Lansing Lit 2025

I had a wonderful experience during Lansing Lit 2025. As a former writing student at Lansing Community College I was asked to share some of my writing on Friday night at the Dart Auditorium. I read a chapter from Dream, Girl and had a great time seeing old friends and making new ones. My sister helped me to prepare for the event and she has always been one of my biggest supporters. I couldn’t do a lot in life without her friendship and guidance. And very special thanks for my friend, mentor, and writing professor Melissa Ford Lucken for the invitation to speak! Here is an article highlighting some of the other special writers from that evening.

An evening with stars

Holly Mayes at Dart Auditorium for Lansing Lit 2025

The next day I had another reading and a book signing at Hooked Bookstore in Lansing. Sarah and Matt are the proud owners of that beautiful bookstore in East Lansing and if you haven’t had a chance to check out their establishment, you’re missing out. It was a great event and I got to see many people I haven’t seen in years.

A portion of the proceeds from the book sales went to the Women’s Center of Greater Lansing and I feel good about the amount we were able to donate. So thank you for those of you who came out. If you didn’t get a chance to attend - here’s a video of that reading and the followup QA!

A special thanks for my friend and stylist, Renee Gonzalez, for doing my hair and helping me with my lashes (and her mom, Maria, for the lipstick!). Special thanks for my friends Michelle and Penny who helped me haul the books in and made sure I was camera ready. :)

And my beautiful sister of the soul Lucie Gillespie sent me a bouquet of flowers since she couldn’t attend in person. I love you, friend!

I truly couldn’t have done this day or this even without the support from the most important people in my life.

For those who were asking about the Spotify playlist for Dream, Girl - here it is!

xoxo,

Holly