sandler Award for New Voices in Art Criticism. Gipson is the Founder and Director of The Reading Room, an independent reference library dedicated to increasing access to Black art and culture through literature, print media and community engagement. Located in downtown Houston, The Reading Room hosts curated events, including artist talks, film screenings, and interactive workshops, all designed to foster a deeper connection to the library’s growing collection of over 700 books.

Celebrate the Release of the 2nd Edition of Black Crossword: 100 Midi Puzzles Connecting the African Diaspora by Juliana Pache! 

EVENT DEETS

When: Wednesday, August 27 @ 6PM

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

How: RSVP WITH BOOK to support the author and our store programming.

What: Get ready for a fun-filled night with Juliana Pache's Live Puzzling Series! Tackle creative puzzle packets, play exciting games, test your trivia skills, and enjoy a lively evening of laughter, connection, and community.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Frustrated by the dearth of Black people creating puzzles or appearing as clues, media professional and entrepreneur Juliana Pache launched blackcrossword.com at the beginning of 2023. The site took off at once and was met with an overwhelmingly positive reception from new and seasoned solvers alike.

This second collection offers even more challenges and choice, featuring different grid sizes from 6 x 6 to 8 x 8. Highlighting terms and clues from across the diaspora—topics include prominent cultural figures and movements, artistic achievements, history, and Black vernacular from around the globe—Black Crossword: 100 Midi Puzzles Connecting The African Diaspora covers popular culture, the arts, literature, and more, and follows the form of the original Black Crossword, but with more letters, and more room to highlight the Diaspora’s rich history

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Juliana Pache is the creator of Black Crossword, a daily mini puzzle that places emphasis on Black culture from across the diaspora. Before launching Black Crossword in January 2023, she worked as a media professional leading social strategy at brands such as The Fader and Rolling Stone. She lives in Brooklyn, New York

Celebrate the release of Make Your Way Home with Carrie R. Moore!

EVENT DEETS

When: Sunday, August 17 @ 5:30 PM

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

A debut collection of stories set across the American South, featuring characters who struggle to find love and belonging in the wake of painful histories. How can you love where you come from, even when home doesn’t love you back?

In eleven stories that span Florida marshes, North Carolina mountains, and Southern metropolitan cities, Make Your Way Home follows Black men and women who grapple with the homes that have eluded them. A preteen pregnant alongside her mother refuses to let convention dictate who she names as the father of her child. Centuries after slavery separated his ancestors, a native Texan tries to win over the love of his life, despite the grip of a family curse. A young deaconess, who falls for a new church member, wonders what it means when God stops speaking to her. And at the very end of the South as we know it, two sisters seek to escape North to freedom, to promises of a more stable climate.

Artfully and precisely drawn, and steeped in place and history as it explores themes of belonging, inheritance, and deep intimacy, Carrie R. Moore’s debut collection announces an extraordinary new talent in American fiction, inviting us all to examine how the past shapes our present—and how our present choices will echo for years to come.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carrie R. Moore’s fiction has appeared in One Story, New England Review, The Sewanee Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, and other publications. A recipient of the Keene Prize and the inaugural writer-in-residence at the Steinbeck Writers’ Retreat, she earned her MFA at the Michener Center for Writers. Born in Georgia, she currently resides in Texas with her husband.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Juan Fernando Villagómez is a writer from Houston, TX. His work can be found in Texas Monthly, American Short Fiction, The Cincinnati Review, Ghost City Press, and is forthcoming in The Masters Review. He is a graduate of the New Writers Project at The University of Texas. His writing has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and has received support from the James A. Michener Center for Writers, Willapa Bay Artist Residency, Community of Writers, and Sewanee Writers Conference. He lives with his dog, Abba and two cats, Brick and Ghost..

Celebrate the release of Slices of Black American Life with MR.TOMONOSHi!!

EVENT DEETS

When: Wednesday, August 6 @ 7PM

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

Slices of Black American Life is a raw, electrifying yet polished articulation of Black America—its past, present, and future woven through Blaxploitation-inspired poetry and storytelling with cinematic flair.

