Jay Ellis is gearing up to release his new book, “Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?” on July 30th via Ballantine Books.
What to do when you’re the perpetual new kid, an only child, and military brat hustling school to school each year and everyone’s looking to you for answers? Make some shit up, of course! And a young Jay Ellis does just that, with help from his imaginary friend, Mikey.
A testament to the importance of invention, trusting oneself, and making space for creativity, “Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?” is a memoir of a kid who confided in his imaginary sidekick to navigate parallel pop culture universes (like watching Fresh Prince alongside John Hughes movies or listening to Ja Rule and Dave Matthews) to a lifetime of birthday disappointment (being a Christmas-season Capricorn will do that to you) and hoop dreams gone bad.
Mikey also guides Ellis through tragedies, like losing his teenage cousin in a mistaken-target drive-by and the shame and fear of being pulled over by cops almost a dozen times the year he got his driver’s license.
As his imaginary friend morphs into adult consciousness, Ellis charts an unforgettable story of looking inward to solve some of life’s biggest (and smallest) challenges, told in the roast-you-with-love voice of your closest homey.
Malik Books is excited to announce an exclusive book release party and a live conversation with Jay Ellis and Issa Rae on Tuesday, August 13th, at 7:00 PM inside The Miracle Theater (226 S Market St, Inglewood St., Inglewood, CA 90301). The event will feature Ellis’ new memoir, which explores his childhood experiences and a live performance by Jay Ellis.
Join them for an unforgettable night as Issa Rae and Jay Ellis take the stage once again, promising an evening of entertainment and laughter. Stick around after the book talk for a signing session and possible photo opportunities with the author.
“The chemistry between Issa Rae and Jay Ellis is electric,” states April Muhammad, Co-owner of Mailk Books. “This event promises to be not only entertaining but also insightful as we delve into the themes explored in ‘Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?: Adventures in Boyhood.’”
General admission tickets provide admission, 2nd-level seating, and a signed copy of Jay Ellis’ memoir.
VIP tickets include floor seating, a signed copy of Jay Ellis’ memoir, and access to a backstage after-party featuring music, dancing, and networking opportunities. Visit Malik Books for tickets.
Born in Sumter, South Carolina, to a military family, Jay Ellis spent his childhood inventing new personas for every town he landed in. After college, he decided to take his one-man show to Hollywood, where he got his start in a recurring role on BET’s “The Game.”
Now an actor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, Ellis is best known for his role as Lawrence on HBO’s “Insecure,” for which he won an NAACP Image Award. He also appeared alongside Tom Cruise in “Top Gun: Maverick.”
UB spoke to Jay, while covering the AMAs in 2013, at the time he worked on-set with Brandy on The Game, we wanted to know if she sung while on-set? “Brandy sings every single day, and it’s the most amazing thing ever. She sings everything! It’s not like she’s just singing Brandy songs.” Jay Ellis went on to say; “Actually, I don’t know if I’ve ever heard her sing one of her own songs on set. She’s a person who loves the craft. She is so inspired by so many other artists—whether they’re from today and are relevant and current, or from the past. She’s constantly walking around singing songs that are 30-, 40-, 50-years-old and three- or four-days-old. It’s really cool to see that, to see her inspiration and to see her be touched by so many people. And then when she does it, she then touches us and inspires us.”
