🧚‍♂️Welcome to The Absinthe Underground!🧚‍♂️

A book 10+ years in the making publishes today!

Hello friends!

Just a short note today (with the promise of a longer newsletter to come later in February, when I’ve had a moment to catch my breath) to say thank you for being on this publishing journey with me!

Today The Absinthe Underground publishes, hooray!

Here’s a picture of me signing some copies at my local indie!

This is the story I’ve chased since 2012, when I first went to an art exhibit about “Posters of Paris" and found a tiny seed of a story idea that took years to grow. Here’s the poster from that exhibit so long ago. This hangs in my living room:

This book tells the story about two roommates, Esme and Sybil, who are hopelessly in love with each other, but don’t know how to tell each other.

(I love these “They Were Roommates” and “Just Gals being Pals” trope stickers so much!)

This is also a story dedicated “To all the queer people in history who have loved each other quietly, fiercely, and— too often—secretly. And to all the queer kids out there now, who deserve the happiest real-life stories, always.'“

Here’s a picture of the dedication that still makes me emotional every time I read it 😭:

The Absinthe Underground is also a story of hope, overcoming fear, and being brave enough to love who you love (while also, of course, going through a portal into Fae to steal a Fae Queen’s jewels, as it goes).

Here’s the art card done by amazing artist Jaria Rambaran that shows Esme and Sybil on their wild night out at The Absinthe Underground nightclub:

I’ve got lots of exciting announcements about the book coming up (starting with one on 2/7/24 I hope…so watch my socials), and tonight, 2/6/24, we’re having a fabulous launch party at Room of One’s Own in Madison. There will be a costume contest and much more— hope to see you there if you’re in the Madison area (and I will absolutely share pictures soon!).

A bit more about the launch party:

Thank you again for pre-ordering, reviewing, sharing, and telling your friends about The Absinthe Underground. It means so much to me to be able to share stories with you all, and I can’t wait for you to meet Esme and Sybil (and their 7 cats); to be enchanted by Maeve, the green fairy; and, for you to get swept into this world that is cozy, glittering, and dangerous all at once.

Wishing you all a magical day and remember, beware the Green Fairy!

xx,

Jamie

PS: My next book, FURIOUS, which publishes 6/11/24, is now available on NetGalley! More on that soon and happy reading!