Posted on February 11th, 2025 by Koji Dae

Casual, Available Now!

Releasing a book is a bit of a rolling process. ARCs go out months before the book is released. Some pre-releases (like the e-book for Tenebrous book club members) come out a few days early. Book stores get their stock and shelve it. And then… suddenly, it’s here. The actual release day. Your book is out in the world, available for general purchase. Anyone who wants to can pick up a copy and read it. It’s exhilarating. It’s also a bit strange. Because, yes, release day is here, but a book isn’t like a movie or a song. Most people don’t buy a book and read it in a single sitting. Meaning the book releases, but it will be days, weeks, or months before people read it. I sometimes purchase a book when it comes out and don’t read it for a year or more. As an author, it’s more waiting and hoping that the book will be meaningful to some readers. That some people will talk about it. That all that work will be worthwhile.

At the same time, it’s definitely a day of celebration. I can celebrate Tenebrous Press taking a chance on my book and all the hard work Alex and Matt have put into getting it market ready and out there. I can celebrate Cristina Bencina’s amazing cover and Helen Whistberry’s awesome interior art. I can celebrate the ARC reviewers who have taken the time to read my book and share their thoughts about it. I can celebrate the wonderful people who have interviewed me about Casual, giving me space to talk about a work that is so meaningful to me. I can celebrate all of my beta readers and crit partners who helped shape the book, and those in my writing group that keep me passionate about this craft. Yes. On release day, there’s a lot to celebrate.

So I just wanted to send out a brief thank you to all the people who have touched Casual on its way to readers. And, definitely, a giant thank you to the people who will read it.

Reviews of Casual

Want to read what some people have thought about Casual so far? Below are a few reviews.

Dae’s deserves to be up there with Atwood, Bradbury, Dick, and Gibson. At a time when bodily autonomy is increasingly under assault, the neural implants of Dae’s novel seem both inevitable and horrifying—and her look at motherhood under technological surveillance is a must-read for the moment.

Literary Hub

Most Anticipated Books of 2025

Casual is a complex and compassionate exploration of mental health and motherhood, deftly engaging with difficult questions. It is unlike anything I have ever read before. I read most of it in one sitting, that’s how hard it was to put down.

Emily Ruth Verona

Author of Midnight on Beacon Street

Interviews About Casual

Want to know more about what went into Casual? Check out these interviews.

Where to Buy Casual

The best place to buy indie books is directly from the publisher! You can buy direct from Tenebrous here. Alternatively, you can find Casual at most online outlets or through your local bookstore. You can also request that your library carry a copy of Casual. Wherever you read it, whenever you read it, thanks for being part of this.