fall 2021
Tiny Seeds is my once-per-season newsletter where I share seeds of inspiration (books, recipes, and other recommendations), as well as updates about my writing. As always, thanks for reading!
I couldn’t be happier to announce my second novel GODDESS will be published by House of Anansi in Winter 2023. I wrote this book during the pandemic (literally: I started working on it in March 2020, just as the world was shutting down), and for many months it was both my therapy and escape during a strange and difficult time. I can’t wait for you to read it! Here’s a glimpse at what you can expect from GODDESS, as described in the book deal announcement:
Deborah Hemming’s GODDESS, a novel about beauty, influence, and self-doubt, featuring an up-and-coming young writer who is lured to an exclusive retreat on a remote Greek island, where one by one the guests seem to be falling under the spell of its enchanting leader, a famous actress turned wellness guru who is more than meets the eye, to Douglas Richmond at House of Anansi, by Paige Sisley and Suzanne Brandreth at CookeMcDermid (NA).
Stay tuned for more details!
CLAIRE DEWITT & THE BOHEMIAN HIGHWAY by Sara Gran
I first heard about author Sara Gran on one of my favourite literary podcasts, So Many Damn Books. The discussion was about COME CLOSER, Gran’s terrifying novella about a demonic possession, and though it sounds crazy amazing, I haven’t worked up the nerve to actually read it yet. Instead, I turned to her other work and found this delight of a detective novel, unlike any I’ve read before.
Keywords: San Francisco, intuitive detecting, punk music, drugs, grief, coincidence
EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR MOTHER IS A WITCH by Rivka Galchen
I was sold on this book by the title alone. If you’re feeling witchy these days, it’s also a very good choice for fall reading. I reached for it in October as the nights got cooler and darker.
Keywords: witch hunt, moral panic, herbalism, based on a true story
I made this apple pie for Thanksgiving and everyone loved it. It’s different than most in that it gets its flavour from brown butter and vanilla rather than the usual warming spices we associate with fall baking (there’s no cinnamon in the recipe, very atypical for an apple pie). Recipe from the queen herself, Martha Stewart, who never lets me down.
Keywords: delicious, unexpected, best served with vanilla ice cream
By the time I send out the next edition of my newsletter in Winter 2022, I’ll likely be very sleep deprived but also very full of love. For those who don’t know, my partner and I are currently expecting. Our little one is due to arrive late November and we can’t wait to meet him or her very soon!