Chasing my dreams! Oh no, they're fast! 😰

Coming up for air

Aug 18, 2022

This summer has been an exhausting + exciting launch into the joys + stresses of pursuing this writing journey. I am very tired but I am also very happy.

For the past couple of months, I’ve been writing damn near all day every day to finish the first draft of (what I hope will be) my next book. Last week, I finally typed “THE END.” This book (currently untitled) is officially the third novel I’ve ever completed.

It is also the first book out of the three that quite literally tried to kill me.

Everyone talks about what’s known in publishing as “The Sophomore Slump” -- AKA the process of writing the book following your debut. But goddamn did I not expect it to be this hard. Coming down from the anxiety of finishing law school, experimenting with finding a writing schedule that isn’t just between classes, trying to ignore the fear that this book won’t hit as hard as my first one… It’s been a mental game for sure. But I am relieved that at least now it’s all on paper.

I still haven’t turned it in yet (Hi, Rebecca, my beautiful editor! If you’re reading this, I’m sorry, but it’s coming!! lmao). Edits are proving to be just as challenging as drafting. However, I am motivated to finish. Mostly because I have an idea for another book that I cannot wait to start writing…!

Despite all the drama and stress, the insane urge to continue writing novels hath befallen me. Send help.

Updates since my last newsletter…

There Goes The Neighborhood officially went live on all online bookselling platforms. Authors are essentially small business owners, so pre-ordering our books is a huge help! You can check it out at the links below. Spread le word.
-Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nATFwj
-Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3K1Eu9T
-Or, find and request it at your local indie bookstore here: https://bit.ly/TGTNpreorder

I got to hold my book in my hands for the first time ever. My family was right there with me to cheer me on as I got all sentimental about it. I love them 🥺 We took a video of it here.

I received my FIRST BLURB!! Blurbs are the little things on the back of a book where other authors say nice things about your novel. My first one comes from a heavy-hitting, highly-acclaimed author who has written several incredible books that have all made me cry. I can’t wait to share it soon. It means a lot that some of the authors I look up to are reading and digging my book.

On August 16th, I celebrated the two year anniversary of having completed my first draft of There Goes The Neighborhood. I ate 20+ Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter cups in lieu of cake because it’s wayyyyy too hot in LA right now to use my oven.

Currently Reading:

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle

* Somehow, I have never read this classic? Finally decided to just dive in.

And now, I present this month’s Back to the Book Fair pick:

The Ones We’re Meant To Find by Joan He!

https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250258564

**Cue applause for the beautiful cover art**

I once convinced a flight attendant to buy this book because while reading it on the plane, I kept gasping so much that she eventually tapped my shoulder and asked what the hell I was reading.

This is a dazzling and shocking book.

First, the premise:

“It’s been three years since Cee woke up on the shore of an abandoned island, with no memories of life prior, or how she got there. All she knows is she has a sister– and is determined to find her. A world away, STEM prodigy Kasey is looking to escape from an eco-city– meant to be a sanctuary but now populated by people willing to do anything for refuge. After a series of man-made disasters rock the planet, Kasey must decide if she trusts science to help humanity.”

Being one of three sisters is a huge part of my identity, so naturally, I was drawn to the book’s premise (as well as its gorgeous cover) that tells the story of sisters searching for one another. What I found when I dove into this book though is a story that is much more complicated, much more unsettling than I had anticipated. And I mean this in truly the best way possible -- I loved this book. A dark story, a stormy ocean setting, and luxurious prose… What more could you want for a late summer read?

It’s hard to talk about The Ones We’re Meant To Find without spoiling the many mind-blowing twists that it holds, so I’ll just include a short list of qualities in this book that spoke to me:

A near-future, almost-apocalyptic scifi landscape that truly looks different than any depiction of a climate-ravaged world than you’ve seen or read before
Chapters that alternate between the two points of view, each with unique voices: one sister stranded on an island, fighting to survive, the other navigating the messy world since her sister’s disappearance
A sensual love story that delivers a massive “oh shit oh shit oh shit OH NO” moment (I personally think I’m pretty good at predicting a good plot twist but this one… Nah. I did not see that coming)
Nuanced depictions of neuro-diversity
Extremely vivid prose that delivers a visceral experience of being stranded on an island. If you’re a fan of Survivor or Yellow Jackets, etc, you’ll be intrigued by how this trope is so brilliantly explored within a science-fiction novel

Anyway, if anyone reads this, please LMK what you think!! I had a couple people reach out to me after reading CEMETERY BOYS and it made my day. Also, send me recs as well!