Writing this newsletter is an act of gratitude.
I’m glad to be here, to write, to reflect and celebrate. I had a great 2023. Sure there were lows but 2023 is making sure that none of us makes it out unscathed. It’s hard to witness such unimaginable destruction, loss of life and dignity and be unaffected. And Twitter is still the pits.
I celebrated my debut in October and There’s No Way I’d Die First has now been out for just over three months and I’m blown away by all the love it’s gotten. I really appreciate all the readers, booksellers, bloggers, librarians and everyone who has talked about the book, reviewed the book, boosted my posts on socials or sent encouragement my way. Thank you.
I got a trade review from School Library Journal, which called TNWIDF “A gory, edge-of-your-seat, not-for-the-weak, slasher novel for teens.” It was a nice review and to be honest I was surprised to get one from SLJ because I wasn’t sure if school libraries would be interested in my killer clown slasher. This book is a bloodbath (but with jokes). The kills are gory and as disturbing as the unhinged killer. Let the kids read!!
I’d love to see this book adapted for screen. No-one asked but I’d cast Lexi Underwood as Noelle and I think Alex Høgh Andersen (Ivar the Boneless, Vikings) would make the perfect Gage the clown.
Being a published writer is a privilege you earn. You’re not going to earn it by tooting a horn no-one wants to hear. You’re going to earn it by knuckling down and writing, and letting the writing itself do the tooting for you. - James Scott Bell
I recently turned in the first draft of my middle grade contemporary and then I took a two-week break. I felt completely wiped out after typing THE END and then the entire household came down with a nasty virus and I’m still recovering from it. Take time to rest and recharge.
I wanted to pivot from the MG to my YA project but I’m slowly getting back into drafting. This will be the second year that I’ll be drafting over the holidays but trust I’ll be taking time for fun, rest, and food! Burnout isn’t something I want to revisit so prioritizing rest is big on my list for 2024.
I work full time and most of my writing happens on evenings and weekends. I’ve been thinking a lot about about longevity in my writing career and what that could look like. Quitting my day job is not a long term goal for me right now, so being more intentional about my writing time is a key priority. Maybe one day, I can give serious thought to writing full time (hello seven-figure deal), but for now, I’ll let the focus stay on continuously improving my craft.
I started drafting my new YA horror which will be out in 2025. It feels unreal to say that I’ll have two books coming out in 2025…big tings happening!!
So what’s the plan for 2024…
Shut out the noise and write. Social media has a role in book promotion and in building connections in the author and book communities, but in undisciplined hands (like mine), social media is a major time suck and will gobble up all your good intentions like Pac-Man. Learn to set boundaries.
Draft my next YA horror by end of March 2024.
Brace for edit letter for my middle grade book. I’m expecting this to land in my inbox sometime in January.
Enter a period of mourning over the aforementioned edit letter while I figure out how to address the changes.
Outline a new middle grade book idea and send it to my agent. (mid-2024)
Read more books. Read the books I bought but never read. Read the library books I requested and renewed and renewed and renewed…
Brainstorm ideas for my next YA horror (leaning towards road trip or haunted house trope)
Celebrate all the wins!
I went down the rabbit hole that is hockey romance and binged the entire Elle Kennedy “Off-campus” series. Romance will always be my go-to for a quick satisfying read.
I also just finished Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison which was deliciously creepy and twisty.
I’m currently reading a fun middle grade, Treasure Island: Runaway Gold by Jewell Parker-Rhodes, which is a reimagining of the classic Treasure Island. It’s a pacey, middle grade with a main character to root for and friends who have his back, and a treasure hunt with lots of historical details about New York City. And the main character lives in Rockaway, Queens. I feel like Brooklyn and Manhattan get all the hype but Queens has a lot to offer too! Can you tell I live in Queens? I’m straying off-topic. Anyway, read this book!!
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I’m hoping to grow my newsletter subscribers next year so feel free to share with friends!
I’m grateful for the 70% of you who actually open the newsletter and take time to read. I hope to make this newsletter more interesting next year and share a bit more about my writing process, favorite craft books and TV shows/movies!
Til next time!