💐April Wrap-Up Newsletter

May 6, 2026

Hey Love Letter Collectors 💌,

April felt like stepping fully into alignment. I celebrated my 32nd birthday with so much love and light, and I’m so happy to share some of my brightest moments with you.

Book Updates
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Collateral Love

Something new is on the horizon 🤎 Collateral Love is coming May 20th.

Here is a sneak peek:

I didn’t go to Zayden’s house looking for him.

That was the lie I told myself when I turned down his block instead of heading straight home.

Everyone knew where the King brothers lived. They had the biggest parties right at the heart of the Southside of Crestwood.

Showing up unannounced was bold, but I needed to see him. I was drawn to him the way a moth is drawn to a flame.

It was late, but not too late. I knew Zay would be up. Crestwood had a way of staying awake without looking like it was trying. Porch lights on, cars parked crooked. Music low enough to blend into the night instead of announcing itself.

Zayden lived in a two-story brick house that looked like it had stories soaked into the walls. Not flashy. Not hidden. The kind of place men like him chose because it didn’t draw attention, and because everybody already knew who stayed there.

I parked across the street and sat for a second longer than necessary, fingers resting on the steering wheel.

I wasn’t nervous but definitely aware.

Aware that this was new territory. This was unfamiliar territory. My best friend Camilla and I had been to several King parties, but now Zayden and I had aligned interests. But alignment didn’t mean intimacy.

And intimacy was the thing I refused to give away carelessly.

I walked towards the house, grateful that there were folks on the porch and a kickback happening. It made my intrusion less ballsy.

When I entered the house, I heard it before I saw anything.

A high-pitched sound of laughter coming from the first-floor bedroom next to the bathroom. A woman’s laughter was breathless and high. Then I heard Zay’s voice.

Low, gruff, and sexy as hell. He was commanding in that way that didn’t need volume to be felt.

My chest tightened before I could stop it.

I stood there with my ears pressed to his bedroom door like a fucking creep.

This was the cost of proximity.

Everyone knew Zayden King didn’t belong to anybody. Girls told stories about him slanging dick so good they wanted to make dildo molds from the shape of his shit.

I didn’t want to be with Zayden.

What I wanted was more dangerous.

I wanted to be next to Zayden.

I could hear her screams. She made a crescendo sound as I heard a slapping noise.

She called out, “Zaydeeeennnn.”

I could hear his voice, rough and grunting. “Don’t run now, Shorty. You said you wanted to try this dick, so take this motherfucka.”

She screamed, “Oh fuck, this is good.”

The sound of her panting made my own juices flow.

I shook my head, feeling dumb as fuck. YaYa, get your shit together. You get dick just as much as the next bitch. And that girl is gassing it. No magic stick is that good to be hootin’ and hollerin’ like you ain’t got a lick of fuckin’ sense.

But despite what I told myself, I couldn’t bring myself to walk away. I wanted to hear him cum. I didn’t want to imagine how he sounded; I wanted to know, so when I fingered myself later, I could imagine him between my thighs.

I walked away from the door and entered the living room.

Xavier was on the couch, drinking something brown in his cup while he watched a recap of the Crestwood Tigers game on Sports Center. I sat next to him and smiled.

“Kenya.” He smiled. “Zay is—.”

“Busy,” I murmured. I heard him on my way to the bathroom.

Xavier and two of their friends laughed.

“You’ll get used to his manish way. All the homies know he’s a whore.”

I sat there and watched the highlights as I drank a glass of Hennessy that Xavier gave me. Being here made me miss my big brother. He never treated me like a fragile flower but like one of the Niggas and I missed that.

Ten minutes later, a pretty light-skinned chick with a big ass stepped out into the living room. She adjusted her jacket, and pulled her messy weave into a top knot on top of her head. She had a lazy smile and she looked satisfied and well fucked.

Of course, this bitch was pretty. She had smooth skin, a designer bag, and a confident walk. The kind of girl who knew exactly what she was and exactly what she wasn’t trying to be.

Zayden walked out of his bedroom shirtless.

Sweat still clung to his skin, his hair was slightly damp, and his chest glistened from sweat.