It possesses a jazz rhythm in tone, MR. TOMONOSHi!’s words tap dance across the page—each syllable hitting like a beat, each line swinging with improvised brilliance.

Each piece offers a window into the fantastical worlds of Black American life, where reality and imagination collide—the characters breathe, move, speak, inviting you in, pulling you close, immersing you deep into the roots of the Black American experience.

A whimsical realness pulsates throughout its entirety.

This collection is more than homage—it’s an ode to the brilliance of Blaxploitation, capturing its bold aesthetics, fearless spirit, and unfiltered truth. Every poem, every story, cuts deep, speaks loud, and refuses to be forgotten.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MR. TOMONOSHi is a prolific multidisciplinary creator whose work spans literature, animation, interactive media, fashion, photography, and music. Known for his sophisticated yet whimsical approach to storytelling and design, he transforms everyday moments into immersive, culturally rich experiences for audiences of all ages. With a background in design and a deep commitment to imaginative play, MR. TOMONOSHi builds vibrant worlds that resonate from classrooms to playgrounds to living rooms—and now, across screens.

His work blends narrative elegance with playful ingenuity, bringing cinematic voice to books, games, fashion, and experiences that blur the line between reality and imagination. 

We're meeting to discuss When We Ruled: The Rise and Fall of Twelve African Queens and Warriors by Paula Akpan!

BOOK CLUB MEETING DEETS

When: Tuesday, August 19 @ 7PM CST

Where: Kindred Stories (2304 Stuart Street, HTX, 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!

ABOUT WHEN WE RULED: THE RISE AND FALL OF TWELVE AFRICAN QUEENS AND WARRIORS

We're meeting to discuss Whispers Of The Lake by Shanora Williams!

BOOK CLUB MEETING DEETS

When: Tuesday, August 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 Romance Book Club by purchasing a copy of the book from Kindred Stories here. !

ABOUT WHISPERS OF THE LAKE

A marriage on the rocks, a missing friend, and a tangle of shocking lies converge at a peaceful North Carolina lakefront cottage in this irresistibly twisty new psychological thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shanora Williams – perfect for readers of Liv Constantine, Tarryn Fisher, Kellye Garrett, and Caroline Kepnes.

Investigative reporter Rose Howard is exhausted from trying to manage her seemingly perfect life. With her marriage to the man she thought was her one true love collapsing, she desperately needs for one thing to go right.

While striving for a promotion to senior reporter, her efforts are interrupted when she learns her former best friend and travel vlogger, Eve Castillo, isn't responding to attempts to contact her at the North Carolina cottage she's reviewing. Rose knows Eve can be flaky and irresponsible. And after Eve breaks the ultimate ethical friendship code and crosses boundaries to the point of no return, Rose wants nothing to do with her. Still, Rose heads to the tranquil small town of Sage Hill . . .

Rose soon discovers that Eve has vanished without her purse and passport—even after booking a trip abroad. The personable cabin owners’ accounts of Eve's stay just don’t add up . . . and most of the town's initially hospitable inhabitants become increasingly less helpful . . .

Rose's instincts tell her the solution lies somewhere in Eve's—and Sage Hill's—past. To get answers, she’ll have to ask inconvenient questions, stumble onto shocking truths, and face vicious attempts on her life. But some truths are best left alone. And secrets Rose never saw coming could easily sink her, and her future, without a
trace . . .

We're meeting to discuss Wild Sweet Love by Beverly Jenkins!

BOOK CLUB MEETING DEETS

When: Tuesday, August 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. !

ABOUT WILD SWEET LOVE

Teresa July has led a hard life, but now she has a chance to put her train robbing past behind her. Armed with a new job as a cook to one of Philadelphia's elite families, Teresa is determined to start her life anew, and nothing––not even her boss's stuck–up (and far too handsome) son––is going to stand in her way.

Madison Nance is sick of his mother taking in women from the wrong side of the tracks, just to see them turn on her generosity. That's why it's up to him to keep a close eye on Teresa's every move. At least, that's the only logical explanation for why he can't get the young woman out of his mind.

But when a woman from Madison's past threatens Teresa's future, the two reluctant lovers must join forces is they're ever going to have a chance at happiness.

