Writing

ESSAYS/CREATIVE NONFICTIONThe Smithsonian Is Not a ‘Distorter.’ It’s a Mirror. (Bloomberg)“The Beauty in the Muck”: Raj Tawney on the Luminous Legacy of Pete Hamill (Library of America)My Historical Fiction Novel Has Become Real Again (Writer's Digest)The Night Jon Batiste Saved Me (Miami New Times)Could an artist like Bob Dylan make it in the music industry today? (San Francisco Chronicle)Diwali Reminds Me of Who I Am (But It Took a While to Get There) (The New York Times)An Urgent Email from Tony Hinchcliffe’s Travel Agent (Weekly Humorist)Miami Beach Unveils Desi Arnaz Historical Marker (Miami New Times)Here’s why pronouncing Kamala Harris’ name correctly is so important (San Francisco Chronicle)Pitbull Named a Stadium After Himself, but When Will He Help His Namesake? (Miami New Times)As someone who is mixed race, I see myself in Kamala. A largely unseen bloc of voters will too (San Francisco Chronicle)Finding Belonging at the World’s Largest Library Conference (I Love Libraries/American Library Association)Trump confused Jimmy Carter and Jimmy Connors. It was a nostalgic rush (San Francisco Chronicle)It's Not Just David Chang. Celebrity Chefs Are Sellouts. (Bloomberg)The Power of Libraries and an Encouraging Mom (I Love Libraries/American Library Association)Side by Side (Desert Companion / KNPR)Jon Stewart back at ‘The Daily Show’ is exactly what America needs in 2024 (San Francisco Chronicle)How The Beatles and John Lennon helped inspire my father's journey from India to New York (USA Today)Special Blog Post for University Press Week #SpeakUPIt took me years, but now I finally love my thick and bushy eyebrows (Insider)The search for matzo meal, and for connection to our past (Sun Sentinel)How Jay-Z’s remix of ‘Mundian To Bach Ke’ helped bridge cultural divides in post-9/11 America (Frontline/The Hindu)Flour power: a single ingredient can be life-changing (The Spectator)Tony Bennett Shaped My Family (Newsweek)My Brother's Hoop Dreams (The Comeback)Tiny Love Story: Jimi Hendrix and Bluejeans (The New York Times)The Teacher Who Inspired Me to Be Who I Am Today (Education Week)Roger Federer's Legacy Goes Way Beyond Tennis (The Arrow)Think Different (KQED/NPR)What it's been like as a writer of color trying to sell a book that isn’t all about trauma (NBC News)An Ode to 'Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast' (Brooklyn Magazine)1952: Why Try to Change Sinatra Now (The Great American Songbook Foundation)In a Gazan Home in California, Two Writers Share a Taste of Home (Literary Hub)Being Ricky Ricardo: Why Desi Arnaz matters (Fortune Magazine)A Letter to F. Scott Fitzgerald From the Second Roaring '20s (Writer's Digest)Beware of Humans at the Dog Park (Weekly Humorist)How Oscar Wilde and an Indie Rock Song Inspired My Path (Chicago Review of Books)From chana masala to lasagna, my family's Thanksgiving table tells our American story (NBC News)My Puerto Rican Grandma Was a Silent Trailblazer (Latino Rebels)For many Americans of color, including my friends, Sept. 11 only inflamed divisions (USA Today)Malaria, My Mother and Me (PBS Next Avenue)Everyone Gets Rejected – Here's How to Move On (Harvard Business Review)Tour a 1930s Long Island Bungalow DIYed Into a Creative Haven – Photo Essay (HGTV)Naomi Osaka Just Reminded Me Why I Left Social Media (Newsweek)Going Vegetarian Is Better For Us And The Environment—Why Is It So Hard To Do? (Delish Magazine)What a Pandemic Funeral Taught Me About Family (Modern Loss)A year of changed minds: I changed my mind on my own racial identity (The Philadelphia Inquirer)The diversity dinner (The Spectator)She’s 90 and Italian. I’m in my 30s and half Indian. Here’s why we’re the closest of friends. (The Washington Post)Will Indian Buffets Survive the Pandemic? (The New York Times)How my Puerto Rican mother became an expert Indian cook (The Guardian)How my family came to feast on meatballs, plátanos and curry for Christmas dinner (Los Angeles Times)70-Year-Old's Commitment to Tennis, Fitness Is Inspiring to All (Sports Illustrated)For The Voter Who Cares About a President's Public Image (McSweeney's)Why movie houses matter, more than ever (The Hill)Adopting a Dog during the Pandemic (The Bark)Contrariwise: Let's Stop Bashing Millennials (The Saturday Evening Post)Moving into my in-laws' could've infantilized me. But we worked to make it empowering. (NBC News)The Ramblings of a Young Curmudgeon (F(r)iction Literary Magazine)Robert De Niro has arrived, again. (Berlin Film Journal)An Eventual Friendship (Best Friends Magazine)A Crash-Course in a New Cuisine (New York Magazine)Grandma Elsie's Rich Life Lessons (Reminisce Magazine)I went 24 hours with no coffee. Here’s how it went (The Boston Globe)Blinded by the Light Reminds Us That We're All the Same—Regardless of Skin Color (O, the Oprah Magazine)Remembering Anthony Bourdain (LA Weekly)How a stray cat brought my neighborhood together for the very first time (HelloGiggles/Yahoo)Doris Day, my grandma and me: A reflection on family on the movie star’s birthday (New York Daily News)I'm a born and bred New Yorker — but I've realised this year that I have to leave (The Independent)Was I Love Lucy Ahead of Its Time? (Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/Emmys.com)A Mind Blown Upon Learning John Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme' Was Written on Long Island (Long Island Press)At home, a mom. At the hospital, a professional nurse. (Newsday)Resolution For 2019: Find a Common Ground (The Daily Rant)New generations loving Sinatra in the digital age (The Desert Sun)It Took Me 30 Years To Come To Terms With Half Of My Identity (Huff Post)We’ll always want to sit in the dark at the movies (Miami Herald)A generational friendship at the movies (Newsday)

