It’s funny how cyclical the world can be. Just as my daughter has begun driving, my parents are giving it up. They’ve passed on their an 18 year old Honda to us, and I’ve been using it on the days my kid has my car. The Honda is old school: no bluetooth, key you actually stick in ignition. It doesn’t even have a rear windshield wiper. But when I drive it, I just—-drive. (I can listen to podcasts or music with my phone speaker but if I have to put the window down it drowns it out…you get the idea.) It’s so easy these days to multitask no matter what I am doing. But out on the road in this car, there is nothing to do but take in the scenery and think. About the cyclical nature of the world. What to make for dinner. And sometimes, nothing at all.
Things are starting to crank up with my next novel, Change of Plans, and I couldn’t be more excited. (It’s not out until May so I have to try to control myself, however.) This week I got designed pages, so it looks like an actual book instead of a draft full of cross-outs and comments. I’ve done this 14 times before, I know. But it’s been a minute (or years) so it all feels new. There was also this article in Trill which has all the details as well as some of my other titles to check out while you wait. More stuff to come in the months ahead. Stay tuned!
As far as other people’s books, I’ve recently read Janelle Brown’s What Kind of Paradise and Atomic Hearts: A Novel by Megan Cummins. Both are narrated by girls with complicated fathers, and so, so good. I just started Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding, which I’m loving. Next up is an advanced copy of Rebecca Serle’s latest, Once and Again. My cup (or To Read Pile) runneth over!
I’m in that weird writing place where….I’m just not sure what to do with myself, to be honest. The heavy lifting on Change of Plans is pretty much done, and it’s a bit early to start editing the next book, which will be out in summer ‘27. I could work on the third book, which is only half finished, but every time I open up the document I just stare at the blinking cursor, frozen. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a multiple book contract (I’m a one-at-a-time girl, usually) so guess there is a learning curve to figuring out how to structure things so that I can be productive but also not burn myself out. If there are any writers out there with experience in such things (how do you think about two years away AND the coming summer at the same time?) I’m eager to hear your thoughts. Maybe I should book some speaking gigs? I miss talking to readers!
Finally, a few words on self care. As the days grow shorter, and the leaves fall, I find that familiar fall melancholy start to creep in. (This is different from persistent summer anxiety, which just ended. These states of mind, I swear. Always showing up uninvited and staying long past their welcome.) One thing that helps me—-as well as the last thing I want to do when I am really blue—-is going out for a walk. It does not have to be a workout. You can even not walk as much as slouch limply. As long as you move, get fresh air and see daylight, it counts. Also: meditation. I know, I know. When you’re in a tough or sad place the last thing you feel like doing is settling in and studying the scenery there. But this week I found an app called Insight Timer that offers a ton of free meditations and it’s really been helping me. I’m only up to about five minutes, and I fully admit I can get squirmy by then. BUT in those five minutes I do feel something ease in me, if only slightly. Maybe that’s what it all comes down to. Motion and stillness. Stopping and starting. Just do one, then the other, until you make it through.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
These flowers are some of the ones that are still blooming in my garden. I’m making bouquets and putting them all over the house. Living things, especially colorful ones? Always a win.
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