Arriel Vinson

Under the Neon Lights has been out in the world for one month! 🪩🎉

I still wake up pinching myself. I still can’t believe that so many people want to read about a Black girl in Indianapolis finding her way. Thank you to each of you. It means the world 🛼✨

Missed my book tour events for Under the Neon Lights? Join me on Instagram (@/arriwrites) this evening at 7:30pm ET for an Instagram Live with @/black_boysread. See you there!

Booksellers at Children’s Institute: join Leah Johnson and I for my Under the Neon Lights event at Grand Gesture! See you at 7PM. You can register here: bit.ly/3HdR0Wi

Q&A: Black Hoosier author debuts with ‘Under the Neon Lights’  - Indianapolis Recorder “Under the Neon Lights,” by Hoosier poet and YA author Arriel Vinson, is a lesson for young Black girls in showing up for community.

I've gone from interning at the Indianapolis Recorder to being featured in it for Under the Neon Lights 🪩🛼! I loved my conversation with reporter Chloe McGowan about what it means to center Black girls in my work. Check out the full Q&A:

D.C., I just landed! Can’t wait to see you all tomorrow.

Let the tour begin! 🪩🛼

Under the Neon Lights is going on the road. Readers, booksellers, educators, librarians, I’d love to see you at one of my tour events next week:

D.C., 6/10: bit.ly/3YYi8ig

Portland, 6/11 (during Children’s Institute): bit.ly/3HdR0Wi

🪩 IT'S MY PUB DAY!! 🪩 I am so excited that my debut, UNDER THE NEON LIGHTS, is finally out in the world. 🛼✨ It's been a beautiful yet challenging journey & I couldn't have done it without my community, my publishing team, and my readers! Thank you so much for your support.

COVER REVEAL!! My YA cozy romantasy about a fairy and an agent of misfortune competing for a magical mentorship, Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, comes out 2/3/2026 from Feiwel & Friends. Art by peach.pod, design by Meg Sayre! Preorder now!!
bookshop.org/p/books/unti...

I’m so excited to announce that my debut YA novel, Under the Neon Lights, is the first selection for The Outsiders Musical Book Club! Stay tuned for more this summer!

🪩 BOOK TOUR UPDATE 🪩 I'm going on tour for my debut novel, Under the Neon Lights, in ONE WEEK and I have some ✨ changes ✨! New location 6/3, new stop 6/11. You can find more details and RSVP for all in-person events here: linktr.ee/arriwrites. I hope to see you there. Let's roll, friends! 🛼

SLJ Day of Dialog 2025 - Penguin Classroom Portal

We're so excited for next week's @slj.com's Day of Dialog! The FREE virtual event includes authors, advance copies of books, and more! Get a sneak preview of who and what we'll have featured including @whatsfsaid.bsky.social @arriwrites.bsky.social and more! #EduSky #TLSky

I can’t have a roller skating novel without a PARTY! 🪩 Indy, join me at Skateland on Saturday, 6/7 at 6:30pm for an Under the Neon Lights celebration. Books will be available for sale via @loudmouthindy and your $15 door fee includes admission and skates. Let’s roll, friends! 🛼

PSA: I'm going on tour for my debut, Under the Neon Lights! 🪩🛼 If you're looking for a novel about summer romance, building community, and roller skating, I hope to see you at one of these events. All links are in my LinkTree—register now. linktr.ee/arriwrites

Librarians: I'm participating in the School Library Journal Day of Dialog on May 22nd at 11am ET! Tune in for the session "A Potpourri of New YA Fiction" featuring such great YA authors. You can register here:
www.slj.com/event/school...

I. See. Beyoncé. In. A. Matter. Of. Days.

PSA: I'm going on tour for my debut, Under the Neon Lights! 🪩🛼 If you're looking for a novel about summer romance, building community, and roller skating, I hope to see you at one of these events. All links are in my LinkTree—register now. linktr.ee/arriwrites

🪩 It's time for the Barnes & Noble preorder sale again! If you're a member of B&N (sign up on their website for free), you can preorder your copy of my debut YA novel-in-verse, Under the Neon Lights, for 25% off. Use the promo code PREORDER25 at checkout. bit.ly/3Es8gG8

If you go look at my Instagram, you might find a hardcover reveal for Under the Neon Lights 👀🪩

I participated in career day today and I’m SO tired of talking 😂

Exclusive: Arriel Vinson's ‘Under the Neon Lights’ Excerpt Will Make You Want to Grab Your Roller Skates The author's novel in verse gets real about crushes and skating your troubles away.

GUESS WHAT?! An excerpt of my debut, Under the Neon Lights, is in Cosmo! I'm so excited for y'all to get a sneak peek of UTNL, which is out in less than two months. Click below to enter Jaelyn's world of love, friendship, and roller skating. 🛼🪩 shorturl.at/1F8b7

I get to see Jasmine Guillory tonight and I’m so excited

Eight years ago, I won third place in a showcase at my alma mater, Indiana University, for performing a poem.

Now, my debut, Under the Neon Lights, is almost out in the world. So this is your reminder to keep going and pour into what you love. 💕

#nationalpoetrymonth

I'm so excited to share my preorder sweepstakes with Loudmouth Books! 🛼🪩 If you preorder Under the Neon Lights from Loudmouth, you'll receive a signed copy and bookmark. But one person will ✨win✨ those, plus a candle, keychain, and tote. Preorder now: loudmouthindy.com/item/p5lAnqx...

Sometimes, I don’t know if I should be here or on Threads

Have you registered yet?

I got my dream agent and I want to share tips with you! Join me virtually on April 16th at 6:30pm ET for Author 101: How to Write a Query Letter & Find an Agent. Registration is $25; if you’d like feedback on your query letter, it costs $40. Register: bit.ly/4bIY34I

I've been thinking a lot about that bumper sticker which says "everything looks like a conspiracy theory when you don't understand how anything works" and folks it's pretty obvious to me that the people in power right now have absolutely no desire to understand how anything works.

We hit 50 attendees this morning and the form is now closed! If you’re still interested in this class, please DM me or reach out via my website. If there’s enough interest, I’ll host a second webinar.

🥹🥹 thank you!!

Y'ALL! I got my first trade review from @ala-booklist.bsky.social and I’m so grateful! 🛼🪩 Here's a snippet: "A coming-of-age story filled with romance that will have readers wanting to seek out their own local skating rinks. Recommended for all middle-grade and
young adult collections.“