February news: Update on Book 1 + my current WIP

Hey Reader,

Welcome to the inaugural edition of this newsletter! This will be the first of a monthly(-ish) series where I talk about writing updates, cool books, and other interesting things.

I am still learning my way around email newsletters, so I apologize in advance for any early slip-ups. Thanks for your patience!

Book 1 update!

As most of you know, I've been working on my debut novel (title to be revealed soon) for the last 1+ years, and it is almost ready to go out into the world! I'll be sharing more updates here, including a stunning cover that I'm very excited to share with you all, so stay tuned!

WIP

After 2 attempts and 91,058 words, the first draft of my third novel is complete! This is a prequel to my first book. Why a prequel, you ask? Well, after writing Book 1, I realized how much I loved one of my characters - and my beta readers loved them too! So, of course, I had to go deeper into their history. This draft was an exercise in "trusting the process" and realizing that yes, even if I felt like the plot was a little thin to start with, I was capable of diving deeper and layering on more complexity as I went.

But...what about the second novel, you ask? Good question! This was a separate story that I wrote over the summer. After I finished the first draft, I immediately realized how much better it could be, so it has gone back into the metaphorical drawer while I rethink the concept.

Recent Reads

I'd been meaning to read Mexican Gothic ever since I finished The Bewitching by the same author - another excellent book that came out last year. Old-timey Mexican horror vibes plus a house with a dark secret - what's not to love?

My latest non-fiction read on trade in the ancient Indian world. It might be a history book, but it's full of fascinating descriptions and stories that kept me engaged for hours. I've been doing lots of research on the ancient Indosphere for future book projects, but this is a worthwhile read even if you're not harvesting writing inspo.

Stuff & Things

This section is where I talk about cool non-book stuff I've come across recently.

Last week, I discovered V.E. Schwab's "No Write Way" podcast, where Schwab interviews other powerhouse authors (mainly in science fiction/fantasy) on writing craft and their process. This is a great resource for aspiring authors or anyone who's interested in the craft of writing.

Until next time!

G