Milestones, Not Millstones
A decade of publishing and writing books, and on rising from the ashes + some book recs
Hello there, dear readers,
Have I thanked you for being here lately? Well, thank you.
This September marks the tenth anniversary of the publication of my first novel, Blackwood (now available under the title Strange Alchemy). I keep thinking I should share some lessons and advice, but isn’t that the last thing you want? I think it probably is.
I’m here. I’m more excited about the work I’m doing than ever. I never, ever thought I’d get to do this for a living. Novelist is a terrifying and funny and incredibly lucky job. So gratitude, I guess, and hustling. Those are the lessons. I am happy to answer questions and wax on about things you think I might know at this little vantage point. So drop them in the thread, if you like.
And for the curious, here’s a complete list with reading order, of pretty much everything I’ve published (fiction-wise) in the last ten years, plus all the forthcoming stuff.
But for now: on we go!
Which is a funny thing to say, because I just had an incredibly lazy week. Our dearie eldest gent, the forever baby moon, just about 17-years-old Puck has been slowing down a bit and so we had to get him on a new medication regimen. As always, every day with an old dog, with any dog is a gift, and anything that makes him bouncy and waggy is worthwhile, but he’s actually relatively healthy (if just showing signs of age — aren’t we all, buddy? his hearing is going, his cataracts affect his vision, his hips are often grouchy) so there’s a lot of not wanting to put him on anti-inflammatories that aren’t good to be on long-term vs. but if he feels good on them…? I’m sure many of you have been there.
Also, I hadn’t really taken a breath since turning in the first draft of The Frame-Up, which was a big push to finish (and which I’m so excited to now turn from probable garbage into a good book, I hope? I sense an edit letter forming on the horizon). I haven’t really taken a breath this year, honestly. The most rest I’ve gotten was during our Covid cases. (Maybe we will take an Actual Vacation next year?)
And, of course, March through June/July was all about rebuilding the Lexington Writer’s Room to be better than ever (which it is! going to show off something very pretty in this newsletter). I couldn’t really afford a week of not working, and I did do some writing on Youngbloods 3 (joint project with Kami and Sam) and noting down of stray lines, but really, what I did this past week was take what I call a reading vacation. Where I just read the books that suck me in. I’ve finished three and have several others in progress. I recommend all three HIGHLY: Ivy Owens’ Scandalized (scorching hot, can’t put it down, a one-sitting read), Elissa Sussman’s Funny You Should Ask (two Hollywood-themed romances in a row, both delicious—this one also has a lot of love for The Philadelphia Story, one of my favorite movies, old or otherwise), and The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen (we will be announcing an event together for spooky season soon and I am just going to be fangirling my face off because this book is just chef’s kiss—great world-building, AMAZING characters, and the best secret pen pal execution perhaps ever). Three completely different, but also fantastic romances. The murder-y and research reads are next.
Anyway, I always find this rejuvenating. Problems of output for me are often problems of input, but also, reading is fundamental, as the saying goes. We wouldn’t write stories if we didn’t also love experiencing them on the page. At least, I wouldn’t. I tend to think most writers are readers first.
Today we’re having our monthly write-in at the LWR, where many people will be seeing the mural we had FABULOUS local artist Wylie Caudill come in and do. Lisa, our board chair, and I are huge fans of Wylie’s for awhile now. We had looked at the space where we now are the Saturday after the fire, and so standing in the parking lot of the old building (which is currently being completely demolished, by the way), we began to dream then of getting him to do something for us. We were THRILLED when he said yes and that he couldn’t get to us until the fall. It has been something that energized us throughout the entire process of getting the new space together, knowing this finishing touch would come. We had originally discussed a different concept for the mural, but then we saw a recent painting he’d done and suggested a phoenix surrounded by whatever he thought worked. Wylie took this idea and ran with it, and painted nonstop for two and a half days. (You can see the progress from start to finish, two and a half days (!!!) in this twitter thread. Follow him @wyliecaudill on twitter or @wyliecaudillart on Insta!)
I love it for everything it stands for, and for the thought of all the different meanings it will hold for our writers at different times. I guess perhaps the thing I’ve learned in 10 years is that each project is a little phoenix. A friend of mine says if you’re in this business long enough, everything that can happen to you — good and bad — will happen. (I have found this to be ACCURATE!) You can’t control much of anything, except what you do, what choices you make, how you treat people, and how you tell your own story to yourself. Which is actually a lot, and perhaps even enough. You can always reimagine what you’re doing. You can always rise up, again, from the ashes.
Last but not least, Stranger Things: Suspicious Minds is getting a shiny new cover in stores and online beginning September 20. Et voila!
I love it so — the art is by Ben Harman.
As we get into the best time of year, aka spooky season, we’re also approaching the one year publication mark for Not Your Average Hot Guy. Picking up it or The Date from Hell — or both — for your seasonal reading pleasure is a damned fine choice, in my opinion. (See what I did there?) And if you have read them and enjoyed, please consider dropping a review or telling a friend.
Adding on Goodreads or preordering Mr. & Mrs. Witch makes my heart sing.
More soon, and again, questions always welcome,
G
I don’t really have a question, but despite having followed your career for the entire 10 years, I’m GOBSMACKED at how many books are on that list.