Hello from the colorful borough of Hackney in London! It's my first time in England, and I'm positively thrilled to be here. (And I find it deeply funny that I happened to arrive here on the Fourth of July.)

Several exciting things are happening: my second book Dealing with Stress: Insights and Tips for Teenagers is being released, I am traveling in England and will be in a writing residency at Christ Church College, Oxford University, and at the end of that residency, I'm graduating with a master's of fine arts degree in creative writing for children and young adults!

To celebrate these eventful moments, I thought it would be cute to do a faux "book tour" in England! I brought one of my author copies and a stuffed alligator from back home in New Orleans.

We're waving hello from the garden wall of the house where I'm staying in London!

It's been a long day of travel—New Orleans to Atlanta, Atlanta to London, then the train, London Underground, London Overground, and a brisk walk to the flat where I'm staying. But there will be lots of adventures! Stay tuned to hear more about my UK adventures in London and in Oxford!