JOURNALISMDesi Arnaz Is Getting a Much-Deserved Historical Marker in Miami Beach (Smithsonian Magazine)America’s Place in India’s Butter Chicken Fight (Bloomberg)They Freed 19 Sharks From a Commercial Fisherman’s Net. Now They Could Go to Prison. (The New Republic)The Dumping of Pandemic Pets (The Village Voice)Buddy Guy Is a Reminder of Blues' Influence on Popular Music (Miami New Times)FC Barcelona Arrives in Miami, Preceded by Its Reputation (Miami New Times)Jurassic World Dominion's dinosaur trafficking isn't far from reality (New Scientist)Why Arturo Sandoval Matters (uDiscover Music)Steve Almond's Debut Novel Contains Echoes of His Years as a New Times Staff Writer (Miami New Times)What Happened When My Vaccinated Puppy Contracted a Mysterious Stomach Illness (Slate)Searching for Curry and Enlightenment on the Indian Buffet Line (Smithsonian Magazine)An Interview with Farah Ali About Her New Book, People Want to Live (McSweeney's)When Nas and Lauryn Hill Ruled the World (The Village Voice)An Interview with Jehad al-Saftawi About His New Book, My Gaza: A City in Photographs (McSweeney's Books)South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund Gives Hope to Artists During Pandemic (Hyphen Magazine)Covid-19 and Wildlife Trade Bans (The Ecologist)Martin Scorsese brings Philly’s Frank Sheeran to Netflix with ‘The Irishman’ (Broad Street Review)Humans' Enduring Toll on the Galapagos Island (MIT's Undark Magazine (Republished in Popular Science))The Dave Brubeck Quartet's 'Time Out' at 60: Inside Jazz's First Million-Selling LP (Billboard Magazine)‘Rock ‘n’ Roll High’ at 40: How the Ramones and a Rebellious Female Lead Invaded Theaters (Variety)A sport that lost track of its main asset (Newsday/amNY)Sharks aren't the enemy, we are (The Epoch Times)Sammy, the one-winged bald eagle, snatched from wildlife refuge (TreeHugger)Sinatra, civil-rights champion: A side of Frank not many people know (New York Daily News)

POETRYAnd Gizmo Makes Three: An Adoption Poem (Modern Dog Magazine)A Poem for Refugees (The New Humanitarian)A Poem: "Merry Christmas, I’ve Scheduled Your Vaccine Appointment" (Miami New Times)Smartphone Brain Blues (Adbusters)Socially Distant Blues (Bklyner.)Reflections on Henry (Tiny Seed Literary Journal)Trump-or-Treat (The Satirist)Commercial virus (QuarantineDreams (Italy))Hey Techies, Checking In (San Francisco Chronicle)What would Martin Luther King, Jr. think of the future? (The Iowa Review)Trip to the Supermarket During a Pandemic (L.A. TACO)The Business End of COVID-19 (Indolent Books)Oscar Viewing Party at My Woke Friend's House (Entropy Magazine)

