Welcome to the first installment of Weekly Book News from Fat Forward Books! Each week, I'll share events, new releases, pre-order links/campaigns, acquisitions news, and more as it pertains to books by fat authors, about fat experiences, and/or featuring fat characters.

If you have an item you want featured in an upcoming news round-up, email me at fatfwdbooks@gmail.com! 💛

Acquisitions & Deals

• From Publishers Weekly: Sara Rodgers at Mira bought North American rights, at auction, to Victoria S. Walsh’s Iron Hex trilogy, following “a curvy potions witch who can’t remember her past,” from Jenny Bent at her eponymous agency. Publication is set for summer 2026.

Crowdfunding

• Lily X's Kickstarter campaign for her NSFW sapphic witch x vampire romance Will It Hurt? ends Tuesday, May 20 at 1:59 PT.
  
  A wytch prone to chaos. A grieving, murderous vampyre. When hate turns to heat, can they work together to bring a loved one back from the dead?

Events

• Cartoonist Nicole Testa LaLiberty is hosting a Crucial Comix Workshop, "Big Fat Comics," that "playfully" examines anti-fatness in multiple drawing styles. Info:

  • Wednesday, May 14 from 4 p.m.—6 p.m. PT/7 p.m.—9 p.m. ET via Zoom

  • Workshop is capped at 25 participants. Registration is sliding scale, $20-$40, with limited free spots available (email editors@crucialcomix.com)

  • Bring writing and drawing materials and expect to do freewriting and drawing short comics. Work with any tools you enjoy.

  • The Zoom link will be sent to participants via e-mail before the workshop begins, then sent a recording of the workshop after its conclusion.

• Julie Murphy and Jonathan Van Ness are going on tour for their upcoming YA release, Let Them Stare. RSVP and get tickets via Murphy's website. Dates and locations:

  • Monday, May 19: Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO

  • Tuesday, May 20: Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX

  • Wednesday, May 21: Charis Books & More, Atlanta, GA

  • Thursday, May 22: B&N Union Square, New York, NY

  • Wednesday, May 28: Loud Mouth Books, Indianapolis, IN

  • Thursday, May 29: The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT

New Releases

• Crystal Maldonado's Get Real, Chloe Torres hits shelves Tuesday, May 13.
  
  When Chloe Torres plans the perfect summer to reunite her estranged BFFs—a cross-country road trip to see their favorite boy band!—there’s only one difficulty… getting them to actually go along for the ride.

Pre-Orders

• Denise Williams's next contemporary romance, The Re-Do List, hits shelves February 3, 2026. Pre-orders are available now. This is a standalone novel in the same universe as Just Our Luck; it follows Deacon, Sybil's roommate and former hookup.
  
  What would you do with a second chance at your first time? Following a bad breakup, Willow Lewis tackles a re-do list with the help of her brother’s best friend in this sweet and sexy new romance from USA Today bestselling author Denise Williams.