THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO EMBER Aug 6, 2024
@berkleypub
Storyteller | Mother | MBA USC | Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation | Rep: Laura Bradford
@bradford_agents
Anyone wanna help me (a Native American, Chickasaw) author debut on the NYTs best seller list? First traditionally published Native rom-com out August 6, 2024. Pre-order today! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 I just need like 20,000 friends 😂
I’m a Chickasaw romance writer with my MBA from USC. My debut is coming out with Berkley Pub and it’s the first Native American romcom to be published by a major publisher: starring Natives, written by a Native, set in OKC!
Any friends want to help me do a cover reveal? Not only is this the first Native romcom coming out by a major publisher, the cover was also illustrated by an incredible Native artist! I don’t have a whole lot of reach, but any help boosting would be greatly appreciated! 🤞🏼🤞🏼✨✨
I’m a Chickasaw romance and comedy writer with my MBA from USC Marshall. My debut is coming out August 6, 2024!
❌ Forbidden Romance
🛏️ Only One Bed
🔥 Native Daddy Cat Dad
🌶️ Steamy Supply Closet Rendezvous
👯♂️ Hilarious Ensemble Cast
Scarlett St. Clair is
#1
on the NYT this week! This is monumental! She is a citizen of the Muscogee Nation—that’s a NATIVE woman topping the most exclusive best seller list for romantic fantasy— a genre dominating the industry right now. Congratulations Scarlett!
I was so thrilled Berkley agreed with me that
@holoskeart
would be the perfect artist to bring my Native RomCom’s cover to life! Even luckier that she was available! I love everything about it, no notes. Flawless!
My Native RomCom is available to request to read for free on Netgalley now! Let’s make this the most requested book and show these publishing execs how much everyone wants Native stories!
Thank you so much for all the love and support yesterday!!! Any UK or Australian editors want to publish my book? I’ve had so many readers reach out saying they can’t wait to get it, but at this time no foreign rights have been sold. Don’t want to let anyone down!
The amount of people begging for a Native RomCom to hit theaters since I’ve been tweeting about my debut coming out this summer. Please Hollywood, take notice! Let us tell our stories with BUDGETS the white stories are getting 🙏🏼
With Echo being
#1
on Hulu and Disney +, Prey being the biggest premiere in Hulu history, Spirit Rangers being nominated for seven Emmys, Frybread Face doing big numbers and Reservation Dogs winning every award, it makes me think people might be interested in Native stories!
Just throwing this back out there that a Native American romantic comedy is coming out next summer by the largest publisher in the world! Written by a Native American starring Native Americans!!!!
#IndigenousPeopleDay
My debut Native American romcom about a Chickasaw woman and a Cherokee man in a forbidden office romance comes out August 6th and B&N is having a 25% off preorder sale. My dream is to hit the NYTs best seller list, so if you want to help— it’s discounted!
‘ANYONE BUT YOU’ starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell rises to
#1
at the domestic box office on its 18th day of release.
The film has made $45M at the domestic box office so far.
What I hope with my Native American romcom is that readers and critical reviewers can give a Native American heroine a shot at being dubbed “the next Bridget Jones.” I feel like this praise is reserved for only white and/or blonde FMCs.
#publishing
To come on here and see a tweet begging for a Native romcom and my friends all hyped up my book. From the bottom of my heart, chokma’shki’! THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO EMBER is the Bridget Jones’ Diary of NDN country. I said what I said. Hope NYT takes note!
I have a Native American romcom coming out with Berkley this summer. I think it would perfectly translate to film for a $3-5m filming budget. When I was working as an assistant in Hollywood I experienced horrible sexual harassment, so I made my own opportunity. Hit me up execs!
You guys!!! We did it!!! I made it on the “Most Requested” list! (Page 4 but still on it!) thank you!!!! Your enthusiasm and support means so much to me!!!
My Native RomCom is available to request to read for free on Netgalley now! Let’s make this the most requested book and show these publishing execs how much everyone wants Native stories!
Why I think a Native romcom is needed… when I asked someone to name FIVE Native actors (men or women) they started with Lily Gladstone and stopped with Johnny Depp 😩 Got to TWO before getting stumped and Johnny Depp isn’t even Native so ONE. Come on 😩😩😩 we deserve better.
My debut was chosen as an ABA Indies Introduce pick for the summer/fall 2024 selection! It’s such an honor, thank you to all the book sellers who read my book and fell in love with it!