• Back

PRESS

ALL MIXED UPCBC's 2025 Middle Grade Favorites listAll Mixed Up is a Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards FinalistL.A. Parent's February Book CornerInterview w/ Unapologetic Aunties podcastWNDMG Interview w/ Shifa Saltagi Safadi for From the Mixed-Up FilesInterview w/ ALA's How I Library podcastNYPL Best Books mention in Book RiotNew York Public Library's Best Books for Kids 2024Interview w/ Bronx Times (NYPL event)Review & Giveaway w/ @surabhi.readingInterview w/ The Culture Show (WGBH/NPR)TV Interview w/ A Novel Idea (DCAT)Excerpt in Latinx in PublishingFirst Chapter Fridays (Live Reading)Review in Publishers WeeklyCover Reveal and Q&A (A Fuse #8 Production)Announcement in School Library JournalAnnouncement in Publishers WeeklyCOLORFUL PALATEInterview w/ Embodied (WUNC)Fall 24 English Reads Lecture @ CUNY QCCColorful Palate wins 2024 Best Indie Book AwardGlobal Diversity Awareness Month Pick (Cobb Public Library)TV Interview w/ Between the Covers (PBS)Interview w/ Bronx TimesRaj Tawney’s “Colorful Palate” wins Bronze Medal at the 2024 Living Now Book AwardsInterview w/ Mixed Asian Media x JoySauceInterview w/ QNSMixedpresent highlightMetaFilter Reading ListReview in Washington Square ReviewInterview w/ The Culture Show (WGBH/NPR)NYPL Book of the DayReview in Nonstop ReaderElectric Literature Winter Reading ListInterview w/ Asian American Life (CUNY TV)Book excerpt #2 in SalonIndia Currents Top Book Pick of 2023Book excerpt #1 in SalonZed Book Club: Best of 2023Interview with Hasty Book ListReview in Underrated ReadsBook Riot Reading ListReview in BookBirdDog BlogRizzoli Bookstore's Holiday Gift GuideThe PEN Ten InterviewEvent highlight in Los Angeles TimesInterview with LA Downtown NewsFeature in Largehearted BoyEvent highlight in LA Weekly - Editor's Top PickEvent highlight in LA ParentReview in Seattle Book ReviewEvent highlight in Miami New TimesDiscussion on The Lakshmi and Asha ShowFeature in Miami New TimesPublishers Weekly "Pic of the Day"Interview w/ Neema Avashia in BOMB MagazineFeature in ShondalandEvent highlight in The Boston GlobeInterview w/ Generation MixedInterview w/ Deborah KalbReview in Brown Girl BookshelfFeature in Library of AmericaInterview w/ Writer's DigestInterview w/ The WFUV What's What PodcastInterview w/ The Color of UsReview in Library JournalInterview w/ Mixed by Gen ZReview in Foreword ReviewsCATS Coffee Break: Conversation w/ author Mikki HernandezInterview w/ India CurrentsExclusive Cover Reveal w/ Latinx in PublishingMISCELLANEOUSMentioned in AxiosHighlighted in The WeekHighlighted in Library of AmericaQuoted in FiQuoted in MovieWebHighlighted in BooktimistHighlighted in Harvard Business ReviewHighlighted in Poets & WritersInterview w/ Sandwich Parenting PodcastHighlighted in The Counter

• Back

Books

AVAILABLE NOW
BAKER & TAYLOR | BOOKSHOP
GOODREADS | BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON

FINALIST, 2024 FOREWORD INDIES BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, JUVENILE FICTIONA DÍA READING LIST 2025 PICKA NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOKS FOR KIDS 2024 PICK