Celebrate the release of Bones at the Crossroads with LaDarrion Williams!

EVENT DEETS

When: Sunday, August 10 @ 5:30 PM

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

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

You must purchase a copy of Bones at the Crossroads to join the signing line. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

It's Homecoming season at Caiman University, and all 17-year-old Malik Baron wants to do is be a regular college student…or as regular as he can get at a magical HBCU for young, Black Conjurers. He’s ready to go to parties, hang out with his new friends, choose a major, and talk to girls. Instead, he's reeling from a summer of revelations, heartbreak and betrayal, and still uncovering the truth about his powers and his legacy. 

The family he only just discovered is already fractured beyond repair, and a new relative who shows up on his doorstep brings even more questions. Then there’s the mother he risked everything to find, who might be the biggest threat to the life he's trying to build. To protect his new community, Malik joins an elite secret society with roots in ancient magic.

His journey takes him even deeper into his own heritage and the history of the magical world, while bringing him closer to a classmate whose friendship might mean something more, if Malik is ready to let her in. But how can he use powers he can’t even control to defend a world he’s not sure will ever fully accept him? And as the pressure and danger builds, will he be able to confront the deepening cracks within the magical society, and those building within himself?

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.

An esteemed alum of the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, LaDarrion’s play Hurt People was selected for the 2024 conference, further solidifying his place as a bold and necessary voice in contemporary theater. His play Coco Queens was featured in the 2019 Sundance Institute’s Playwriting Intensive, won the New Works@theWorks Playwriting Award, and celebrated its world premiere at Playhouse on the Square in July 2024.

His Jeff Award-nominated play Boulevard of Bold Dreams—a poignant exploration of Hattie McDaniel’s historic Oscar win—debuted at TimeLine Theatre Company in Chicago, had its East Coast Premiere at Greater Boston Stage Company in March 2023, and was part of the Orlando Shakes Theater Signature Series in October 2023, with plans for national productions in 2024-2025.

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.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR

Janaya Britton is a Dallas native turned Houstonian. Coining herself as a “professional cool girl”, Janaya is forging her path by honoring her passions, creating art + working in spaces that uplift the Black community, and advocating for self-expression. She currently works as a fashion/lifestyle content creator, host, model, singer-songwriter, and the Social Media Manager for Kindred Stories. 

She graduated from Texas Southern University in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Radio, TV, and Film. At TSU, she served as On-Air talent at KTSU2, started a fashion blog “Mommy’s Lil Militant", and became a Spring '20 initiate of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. 

After noticing the lack of support from the school’s counseling center, she created a self-love/mental health organization, Me-lationship, during her freshman year of college--garnered over 100 members before becoming an official campus org.

Now, her star is shining brighter than ever-- from developing the first large-scale digital + on-site Black influencer campaign for the Broccoli City Music Festival in Washington, D.C., to creating content for brands like Walmart and Hot Topic.

She hopes to continue growing as a media personality + artist and preserve her family’s historical legacy at the Lott-Canada School, American Legion Post #818, and the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Beeville, Texas. 

Unwind at our Silent Reading Party — a cozy gathering where book lovers come together to read quietly in good company. Bring your favorite book, settle in, and enjoy a peaceful escape in a warm, relaxed setting. 

Celebrate the release of Love Spells Trouble with Nia Davenport!

EVENT DEETS

When: Tuesday, July 8th @ 7PM

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

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

You Should See Me in a Crown meets Black girl magic in an enchanting romcom about a reluctant witch caught up in a fake dating scheme.

