New year, same me
No, I won't get better at this newsletter thing.
Hello! It’s 2023.
Cue the confetti and leftover holiday candy wrappers.
This year, I fully intend to take that vacation I’ve been putting off for, oh, ever. (Traveling with kids is brutal—send tips!) I’ve got grand plans to renovate my built-in-the-80s, how-can-a-countertop-be-so-pink, what’s-with-the-yellow-floor-tiles, honestly-it’s-horrific bathroom. That basketball hoop outside? Yep, I’m going to use it! I’m also going to wrap up some of the sewing projects I have started and abandoned (seriously, though, filling bobbins is impossible???).
My attention span is, uh, not consistent. I either go into hyperfocus mode and you can’t tear me away until every detail is perfect, or I start five projects in quick succession and ditch them all the second something new or shiny comes along. There is no in-between.
Oh, and there’s something else going on this year…
2023 is my debut year???
That’s right! I can say it: My book comes out this year.
Beginner’s Guide to Sexting is not the first book I’ve written. I’ve got dozens of first drafts in the unfinished pile. (See above re: attention span.) YA fantasy; middle grade adventure; weird tales of time travel gone wrong; one sci-fi project reminiscent of the 1999 movie masterpiece, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (but make it grown-up and gay); non-fiction; even a (low-thrills) thriller—I’ve dabbled in many genres. But none of them bring the same joy as adult contemporary romance does.
When I started writing the book that would become my debut, it was a fun “hahahaha, oh no my poor characters, why am I so mean to them” kind of project. A time-filler, something to keep me out of trouble.* I sent snippets to my best friend, who sent all the best reaction gifs. I read pieces aloud to my husband, who insisted he had to read the whole thing—which he couldn’t, because “the whole thing” didn’t exist. I’d finished a draft, laughed my way to the “forget about it” folder, and abandoned it for something new and shiny.
But then, I met my critique partners. My brilliant, wonderful, amazing CPs. We set up a weekly pages swap, which meant I had to produce something (meep!). They read this book (enjoyed it, even‽) in all its messy glory, then helped make it shine. I finished it, queried it, got a book deal, and I can scream/shout/yell/exclaim: My book is coming out THIS YEAR!
When can you get a copy, you ask?
September 5, 2023.
THAT is when you can hold this thing in your hands. It’ll be a real, true thing that you and I can have on our shelves or eReaders. Stare at it, use it to stabilize your wobbly coffee table, or read it—buyer’s choice. I don’t care where you keep it. The fact that people will have it THIS YEAR is exciting and terrifying and absolutely wild.
So, here’s the cool part: The cover reveal is happening this month! It is completely above and beyond anything I could have wished for, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Along with the cover reveal, we’re also announcing a title change! And you, my lovely subscribers, will get a sneak peek. Keep an eye on your inbox for insider info as we make these super fun announcements**.
Latest faves
I’m reading: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree. I picked it because of the tagline, “A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes.” Sometimes, I just need to know it’s all gonna be okay. I fell so deeply in love with the Wayfarers Series by Becky Chambers for this same reason: Those gentle, hopeful, joyful books are reliable comfort reads.
I’m writing: Copyedits hit my inbox this week, so I’m working through comma corrections and em dash eliminations (hold me!).
I’m listening to: The Mrs. Nash’s Ashes Spotify playlist, lovingly curated by the incomparable Sarah Adler.
Uh, so. I guess that’s all I have to ramble about today. See you next time!
*My preferred type of trouble is buying so many romance books in one shopping trip and having to hire a forklift driver to haul ‘em home for me.
**Or just DM me and ask for the intel. I’m bad at keeping secrets and whew, this is a true challenge.