PRAISE FOR ALL MIXED UP:"Through Jaz’s infectious bravado and his and Kamal’s anchoring friendship, Tawney presents an earnest depiction of two outcasts finding comfort in each other while navigating societal tension in this brief interrogation of anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim attitudes."
– Publishers Weekly"The story includes tough, illuminating conversations about when to speak up about undocumented people, when to stay silent for the sake of their safety, and when to understand that even adults don’t have all of the answers. Its treatment of sensitive political topics is humane, reflected in Kamal’s growing emotional maturity. In the touching novel All Mixed Up, a middle school student faces prejudice but also makes a friend with whom he feels understood. Plotted in gripping stages, the story culminates with hope."
– Karen Rigby, Foreword Reviews“I was fully convinced by Kamal and Jaz. Convinced of the sixth-grade abominations they suffered. Convinced of their dedication to each other. And convinced that they’d come through it all stronger."
– Dave Eggers, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Eyes and the Impossible"Poignant, thoughtful, and humorous, All Mixed Up, is a story of friendship and a masterful telling of the complexities and challenges of finding one’s voice when you’ve been marked as an outsider. Tawney’s characters leap off the page and invite the reader to understand more deeply what it means to be an immigrant and to redefine what it means to be an American."
– Amina Luqman-Dawson, author of the 2023 Newbery Medal award-winner, Freewater“There is so much honesty and heart on every page of All Mixed Up. Raj Tawney beautifully depicts the way a new friendship can shake up your life in all the best ways, not only bringing you joy and confidence, but also helping you to better understand who you are.”
– Lance Rubin, Author of Crying Laughing and co-author of Monster Club: Monsters Take Manhattan"In All Mixed Up, Kamal's grandmother tells him, "It doesn't take much to appreciate people." Actually, what it takes is a well-written story like this one about two friends, one with a mixed heritage the other an illegal immigrant, both considered outsiders by their school mates. This is a timely story and a great read."
– David A. Adler, award-winning author of the Mo! and Cam Jansen series"All Mixed Up blends together the timeless topics of identity, family, bullying, middle school, and friendship. Although set against the backdrop of the attacks on 9/11, the messages around America’s struggle with immigration and prejudice will resonate with today’s young readers. Kamal and Jaz’s story steers us past borders, beliefs, and appearances to what’s really important–that no matter what you look like or where you come from, you deserve kindness, understanding, and a good friend. It’s a story with themes that will never grow old."
– Noelle Boc, director of the Peabody Institute Library of Danvers“All Mixed Up is a delightful coming of age story full of growing pains and joys. This nuanced and bittersweet ‘only in America’ story will warm your heart and dampen your eyes.”
– Claudia Forestieri, creator and executive producer of Gordita Chconicles"Raj Tawney’s All Mixed Up is a heartfelt story that delves into the complexities of growing up mixed race with remarkable sensitivity and insight. The characters are richly nuanced—each one honest, vulnerable, and curious—inviting readers into their deeply personal journeys. As a mixed person myself, I found that Raj skillfully captures the often isolating experience of feeling like an outsider, or in protagonist Kamal’s clever words, “like a weirdly twisted pretzel in a bag of perfect knots,” and the profound importance of finding someone who truly understands you. This novel is an essential read for middle schoolers, offering an intimate look into the significance of mixed race representation and the beauty of diverse identities."
– Mikki Hernandez, author of Cake Mix: Learning to Love All Your Ingredients“All Mixed Up tells an important and relatable story of kids who straddle different worlds, while dealing with all the usual challenges life throws at them. It looks unflinchingly at racism but also celebrates difference, and it leaves readers with so much hope. Kam and Jaz’s friendship is proof that anything can be weathered with the right friend at your side.”
– Ann Dávila Cardinal, award-winning author of Hispanic Star: Bad Bunny and Breakup From Hell“I love stories about kids who aren’t popular and the story of Kamal and Jaz is no exception. It was a treat to see the world through Kamal’s eyes and I was racing though the pages at the end.”
– James Yang, author of Geisel award-winner, Stop!Bot!"A middle grade read about fitting in and being different that I know I'll be adding to my sixth grade classroom library."
– Brynn Allison, ELA Teacher"Textured and complex story. [All Mixed Up] deals with serious topics, but the tone remains sweet, the characters all drawn with love. And it’s relevant if you want to process frustrating memories of the early 2000s or process what’s going on today."
– Surabhi Balachander“Raj Tawney’s books, including this one, are bite-sized treasures. Like anyone who cooks knows, it’s all about the quality of the ingredients and the love you put in it. Tawney has both in droves. You don’t just leave his writing satisfied, you leave it with a new taste lingering on the tongue, discovery; a new kernel of understanding, and that’s exactly what makes a writer you want to follow. All Mixed Up is a journey into bravery and I can say with certainty one thing: I’ll want to read anything Raj Tawney writes because his writing is pure light.”
– Vanessa Garcia, author of What the Bread Says"[A] coming-of-age story of both self-discovery and the power of friendship..."
– Camille Daniels, L.A. Parent