Blown away by the genuine kindness and support! Sometimes the internet (most of the time really) is a scary, sad place but today I put my dream out there and so many people have rallied! I love this community
#romancelandia
Anyone wanna help me (a Native American, Chickasaw) author debut on the NYTs best seller list? First traditionally published Native rom-com out August 6, 2024. Pre-order today! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 I just need like 20,000 friends 😂
@LaurenCoker99
Not a single member of my family came to my graduation last week. As a Native mix, first gen college grad too, it stung. But walking across that stage was for ME. So I hope you are basking in YOUR glory of YOUR accomplishment. I feel your pain and am proud of you 💕
it really says something that we call literally everything trad paperback with a cartoon cover a "rom com" and yet I can't think of any that really fit the bill (romance + comedy) off the top of my head.
*summer reading guide just dropped*
Our annual summer reading guide is here! Check out your fellow readers’ most anticipated books of the season, from mystery and fantasy to sci-fi, horror, romance, and more.
It’s Native American Heritage Day & I’ve never been so proud of my story. It’s OKC. It’s Chickasaw & Cherokee. And it allows urban Natives to just exist & be in a commercial rom com. There are no qualifiers for my story or characters. We exist & are allowed to have love & joy.
@KinsaleDrake
This is what bothers me about the tv/film industry. You have big movies and shows with Native actors featured relatively prominently (ie flowers if the killer moon) and it’s like Native actors are never cast in quirky movies, etc. why can we act out our trauma but not hi-jinx?
I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude! I never expected that kind of response and enthusiasm! I didn’t even think to include the name or links. Was just really excited about my book. You all are the best💕✨
The Truth According to Ember, my Native romcom about a Chickasaw girl just trying to make ends meet who falls for the IT guy in her office is finally available for PREORDER!!! Chokma’shki’!
Any friends want to help me do a cover reveal? Not only is this the first Native romcom coming out by a major publisher, the cover was also illustrated by an incredible Native artist! I don’t have a whole lot of reach, but any help boosting would be greatly appreciated! 🤞🏼🤞🏼✨✨
Just found out
@cosmopolitan
featured THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO EMBER in their summer reading round up and I have to say that the genuine excitement of so many readers is what is doing this. Your word of mouth! Thank you so much!!!
@DeadDogLake
I have a problem with people like Taylor Sheridan, Martin Scorsese, and Kevin Costner making new shows and movies about Indigenous characters and not hiring Indigenous writers or even having aspiring Indigenous filmmakers mentored while on set and help bring them into Hollywood.
I told her “no way, I’m not good enough this is just a little hobby.” She said I could do it and I was good enough. Anyway, four years later and I sold my debut with Berkley. I’ll never forget
@KaylaAncrum
’s encouragement and how seriously she took me and my writing.
I am again so blown away by this community! There is so much fear when putting a piece of work out there that it won’t be received and the excitement you all are sharing for this book is beyond my wildest dreams. I will be posting the cover on 12/14 at 9am pst!!!
Back in 2019, I went to a literary conference in Chicago. I sat next to
@KaylaAncrum
and told her I was planning on self publishing my JAFF and showed her my cover. She looked me dead in the eyes and said “you can traditionally publish that.” 🧵
My daughter’s tribal enrollment was finally processed! Now we are just two Chickasaw girls living in a lonely wooorrrrllddd! Jk we are the 13th largest tribe and a part of something greater than us. A legacy 💕
#unconquerable
Is there anything more fun than discovering a brand-new author? To help you discover your next favorite,
#WeAreBookish
has 25 debut novels from across a variety of genres coming out in 2024!
Browse the list:
#MustReads
#DebutAuthors
I’m a mentor this year and couldn’t be more excited! Got a completed MS that needs some help to get it in top shape for querying?? Check us all out and apply!! 🫶🏼💕
@FrancesMFDanger
Ok but this graphic! I was interviewed and literally when I said I have been asked a million times since I was a kid if I were “a feather or a dot Indian?” And he didn’t believe it 😩
Margot Robbie on more
#Barbie
: "I don’t know if it has to be 'Barbie 2.' Why can’t it be another big, original, bold idea where we get an amazing filmmaker, a big budget to play with, the trust of a huge conglomerate behind them to go and really play?"
Reservation Dogs is history making and monumental. Now with it ending we have NO Native rep on television. The little kiddos have Spirit Rangers on Netflix but that’s it. We cannot leave it there. I know Sterlin Harjo has 2 projects in development (on hold due to WGA strike).
Idk might delete later but sometimes I have to stay off here bc of all the discourse and debate over Natives being Native enough and it always boils down to BQ and skin tone. Everyone has opinions on who belongs, and I know there are plenty who create fake identities and personas
Anyone wanna help me (a Native American, Chickasaw) author debut on the NYTs best seller list? First traditionally published Native rom-com out August 6, 2024. Pre-order today! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 I just need like 20,000 friends 😂
Writing under deadline is the most insane experience. My day job starts usually around 6/6:30am and then I go to about 5-6pm every day. Then all I want to do is play with my 2 year old. But this weekend I got the balance right and I got 10k words, hiked, & played with my daughter
@brettachapman
Why is Leo doing the VO as the MC when these are Osage stories?? A more compelling film for me would be to view this story through the eyes of Lily Gladstone’s character.
