Happy Sunday, friends. I hope this week’s missive finds you safe and well. It’s been an excellent week at Casa Ellison, because I finished and turned in the monster revision. With luck, the next stage is a quick line edit, then the book will go to galleys and we’ll do a simultaneous copyedit. Maybe it’s clean enough to go straight to copyedit. Hope reigns supreme! 

This is a glorious moment in time, though. I’ve written a COVID book, which is an accomplishment no matter that I missed an early deadline, and now, with the uncertainty of the fall in the headlights, I get to start something fresh! Yes, I know I’m supposed to take some time off, and I promise, I have. (I have a tan, if that gives you a clue.) But I do better when my mind is at work on creative issues. At least I get to reward myself with some fiction again! My list is so long, so varied, that I have to pace myself. 

How do you decide what to read next? Inquiring minds want to know.

I started watching The White Princess with Jodi Comer as Elizabeth of York and I am gobbling it down. WHY didn’t y’all tell me how fabulous it is??? After Killing Eve, I’d be happy watching Jodi Comer read a grocery list, but she’s wonderful in this, all simmering rage and fury in the most gorgeous gowns. The whole story is perfectly cast and acted. If you haven’t seen it, do!

I set up my bullet journal today, and actually had to start a new notebook, which is always an awkward time of year.  So many projects with ties to previous months, so many notes to refer to. So much planning to do for the rest of the year. Even though I have almost zero travel (I am going to go see my parents) I find there’s still plenty of planning to be done.

This is a perfect moment in time to revisit your plans for 2020, see what you’ve accomplished, what got shot to hell, and what you need to do going forward. I’ll admit, so many things I’d planned to do I’ve simply… let go. There’s no point. It’s very freeing, this revamping of the creative life, of creative goals. 

I’ve found any number of things that I thought vital before are no longer of importance to me. If there is a silver lining to the cloud of 2020, it’s permission to revel in what truly makes you happy, and letting the rest go. 

In the spirit of jettisoning unhealthy habits and thoughts and projects…Onward!

THE LATEST ON THE INTERNET:

Now that it’s August, it means the countdown is officially on for GOOD GIRLS LIE releasing in mass market paperback max. Make sure you preorder your copy!

There were two episodes of A WORD ON WORDS this week. First, there was an incredibly special edition featuring Rep. John Lewis, taped in 2016 with LaTonya Turner in Nashville Public Library’s Civil Rights Room. Second, my cohost Mary Laura Philpott interviewed Brit Bennett about her lauded book THE VANISHING HALF.

19 of the Most Unbelievably Realistic Book Cakes. These are incredible!

Travel through a tunnel of books at this Beijing bookstore. Gorgeous design!

A New Role for Little Free Libraries: Little Free Pantries. Very cool.

In Southern Illinois, Cairo's first Black librarian celebrated as she turns 100 years old. What a remarkable woman!

Can literary talent be inherited? What do you think? I vote yes.

20 Books TED Speakers Think You Should Read This Summer. This is a remarkably diverse list.

Bookish Notecards, Sticky Notes, and Other Paper Goods. I love bookish goodies!

Boarding Schools, Ghost Stories & New Year's Resolutions ~ A Pen Pal Conversation with NYT Bestselling Author, J.T. Ellison. I loved this conversation with my good friend Heather Gudenkauf.

BECOMING DUCHESS GOLDBLATT by Duchess Goldblatt

While I was finishing my revision, I decided I wouldn't allow myself to read in order to stay completely focused on the story. Yeah, that wasn't a great plan. I languished without a book. So I amended it to I wasn't allowed to read fiction. And maybe that was just an excuse to buy BECOMING DUCHESS GOLDBLATT. Duchess's book surprised me on many levels. It was sad. It was joyous. It was funny as hell. I was moved, and I am willing to bet you will be, too. Thank you to Blake Leyers for introducing me to Duchess's Twitter feed way back when. What a culmination. What a beginning.

What are you reading?

That’s it from me. Stay out of hurricanes, let go of one thing you know you don’t want to do, take a deep breath, and I’ll see you next week!

Peace and hugs,
J.T.