AVAILABLE NOW
FORDHAM | BOOKSHOP
GOODREADS | BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON

WINNER, 2024 BEST INDIE BOOK AWARD, CULINARY MEMOIRWINNER, 2024 LIVING NOW BOOK AWARD, INSPIRATIONAL MEMOIR – MALE (BRONZE)

PRAISE FOR COLORFUL PALATE:A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY & FOREWORD REVIEWS BOOK OF THE DAY • NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2023 BY ZED BOOK CLUB & INDIA CURRENTS • LA WEEKLY BOOK PICK • RECOMMENDED BY BOOK RIOT & ELECTRIC LITERATURE

"Raj Tawney deftly explores his culturally-rich upbringing, unearthing pivotal answers to one of the most fascinating questions in the world: who am I? Through a captivating mix of intimate stories of family, tradition and flavor, he paints a poignant portrait of identity and what it really means to be an American. Coupled with mouth-watering recipes that reflect his multifaceted heritage and his respect for food, Colorful Palate is a touching example of the power we can all yield when we embrace our roots as we partake in—to use Tawney's words—the 'Great American Experiment'.
– John Leguizamo"A lovingly wrought and deliciously intimate memoir that captures the stupendous mélange that is Tawney’s American life (and ours). A feast for the mind, a banquet for the heart, as generous as hospitality and as unforgettable as your favorite meal."
– Junot Díaz, author of This is How You Lose HerBeing an immigrant myself, I have always appreciated the cultural diversity and acceptance of it in the United States. Raj Tawney is born American and, in this delightful book, he relates to his identity, his life, and growing up in three cultures. The recipes that follow in each chapter are a delicious recall of memories and flavors of each culture. He connects to his roots with tenderness, appreciation, and understanding of his multiethnic family that ends in the kitchen cooking those favorite recipes. Overcoming, with understanding, some of the difficulties he encountered as a multiethnic child growing up, he knows that there are many young Americans that are of different cultural blends as he is and that is evermore what America is, and what makes America the great country it is. A great read, the tasteful recipes are the bonus.
– Lidia BastianichRaj Tawney's Colorful Palate is a delicious, charming, and winning coming-of-age story that is authentically American in exploring the messy, beautiful, painful, and ultimately rewarding contradictions of trying to expand stifling boundaries to accommodate and celebrate the multi-hyphenated experiences of those who are often relegated to the margins.
– Wajahat Ali, author of Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American"Raj's memoir about food, class and race in New York is not your usual upper-class, upper-caste, Indian story. Here is an Indian who is equally Puerto Rican as much as Italian. A kid raised well on Arroz Negro, Insalata di Mare and Tandoori chicken. Read it and cook from it to figure out what it might mean to be authentically American."
– Krishnendu Ray, Professor of Food Studies at NYU and author of The Ethnic Restaurateur and The Migrant's Table"Too often in America, we are asked to put ourselves into boxes and categories that reduce us to just one aspect of our identity. In Colorful Palate, Raj Tawney rejects the notion that folks with intersectional identities have to choose which aspects to highlight, and which to set aside. He artfully maps the many facets of his own identity: the ethnicities, relationships and meals that shaped him. In doing so, he shows us that both our plates, and our pages, can and should reflect the multitudes we contain. As a new mom to a baby with Indian, Jewish, Irish, and Italian roots, I am so grateful that this book will grace our shelves, and offer a map to my daughter for how to honor her own intersectional story."
– Neema Avashia, author of Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain PlaceIn the introduction to this linear, food-based memoir, journalist Tawney writes, 'So, what am I? A magnificent concoction conceived in a pivotal period in late-twentieth-century America.' Born to a Puerto Rican and Italian mother and an Indian father, the author has been profoundly shaped by the racist assumptions built into a world unwilling to accept families 'undefined by a single group or birthright.' Even when he was young, he writes, 'I knew somehow that I was entering a world that wouldn’t easily digest me . . . ― Kirkus Reviews"Raj’s honest and reflective writing grapples with the raw complexities and beauty of embracing one’s identity and allows any reader to draw a seat and be welcomed with love and joy at his family’s kitchen table."
– Diana Liu, New York State English Council"This is a lovely foodie memoir highlighting moments in Raj Tawney's life and associated food memories from his Indian, Puerto Rican, and Italian American family. It's a quick but meaningful and immersive read, and I love that Tawney included so many recipes written in a way that feels like they were passed down from relatives. If you love books about food, you won't be disappointed.
5 stars."
