Oh, hey summer!

updates on drafting, being on sub, and my summer reading list

(photo of crystal clear Lake Huron, taken by me!)

Happy Summer Solstice to all who celebrate!

As I write this, I’m on a plane headed back home to Seattle after a lovely Canadian vacation with my dear friend, Sophie. Highlights were curling up in our cozy Airbnb to read and write together, swimming in Lake Huron (twice!) and brainstorming ridiculous romcom plots involving border patrol agents (grumpy/sunshine, anyone??).

I feel invigorated after four slow-paced days with a dear friend, ready to head home and dive into all things Summer in Seattle. My kids are out of school—let the juggling act begin!

Thanks to the #1000WordsofSummer writing challenge earlier this month, I am SOCLOSE to finishing the first draft of the novel I started two Novembers ago. I wrote the beginnings of this book many months ago, largely paused while querying book 1, then returned to write much more in the last two months. It has been quite the weirdly-paced journey, but is writing anything if not messy and unpredictable? All that matters is I plan to write THE END fairly soon, take a deep breath, then dive into revision. I don’t totally know what to expect, but I know revision will be A WHOLE THING. Thoughts, prayers, and emotional support coffees welcome. :)

Meanwhile, my first novel has now been on submission to publishers via my agent for four and a half months. Publishing is not known for its speed, and my patience muscles are seriously SO TONED at this point. Of course the hope is that any day now an editor will fall in love with my book and demand to get me on the phone immediately. Until then, I’ll keep writing the next thing because that’s one thing I can control.

It wouldn’t be summer without many hours spent reading on my deck, in my yard, at the beach…I’m dusting off my prescription sunglasses and looking forward to three new releases I’ve been eagerly anticipating, plus a novel from the ‘90s that comes highly recommended by my writing coach.

The Guncle takes Italy in this sequel by Steven Rowley, whom I had the pleasure of hearing speak (and had autograph my book) last month. I expect to laugh a lot and become even more endeared to Patrick and his unconventional uncle ways (hot tip from Steven’s talk in Seattle: this book also has a LAUNT. I can’t wait.).

I’ve been a fan of Catherine Newman since her Real Simple magazine advice column days, and adored her first book, WE ALL WANT IMPOSSIBLE THINGS, a devastating, funny, heartwarming story about friendship faced with hospice care. I have been eagerly anticipating SANDWICH, about the balancing act of raising kids and caring for aging parents. Oh, and menopause. I’ve officially entered my “give me all the menopause books” era.

Hadley Leggett is a lovely fellow Seattleite and writer friend I first met in a class at Hugo House, and was delighted to reconnect with years later through the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Her debut, ALL THEY ASK IS EVERYTHING, publishes in August. It’s a meditation on motherhood and the many shapes it can take, just in time for back-to-school.

THE INN AT LAKE DEVINE is classic Elinor Lipman, or so I’ve been told. It’s been on my shelf for years and I’m finally jumping in!

In the meantime, my Canadian friend (yep, that’s Sophie again) surprised me with Canadian darling Carley Fortune’s new book, and it has been the perfect read to start the summer season. I’m already salivating over the setting and officially moving Prince Edward Island higher up on my travel bucket list!

Happy Summer! Let me know what you’re reading/writing/doing—I’d love to hear!

Xoxo,

Beth