It's Tilly Tuesday 🥹

My lil rascals are released to the world

Hello, lovely one!

The day is finally here! Tilly in Technicolor is released to shelves, and I’m so so proud of Tilly and Oliver. Writing their story taught me so much—Tilly’s relentless bravery, Oliver’s unique and beautiful way of seeing the world—and I’m tremendously glad release day is finally here. This novel, at its core, is a celebration of neurodiversity and the beauty of uniquely wired brains.

I was diagnosed with ADHD and autism in my twenties, and while these diagnoses have given me a deeper understanding of my brain and how it impacts me as an adult moving through the world, they also made me reflect on how younger me didn’t have as clear a set of tools to understand myself.

My childhood and teen years often felt lonely. Social interactions didn’t make sense, I was constantly exhausted trying to mirror my peers, and the world felt like too much. I would often feel frustrated and angry at myself. Why couldn’t I fit in? Why did too much stimulus move me to tears and panic attacks? Why did it feel like everyone else had a script to follow while I was trying to communicate in a totally different language?

While life in school and in social situations felt lonely, I knew I was never truly alone. My greatest comfort was, and continues to be, books. I’ve lived a thousand lives through novels—discovering pieces of myself and others in the adventures of characters. Books gave me unfettered hope that everything, in the end, wouldn’t just be okay, it would be spectacular. I’m now able to look back on those years of frustration with compassion. Yes, I was different, but that difference is beautiful, nothing to be ashamed of. Only when I realized how much I’ve been masking through my life was I able to take that mask off and be my most authentic self.

And that’s what inspired Tilly in Technicolor. This coming of age, romantic romp of a book features an ADHD heroine and autistic hero. It isn’t a story of them “overcoming” their disabilities, but embracing the beauty and struggles and triumphs that come with different wirings. Tilly and Ollie go on a grand adventure brimming with hilarious disasters as they learn to not only love each other, but themselves most of all. This is a book for anyone that’s every felt like a misfit, anyone searching for their people, those who see their brains and their neurodiversities and love them for it, never in spite of. Every brain is beautiful. Every brain deserves love exactly as it is. I hope, through reading this book, you’re reminded of that.

If you’ve already read Tilly, I’d so greatly appreciate if you’d review it on places like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Waterstones, and/or any other outlet you get books or look at reviews! Reviews are crucial to a book’s life and the ability of a story to be discovered (or avoided! ha!) by other readers with similar tastes.

Events!

I’m also so so SO excited to be attending Steamy Lit Con in Anaheim, CA on August 18-19! I’ll be at table M27 and will have some very exciting surprise goodies with me!

The good times keep rolling at The Ripped Bodice (Culver City, CA). On Saturday, August 19th at 6:30PST I’ll be chatting with the L’sOML Susan Lee and Serena Kaylor! This is a ticketed event, so make sure you register!

To round out the whirlwind month, I’ll be heading to Lark and Owl Booksellers in Texas to talk (scream) with the one and only, Ali Hazelwood! This event will be on Friday, August 25 at 7pm CDT and is also ticketed, so make sure to register!

I also get to head to my hometown of Cleveland, OH for an event with Loganberry Books! You know what they say, Cleveland is the London of the midwest.

I cannot wait to celebrate this book that is so near and dear to my heart, and I hope to see you somewhere along the tour!

The [Horrifying] GIF

here's this thing:

The End 🤡

All my love,
Mazey ❤️🧠🦷