*book* is the watchword

writing (a bit of news!), reading, and slice-of-life updates

Happy late summer!

(You’ll notice I’m not calling it fall yet. I’m keeping my autumn-ish decorations in the box until Sept. 22. I just can’t cheat on summer, it’s not in me to do so!)

As for my newsletter’s change of name (coming on the heels of telling you in my last newsletter that I was keeping it the same…🤷🏼‍♀️), well, if it’s any indication, let’s just say that recently I got to move my furniture around in the living room, and boy, does that give me life. I may struggle with decision-making, but I love starting fresh and making new changes. 🥳

If you’re curious about where the name came from, you can read about it on my blog… which, I may finally be retiring from writing on? I don’t know. I can’t say for sure, but I think I’d like my written thoughts to go out to you, dear readers, via this newsletter moving forward. We’ll see if I stick with that. 😉

A n y w a y, I do actually have some news to share in this volume. 🤗

---

If you follow me on bookstagram (or if you follow my best friend on facebook 🥰) you might have seen this already. But if not, here it is! I got my first piece of fiction published! That’s right, my short story, The Follow-Back, has been published on the online YA literary journal, Voyage. I sent a version of this out a while ago so you may have read it, but if not, or if you want to read it again, you can visit it here!

Otherwise, from the writing front: querying still stinks, I’m considering entering my manuscript (again) in Pitch Wars later this month, and I’m 22k words into my new project, which is a light fantasy story that takes place on an alternate-world Greek island in the early 20th century (feel free to ask me more questions if you’re curious).

As for reading, I continue to be spending my pages in my happy places of rom coms, uplifting and lighter fare, fantasy & sci-fi, and classics. I’ve also been trying to read down my TBR shelves (even some non-fiction!). See the deets over on my goodreads page, if you’re curious.

---

Slice-of-life— A FEW FAVES:

• This shampoo & this conditioner (bought at Target/Amazon). I don’t have curls so much as waves, but I’m also curious about trying the “curly girl” method— anyone have suggestions on where to start?

• This coffee (I finally subscribed because my local Peet’s isn’t currently carrying it)

• This sunscreen from BeautyCounter (for me, not the kids. It rubs in super nice but isn’t as waterproof as other mineral sunscreens)

• This tea (Cup of Sunshine; I buy it at Sprouts) for days when I need a mood-lifter

• This (locally-made) hard kombucha

• This nail polish (Hallee and I picked up a new hobby in the late spring and are super into it! Btw, the link there is a referral code that gets you $10 off. Their remover is MAGIC and their colors are so pretty!)

• If you like Folklore (how is Exile so good?), check out Annalise Emmerick. She doesn’t have any super-recent stuff, because she’s focusing on motherhood right now but I adore her music.

Remember, this newsletter format actually has comments now (🎉), so feel free to click over using the button below and let me know what you’re reading (or writing!), or what some of your slice-of-life faves are right now.

xo,

Nicole ✨