My goodness, how is it the end of March already? It feels like it was only yesterday when I hastily slapped together February’s newsletter, promising that my regular, lengthy, somewhat ranty opening monologue would return in the next one.
I guess this is the next one then.
Turns out February Jamie made some promises she couldn’t keep.
What I do have though, are some excellent updates, and wicked book and resource recommendations so, cut me some slack, okay?
Updates
As of this morning, I have less than 100 pages of Love, Julie left to revise based on the EXCELLENT feedback from my first round of beta readers. Thank you so, so much to Kristine, Holly, Shayla, Kendall and Stacey. Your feedback was amazing and extremely helpful. After I finish the final pages, I will be doing one more read-through and then I’ll send it off to my publisher (for the first time!) on April 4th. I am very excited! And also scared. But mostly excited! This is why I’ve been too busy to put together a proper newsletter. I’ve also decided to agressively learn French for some reason, which doesn’t help.
I will be doing an Instagram giveaway (for Canadians only) of a signed copy of Someone to Kiss on April 4th which will be the SIX MONTH anniversary of its launch. I know, I can’t believe it either! And, yes, I did previously say the giveaway would be in March, but I think we’ve already established that I’m a liar.
In other SUPER EXCITING Someone to Kiss news, my favourite second-hand bookstore, Dartmouth Book Exchange, will be doing a spotlight on Someone to Kiss the week of April 24th to 30th! Stay tuned to my social channels for updates and to follow the fun!
I will be announcing in the April newsletter what the very exciting (to me) project is that I’ve been working on that I alluded to in the February newsletter. Probably.
What I’m reading - non-fiction edition
It probably would have been to my benefit to read this BEFORE I wrote my first (and second) book but, better late than never, right? So far, I’m finding this book to be an excellent writing resource for any genre.
I had initially bought this as research for Love, Julie but then never actually got around to reading it because the book’s direction changed a bit. I still wanted to read it though, and I’m glad I am. I’ve only read a couple of chapters but, so far, it seems like a great book with some really important messaging. If it turns out to be as great as I think it’s going to be, I’ll do a more detailed review in the next newsletter. Or will I? Who really knows anymore.
Resources
I use software called Scrivner to write and I love it. For my next project (details TBD, see above) I purchased this template from Jen Terpstra. It is, without hyperbole, the best writing tool I have ever purchased. It is amazing and I encourage all writers to, at the very least, check it out. Do it. Right now. No pressure.