Newsies!
Hmm…this is different
You’re hearing from me?! I know it’s been 8 months since my last newsletter, but I’ve been busy in good ways!
So what have I been up to since October?
Let’s dive in!
Been beachin’
In April, we finally went to the beach again! It was a solid year since our family’s last vacation, so it was no small thing to stick our feet in the sand.
The place we stayed had a private heated pool, hot tub, bikes, and a golf cart for riding to the beach (and driving down a side street to grab THE BEST DONUTS EVER).
Every night my husband and I would get in the hot tub to soothe our adult aches and then lounge and watch Monstrum on YouTube after the kids went to bed.
I was so inspired while I was there; I got to swim much more than usual and ended up writing a crucial scene after a day spent hunting hermit crabs in the surf for my son. It was a much-needed break for our family.
I’m going to share a few beach vibe pics from the trip because who doesn’t need more of that in their lives?
Hot Diggity Dog
Last month, our family brought home our first dog! His name is Coach and he’s a floffy 14-week-old Goldendoodle.
Yes, he does feel like a magical sheep/highland cow, and true to the hype, he is so patient with my feral children. Some days, he’s even better than I am!
We have been working on house training for the last few weeks and he’s finally starting to catch on.
He’s going to start obedience training soon, and I think he’ll do great!
Doesn’t he have such a sweet face?
‘Twas a Bright and Sunny Morning…
A few weeks ago, I took part in the Local Author Expo at the Woodstock Public Library!
I was able to be on a publishing panel with a financial guru/author Jessi Fearon, and it was a wonderful experience!
Two other writers from my Local Writers of Cherokee County group - poet Tristan Tuttle and YA author C.S. McKinney - were also involved in the expo, so we grabbed a quick photo!
It’s really fun to do author expos because writing is such a solitary endeavor, and it’s important to connect with other kooky brains before we get too lost in our own worlds.
These events show me that not only am I not alone, I’m in excellent company!
Bending it like the Barnyard
Last week, my SIL and I took part in our first ever goat yoga class and it was hilarious! The proceeds from tickets all went to the operation of Hidden Acres Animal Sanctuary, which does incredible work with rescue animals and in the community.
We had a blast hanging out with the funniest/fluffiest/cutest animals - from a walkabout-prone hedgehog to a very sleepy billy goat. Needless to say, I’ll be back for another one maybe in the fall with my oldest. She will get a kick out of it!
What I’m Reading
Honestly, I’ve slowed down a great deal with reading since I’ve been working on my book. I’m hoping to get through one a month now, but I’m a reading sloth ATM so we’ll see about that.
However, I will share some of the next books I’m planning to read!
Spells for Forgetting - Adrianne Young
The Austen Escape - Katherine Reay
The Summer We Forgot - Caroline George
Have you read any of these? If so, let me know what you think!
What I’m Writing
SQUEEEEEEEEEE!
This is what you came for!
Ever since January, I’ve been busy writing Reckless Truth, the first book in the Reckless Sons series.
Every book has been its own unique writing experience, and even though I technically started this one four years ago (YIKES), I’ve enjoyed it a lot.
It’s turning into a full-length novel instead of the novella that I’d planned, but Adair is really fun to write so I don’t mind taking the scenic route to get her story right.
So what’s the vibe?
Gothic. Nautical. Atmospheric. Suspenseful. Dark.
Also, there’s a very different Rami than we all know from the Long Live Dead Reckless series.
It was honestly so weird to write him in this because he was almost a normal person before THE THING HAPPENS.
I loved taking a long dive backwards into the 18th century to show what went down.
Also, side note: I’m a huge sea shanty nerd now.
I’m planning to offer a sneak peak from the book on my next newsletter, so you don’t want to miss that. I’ll also add my Spotify writing playlist so you can hear what kind of music I’ve been writing with!
Hint: it’s a lot of jolly sea shanties and moody dramatic scores. Incredibly bi-polar of me.
I’m not sure of a release date yet, but as long as my publishing team can pull it off, I’m hoping to publish at the end of the year - like November-ish. Stay tuned.
Aside from Reckless Truth, I wanted to share a post from my personal page that really resonated.
I know Mother’s Day was a few weeks ago, but I figured it might help someone else out there because grief has no timetable.
Sometimes when I’m sitting in something beautiful, my first thought is often, “I wish mom could’ve seen/had/enjoyed that.”
I wish she could’ve had a little garden.
A good husband.
A clean house.
A 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦 house.
A nice bathtub.
Lots of plants giving her air.
A yoga class.
A healthy meal.
A fancy night out.
An outfit that made her feel like a queen.
A car that didn’t break down.
Warm water.
Heat in the winter.
Shampoo that was just for her.
𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.
Honestly, Mother’s Day doesn’t always hit sideways, but for some reason today I’m a little achy.
So I planted some delphinium for the mom I miss since I can’t hand her a bouquet.
It hurts, but it helps.
I don’t know what her favorite flower was, and I guess I never will. But I also don’t have to wish she had a garden.
These are 𝘩𝘦𝘳 flowers, and there’s plenty of room in my garden - and heart - for her to be present even when I can’t see her.
After all, love is a perennial.
Until next time, stay safe and well read out there!