Witches and humans have always had issues. Cayden is well aware of that: Her witch mom was shunned by her high-society family when she fell in love with a Cayden’s human dad, and now her family bakery is in trouble due to wealthy witches gentrifying their neighborhood. So when Cayden realizes she unknowingly went on a date with witch it-boy Khy Carter, it feels like things can’t get any worse. But then her father’s bakery has an influx of new customers hoping to get a glimpse of Khy’s new girl, and a solution to her family’s problems appears: Cayden absolutely cannot be with a Coven boy, but that doesn’t mean she can’t pretend to. The two start fake dating to save her family’s business, but even though she’s doing this for her family, Cayden knows she’s also betraying them. Her parents may have put love before everything else, but is Cayden willing to do the same?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nia 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 husband and kids. You can find her online at www.nedavenport.com, on Twitter @nia_davenport, or on Instagram @nia.davenport.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Jenna is a long-time reader, who has now been a book content creator for five years. You can find her on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Goodreads, Threads, all the places under @JennasLitPicks. Her content varies from book reviews, skits, educational content, vlogs and book mail un-boxings.  When she’s not bopping around her local library or scrolling Libby for her next read, you’ll find her at various Texas-based book events as an attendee and occasionally, as a moderator. You may also see her frequent book conventions as an attendee, panelist, or volunteer. 

Celebrate the release of Chichi and Didi Love Their Names with Peace and Ndidi Amadi!

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, September 20 @ 12PM

Where: 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.

*Note that books not purchased from Kindred Stories are not allowed in the venue.*

ABOUT THE BOOK

Nigerian American sisters Chichi and Didi are ready for the first day of school! But after Chichi is teased for her “different” name, she comes home feeling discouraged.

Daddy and Mama tell the sisters the stories behind their names, helping Chichi return to school with her head held high.

Inspired by the childhood experiences of real-life sisters Peace Amadi and Ndidi Amadi, Chichi and Didi Love Their Names will teach readers:

• to be curious about the origin and meanings of their own names
• the importance of identity and saying names correctly
• the beauty in celebrating difference and taking pride in uniqueness 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Although most people now know Peace Amadi by her middle name, her first name is Chinyere and she is the real-life Chichi. Peace is a psychology professor, author, and speaker, and her work lies at the intersection of mental health, faith, and culture. 

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, April 24 at 6 PM

Where: Off The Record (416 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002)

How: RSVP to reserve your spot.  

ABOUT THE EVENT

Sponsored by the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum.

Enjoy Juneteenth-inspired cocktails, lite bites from ChòpnBlọk, florals by Design + Revive, and a special listening session of selected tracks from Robert Hodge's Two & 1/2 Years album released on June 19, 2016.

Free entry and open bar! Mark your calendars, RSVP, and bring your favorite book.

Celebrate the release of Communication Skills for Healthier Boundaries with Dr. LaToya S. Gilmore!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, May 8 @ 7PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2304 Stuart Street, HTX, 77004)

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

Stop People-Pleasing and Start Setting Healthier Boundaries Now

Do you feel resentful because you didn’t speak up? Do find yourself saying yes when you really mean no, only to burn out later? Or maybe frustration builds, leading to blowups that push people away? In Communication Skills for Healthier Boundaries, licensed psychotherapist Dr. LaToya S. Gilmore addresses the struggles many face when they can’t express their needs, often resorting to either giving in or losing control.

This book provides essential tools to break free from these patterns and communicate with clarity and confidence. Learn how to set firm, healthy boundaries without guilt and honor yourself without fear of conflict. Tackling either people-pleasing or explosive reactions, Dr. Gilmore’s practical guidance will help you build and maintain fulfilling relationships without compromising your well-being.

Communication Skills for Healthier Boundaries includes:

* Verbal and nonverbal communication skills and activities. Attain lifelong skill sets to build assertiveness, confidence, and self-awareness.
* Real-life dialogue scripts. Practice setting and asserting boundaries at your own pace while finding your communication style.
* Easy implementation in two parts. Learn core communication skills in the first part of the book, and then apply these skills in the second part, which features common scenarios where boundaries are challenged in everyday life, rela

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. LaToya S. Gilmore is a licensed therapist, educator, consultant, writer, and speaker. She inspires those she works with to intentionally integrate self-care and healthy boundaries in their daily lives and is an advocate for ending the stigma related to seeking therapy. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Prairie View A&M University and a doctorate in counselor education from Texas Southern University. Her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy was earned at Fuller Theological Seminary. She resides in Houston, Texas.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

Kandice Ewing is a lifelong Houston resident and a dedicated co-leader at the Fellowship of Love Church for over 20 years. Recently, Kandice earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Houston Christian University and is now a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate. Believing that therapy is her true calling, Kandice is committed to supporting individuals, groups, and couples experiencing mental distress, emotional dysregulation, and life stressors.