@LucasBrownEyes
I think in a movie full of diverse Barbie’s having one of our fabulous Native American actresses play one would have been special. But I guess they’d rather refer to us as all being killed off by small pox. 👀
When natives are angry we do our best work. Lol
I’m not lying though.
A lot of Natives are grabbing their instruments and pens right now, I’ll tell you that
@joeytainment
Why wouldn’t the trailer and film have Lily Gladstone doing the VO from her character POV? it seems like it’s the film is POV of DiCaprio and idk! I hope this film opens more doors for Native centric films stating Native actors and not only about our traumas but our joys too.
Ember is Chickasaw, a millennial, messy, hilarious, and just doing the best she can. She is just as worthy of fulfilling her dreams and an epic love story as the popular white romcom heroines that dominate the NYTs.
@AliNahdee
If there is suffering and trauma it should be from our own POV and experience—not a vehicle for the white/non native characters to be the stars and shine
Happy International Women’s Day. As we reflect on women’s rights and equality, I want to address that Indigenous women are always left out of this conversation. Media erases us.
@KinsaleDrake
The talent is there. This is the
#1
reason I wrote my Native rom com set in Oklahoma. I want to see us in books and movies thriving. After my MBA my dream is to start my own production company. Hollywood won’t invite us to the table, then I’ll make my own table.
How is that different from reading a romcom about a white woman in California? Yes, Ember is Native and the story takes place in OKC and part on the Rez (and a few scenes in CA!) but I wrote this to be accessible to all. Enjoyable and funny for all.
The way that white romcoms are always deemed as “universally funny” and published worldwide and I can’t get any foreign interest because would British people or German people care to read about a Native woman in Oklahoma??
💯 that block button is my friend. I protect my peace and that’s a healthy boundary. Also I love Mallory and got to read her debut early!!! It’s SO good! Cute! Funny! Emotional depth! Ghosts! And a Bigfoot search!
I think a solid goal for me for 2024, especially with it being debut year is that there will be authors around you who choose to look down at you. I don’t need to look at them at all.
I went in with doubts and left in awe of the entire cast. The ending was really weird, and did not have the tone or emotional impact a film of this length and magnitude needed, but Lily Gladstone was a FORCE. She commanded the screen and the character was done so well.
Following some criticism from Indigenous viewers, Martin Scorsese is breaking down exactly why
#KillersOfTheFlowerMoon
ended up being so focused on the villainous Ernest Burkhart, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, instead of Lily Gladstone's Mollie:
I was so lucky to read an ARC of
@nkumarwrites
debut SAY YOU’LL BE MINE and it is phenomenal! So worth the hype, the buzz, the accolades! Pre-order your copy today and see what everyone is talking about!
LITTLE WHITE LIES - Adult Romantic Comedy in the vein of Emily Henry and Sophie Kinsella. It has two Native MCs, forbidden romance, NDN jokes, only one bed, 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ spice, and a Male MC who loves his cat.
#amquerying
#WritingCommunity
#mswl
#nativerepresentation
Meet mentor
@ddnavabooks
, an executive assistant by day and writer by night. When she is not being led around the house by her toddler, she is devouring the pages of too many books and dreaming up silly/sexy scenarios she can thrust her characters into.
I see maps like this and the first thing I think of is how totally unnecessary it was for the U.S. government to steal all that land from Native American nations. The only explanation is literally greed, nothing more. And this theft of generational wealth is ongoing!
This is false. Work on your craft and get better. There is no larger conspiracy at play. No self-awareness of the privilege this person has, but strange self-righteous anger that the “minorities getting ahead is a narrative” 😂
My friends debut is out today!!! When I tell you this book is SPECIAL I mean it. She had me laughing out loud in the first chapter, swooning, and sobbing!
@AlwaysBMyahBaby
is a force, she is here to stay, and I’m tell you she is your next auto buy author! Grab your copy today!
Dakota Johnson says "it’s really f*cking bleak in this industry. It is majorly disheartening."
“The people who run streaming platforms don’t trust creative people or artists to know what’s going to work, and that is just going to make us implode. It’s really heartbreaking. It’s
Super Secret Project 24 is secret no more!
Thank you,
@cosmopolitan
, for sharing the cover and an EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT from
#TheMostWonderfulCrimeOfTheYear
!
(It's Knives Out—with kissing!)
Available Sept 24th!
Ahh what a lovely article on
@byshondaland
talking about 9 of the best tropes in romance and THE TRUTH ACCORDING TO EMBER was included in the best company!!!