I can’t believe this Iranian girl’s story, my story, will be read in schools around the country. It’s a dream I didn’t even know I could dream! Thank you to @neatoday.bsky.social for including The Blue Dress for the Read Across America program 2026-2027. I’m so honored, and grateful.

I'm so excited to share this w/you. The National Education Association has picked The Blue Dress to be part of the Read Across America program 2026-2027. It’s beyond what I could have dreamed. I got teary when I read my publisher’s email with the news. It's still hard to believe.

My to-do list looking at me scroll through FB.

I talked about writing essays w/the brilliant author of Slip @mallarytenore.bsky.social. I explain here something we do & I think is one of the most powerful things you can do in an essay & that’s to drill down into one specific moment and then from there go out w/it’s meaning

Staring at my screen, instead of writing, I went on Goodreads to check out reviews of my book, The Blue Dress. Started w/the few 1 & 2s, they were pretty thoughtful. Most 4 & 5s. Here's one I loved. If you've read my book, please consider doing an Amazon review!!!!! I'd so appreciate it! :)

I’ll do anything to avoid working on my next book!!! Here I am visiting copies of my book instead of the writing I desperately need to do! THE BLUE DRESS at @barnesandnoble.com

This is silly but it made me SO happy!!!! I had to pick up copies of my book for an event. When I got the box, it said THIS on the side. The fact that my book is in a box that David Sedaris’s books used to be in is a dream I didn't know I could dream, I can't even compute.

It was such a thrill speaking to these 4th & 5th graders!!! They’d read my book w/the librarian & had such thoughtful, funny, insightful questions. I stayed & signed books, talk to them, took pictures, gave hugs. Being a kidlit author is more rewarding than I could've ever imagined!!!

For my birthday, I’m taking the day off from all the hard things, and instead leaning into everything fun and joyous, ergo this is what I had for lunch!!!!

What an absolute joy to speak at @gaylebrandeis.bsky.social's beautiful bookstore @secretworldbooks.bsky.social! Thank you so much for hosting me to talk about The Blue Dress, and your great questions. And thank you Sarah Leibov for the sweet surprise of the book cover cookies and the cupcakes.

I did my first author talk at a girls bookclub & it was more than I could have ever imagined. When I saw the beautiful girls in their blue dresses, I got so emotional. That they'd read it THE BLUE DRESS & made the effort to show me how much it meant to them was EVERYTHING. What a privilege. :)

Chicago area friends - Come join me and Gayle Brandeis at her wonderful bookstore Secret World Books on Saturday, May 30 at 4pm!

This is how I’m getting around to my book events these days!!!! All about THE BLUE DRESS. 💙

Representation matters, whether it’s about body image, or being an immigrant. I talked to the wonderful @oonahanson.bsky.social about my book, The Blue Dress & what a huge honor and responsibility it is to write for pre-teens and teens.

Looking forward to talking to @oonahanson.bsky.social tomorrow! A discussion many of us are having, especially in light of the ultra-thin push in society and in the media.

Look at what these sweet girls did to support my book? My body may be broken but my heart is full!!!! 🥹

I had an opportunity to talk to this amazing 11-year-old about my book, The Blue Dress. She’d read it & asked me about every detail. What you don’t see is her playing parts of the audio for me she loved & me in tears. It made me want to make her proud & keep telling stories that connect to others.

Apparently @glamour got my memo about The Blue Dress!!!! 😆

Mother’s Day is coming up and if you’re looking for a book that would be perfect for mothers and daughters, check out The Blue Dress about how a mother and daughter find a way to understand each other. It’s about a 13 year-old girl who’s an immigrant & has body image issues looking for belonging. 🩵

If you're looking for a gift for Mother's Day, The Blue Dress, is a complicated, beautiful, healing love story of a mother and daughter who to find a way to understand each other. ❤ youtube.com/shorts/f18ME...

Wanted to share that I've had to cancel my book events in LA, Seattle and Boston. I'm so bummed & will miss seeing you! My knee is messed up, root tear might not be able to be fixed b/c of arthritis & fracture is gonna take a long time to heal. I'm still doing book stuff, but had to cut back a bit.

Dear friends - Here I am on Great Day Washington @wusa9.com.web.brid.gy! I hobbled over there w/my messed-up knee & shared how much The Blue Dress means to me & how I hope it'll help kids & adults feel less alone in their struggles. www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jps...

When you get a great opportunity to be on TV to talk about your book but you feel like hell & a teen-like zit has decided to appear in the middle of your forehead b/c why not make this extra awkward!!!!! 😁 Will be doing my best to pull it together tomorrow at 3pm EST.

I spoke at my first school today and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I talked to an auditorium of kids about all the themes of the book, they had such great questions & came and talked to me afterwards…the whole thing made my heart burst into a million pieces. 😭❤️

Oh my heart. 🥹

We are all worth loving! 💙

It was so fun making this event schedule. How amazing to have a list of place I'll be able to share this story that's my heart & soul. I'd love to see you at any of these!!! Thank you for your support as I tell people about my debut novel, The Blue Dress. 💙

Something I couldn’t have even imagined in my wildest dreams a few years…doing a signing of my debut novel at Barnes & Noble. 🩵

Holy cow!!! My debut novel, The Blue Dress, is out!!! It's been such a wonderful, hard, heart-pounding, lonely & joyful path to get here. The book based on my childhood is my heart and soul and I can't be happier that it's out in the world today. 💙 us.macmillan.com/books/978037...