Events, Writing, and Current Obsessions

aka my random mini newsletter before the real newsletter drops next week

I'm thrilled (and nervous in the best possible way) to share that I'll be moderating a conversation with Kennedy Ryan at Baldwin Books on May 15th to celebrate the release of Can't Get Enough. Kennedy brings such depth and warmth to both her writing and her presence in the romance community. The chance to discuss the conclusion of her groundbreaking series feels like a gift.

should I frame this? I should frame this.

In August Lane news, the book was recently featured in TheSkimm and made Jordy's Most Anticipated Summer Reads Book List! Events for the book release are coming together, and I'll announce dates and locations soon. Hope to see some of you there!

Remember, the preorder campaign for August Lane is still running. Those who preorder receive an exclusive digital songbook with bonus content. You can also order a signed copy from WordsWorth Books and receive an art print with the link to the songbook printed on the back.

Writing Update

I passed the 50K mark on my current manuscript this week. As an over-writer, I'm not sure what that means for the final word count, but this is typically the stage where I convince myself I've made a terrible mistake and start rewriting from the beginning.

What's helped keep pushing forward is approaching this manuscript as a writing practice rather than a project. My goal is 500 words. Some days, that's all I manage, and others, I write more or none at all. The practice has become meditation rather than work. I’m trying to place one word after another without judgment.

Sprinting with friends has also helped. Each time we get together (virtually) it reminds me to treat writing as art creation rather than product development. Their excitement for my work is contagious and powers me through another week of getting words on the page.

Current Obsessions

I just finished Lone Women by Victor LaValle, and it belongs on every "if you loved Sinners, read this next" list. LaValle blends suspense with a portrait of early-twentieth-century America through an unforgettable cast of women who find horror and sisterhood in a brutal landscape.

If you’re a fellow soap opera devotee raised on Victor Newman and Erica Kane, check out Making: Stories Without End. This exploration of soap opera history illuminates how crucial the form was to television and storytelling evolution. The episodes about Black and queer representation offer insight into how these narratives shaped mainstream understanding of marginalized communities.

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I plan to share more about how I’m working on changing my relationship to reading and writing in my regular newsletter next week. Drop me a line and tell me how it’s going. How are you feeling about the way you’re engaging with your creative practice? Have you read or listened to something that lit a fire under you recently?