– Susie Dumond, reviewer"Infused with passion and brio, [Colorful Palate] highlights the pros and cons of being a multiracial nonconformist in a society that values fitting in. Tawney’s rearview-mirror look at his formative years leaves him grateful―for strong family role models and small moments shared with his loved ones. And the book includes a family recipe at the end of each chapter in remembrance of the gustatory pleasures it recounts . . . A memoir about rejecting conformity to lead a colorful, authentic life."
– Kristine Morris, Foreword Reviews"The author writes with clarity and humor about growing up in the 1990s and 2000s in a comfortable—not lavish—childhood home in Long Island, NY, loving hip-hop so much that he pursued, on and off, a music career during his college days. After graduation, his experience explaining technology to his grandmother resulted in a job working at a home for senior citizens, where he formed solid friendships. Each chapter of this memoir ends with a theme-fitting recipe for such items as tandoori chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, and rainbow cookies. A heartfelt memoir. The author's ability to follow his passions and find his place in the world will resonate with many readers, especially those interested in multicultural narratives."
– Laurie Unger Skinner, Library Journal"Raj takes us on an intimate journey of beautifully told stories that dive into his childhood of growing up mixed race in America. It's thought-provoking, as well as delicious, with each chapter, uncovering assumptions and exploring family, culture, and race."
– Carla Hall“The great experiment that is the United States has not been without its growing pains.” Within the first chapter, Raj Tawney sets the tone of his vivid memoir, “Colorful Palate.” Tawney’s coming-of-age book navigates his mixed Indian, Puerto Rican, and Italian-American heritage. He grapples with his identity while finding solace in his family's kitchen, where he learns about his heritage through cooking with his mother and grandmother. Each meal becomes a connection to his roots and a means of survival in a world not always accepting of his background. “Through vivid descriptions of his daily meals and the inclusion of recipes at the end of each chapter, readers become a part of his culinary and cultural exploration,” recounts guest reviewer Shruti Thundiyil. "The narrative becomes particularly captivating when it delves into his mother and grandmother's struggles and triumphs in navigating their identities within their families. Tawney's story is an intimate exploration of race and identity as he welcomes you into his family’s kitchen, allowing you to relive his journey of blending in."
– Brown Girl Bookshelf"We experience so much political negativity when it comes to issues of immigration and identity. The great Raj Tawney reminds us of the glory of these things, and he does it by way of the kitchen. This is the perfect time to grab your copy of Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience."
– Next Draft"Food is not only a way for Raj Tawney to tap into his cultural roots, but he sees it as a gateway for people to explore other cultures comfortably."
– Liz Tracy, Miami New Times"Tawney employs dry wit and self-deprecating humor in a memoir that bears his disappointments and joys. It is a quick and affirming memoir for readers who identify as multiracial, as well as allies and advocates of diversity."
– Maileen Hamto, Seattle Book Review"[A] heartfelt and appetite-inspiring memoir."
– Ashley Anna-Aboreden, Miami New Times"Chronicling his coming of age through the recipes, music, clothes, and New York City that shaped him, Tawney’s Colorful Palate is a loving look at food and family that doesn’t shy away from interrogating race and identity."
– Anna Lasek, PEN America"In Raj Tawney’s captivating memoir, Colorful Palate: A Flavorful Journey Through a Mixed American Experience, readers are treated to a poignant exploration of identity, family, and cultural diversity... a celebration of diversity and resilience that I believe readers will appreciate."
– JD Jung, Underrated Reads“Food is an anchor in this coming of age story which explores Tawney’s relationship with his family from childhood to adulthood … This is a book that shows food as emotional, cultural, and sometimes just caloric sustenance—but always centers what it means to share these experiences with the people who make us who we are.”
– Wendy J. Fox, Electric Literature"The absolute humanity and humor of [Tawney's] writing, in a blended multicultural family, seems so refreshing in a time of stark American division over questions of race and affiliation. It's a beautiful book. Five stars. A great choice for public or secondary school + library acquisition, for fans of memoirs, and a must for foodies."
– Nonstop Reader“A multicultural memoir full of food and love.”
– New York Public Library"[Colorful Palate] shines in the same place it leaves us wanting more... Throughout, Tawney’s kitchen succeeds by serving up a metaphor for time: time with family, time for traditions, for grieving, investigating, inventing, making mistakes, and eventually, becoming independent."
– Ariana Taveras, Washington Square Review

