Celebrate the release of Watermelon & Red Bird Birds: A Cookbook for Juneteeth & Black Celebrations with James Beard Award nominated food writer and chef Nicole A. Taylor!

Event DEETS: 

When: Thursday, June 23 @ 7:00 PM CST

Where: Assembly HTX (2015 Berry Street, HTX 77004)

How: Space is limited. Tickets With Book includes all the necessary materials for cocktail class. Ticket Without Book is for the author talk and materials/supplies for cocktails. 

About the Book

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and issued General Order Number 3, informing the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now free. A year later, in 1866, Black Texans congregated with music, dance, and BBQs—Juneteenth celebrations.

All-day cook-outs with artful salads, bounteous dessert spreads, and raised glasses of “red drink” are essential to Juneteenth gatherings. In Watermelon and Red Birds, Nicole puts jubilation on the main stage. As a master storyteller and cook, she bridges the traditional African-American table and 21st-century flavors in stories and recipes. Nicole synthesizes all the places we’ve been, all the people we have come from, all the people we have become, and all the culinary ideas we have embraced.

Watermelon and Red Birds contains over 75 recipes, including drinks like Afro Egg Cream and Marigold Gin Sour, dishes like Beef Ribs with Fermented Harissa Sauce, Peach Jam and Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs, Southern-ish Potato Salad and Cantaloupe and Feta Salad, and desserts like Roasted Nectarine Sundae, and Radish and Ginger Pound Cake. Taylor also provides a resource to guide readers to BIPOC-owned hot sauces, jams, spice, and waffle mixes companies and lists fun gadgets to make your Juneteenth special. These recipes and essays will inspire parties to salute one of the most important American holidays, and moments to savor joy all year round

About the Author

Nicole A. Taylor (@foodculturist) is a James Beard Award-nominated food writer, master home cook, and producer.  She has written for the New York Times, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine. Nicole is the author of The Up South Cookbook and The Last O.G. Cookbook. She is the executive producer of If We So Choose, a short documentary about the desegregation of an iconic southern fast food joint. Nicole is the co-founder of The Maroon, a marketplace and retreat house focused on radical rest for Black creatives. She lives in New York City and Athens, Georgia, with her husband and son.

About the Moderator

Chef Vicky V (@thequeenofyum) is a United States-based, Houston native Chef Consultant/FoodStylist/Influencer/Media Producer/ & Black Restaurant Liaison. Chef Vicky V is the powerhouse for food media and championing people to expand their palates while living life beyond the stereotypes! Chef Vicky V garnered professional training in Philadelphia at JNA Institute of Culinary Art. After moving back to Houston she has successfully navigated as a food media personality. She has recently centered in on the Food & Travel/ and Unique brand forward recipe development.

Chef Vicky V has rebranded herself as the Queen of Yum in 2020 with a powerful engine of followers she calls the “yumcrumb” behind her! She has
worked with many Regional and National brands to create delicious, colorful, beautifully aesthetic food media with engagement reaching in the multiple of millions.

Event Details:

When: Friday, October 8 at 7:00 PM CST

Where: The Fountain of Praise, 13950 Hillcroft Ave, Houston, TX 77085

How:  Ticket required for entry.  Every ticket includes a copy of Tabitha Brown's book, Feeding the Soul (becasue it's my business), which will be available for pick-up when checking in at the venue. 

Cost: $40 via Eventbrite (includes book)

We hope to see you there!

About the Book:

From the actress and TikTok vegan superstar who became known as "America's Mom" for her warm, upbeat, encouraging messages--a warmth, funny, generous book of life lessons in in trademark style.

Brown's path to stardom was an unlikely one. While pursuing acting, she raised a family and struggled with a painful and debilitating autoimmune disorder that was finally cured by switching to a vegan diet, which she started talking about on TikTok.

Now she's one of the most popular personalities in the world, with millions of fans who follow her homespun wisdom. The book is filled with these stories about her life, career, faith, and family--and is organized around Tab's now-famous catchphrases like "That's your business," "Have the most amazing day," and "But don't go messin' up no one else's."

Marked by humor, warmth, generosity, inspiration and faith, it's a book fans will return to again and again--and want to give others.

About the Author:

Tabitha Brown literally and metaphorically satisfies the hunger of millions with her unique approach to veganism and her wholesome, comedic personality. Whether it be a new recipe, acquiring some imparted wisdom, enjoying a laugh, or melting away to a soulful, soothing voice, Tabitha Brown is home base. The North Carolina born actress, vegan lifestyle personality, mother, and wife, has amassed over 11 million followers across platforms, gaining 2 million followers over a five-week period on TikTok, earning her the coined title of “America’s mom.” Brown’s unique journey to veganism highlights the intersection of personal discovery, food, and health. With a passion for acting, Brown traveled around the States to pursue her career. She landed notable theatrical features including NBC’s hit comedy Will & Grace, ABC drama Switched at Birth and Showtime’s The CHI.

