Meet local author Tamika Burgess on Saturday, February 11, at 11 a.m. at the Murrieta Public Library! This free event will include a Q&A, book signings, and a sit down with "Sincerely Sicily" author Tamika Burgess.  

Meet the author: Tamika is a storyteller with over a decade of novel, TV/film, and personal essay writing experience. Born to parents who migrated from Panamá, Tamika has always taken a particular interest in writing themes that explore her Black Latina identity. Because of her passion for spreading the knowledge of Black Panamanian culture, Tamika has been featured on various websites, podcasts, and panels. When she is not writing, Tamika is somewhere cozy online shopping and listening to a podcast. Tamika resides in sunny Southern California, where she is writing her second novel. Learn more about Tamika at TamikaBurgess.com. 

About the book: Sincerely Sicily published by Harper Collins, 2023 Sicily Jordan’s worst nightmare has come true! She’s been enrolled in a new school, with zero of her friends and stuck wearing a fashion catastrophe of a uniform. But however bad Sicily thought sixth grade was going to be, it only gets worse when she does her class presentation. While all her classmates breezed through theirs, Sicily is bombarded with questions on how she can be both Black and Panamanian. She wants people to understand, but it doesn’t feel like anyone is ready to listen—first at school and then at home. Because when her abuela starts talking mess about her braids, Sicily’s the only one whose heart is being crumpled for a second time. Staying quiet may no longer be an option, but that doesn’t mean Sicily has the words to show the world just what it means to be a proud Black Panamanian either. Even though she hasn’t written in her journal since her abuelo passed, it’s time to pick up her pen again—but will it be enough to prove to herself and everyone else exactly who she is? 

Book representation: 

- Black Panamanian 

- Afro-Latinx 

- African Diaspora 

Book themes: 

- Multigenerational Family Life 

- Prejudice and Racism 

- Experiences Books 

- Self-discovery Journey 

- Race and Culture