• Back

• Back

Contact

Representation:
Nordlyset Literary Agency
Jennifer Thompson
[email protected]
Isabelle Bleecker
[email protected]Feel free to reach out with any tips, pitches, ideas, or just to say hello. I love hearing from readers and writers alike!I'm available for school and library visits.Contact me by using the form below.
(I always write back)

Thank you

I'll get back to you soon.

• Okay

UPCOMING EVENTS

2025

Tuesday, April 22 at 6:30 PM
Conversation w/ NCTE Asian American Caucus
VirtualWednesday, April 23
11:30 AM
Author Visit
Avenues New York
New York, NY6 PM
Author Visit
Ferguson Public Library
Stamford, CTThursday, April 24
8:30 AM
Author Visit
Brooklyn Technical High School2 PM
Hostos Community College
Bronx, NYFriday April 25, 12:30 PM
Princeton Middle School
Bookseller: Labyrinth Books
Princeton, NJWednesday, May 28 - Thursday, May 29
School Library Journal Youth Services Summit
Long Island, NY

PREVIOUS EVENTS

2025

Thursday, April 4 at 6:30 PM
Birdhouse Books
w/ Neha Shah
Austin, TXThursday, April 3
7 PM
Deep Vellum Bookstore
w/ Joel Garza
Dallas, TX8 AM - 4 PM
Author Visit
Greenhill School
Addison, TXWednesday, April 2, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Mix it Up: New Middle Grade Fiction (Author Panel)
Texas Library Association
Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Dallas, TXThursday, March 20
4 PM
57th Street Books
w/ Phil Morehart
from the American Library Association
Chicago, IL1 PM
Author Visit
McPherson Elementary School
Bookseller: Women & Children First Books
Chicago, ILWednesday, March 19
1:45 PM
Author Visit
Chiaravalle Montessori
Bookseller: Women & Children First Books
Chicago, IL9 AM
Author Visit
Goudy Academy
Bookseller: Women & Children First Books
Chicago, ILSaturday, March 8, 3:30 PM - 10 PM
Authors on the Move
Kimpton The Sawyer Hotel
Hosted by Sacramento Literacy Foundation
Sacramento, CAThursday, March 6
Author Visit
Town School for Boys
San Francisco, CASunday, January 26, 2 PM
North Miami Beach Public Library Literacy Fair
North Miami, FLThursday, January 23, 8:30 AM - 4 PM
Power Publishing Day
Alvin Sherman Library
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FLThursday, January 16, 6:30 PM
NYPL Food for Thought Book Club
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library
VirtualMonday, January 6, 7 PM
SWINY Author Panel
w/ Zibby Owens, Trip Whetsell,
Jodi Savage, Lina Zeldovich, and more
Moderated by Susan Shapiro
Virtual