With expertise in areas such as grief and loss, depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, spiritual struggles, relationships, boundaries, assertiveness, and self-esteem, Kandice takes an eclectic therapeutic approach and tailors’ treatment to meet each client's unique needs.

Passionate about guiding others on their wellness journey, Kandice is dedicated to fostering healing and personal growth in a compassionate and supportive environment.

Celebrate Marcus Bridgewater aka Garden Marcus' debut picture book, See Marcus Grow! 

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, May 10 @ 1 PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2304 Stuart Street, HTX, 77004) 

How: RSVP ONLY to let us know you're coming or RSVP WITH BOOK to secure your copy of See Marcus Grow. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marcus Bridgewater, known on social media as Garden Marcus, is also the author of How to Grow: Nurture Your Garden, Nurture Yourself. Media outlets that have featured his work include Vogue, Dwell, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, and The Drew Barrymore Show. A creator, educator, motivational speaker, and plant enthusiast, he is also the founder and CEO of Choice Forward, a company that offers life coaching, seminars, and workshops. He lives in Texas with his wife, son, and a thousand plants.

Celebrate Kionna Walker LeMalle's debut novel, Behind the Waterline! 

EVENT DEETS

When: Tuesday, April 8 @ 7PM

Where: Kindred Stories (2304 Stuart Street, HTX, 77004) 

How: RSVP ONLY to let us know you are coming or RSVP WITH BOOK to reserve your copy of Behind the Waterline. 

NOTE: There are limited free RSVP ONLY tickets. Please be sure that you can make the event before checking out. Additionally, copies of the book from Behind the Waterline from other retailers will not be allowed 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Behind the Waterline takes readers to the home of a teenager and his grandmother in a New Orleans neighborhood on the eve of Katrina, where there are few resources and little warning of what is about to happen, in this novel that mixes magical realism with reality.

When Hurricane Katrina approaches New Orleans, teenaged Eric and his grandmother and many of their neighbors decide to ride out the storm. Kionna Walker LeMalle’s masterful debut novel brings her readers, like the rising water, onto Eric’s street in the Third Ward, where stranded dogs bark for a time, where neighbors are floating on doors, and where Eric and his grandmother must take refuge in his second floor bedroom. After days of heat, dwindling supplies, and relentless rising water, neighbors begin to disappear and Eric’s grandmother, already known as an eccentric, begins to falter. It is then that Eric—in a dream, a hallucination, or something else—discovers a room beyond his closet wall, a place he has never seen. What he discovers inside will send him on a path to discover secrets to survival, bitter progress, and, ultimately, the history of his own people—those he sorely misses and those he never even knew.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kionna Walker LeMalle is an executive writer for the University of Houston-Downtown and has taught writers at Houston’s Writers in the Schools and Houston Christian University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master of Education degree from the University of New Orleans, and her MFA from Houston Christian University. She was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, and lives in Houston, TX, with her family. Behind the Waterline is her debut novel.

ABOUT THE MODERATOR 

ReShonda Tate is the national bestselling author of more than 50 books, including her latest The Queen of Sugar Hill, based on the life of Hattie McDaniel. Her novel, Let the Church Say Amen, was made into a film directed by actress Regina King, and produced by TD Jakes and Queen Latifah. Her book, The Secret She Kept, was also made into a TV One movie starring Kyla Pratt. ReShonda made appearances in both movies. She wrote a movie, Christmas with my Ex, which will run on TV One this winter. 

A well-respected journalist and former TV News Anchor, ReShonda is currently Managing Editor for the Defender Newspaper and also works as a professional editor, ghostwriter, and literary consultant. 

A highly sought-after motivational speaker and award-winning poet, ReShonda is the recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literature.

Celebrate the amazing author (and literary agent) Patrice Caldwell's newest release, Where Shadows Meet! 

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, April 19 @ 3PM 

Where: Kindred Stories (2304 Stuart Street, HTX, 77004) 

How: RSVP ONLY to let us know you're coming and RSVP WITH BOOK to secure your seat and copy of Where Shadows Meet.

