PROLOGUE
Welcome back! The past month has been an absolutely devastating one as far as international news goes, with no end in sight, and it would be disingenuous of me to ignore that even in this normally happy space. Still, I hope this newsletter provides a spark of comfort at a time where feeling horrified and helpless seems to be the norm. Your voice is more powerful than you think. Please don’t lose hope. Speak up. Speak out.
Halloween might be over, but I didn’t quite finish reading A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand, an authorized sequel to The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, so that’s my current read. As far as watching, I’ve needed comfort, so I’m back to watching The Nanny. Finally, I rely on my Spotify Daylist to tell me who I am at various times of day.
Finally, I want to give a shout-out to my friend Maddie Martinez, because this month is her birth month—and also because I love her! Let’s dive in.
CHAPTER 1: OBLIGATORY REMINDERS TO BUY MY BOOK
This month, we’re skipping the Pop Culture Moment of the Month again because there have been a lot of exciting developments on the SO LET THEM BURN front.
First of all, there is a Goodreads giveaway for an ARC of SO LET THEM BURN that ends on November 19. Make sure you enter for a chance to win!
SO LET THEM BURN will also be published in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as French-speaking territories. I have seen the French edition, and let me tell ya… I’m about to learn French just for this, because it is INCREDIBLE.
For English-language speakers, you can receive a signed and personalized edition of SO LET THEM BURN from Books of Wonder that comes with an exclusive gold foil art print of the two sisters, Faron and Elara Vincent, with art by CaffeineRogue. The prints are while supplies last, BTW, so if you want one, get one before we run out! (The limited edition/sprayed edges version of the book from Satisfiction Box sold out over the weekend, which BLOWS MY MIND!)
And in case you missed it, SO LET THEM BURN get some incredible blurbs from the likes of Terry J. Benton-Walker, Namina Forna, Aiden Thomas, and Tara Sim. I’ll be revealing more as we get closer to on-sale, but you should just assume that on any given day I am looking at these kind words from some of the best authors in the game and crying.
Whew. OK. Moving on.
CHAPTER 2: HERE COMES A THOUGHT
Today’s musing will be short. Why? Well, as I write this newsletter, I am on deadline, and, yes, I am stressed, panicked, tired, etc. But this deadline is for developmental edits for SO LET THEM BURN 2, and, honestly, I am so proud of this book, you guys. The first draft was a mess, nothing but a chaotic pile of words I yeeted at my editor to call it a day. The second draft is coming together as a story. I really think it elevates the novel in ways I can’t wait to share with you.
If only that made it easy to write!
I’m a night writer, so I get up every day for work, then I write a little on my lunch break, then I write after work, and then I try to squeeze in as much writing as I can before I inevitably pass out around 10 PM. I had so many social events planned for October, and then I saw how much work I have to do on these edits, and I cancelled everything that wasn’t an emergency.
As rewarding as writing is for me, there’s no question that it comes with sacrifice. I am not a person who is very good at putting myself first, so I just bounce from guilt to shame and back again. Guilt that I have to disappoint people. Shame that I’m still not writing as much as I should be to make it worth it. Guilt that I can’t balance everything better. Shame that I love writing and will always prioritize it. And then there’s the usual guilt and shame that comes with imposter syndrome—guilt that I HAVE imposter syndrome at all, shame that I’m subjecting people to my work—and I’m pretty much at the edge of my rope constantly.
But then I read a paragraph I don’t even remember writing, a paragraph that slaps actually, and I remember why I do this. For my future readers, but also for me. And it feels easy again. Every struggle, every loss, every breakdown, every scream—all worth it for these books that I’ve dreamed of sharing with the world for decades.
I don’t know what I expect you to take from this. I guess I just wanted to get it out, and where better than my newsletter? Being an author is hating your writing and loving your writing, hating to write and loving to write. It’s the most chaotic and special thing in the world, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
CHAPTER 3: THE REC ROOM
Welcome to the Rec Room, the section of my newsletter that I use to highlight books coming out each month I’m really excited about. For November, we have…
FINDING MY ELF by David Valdes
Escaping to NYU for college didn't turn out the way Cameron planned—he's flunking his theater classes, about to lose his scholarship, and he still hasn't found anyone he can call his "people." When he gets home for winter break, he's so desperate to avoid a Conversation with his dad that he takes the first acting job he can get: as a mall elf. Despite how Scroogey he feels, the plus side is that there's a cash prize for the most festive of Santa's helpers. But the competition is fierce, especially from fellow elf Marco.
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by Eric Smith
Everyone knows Jordan Plazas and Cindy Ortiz hate each other. According to many viral videos of their public shouting matches, the Plazas and Ortiz families have a well-known food truck rivalry. Jordan and Cindy have spent all of high school making cheesesteaks and slinging insults at each other across their shared Philadelphia street. But the truth? They're in love, and it's all just an act for the tourists. When the fake feud lands them a reality tv show pilot, Jordan and Cindy find themselves having to lie on a much bigger scale. Trapped between pursuing their dreams or their love, can they find a way to have their cheesesteak and eat it too?
CHAPTER 4: LOOK AT MY CAT!!!
As you may know, I adopted a shelter cat in December 2021, who I named Sora Mittens. This picture was actually taken by Chelsea, as she discovered that Sora will sit in or on anything, including messenger bags.
EPILOGUE
Thank you for subscribing and/or for sticking around! I hope you like rambles, shenanigans, and nonsense, because that’s truly all this is. As Halloween turns into End of Year Holidays, I hope you find some cheer and hold it close to your cozy heart.