✨ publishing news, some housekeeping notes, and my word of the year.
hello, lovelies! happy 2024! I can’t believe all of the changes that 2023 brought in both my personal and professional lives, especially on the heels of 2022, which included a move to a new state and starting a new job. 2023 really said hold my beer, because not only did my daughter start KINDERGARTEN (where did my baby go?!), I signed the contracts for two book deals (more on that in a bit), met and hugged SO MANY internet friends irl, threw myself into the editing process with my debut, and started furiously drafting a book on deadline for the first time. whew.
First things first. I realize that some of you may not be subscribed to my social media accounts, which means you might have missed my biggest news: I get to write another book about Edie and Gilbert! A Deadly Endeavor is officially the first book in the Deadly Twenties Mystery Series, and I’m over the moon!
I’m so thrilled. I’m currently on a tight deadline, which is a whole new experience for me, but I’m trying my best not to stress over it. It’s a dream to be in this position at all, and sometimes, I have to stop and remind myself that this time a year ago, I had no idea that all of this was coming my way. I ended 2022 very, very close to giving up on Edie, and feeling discouraged about my writing career in general. I actually had a call with my agent, where I cried and asked if I should just quit (she said no). A few days later, we had an email from my now-editor asking if I’d be willing to revise the book to remove the paranormal elements.
The truth is, I almost didn’t do it. I almost said no. Over the course of the last decade, I’d had four revise and resubmit requests on three different books – two while querying, and two while on sub. The previous three had all ended in heartbreaking rejections. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to be gutted again, especially when I was so close to despair already. But my very wise friend told me to give it a try, and I did. I spent all of winter break rewriting the entire book to be a historical mystery, and sent it back in early January.
Two weeks later, I had a book deal.
Ten months after that, I had another book deal.
In other news: we’re getting audio books! Tantor Media acquired audio rights (at auction!!) for both books in the Deadly Twenties Mysteries! Here’s the page for A Deadly Endeavor. I’m not sure when audio pre-orders will be up, but I’ll let you know as soon as I do!
A quick housekeeping note: I’ve moved my newsletter away from Substack, and back onto WordPress, where it’ll live as a combination blog/newsletter. I don’t think that should mean any changes on your end (unless you were reading in substack reader), but if that’s the case, you can add this RSS feed to your substack reader by following these instructions.
My Word of 2024
Every year, I choose a word to carry with me. My word for 2023 was bloom, and it was incredible to see the roots I planted over the last decade spring to life, especially after how difficult 2022 was. So what word do I want to carry with me into 2024?
Breathe. For the last few months, I feel like things have been moving at full-tilt, and it’s hard to take a moment and stop and realize I’m achieving the things I once considered to be beyond my wildest dreams. My book is going to be in bookstores! Published by a team that really gets and loves my work, and distributed by Penguin Random House. Total strangers have read my work, and given me five star reviews (which I have STOPPED READING, I promise).
Every single friend I’ve had who’s been published ahead of me has talked openly about how goalposts keep shifting at every stage. While querying, it was so easy to think, if I just get an agent, I’ll have it made. Then, on sub: if I just get an offer, it’ll be amazing. Then once the offer comes, it’s: how big is the advance and what sort of marketing support am I getting and what compromises am I making and trade reviews and pre-order numbers and, and, and. Being in a big group chat with other 2024 debuts has both helped these feelings (everyone is anxious! everyone is questioning if they are Enough!) and spurred on others (why is this book getting x, and mine is not?). I like to think I’m pretty level-headed. One of the perks of spending so long trying to get published is that I’ve seen so many friends launch their own careers, and it’s reinforced the fact that no two paths are the same. I’m trying to keep my eyes on my own paper, and remember that I’m in this for the long game. I’m trying to slow down, to celebrate every win.
To breathe.
Do you pick a word of the year? Let me know in the comments – I can’t wait to cheer you on!
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What I’ve been…
Reading: Books I loved in December are two forthcoming 2024 romance debuts: Maggie North’s RULES FOR SECOND CHANCES, which is a second-chance romance featuring an autistic heroine with a marriage on the brink of collapse, and Faye Delacour’s THE LADY HE LOST, a regency romance featuring a ladies’ gambling club, a lost love, and an incredible cast of characters. (These are affiliate links, meaning I’ll earn a small commission if you choose to order from them).
Watching: Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries. I finally subscribed to PBS Passport to watch, and I am LOVING the 1960s setting!
Listening To: Noah Kahan, basically on repeat. Also, my pal Aya McGuire released an EP, which you can hear on Spotify here. I’m obsessed.
That’s a wrap for January, friends. I’ll see you in February, with a reminder about pre-orders, and details about a giveaway!