Brown has developed a role for herself, with her own script, direction, and audience. An unconventional way to rise to stardom, Brown paved a path to achieve her dream of being in front of a camera without sacrificing – and, in fact embracing – who she is and the unique, wholesome qualities that make her Tabitha Brown.

Event guidelines subject to change.

Celebrate the release of BeMused with Farrah Rochon!

EVENT DEETS

When: Saturday, February 8th @ 1 PM

Where: 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

The untold origin story of the 5 Muses from Disney’s Hercules is revealed in this rollicking YA fantasy filled with mythical adventure, music, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood.

The Muses narrated Hercules’s story. Now, in this novel for fans of the New York Times bestsellers Go the Distance and Fire & Fate, they’ll narrate their own “gospel truth.”

Living in a quiet seaside village with their overprotective mother, teenaged sisters Calliope, Clio, Melpomene, Terpsichore, and Thalia are talented performers with no audience. If Calli had her way, she’d pursue her dream of writing epic stories in the city of Thebes. But family comes first, and as the eldest, she’d never leave her beloved sisters behind.

Then, following a disastrous public music performance, their mother reveals a shocking secret: she is Mnemosyne, the Goddess of Memory, and for nearly two decades, she’s been on the run from the gods of Mount Olympus, desperate to keep her daughters safe from their mother reveals a shocking secret: she is Mnemosyne, the Goddess of Memory, and for nearly two decades, she’s been on the run from the gods of Mount Olympus, desperate to keep her daughters safe from their machinations. Before she can share more, she is kidnapped . . . and though the girls don’t know it yet, the villain pulling the strings is none other than Hades, fiery God of the Underworld.

Under Calli’s leadership, the sisters embark on a journey to save their mother and to learn more about their own divine origins. But the path ahead is filled with mythical trials and tribulations, and they’ll need to rely on both their individual talents and the strength of their sisterhood to ensure that they ascend from “zeroes” to “heroes”–or more accurately, heroines.

Penned by New York Times bestselling author Farrah Rochon, this YA fantasy uniquely blends a twist on a Disney classic with a fresh take on Greek mythology.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native of south Louisiana, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Farrah Rochon officially began her writing career while waiting in between classes in the student lounge at Xavier University of Louisiana. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree from Xavier and a Masters of Arts from Southeastern Louisiana University, Farrah decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist.  Farrah's books have been featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, NPR, The Washington Post, and many more.  

When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading, traveling the world, hanging around on Twitter, visiting Disney World, and trying to attend as many Broadway shows as her budget will allow. An admitted sports fanatic, Farrah feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons.

Farrah is represented by Evan Marshall of the Evan Marshall Literary Agency. 

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 Dear Manny with Nic Stone!

EVENT DEETS

When: Tuesday, March 4 @ 7PM

Where: The Eldorado Ballroom -The Hogan Brown Gallery (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

ABOUT THE BOOK

From the New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin comes the thrilling final installment of the series, set in college. Jared (white, Justyce's roommate, woke) is running for Junior class president. With his antiracism platform, he's a shoo-in. But he's up against the new girl, Dylan. Will Jared have to choose between his head and his heart?

Jared Peter Christensen is running for president (of the Junior Class Council at his university, but still). His platform is solid—built on increased equity and inclusion in all sectors of campus life—and he’s got a good chance of beating the deeply conservative business major he’s running against.

But then a transfer student enters the race and calls Jared out for his big-talk/little-action way of moving. But what’s the right way to bring about change? As the campaign heats up, feelings are caught, and juicy secrets come to light, and Jared writes letters to his deceased friend Manny, hoping to make sense of his confusion. What’s a white boy to do when love and politics collide?

New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone writes from a new perspective in this exciting final chapter of the Dear Martin series that examines privilege, love, and our political climate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nic Stone is the author of many novels, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Dear Martin and its New York Times bestselling sequel, Dear Justyce. She also penned the young adult titles Odd One Out, an NPR Best Book and an ALA Rainbow Book Top Ten, Jackpot, the YALSA Quick Pick Selection that takes a searing look at economic inequality, and Chaos Theory, a Southern Book Prize finalist and a YALSA Best Fiction Book for Young Adults Reading List selection. Her middle-grade novels include Clean Getaway, a New York Times bestseller, and Fast Pitch, a YALSA Quick Pick Selection. Nic lives in Atlanta and will continue to write books that ruffle feathers

ABOUT CONVERSATION PARTNER

Britt Hawthorne is a New York Times bestselling author, educator, and advocate for racial justice. Her book Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide has been widely recognized as an essential resource for parents committed to fostering inclusivity and justice.  She continues to educate and inspire through her forthcoming children's book, Main Street: A Story of Redlining, co-authored with Tiffany Jewell. This powerful story introduces young readers to the history of redlining—a discriminatory housing practice that denied homeownership opportunities to communities of color—helping children understand systemic inequality in an accessible and meaningful way.

