JUNE 20: Summer Solstice Book Launch in Malibu, California

Hosted Book launch Event at the Home of Deirdre Roney & John Cadarette, Malibu, CA

Nothing like an event in actual paradise to help a touring author hit her stride. Mother Nature, Deirdre Roney, and her guests — many of them GOTV champions striving to save democracy — opened their arms and hearts to me, my daughter Lily, and Crossing the Line this night. I honed my delivery, no longer referring to my notes. And I learned from my interlocutors not to break up a reading to dapple in context clues but to ground the selected passage in meaning first, then crack on without interjections. Excellent feedback!

It was an engaging yet leisurely affair that lasted through a spectacular West Coast sunset. Once all questions had been answered and all the books had been signed, we repaired to the Caderette family deck to enjoy the full moon as well as its reflection streaking across the Pacific Ocean. Dolphins danced and played in the moonlit sea just below us.

An evening touched by magic!

Then, I received this from Deirdre, my gorgeous host: “Your book is the perfect primer to an extremely complicated and emotionally fraught topic. It is the place to start: the gateway “drug,” if you will, to the issue. It is not simplistic but takes the reader on a learning journey, scaffolding and building on new knowledge every step of the way. You are an educator as much as a writer. Your ability to write to teach makes you the perfect proselytizer for the issue. With Crossing the Line and your national tour you are providing our democracy a HUGE public service!”

Later, on Instagram, the group Letters For Democracy — part of the Democratic Party chapter of Malibu, whose members were in attendance at the Summer Solstice Book Launch — chose my book for their first featured group-read, with this announcement:

“As Trump and Vance struggle for a way to beat Kamala, scaring and lying to people about immigrants is most often their #1 choice. Protect yourself and those you love with the perfect primer on immigration reality: Sarah Towle’s book, Crossing the Line. Its stories are certain to clarify your thinking and open your heart so you can make smart voting decisions.”

Thank you, Deirdre! Thank you, Letters for Democracy! Let’s make certain the monster is thwarted this election!