I put my head down, focused on my drink to keep from staring.

“Well damn,” he said. “You always got this kind of timing, Kenya?”

I lifted a brow. “Am I interrupting something important?”

He smirked. “Depends on who you ask.”

Audiobook Spotlight

This one feels special in a whole new way.

Harper Wilde and Tony Isabella are bringing Xavier and Chanel to life, and when I say I cannot wait for you all to experience this, I mean it deeply.

There’s something about hearing a story you’ve written exist outside of the page. The emotion hits differently. The love feels closer. The moments land in a way that lingers.

X and Channy already carry so much weight on the page but in audio?

It’s about to be magical.

Audiobook Spotlight

This one feels special in a whole new way.

Harper Wilde and Tony Isabella are bringing Xavier and Chanel to life, and when I say I cannot wait for you all to experience this, I mean it deeply.

There’s something about hearing a story you’ve written exist outside of the page. The emotion hits differently. The love feels closer. The moments land in a way that lingers.

X and Channy already carry so much weight on the page but in audio?

It’s about to be magical.

What I’ve Been Reading

April’s reading list? Whew. A time was absolutely had.

Here’s what I tapped into this month:

Out of Office by A.H. Cunningham
Taming Kane
Capturing Gabriel
Group Trip by Aria Daze
Rich & Rotten by Jahquel J
The Glistening by Aria Daze

This mix gave me everything: drama, tension, romance, and those stories that remind you exactly why you fell in love with reading in the first place.

A Time Was Had: Our Beauty, Brains, and Books Book Club Retreat Weekend

Opening Night: Lo-Fi & Lit: Soft Moments and Sweet Spirits

Thursday’s Lo-Fi & Lit brought such a cozy, creative energy. This event was hosted by two wonderful hosts, Brianna and Niccara , who helped create a space that felt elevated, joyful, and intentional from start to finish. What made it even more special was finally meeting Natasha Bishop in person. When I say she has the sweetest spirit, I mean that. There is something so grounding about her presence. Being able to talk, laugh, and just exist in that space with her and other authors like Shemeka Erby, Kayaa B., and Roxanne Taylor felt like being surrounded by both brilliance and softness. It reminded me how important it is to be in rooms where your creativity is understood and celebrated.

We were also surrounded by incredible content creators and community builders. Talia Cadet, Katie, and Aleia. These are all ladies our book club is in community with online, and being able to match vibes and energy in person is always a blessing.

In Conversation with A.H. Cunningham

The weekend continued on Friday with an author talk that set the tone in the best way. Being in the room with A.H. Cunningham felt like a gift. We laughed, we joked, we asked real questions, and we sat in conversations that made us think deeper about storytelling, purpose, and the journeys behind the books we love. And yes, we made a TikTok because what is a moment if we do not capture it.

Chocolate City Lit Fest: Black Literary Joy on Full Display

On Saturday, we attended Chocolate City Lit Fest. Walking through that space felt like being a kid in a candy store, but for book lovers. So many of our favorite authors in one place, conversations happening in every corner, stories being shared and celebrated out loud. It was Black literary joy, community, and culture all wrapped into one unforgettable experience.

Brunch at Palette 22: Flavor, Color, and Connection

We ended one of our days at Palette 22, and it was an experience in itself. The space is vibrant and full of life, covered in bold artwork that makes every corner feel like a creative expression. The menu is built around small plates inspired by global flavors, so the table quickly turned into a shared experience of tasting, passing dishes, and trying a little bit of everything. It invited us to slow down, to savor, to laugh loudly, and to just be present with each other. Shout out to Talia, our special guest, for adding even more light and energy to that moment.

Mahogany Books: Ending Where Stories Live

We closed everything out on Sunday at Mahogany Books, and honestly, there was no better way to end it. This is not just a bookstore. It is a cultural home. A space intentionally dedicated to uplifting Black voices, preserving stories from the African diaspora, and making sure our narratives are centered and celebrated. Walking through those shelves felt like walking through history, legacy, and possibility all at once. Ending our retreat there felt like honoring the very thing that brought us together.