Welcome to the last issue of the year, which just so happens also to be the last issue that will land in your inbox while I’m still in my 30s. Between now and the next issue, we’ll all start a new year, and I’ll start the next decade of my life: my 40s!
Until then, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, see you in 2024!
What I’m Working On
My Debut Novel: An Expected End
On December 7, I was honored to be the guest on two different fabulous podcasts, Transcendent Minds with Peter Michael Dedes and the Reading and Writing podcast with Jeff Rutherford. During both, I was able to discuss An Expected End and some of the ideas it presents and questions it poses. I thoroughly enjoyed both interviews—they were a lot of fun, but as I await their release, I find I’m constantly thinking of things I wish I would’ve said or things I wish I would’ve said differently. I imagine this will be worse when I actually hear the episodes, but I’m excited, nonetheless.
An Expected End is not a book about death. It’s a book about life, and how we choose to live it. It’s a book about time, and how we choose to spend it. It’s a book about love in some of the many ways in which it comes to us. It’s a book about acceptance and belonging and family. It’s a book about being human.
One thing I want people to know, which I failed to mention in either podcast, is that An Expected End is not a book about death. It’s a book about life, and how we choose to live it. It’s a book about time, and how we choose to spend it. It’s a book about love in some of the many ways in which it comes to us. It’s a book about acceptance and belonging and family. It’s a book about being human.
When the episodes are released, I’ll includes links and information in a future issue of this newsletter, as well as on Instagram.
You might recall that several weeks ago, I met up with Lisa McLaughlin of The Bookshelf Irvington. We’ve settled on a date in March when I’ll be privileged to act as a visiting author for the shop’s book club meeting. I’m, honored, excited, and nervous for this opportunity!
Outdoor Writing
Look for my story about 42 Presidential busts abandoned in a field near Williamsburg, Virginia, in the January/February 2024 issue of Cooperative Living Magazine.
Looking ahead, I am super excited for the awesome lineup of stories on deck for Explore More 2024, to include Virginia State Parks’ Wandering Waters Paddle Quest, Daisey’s Island Cruises’ dog-friendly wild pony boat tours, dog-friendly adventures across the state, and hiking the Great Channels (also known as Virginia’s Slot Canyons).
Volunteering
The winter issue of The Bay Quarter Bulletin goes out January 1, so I’m working on compiling community members’ news and board members’ reports.
Unfortunately, Scholastic had to postpone the adjudication for their writing awards, and as a result, I had to step down as a juror. Typically, winter break affords me the extra time I need to read and evaluate entries, but with the new dates falling in February and March, I likely won’t have enough time to devote to the effort.
What I’m Reading
You might recognize the name “Matt Cricchio” from an earlier issue of this newsletter. Currently, I’m (finally) reading his novel, Security Day, based on his time serving in Afghanistan. The short chapters, told from various perspectives, make for a page-turner, and I’m being not only entertained, but also educated, as I read.
Next up: Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us. A student lent it to me, and I try always to read books students recommend to me (whether I think I’ll like them or not).
Recently, I purchased Sindhoor Pangal’s Dog Knows: Learning How to Learn From Dogs and I’m looking forward to reading it soonish. I love learning more about how I can be a more responsible, attentive, informed, and all-around good dog guardian.
Links to My Latest
The delivery date for preorders of Jackie McCool’s first coffee table book, Beer Dogs, currently available, is today! I can hardly wait to see it, as a full spread featuring The Littles is included, in addition to an essay I wrote about them, Jack, and Sadie.
My friends and fellow Richmond writers Joyce Miller and Lauren Mosher also have work included, and my friend and talented artist Mike Zaweski, who designed the cover art for An Expected End, created the map of breweries that appears in the book. This book would make a great gift for the dog lovers and/or craft beer enthusiasts in your life.
And, of course, An Expected End is still a recent publication. You can order it through Amazon, Books-a-Million, Barnes & Noble, Abe Books, and Bookshop.org.
The Littles—and Archie!
The photo below is admittedly a few years old, but it’s soooo cute and festive, I figured, why not share it?
Below, Nacho helps me write out Christmas cards.
In the photo below, Nacho and Archie share my lap!
Soda loves the fluffy down comforter that usually stays in our office upstairs. Recently, we brought it downstairs so she could enjoy it along with our company. She seems pretty pleased about the arrangement. (Don’t tell her, but she’s getting a second down comforter for Christmas, so she can keep one upstairs and one downstairs.)
Below, Archie leans in for a little kiss.
What I Saw Outside
Headed home after a recent hike with The Littles and a friend, we were delighted by this festive pickup truck.
I woke up last Monday morning to a surprise snow shower. Below is what the storm looked like as it moved off during my drive to work.
This past weekend, we drove around our neighborhood to admire Christmas light displays. Most of them included an area or path where we could walk around. These adorable gingerbread houses were along one such path.
Literary Calendar
January
January 20, 2024 | 1pm-3pm | An Expected End Reading and Signing at Chesterfield Town Center Barnes & Noble
Join me for a 10- to 15-minute reading of my debut novel, An Expected End, followed by the opportunity to purchase a copy (or copies!) and have it (them!) signed.
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you, too!
In the vein of the decorated truck: Driving to work this morning, a car passed me with an illuminated, inflatable Frosty in the front passenger seat.
Merry Christmas! And also happy birthday! Hope you have a wonderful winter break. Love all the fun pictures in this post-- that decorated truck is such a little spot of joy! Thanks for sharing.