Britt’s impactful work has been featured by PBS, Essence magazine, NPR, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Britt is based in Houston, Texas, and shares her home with her two teenagers and a lively dog named Butter. She remains dedicated to empowering families and educators by leading transformative conversations, sipping coffee, indulging in sweets, or sneaking in a well-earned nap. Learn more about her on Instagram @britthawthorne or at britthawthorne.com.

Celebrate the release of This Ain't Our First Rodeo with Liara Tamani!

EVENT DEETS

When: Friday, February 6 @ 7 PM

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 only copies of This Ain't Our First Rodeo purchased at Kindred Stories will be permitted at the event.

*Western wear highly encouraged.

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LIARA TAMANI grew up in Houston, Texas, where every spring meant one thing: rodeo season. She loved getting decked out in her best cowgirl gear and soaking up the music, food, and electric energy of the rodeo, a joy she now shares with her daughter and husband. Her deep Texas roots shine through her storytelling, capturing the spirit and rhythms of the state in all her acclaimed novels: Calling My Name, All the Things We Never Knew, and What She Missed. Before becoming a writer, she attended Harvard Law School and worked as a marketing coordinator for the Houston Rockets and Comets, television production assistant, home accessories designer, floral designer, and yoga and dance teacher. She holds an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and a BA from Duke University.

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

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 A Harlem Wedding with Tiffany L. Warren! This special author talk will include an evening tea and light bites. 

EVENT DEETS

When: Sunday, June 28 @ 5:30 PM

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* 

Please note outside copies of A Harlem Wedding 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

Tiffany L. Warren is a novelist and screenwriter who has published over thirty novels. In addition to writing books, Tiffany has written and produced multiple musicals for the stage, as well as several book to film collaborations with BET. 

ABOUT THE CONVERSATION PARTNER

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.

The paperback of How to Say Babylon is here and we're celebrating the power of Saifya Sinclair's memoir! 

EVENT DEETS

When: Sunday, July 28 @ 3PM CST

Where: Project Row Houses (2521 Holman Street, HTX, 77004)

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

ABOUT THE BOOK

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SAFIYA SINCLAIR was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica. She is the author of the memoir How to Say Babylon, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award in Autobiography, a finalist the Kirkus Prize, and longlisted for the Women’s Prize in Non-Fiction and the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. How to Say Babylon was named one of the 100 Notable Books of the year by the New York Times, a Top 10 Book of 2023 by the Washington Post, one of The Atlantic’s 10 Best Books of 2023, a TIME Magazine Top 10 Nonfiction Book of 2023, a Read with Jenna/TODAY Show Book Club pick, and one of Barack Obama’s Favorite Books of 2023. How to Say Babylon was also named a Best Book of the Year by The New Yorker, NPR, The Guardian, the Los Angeles Times, Vulture, Harper’s Bazaar, and Barnes & Noble, among others, and was an ALA Notable Book of the Year. The audiobook of How to Say Babylon was named a Best Audiobook of the Year by Audible and AudioFile magazine.

She is also the author of the poetry collection Cannibal, winner of a Whiting Award, the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Metcalf Award, the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Poetry, the Phillis Wheatley Book Award, and the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry. Cannibal was selected as one of the American Library Association’s Notable Books of the Year, and was a finalist for the PEN Center USA Literary Award and the Seamus Heaney First Book Award in the UK, and was longlisted for the PEN Open Book Award and the Dylan Thomas Prize. 

Sinclair’s other honours include a Pushcart Prize, fellowships from the Poetry Foundation, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, the Elizabeth George Foundation, MacDowell, Yaddo, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Time Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Granta, The Nation, and elsewhere. She is currently an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at Arizona State University.

CONVERSATION PARTNER

francine j. harris’ third collection, Here is the Sweet Hand, won the National Book Critics Circle Award, and was a finalist for the Kingsley Tufts Award. Originally from Detroit, she has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacDowell Colony, and the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. She is Professor of English at the University of Houston and serves as Consulting Faculty Editor at Gulf Coast.