This was supposed to be the first newsletter back in May — doing the whole introductions, welcome-to-my-newsletter song and dance — but the cover reveal for The Bloody and the Damned switched things up a bit. The response to that cover, by the way, was so incredible, and I appreciate all the likes, boosts, and support. Lord knows most of us need all the help we can get out in these publishing streets.
I’ve been trying to gear myself up for years to write an author newsletter. I subscribe to so many written by authors I love, delivering thoughtful essays and advice and updates right into my inbox. Writing my own compared to such excellent examples felt daunting. Awkward. What did I have to say or contribute to fill a newsletter? On my absolute best day, the most I excel at is probably self-deprecating humor.
I’ve played with the idea of just streaming myself playing video games and answering questions about writing and publishing as I do, but that was intimidating in a different way.
(Although, I’d still kind of like to do it if there’s interest. You can comment below if that's your jam.)
But, in the end, sometimes there’s no real replacement for the tried-and-true. So here I am, in your inbox, offering updates when I have them, sneak peeks when I’m able, and fragments of my inner thoughts when appropriate.
Welcome to the Graveyard, lovelies. Thanks for being here.
Favorite Lines I’ve Written in the Past Month
With as Little Context as Possible
He has never fallen in love before; he did not know how simple it could be. Effortless. As easy as breathing. It is joy in a melody he’s never heard before, ringing so loud in his chest that everything else fades into the background.
“It’s been ten years, Emma. I have put so much into your care and upkeep in Brundfast. Why can you not seem to get a handle on these wild, unfortunate tendencies of yours?”
Wild. Unfortunate. What appropriate and persistent descriptors that seemed to dog her no matter what she did. The back of her throat ached so fiercely she could barely swallow around it. “I…am sorry, Uncle.”
“I know you have no wish to disgrace and shame the Blackwell name.”
“Of course not.” Quite the opposite. She had bent herself into unnatural shapes for her family. Didn’t he see that?
How I’m Entertaining Myself
Reading
Outside of a book I’m reading for my friend Sarah Henning, I’m mostly reading fanfiction. Quite a bit of fanfiction. Don’t sleep on Ao3, folks. People are doing some incredible work over there.
Watching
Wheel of Time, season 3, although I’ve lost some momentum since it was cancelled. I was never a big fan of the books, but the TV show kept getting better and queerer and it sucks that it was cut off like so many other shows.
Playing
Video games have been my primary form of entertainment, if I’m being honest, and I think it’s safe to say that Dragon Age has been consistently at the center of it. I recently completed a full run of Dragon Age: Origins (thanks to some mods that stopped it from constantly crashing on my computer), and now I’m moving on to the DAO DLCs before having another run at Dragon Age 2. I don’t know, I just love these games. All of them have flaws, and some aspects of the older games in the series definitely do not hold up, but they’re dear to me despite it all.
The Bloody and the Damned releases April 7, 2026.
Add on Goodreads or Storygraph. Preorder now at Macmillan or Bookshop, or order from indie bookstores like these:
That's all for now! Thank you again for subscribing. Here's where you can find me lollygagging around in the meantime: