late summer/early fall 2022
Tiny Seeds is my seasonal newsletter where I share seeds of inspiration (books, recipes, and other recommendations), as well as updates about my writing. Thanks for reading!
I tend to think of this time of year as its own mini-season. The mornings and nights are cool; the afternoons are warm. We’re back in the swing of things at work and school, but daylight still extends luxuriously into evening, allowing for late-day walks and dinners outside. It’s not quite fall, but it also doesn’t feel like summer…
While I didn’t manage to write a summer 2022 issue of this newsletter (life with a new baby!), I thought squeezing one in before autumn officially arrives would be a good idea. Below, you’ll find an update on my next novel, Goddess, fall reading plans, and a new morning ritual.
I’m thrilled to report that my second novel, Goddess, is in the final stages of production. This means we are quite literally dotting i's and crossing t’s as I receive the final proofreads and we begin to send out advance copies for review. If you follow me on social media, you’ve likely already seen the brilliant cover, designed by Alysia Shewchuk. I am so excited about this cover. It’s everything I wanted and more—colour, humour, beauty—and I hope readers will be drawn to it as much as I am.
Goddess will be published on January 3, 2023. As a book about wellness, I can’t help but think the timing of publication is a cheeky nod to our age-old preoccupation with New Year’s resolutions and getting healthy after the holidays.
I’m happy to say you can now pre-order Goddess wherever books are sold! If you follow other authors, you’ve probably already heard the spiel about how important pre-orders are, but if not, just know that they really do mean so much to authors like me. In a nutshell, pre-orders show booksellers that people are interested in an author’s work. They tell bookstores and online outlets that our books are worth promoting and talking about, that they’re worth investing time and energy into. So yes, very, very important!
If you’d like to pre-order Goddess, I’d encourage you to do so from your local independent bookstore, but I also have links to other places you can purchase, including Indigo, here on my website. Think of it as a very early holiday gift to yourself — something to look forward to in the new year!
Thank you so much in advance to all who pre-order!
My reading life continues to be different after having a baby. I read less these days, and definitely more slowly, but I also think I probably enjoy reading more than ever because I savour it with new appreciation (ah, the quiet joy of alone time with a good book). Here’s what’s on my to-read list this fall…
The Body in Question by Jill Ciment
Confession: I’m already half-way through this book. But as someone who adds items to my to-do lists that I’ve already completed, I think it’s fair game. It’s also (so far) very, very good. The premise alone had me hooked: two sequestered jurors strike up a love affair during a high-profile murder trial.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Not only does the title of this book come from Macbeth (my favourite Shakespeare play), but the sweeping story about “two friends—often in love, but never lovers” set in the world of video game design just sounds fresh and cool.
Helpmeet by Naben Ruthnum
I’m a big fan of reading spooky books in the lead-up to Halloween and I plan to dive into this historical horror offering, which sounds both beautifully written and completely gruesome, in late October.
Each morning I wake up early with my son Rufus, and while I make coffee and he eats breakfast (he’s currently very into banana pancakes), we listen to an episode of This Is Love, a podcast about love in all forms, between all creatures. There’s a season about love and Italy and I recently finished the season about love and animals—quite a range! I’ve found listening to This Is Love to be a positive, reflective, and beautiful way to start each day. If you’re looking to dip a toe, this episode is my absolute favourite, followed closely by this one.