Author Life Update: Keeping The Fire Alive, One Word at a Time

What I’m Writing:

We have a saying in Italian: “L’appetito viene mangiando,” which translates to, “Your appetite comes if you eat.”

There are a couple of different ways you can interpret this. Literally, it means if you put food in your mouth, which is very difficult not to do when you’re in Italy, it will trigger your body’s hunger drive. Then there’s the more nuanced interpretation: in order to want something, you need to have it in front of you in the first place.

The more I write, the more I want to write. This may not seem like a big deal to most, but to me, it is. That’s because my desire to write is directly proportional to my overall health and wellbeing. Writing isn’t just an outlet for my innermost thoughts and feelings—it’s a litmus test to gauge how well that inner world is faring in the face of everything going on outside.

This week, I made major progress on Emma’s Character Crossroad, only now I’m realizing that what I thought was going to be another alternate-universe story (like Hannah’s and Marcus’s) is actually more of a prequel to the series. I’m undecided about whether to release it as a subscriber-exclusive, or post it as a freebie on my website, but that can wait.

I’ve written plenty about mental illness and grief, but this is my first time writing about suicide. And no, I will not censor that word. I will not replace it with “unalive.” As in life, writing is filled with unpleasant things. People who’ve died by suicide—including my friend, Andrew—deserve to be remembered as whole human beings. People have diseases, they don’t become them.

So, rather than try and fold Emma’s truth into a tidy, 5,000-word package, I’m giving her room to shine. I’ve always said that I don’t tell the stories—my characters do. My job is to try and wrangle those messy human experiences onto the page in the most compassionate way possible.

What I’m Reading:

In other news, I recently finished Sunrise on the Reaping. I was surprised to learn it received mixed reviews in the BookTok/BookTube community, but then again, what book hasn’t? Many people are saying that SOTR doesn’t live up to the original Hunger Games. Personally, I found it more engrossing than The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but then again, I generally love stories told in first-person present tense, and Snow’s story didn’t give me that raw, intimate feel the way Haymitch’s did. But to each their own.

I’m also reading House Rules by Jodi Picoult, which is taking me far longer than anticipated. You see, the reader part of my brain is right next to the writer part of my brain, meaning I can’t help but want to work on my own projects when I’m supposed to be relaxing. My solution to this “problem” is to read in bed so I’m not tempted to jump on my computer mid-paragraph.

And I finally—finally!—got around to reading Pearly Everlasting. The writing is phenomenal, and the plot keeps me engaged and intrigued, although I will say there’s a more poetic feel to the words that can sometimes muddy the author’s intended meaning. But that’s not a criticism, just an observation. Add it to your TBR list if you enjoy historical fiction, non-traditional families, Canadian literature, and Indigenous wisdom.

Once I finish these books, I’ve got a few others on my wish list, including Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho, and, unsurprisingly, another Jodi Picoult title (Nineteen Minutes). I’m always open to suggestions of course, so feel free to leave them down in the comments.

Everything Else:

Now, this is an author blog, but it’s also an old-fashioned, behind-the-scenes look at my life. A what-I’m-making-for-dinner blog. A hey-look-at-my-cat blog (I’d advise you not to ask about my cat unless you’re ready to see 100 pictures while I compare her various poses to baked goods). So, here’s a glimpse of my non-writing life:

1. I bought summer clothes. I do not like shopping for clothes and will actively avoid it for as long as possible. However, after years of not wanting to show my legs, I went ahead and bought a pair of shorts and some capris. Like my writing, I’m treating this development as a sign of inner healing. Because at the end of the day, who cares what my legs look like?

2. We’re watching Grey’s Anatomy. I know, it’s soapy and over-dramatic, but I like the medical aspect of it, for obvious reasons.

3. I’m making meatloaf for dinner, and will probably have strawberries drizzled in lemon juice for dessert. Whipped cream optional.

That’s it for now, friends! I hope you’ll consider signing up for my Author Newsletter. Next month’s issue is going to be jam-packed with cool stuff. You won’t want to miss it!