On Monday, June 2nd, Dwelle Literature hosted our first-ever in-person discussion at Liz's Book Bar. We were joined by Erin Crosby Eckstine, author of Junie, who kindly allowed us to ask her questions about the novel and her writing process. Junie is a vital reimagining of the slave era; one that moves beyond archival narratives of violence to offer a story that honors history while instilling hope. It's truly a necessary read.

The discussion was hosted at Liz's Book Bar, a Black-owned, woman-owned, author-owned, book store and bar in Brooklyn. Run by Maura Cheeks, Liz's is a cozy, inviting, and beautiful space. I couldn't have imaged a better setting for our conversation.

The evening began with orange wine and cheese plates. This was our first in person meeting which meant finally meeting our Zoom friends in person. In total, 35 members were present, three of which FLEW in to New York City to join us. No icebreakers were needed, everyone greeted each other with love and kindness.

After some mingling, we all sat down for a discussion of Junie. Dwelle is used to a roundtable-style discussion, but having Erin present transformed our dynamic. We talked about writing processes, creative inspirations, and forming writing communities to share your work with. Erin kindly shared her publishing experience, including the year long process of becoming a Good Morning America book club pick. Overall, she encouraged us all to write, write, write, and not be afraid to share your work online.

Our discussion of Junie was powerful. Slavery is not an easy subject to cover, but with Junie, Minnie, and Caleb as our guides, the conversation was one of friendship, sister-hood, and teenage-love. Excellent points were shared about interracial friendships, the hidden agendas of slave master's wives, and the gap between white authorship and black readership.

All in all, it was a beautiful night that I will cherish forever. I am so thankful to everyone who has joined, supported, and trusted me with their reading journey thus far. I must also thank my friend, Yasmine Dahlberg, for capturing this night on her many cameras.

This is just the beginning!