Today’s the day: Where Shadows Grow is officially on sale!
This novel has been many years in the making, but it’s a 2020 book if there ever was one! Its parallels to our current reality have felt a little eerie at times. But I’m excited to finally share it. To celebrate, I’ve rounded up some release day goodies for you!
Enter the Giveaway
First up: want a chance to win a FREE SIGNED PAPERBACK of Where Shadows Grow? Of course you do! All you have to do is comment on this blog post and you’ll be entered to win. (The fine print: Open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. Must be 18 or older to enter. One entry per person. Email address must be provided so we can contact the winner, but will not be published. Giveaway closes at 11:59pm PST on November 30, 2020. The winner will be randomly chosen and notified by email.)
AND, guess what? There’s an additional giveaway happening on Instagram that’s being hosted by the lovely @bookishends, so you can also head over there for a chance to win the first two books of this series! (Also, be sure to check out the BookishEnds blog for lots of great YA reading recommendations!)
UPDATE 12/1: Giveaways are now closed. Congrats to the winners!
Go Behind the Scenes
I’ve been posting lots of WSG-related content lately! Read about my research trip to Sunnyside, Washington and check out photos of two of the very different beaches featured in the book. I’ve also written up my reflections on marching twelve miles in solidarity with farmworkers, and a post about the magic that exists in this world.
Apples play a central role in Where Shadows Grow, so of course I had to post a related recipe! This overnight apple butter is guaranteed to make your home smell AMAZING.
I also want to highlight some updated info on my website, including a new page with tons of mental health resources, an expanded resource section on food chain workers, and links to lots of great organizations doing important work in the food and environmental justice fields.
Watch the Music Video
Around Halloween, I really needed an outlet for nervous energy thanks to a certain anxiety-provoking election. So my family and I made some art in the form of a music video inspired by the book.
Be sure to watch to the end to see if you catch a glimpse of the “ghost” floating up by the fire pit. Perhaps just a trick of the light? Or perhaps not… either way, I was delighted to catch this little apparition on film!
You can watch the video below, or on YouTube.
Listen to the Playlist
I’ve made a playlist of some of the songs that inspired the book. Give it a listen on Spotify or YouTube! (I highly recommend watching the video for Bjork’s “Bachelorette” – it’s so good!)
Ordering Where Shadows Grow
And, I’ll close out with ordering info. You can now buy WSG in most places where books are sold online, including the following Black-owned bookstores:
- Babycake’s Book Stack
- Books and Crannies
- Black Stone Bookstore & Cultural Center
- Brain Lair Books
- The Dock Bookshop
- Eso Won Books
- Loyalty Bookstores
Or, you can buy direct from Rootcity Press (currently shipping to U.S. addresses only). Signed print copies are available, as is free gift-wrapping! Just make a note in the Order Notes field if you would like your book(s) personalized and/or gift-wrapped. The holidays are right around the corner, after all….
Your Thoughts
Got any questions/comments for me? Want to share which books you’ve most enjoyed reading this year? Or give me some ideas for celebration treats to make? Let me know in the comments, and you’ll be entered to win a signed paperback copy of Where Shadows Grow. Thanks so much for stopping by to celebrate the launch with me!
Congratulations Alanna!!! I’m excited to read Where Shadows Grow (almost done and can’t put down When We Vanished)! I love the dedication to food workers and all of the resources you connect to your books. This is political education in the most exciting and enjoyable way – through story! (p.s. awesome music video!)
Thanks so much Simone! That really means a lot to me (especially since I have learned so much about food justice from you!). I have loved engaging with these topics through story and am glad you are enjoying WWV 🙂
Congratulations, Alanna!! What an exciting day for you!
We love chocolate over here so many of our celebration treats revolve around it. Our go-to recipes include this Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Tart (https://tasty-yummies.com/grain-free-dark-chocolate-olive-oil-tart/) and our favourite Chocolate Lava Cake recipe (http://welcometonathalieland.blogspot.com/2013/11/nathalieland-update.html). We also recently enjoyed a simple Dark Chocolate Mousse (let me know if you’re interested and I’ll email you the recipe).
Enjoy the rest of your day!
Ooh, thank you for these recipes! I feel like I should have a week-long (maybe even a month-long!) festival of treats so I can try them all. Some chocolate is definitely in order 🙂
Congratulations to you! I’m so happy this book is out in the world for all to enjoy!
Yes! And thank YOU for all your contributions to this book <3
Hooray!! We are so excited to read Where Shadows Grow! Love the cover art! Xoxo
Thanks Heather! Isn’t that cover just beautiful?? Just shipped out your preorder, hope you enjoy 🙂
Alanna… You’re Amazing and Where Shadows Grow is Fan-Freakin-Tastic. (And I should know ’cause I’ve read it 3 times already!) I’m so happy and excited that your work is reaching more readers. These stories are just so good and really deserving of a massive fanbase. I can’t wait to meet more of my fellow Crowbies*
*A “crowbie” is a Call of Crow Quartet Super Fan for anyone who doesn’t already know! 🙂
Aww, thank you so much!! <3 I can't wait to meet more Crowbies too!
Three cheers for Alanna — hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!!
Thanks so much, Carolyn! 🙂