2024

Saturday, November 16 at 2 PM
All Mixed Up Q&A and Signing
Towne Book Center
Collegeville, PAThursday, November 14 at 6 PM
Literary Thursdays
Hosted by Queens Public Library
VirtualWednesday, November 13 at 6 PM
Talk: Great Middle Grade Reads
w/ Emily Jenkins, Chris Raschka, and Melanie Conklin
Books of Wonder
New York, NYWednesday, November 13, 11 AM - 2 PM
English Reads 2024
QCC Art Gallery
Queensborough Community College
Queens, NYTuesday, November 12, 6-7 PM
Talk & Signing
The Queensboro
Presented by Queens Together
& World's Borough Bookshop
Queens, NYTuesday, November 12 at 3:30 PM
NYPL KidsLIVE! Author Talk
@ Pelham Parkway-Van Nest Library
Bronx, NY
You can also livestream hereSaturday, November 9 at 7 PM
Book Party for newly released titles (Invite Only)
Hosted by Susan Shapiro
New York, NYWednesday, November 6 at 4:45 PM
Interview w/ Tejas Desai + Signing
Parthenon Books
Presented by New York Library Association's
Ethnic Services Round Table
Syracuse, NYSaturday, November 2 at 12 PM
All Mixed Up Launch Event
w/ Vanessa Garcia
Books & Books
Miami, FLWednesday, October 23 at 4 PM
Author Visit
Peabody Institute Library of Danvers
Danvers, MATuesday, October 22 at 2:30 PM
All Mixed Up Title Talk
New England Library Association Conference
Portland, METuesday, October 22 at 10 AM
School Visit: Lyman Moore Middle School
Portland, MEMonday, October 21 at 9:40 AM
School Visit: Falmouth Middle School Visit
Falmouth, MESunday, October 20 at 3 PM
All Mixed Up Talk & Signing
Books-A-Million
South Portland, MESaturday, October 19, 9 AM - 1 PM
“The Importance of Representation in Kids Books” Panel
w/ Mikki Hernandez
California Library Association Annual Conference
Bookseller: Vroman's Bookstore
Pasadena, CA
Tuesday, October 15 at 4 PM
Desi Arnaz Historical Marker Ceremony
Miami Beach, FLThursday, October 10 at 10 AM
School Library Journal Day of Dialog:
Panel: Growing Up Is Hard to Do
VirtualMonday, October 7 at 1 PM
All Mixed Up Discussion
Long Island Library Resources Council
VirtualSaturday, September 28 at 7 PM (*Moderating)
An Evening with Grammy Award-Winning Saxophonist KENNY G
Hosted by Books & Books
Miami Dade College, Wolfson Auditorium
Miami, FLWednesday, September 25 at 4:15 PM
ASJA Conference
Panel w/ Sherry Amatenstein, Bella DePaulo, Dan López, and Mark Chimsky
VirtualFriday, September 20 at 1:15
Broward County Library presents:
Conference on Children's Literature
In conversation w/ Sika Dagbovie Mullins
African American Research Library and Cultural Center
Fort Lauderdale, FLSaturday, September 14 - Tuesday, September 17
Residency @ The Betsy Writer's Room
Miami Beach, FLSunday, June 30 at 9:15
All Mixed Up Signing @ Baker & Taylor Booth (#1129)
ALA Conference & Exhibition
San Diego, CAWednesday, April 24 at 6:30 PM
Florida Secrets of Publishing Panel w/ Susan Shapiro, Aquilino Gonell,
Andrea Askowitz, and Dan López
Books & Books
Miami, FLWednesday, April 3, 4:15 PM
All Mixed Up Signing @ Baker & Taylor Booth
PLA Conference
Columbus, OHWednesday, January 24, 8:30 AM-4 PM
Power Publishing Day
Alvin Sherman Library
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, FLSaturday, January 20, 1-5 PM
MDPLS Local Author Book Fair
Main Library
Miami, FL

2023

Saturday, November 18 at 12 PM
IAAC Literary Festival
w/ Dr. Nirmal Mattoo
New York, NYFriday, November 17 at 12 PM
Feast and Famine Lecture Series
New York University
New York, NYThursday, November 16 at 6 PM
Columbia University
Co-presented by South Asia Association
and Latin American Student Association
New York, NYWednesday, November 15 at 5 PM
Miami Culinary Institute
Miami-Dade College
Miami, FLWednesday, November 8 at 6 PM
Chevalier’s Books
Los Angeles, CA
w/ Claudia ForestieriTuesday, October 24 at 7 PM
Books & Books
Miami, FL
w/ Vanessa GarciaThursday, October 12
Pépin Lecture Series
Boston University
Boston, MATuesday, October 10
Beacon Hill Books
Boston, MA
w/ Neema AvashiaThursday, October 5 at 7 PM
P&T Knitwear
New York, NY
w/ Wajahat AliSunday, October 1 at 3 PM
Book Signing @ Fordham University Press Booth
Brooklyn Book Festival
Brooklyn, NYSaturday, September 30 at 8 PM
Book Party for newly published authors (Private)
Hosted by Susan Shapiro
New York, NYSaturday, September 23 at 1 PM
Epigraph Literary Festival
VirtualFriday, May 12 at 7 PM
AAPI Heritage Month Celebration
Hosted by Black and Asian Solidarity Collective
Yu & Me Books
New York, NY

2021

Tuesday, March 9 at 12 PM
Coalition for Asian American Families and Children
Queens College
Virtual

• Back