Have a good summer

My summer plans: On July 11th, I’ll be at the Festival of AAPI Books at the Michelle Obama Library in Long Beach for a romance panel that includes Joss Richard, Emery Lee, and Kaye Rockwell! For more info, visit FAB Long Beach on Instagram.

The skies have been gray in LA lately, but summer is officially here in my house. A lot of people have asked about my summer plans. I don’t have anything really in mind for this year, except to spend more quality time with my family and friends. I was hoping to spend the summer to write a book, but as Falon Ballard recently addressed in her newsletter, the market is moving away from romcoms. What does that mean for me?

Well, I haven’t figured it out yet. The pitch I originally had in mind was a romcom and at this point in time, it wouldn’t get me very far. I could just write it, but it would get shelved. So, I need to re-evaluate what else I might want to write. It’s a strange place to be in because I like getting started on something. I want to be working on a book, but I have to be practical about how I’m spending my time.

So, for this summer, I plan to give myself more time to think. That means, I’m taking my promo hat off. I canceled my Canva Pro subscription. I logged off my Instagram and my husband changed my password. I’m freeing myself from bookish discourse and algorithms. I’m going to read more and hopefully make a dent in my TBR.

Here’s to a off-grid girl summer™. No plans. Just vibes and hopefully, inspiration will strike. I’ll let you know when that time comes.

• I didn’t grow up in a mahjong house, but I did learn how to play from friends when I was in high school. I finally got around to teaching my kids and I have a feeling we’ll play many rounds this summer. (For the record, I bought my set at TS Emporium where I had to ask the disinterested uncle behind the counter to show me the nicer set hidden in the back.)

• But before I log off for the summer, let me just share how much I love THE PARIS MATCH by Kate Clayborn. I love all of her books and THE PARIS MATCH had me up way too late, reading just one more chapter. Griff is a real jerk at first and I had no idea how Kate would make me root for him, but she does. The Parisian setting was just icing on eclair for me.

Have a good summer. TTYL. Stay hydrated and wear sunscreen. I’ll see you when I see you (probably at a bookish event).