2024 is the year of grumpy mermaids

Eels eels eels 

My very important eel update is that I saw one at an aquarium. Here we are together, just a couple of pals hanging out and breathing deeply.

And also, some scientists have discovered that the shock from an electric eel (not actually an eel) has the power to genetically alter fish. Pretty wild, no? Just out here casually altering the DNA of other fish— extremely superhero (or villain!) (or X-men) behavior. 

The Good Little Mermaid’s Guide to Bedtime (TGLMGTB)

My first book had a title that was two words long, and this next book is seven words long, which I am learning is quite a lot of words for a title! First trade reviews for The Good Little Mermaid’s Guide to Bedtime are slowly rolling in, and I’m delighted with this review from Publishers Weekly. A little blurb below:

We’re just under two months away until publication day, which means I’m getting book events finalized! More details to come, but safe to say that there will be one virtual event, and that March weekends are filling up with book events both near and far. And that there will be some seafaring book events with friends!

My local bookstore, BookPeople of Moscow, practically raised me. I’m so grateful for their support and to be doing an event with them after everyone is looking for fun things to do post-Spring Break. I’ll be signing pre-orders at good ol’ BP, and sharing event details soon!

To stay up to date on events and all things eels and reading, hit that button below:

If you like to track your reading, you can add The Good Little Mermaid’s Guide to Bedtime on The StoryGraph or GoodReads. Also, you can request your library purchase a copy, which is fun, and then everyone with a library card can read it. Libraries are the best.

Shows and books that I’ve enjoyed

I love the Netflix Formula 1: Drive to Survive series. It is so dramatic, competitive, and petty. It’s a ridiculously expensive sport that didn’t have a spending cap until recently. Honestly, it’s a great series, and my instagram feed is now half Formula 1 memes and updates from the ridiculous and luxurious travel updates from the drivers and principals. This Culture Study podcast convinced me to watch it, and I’m now obsessed. If you want to speculate about what’s next for Guenther Steiner, please message me asap.

Amy Poehler’s Podcast, Say More with Dr? Sheila, but you have to say “Doctor?” with a question because Dr? Shelia is not a doctor. It’s improv couple’s therapy and it’s a mess but in all the good ways.

For the past couple of years, I’ve picked a book to send to my oldest childhood friends— usually it’s something that reminds me of our collective adolescence. This year’s pick was, The Only Way to Make Bread, by Cristina Quintero, illustrated by Sarah Gonzales.

It’s a lovely book about the process of baking bread, all types of bread, and the importance of sharing bread, which is why I sent it to my oldest friends for all my memories in all of our different homes and kitchens, and how we always knew which day was a bread baking day.  

I would just like you all to know that the Dave Matthews Band essay ranking his romantic hits in Samantha Irby’s newest book is hilarious and turned into a whole afternoon of DMB. Maybe you need an hour or two of DMB on a dreary January afternoon??

Wild and Distant Seas by Tara Karr Roberts, takes a minor character from Moby Dick, Mrs. Hosea Hussey, and spins her story into a novel of four generations of women searching for their own home, history, and answers. It’s lovely. You do not need to have read Moby Dick to understand the novel. And there’s a whole section set in historical Moscow, Idaho.

Time-Management Writing Update

I haven’t newsletter-updated in awhile, but I haven’t had much to update! I’ve been slowly reading and trying to find the right concoction of time and brain space that allows for writing, reading, revising, life, etc. 

I feel like I’m in a good idea gathering phase. Which is like a nice, exploratory creative phase— a no commitments, just vibes type of phase.

This January, I’ve been having fun going through Tara Lazar’s StoryStorm for picture book idea generation. With schedule changes this past year, I haven’t been able to meet with my local critique group, but I’ve hopped back on the 12x12 picture book challenge and am excited to join that picture book community and write lots more picture books in 2024.

On a fun, exploratory project, I’m sending notes back and forth with my writing buddy because maybe writing something together is more fun than writing on your own. 

Thanks for reading, expect more regular updates on picture book news and event details! Cheers!