Award-winning author, journalist, essayist, and frequent I Love Libraries contributor Raj Tawney will release his first collection of essays, “Better the Next Day: On Food, Family, and the Memories We Leave Behind,” in fall 2027.
The book, published by Fordham University Press, will explore a range of subjects that have become synonymous with his prolific writing, from reliving events that shaped his formative years to examining cultural and culinary influences and his complex family history.
Raj’s essays in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, USA Today, and dozens of publications worldwide have established him as an important multicultural voice. His 2023 debut memoir, “Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience,” won four awards, including an Ippy Award, Best Indie Book Award, National Indie Excellence Award, and Living Now Book Award. The following year, Tawney released “All Mixed Up,” a middle grade novel selected as a New York Public Library Best Book for Kids 2024 pick and a Día Reading List selection.
Raj is a huge supporter of libraries. “I was never a strong academic student, but poor grades didn’t stop me from spending free time at my school’s library or at a nearby branch, reading and absorbing all I could, trying to determine where I fit into the world,” Raj wrote in his I Love Libraries essay, “The Power of Libraries and an Encouraging Mom.”
Congratulations, Raj!
“Better the Next Day: On Food, Family, and the Memories We Leave Behind” is due out in fall 2027.
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