Note: There are limited free RSVP ONLY tickets available so please be thoughtful about purchasing a ticket. Additionally, copies of Where Shadows Meet from other retailers will not be allowed on the premise. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

The dark and thrillingly romantic debut vampire fantasy that questions what it truly means to sacrifice for love.

You have no idea what I’ve done for love. Just as you have no idea what you may one day do.

Once long ago, a girl named Favre sacrificed her wings for love. Thana, the young goddess she so willingly gave them up for, sacrificed that same love for power. But everything has a cost.

Favre never got over the loss of her wings. And Thana’s choices led to a life of eternal night, and later, their destruction. Favre has bided her time ever since, waiting for the chance to resurrect the girl she loves who turned her into the creature she hates.

Now, a thousand years later, Leyla, the crown princess of the malichora—an ancient race that survives on human blood—must travel to the Island of the Dead when her best friend is captured during an attack on her nation’s capital. Along with Najja, a fierce, beautiful seer, and the last person she expected to help her, Leyla forges down a dangerous path, intent on saving her friend. But nothing is as it seems. The closer she gets to her goal, the more she risks awakening an ancient evil and destroying everything she holds dear.

Set in the aftermath of a war between vampires, humans, and the gods that created them, Patrice Caldwell’s devastatingly romantic fantasy debut, Where Shadows Meet, centers the heart-wrenching pain of loss and the struggle of self-discovery to ask: do we choose our fates, or do our fates choose us?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PATRICE CALDWELL is a former children’s book editor turned literary agent and author. She has been named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30”, a Publishers Weekly Star Watch honoree, and featured on Bustle’s inaugural “Lit List” as one of ten women changing the book world. Patrice is also the editor of A Phoenix First Must Burn, 16 stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope and Eternally Yours. After years living in New York City, she moved to Dallas, Texas (with her two adorable cats). Visit Patrice at patricecaldwell.com and @pncaldwell.

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Celebrate award winning author, Bernice McFadden's memoir, Firstborn Girls!

EVENT DEETS

When: Thursday, April 10 @ 7 PM 

Where: Kindred Stories (2304 Stuart Street, HTX, 77004) 

How: RSVP ONLY to reserve your seat or RSVP WITH BOOK to ensure your seat an a copy of Firstborn Girls!

There are limited free RSVP ONLY tickets so please make sure that you can make it. 

Please note that copies of Firstborn Girls purchased from other retailers will not be allowed in the venue. 

ABOUT THE BOOK

From award-winning author and creative writing professor at Tulane University comes an intimate and powerful memoir exploring inherited trauma, family secrets, and the enduring bonds of love between mothers and daughters.

On her second birthday in 1967, Bernice McFadden died in a car crash near Detroit, only to be resuscitated after her mother pulled her from the flaming wreckage. Firstborn Girls traces her remarkable life from that moment up to the publication of her first novel, Sugar.

Growing up in 1980s Brooklyn, Bernice finds solace in books, summer trips to Barbados, and boarding school to escape her alcoholic father. Discovering the works of Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, she finally sees herself and her loved ones reflected in their stories of “messy, beautiful, joyful Black people.”

Interwoven with Bernice's personal journey is her family's history, beginning with her four-times enslaved great-grandmother Louisa Vicey Wilson in 1822 Hancock County, Georgia. Her descendants survived Reconstruction and Jim Crow, joined the Great Migration, and mourned Dr. King’s assassination during the Civil Rights Movement. These women's wisdom, secrets, and fierce love are passed down like Louisa's handmade quilt.

A memoir of many threads, Firstborn Girls is an extraordinarily moving portrait of a life shaped by family, history, and the drive to be something more.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bernice L. McFadden is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Tulane University and the author of several critically acclaimed novels, including Sugar, The Warmest December, Loving Donovan, Nowhere Is a Place, Glorious, Gathering of Waters (a New York Times Editors' Choice and one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012), The Book of Harlan (winner of a 2017 American Book Award and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Fiction), and Praise Song for the Butterflies (long-listed for the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction). She is a four-time Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist, as well as the recipient of three awards from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.

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