Reading · Rebecca's Substack

Hi friends,

So the following is an absolute absurd amount of info, pictures, events and giddiness from, and about me. Please bear with me as I share some of the cool stuff I got to do the last few weeks, I’m gonna do this week, and a few beautiful essays I’ve been lucky enough to read.

If you can join any of the events, I’ll be so happy and will definitely give you a hug when I see you, and possibly make you take a pic with me. :)

Okay, here we go...

If you’re in Arlington, VA, come see these amazing writers & me.

Or join me at B&N in Clarendon…

Or come to this talk with the awesome Termeh Rassi at Pars Place…

Here are some things I was thrilled to do the last few weeks:

I spoke to several groups of 4th & 5th graders!!! I was pretty nervous at first, I'd never done an author talk with kids so young, but it turned out to be such a beautiful experience. They’d read part of my book w/the librarian & had so many thoughtful, funny, insightful questions. I stayed & signed books, talked to them, took pictures, gave hugs. Being a kidlit author is more rewarding than I could have ever imagined!!!

I also got to speak at Gayle Brandeis’s beautiful bookstore, Secret World Books in Highland Park, IL. And my dear writing friend Sarah Leibov surprised me with cookies that made me way happier than anyone should be seeing cookies!!!!!

At the event I met award-winning author and clinical psychologist Jo-Ann Finkelstein, PhD. Afterwards, she wrote this beautiful piece about how shame, projection, and unprocessed trauma keep mothers and daughters apart and what happens when accountability becomes possible, which she shared was inspired by my novel, The Blue Dress. Thank you so much, Jo-Ann. I was so moved by your thoughtful and wise words.

And I did my first author talk at a girls book club, and it was more than I could’ve ever imagined. When I saw the girls in their blue dresses, I got so emotional. That they'd read my book & made the effort to show me how much it meant to them was EVERYTHING. The girls had such smart thoughtful questions about the story & the writing process. I loved every minute of it. I can’t believe I get to connect with people in this way. It’s such a privilege.

Then, this kind of pinch-me exciting thing that happened, The Children’s Book Review named The Blue Dress one of the “10 Must-Read Middle Grade Books of 2026,” and the “Best Middle Grade Books of 2026 (So Far).” I did a little dance in my kitchen, even with my messed up knee that’s getting a bit better. Yay!

Finally, here are a few beautiful pieces I’ve read in the last few weeks….

I Told My Husband I Had Cancer—He Had a Shocking Response, by Helene Rosenthal.

To Die dignity: my young husband’s final wish came with a $65,000 price tag, by Shannon Carroll.

My Daughter Was Exhibiting Concerning Behaviors At School. No One Knew Why — Until Her Teacher Shared An Unexpected Observation, by Lisa McCarty, which went to #1 trending piece on Apple News.

I Had A Deeply Shameful Secret In High School — And I Thought Dying Would Be Better Than Being Found Out, by Noah Michelson.

Lastly, I wanted to share the heartbreaking news of revolutionary artist and author of Persepolis Marjane Satrapi’s passing.