October 2026

Happy October!

I always live my life on the academic calendar, so to me, autumn always feels like the beginning of the year, rather than the end. I think it helps that I’ve always worked on an academic schedule–while this is my tenth year teaching, I spent the years before that either working in school outreach at a public library, in grad school, working in a university library, or in college. And as much as I love a new beginning and a fresh start, it’s always exhausting to establish and reestablish routines and get back into the swing of things. It always takes me a good 6-8 weeks to feel human again, and honestly, that’s where I am right now. Beginning to feel human again.

I’ve survived the first six weeks of the school year as both a teacher and a parent. That means new schedules and new routines and new people and new activities (like the fact I’m suddenly coaching cheerleading!). It also means I haven’t been doing a lot of writing. It hasn’t felt like I’ve had much to update you all on, and I haven’t wanted to spam you! But I managed to carve out time last weekend to reread my current manuscript and dig back in, and I’m doing the same this weekend. I’m slowly figuring out how to balance things again, and I have high hopes that the end of this manuscript is just around the corner. Because despite what my brain likes to tell me…I do know how to finish a manuscript. I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again. It’s easy to forget just how far I’ve come.

I’ve been writing seriously for so long (since 2010!) that sometimes I forget where I started. Earlier this month, I found myself in the neighborhood where I worked when I first moved to to DC. I was there for an event and had copies of my books in my backpack; without even really thinking about it, I wandered down Massachusetts Ave and stood in front of the now-empty building where I spent every single lunch break scribbling words that would become my first finished manuscript, and my second. I stood on the sidewalk and burst into tears, because suddenly I could remember how hard and impossible it all felt–how the dream of holding my books in my hands and reaching readers didn’t seem like something I’d ever get to do. I walked a few blocks to a cafe where I would sometimes go on my lunch breaks to write; I distinctly remember sitting there and getting a query rejection on a project I loved and crying because I felt like I was out of time, out of chances. And there I was, fifteen years later, in that same spot, with my books? It didn’t seem real. It still doesn’t seem real. But it is. I did it – I kept writing and dreaming.

I’m still writing and dreaming. I didn’t give up when it felt impossible, and now I know it is possible, as long as I put in the work.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about community, both in-person and online. I’m finding social media (especially meta-owned platforms) to be exhausting and relentless lately; I’m barraged by news and book promotion and all sorts of things that make me feel like I’m in competition instead of community, and I hate it. I really, really miss the pre-2020 internet. It’s gotten to the point where I’ve uninstalled the apps from my phone and I’ve retreated to group texts and private discord communities.

Even though my schedule is complicated, I’ve been trying to attend more in-person events to fill my cup and trying to make plans with friends for more informal gatherings and writing dates. I had a lovely time at my friend Jessica’s book launch for The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls in September, and I had such a fun night at the opening of the Local Author Bookshelf at the Dupont Underground, where you can find my books!

Looking forward, I’m really excited about Crozet Book Fest next weekend, where I’ll be on this amazing panel. If you’re in Virginia, I hope you’ll stop by and see us!

​

Click here for more information about the CROZET BOOK FEST!

​

Lately, I’ve been….

• Listening to:
  • ​Sold a Story, Season 2: As an educator, I am very invested in this deep dive on direct instruction; as a mom to a current elementary school student, it feels very high stakes and personal. I’ve seen firsthand the impact that the first season had on exposing the flaws in how we teach reading, and how quickly educators around me have moved to do what’s best for the kids. I’m curious to hear this season’s research, and wondering what it means for my dual roles as teacher and mom.
• Reading: Lots and lots! Here are some of my recent favorites (and a quick reminder/disclaimer: any link to Bookshop.Org is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission if you order using this link. Bookshop.Org is a fantastic way to buy books online while supporting your local indie booksellers.):
  • ​Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen (currently reading)
    • YA remains my first and greatest love, and literally no one does it better than Sarah Dessen. I may or may not have checked this out to myself before putting out in the library because I know once I put it out, it’ll be months before it’s back on the shelf. Librarian perks?
  • ​Samantha: The Next Chapter by Fiona Davis
    • I was a total AG girlie as a kid (does that surprise anyone?!) and this book is exactly what I never knew I needed. My girl Samantha, solving a mystery in 1920 NYC? YES PLEASE INJECT IT DIRECTLY INTO MY BLOODSTREAM. I think the blurbs on the back are super cringey (especially the one that admits they never knew who Samantha was before this) and I could have written a MUCH BETTER BLURB FANGIRLING OVER THIS BOOK, MATTEL, but alas. They didn’t call me this time. The note in the front says it’s hopefully the first of many, so there’s still time.
  • ​The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls by Jessica Spotswood​
    • Another stunning reason why I will always love YA as an age category. I’ve been a big fan of Jessica’s since her Cahill Witch Chronicles; she’s so good at atmosphere and yearning and complicated sister relationships and angry girls and this book delivers all of that and MORE. The mystery is twisty, the historical research is impeccable, and the feelings are SO BIG.
  • ​Chloe Vega and the Missing Unseen by Leslie Adame
    • I read the first book to my daughter when it came out last year, and we just started the sequel. We are both really enjoying it – Chloe is such a great character, and this is honestly MG fantasy at its best: vibrant and exciting and so, so timely. I can’t wait for our library copy to arrive so I can share it with my students!
  • ​Once More, With Murder by Katherine McCrea (I loved it so much I blurbed it!!*:
    • ONCE MORE, WITH MURDER is a charming and clever mystery rooted in a swoon-worthy second chance romance. In Jack Penny and novelist Charlotte Buchanan, McRae delivers two wonderfully flawed and human characters determined to be brave enough to choose love…and catch a murderer. I couldn’t put it down!
      *see, I can do a great blurb, Mattel! Call me next time!
  • Manuscripts by friends which are amazing and I want to scream about but I’m being good and keeping my mouth zipped.

​

Okay, that’s all I have for now. I hope you have a wonderful autumn!

My Books:

​A DEADLY ENDEAVOR ​
​2025 Agatha Award Nominee for Best First Novel

​A POISONOUS SILENCE​

​​​

600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

​