Friday Reads 1.17.25

When A Juggernaut Comes Calling...

Hello friends. Hope this missive finds you well!

It’s been a good, quiet, creative, and literary week here. I started a new novel, read two books, and maintained my social media sabbatical. Y’all, it’s been unbelievably restorative. Only two weeks away thus far, and everything is working better. So much so that I am going to have to redefine my relationships with the endless scroll entirely. Granted, I am coming off a massive promotional push that meant I was online constantly for two months, so any pullback would feel good. But the slow social of Substack is what I’ve been craving for years. I am not a quippy person. I am a terrible photographer. I am superb at Canva, but perfectionism means I spend twice as long as I should making things. It’s not healthy to try and be something you’re not. What I am is a writer, and that means exploring ideas long form is my jam.

I miss my friends, and I miss some of the soothing feeds I follow. But I am an all-or-nothing kind of person. I’m afraid nothing is the path this year. Nothing but this space, this forum. A slower, gentler way of communicating. Plus, a little mystique is a good thing. Nothing much has changed here except I managed to get all the books off the floor and onto the shelves, and the cat continues to sleep adorably. Scintillating content, let me tell you.

I am watching the potential TikTok ban coming Sunday in the US with interest. BookTok is obviously a huge conduit for readers to find books that might otherwise fly under the radar. Many of my authors friends (Jeneva Rose, I’m looking at you) have absolutely crushed it there. I couldn’t handle the sensory overload and eventually just deleted my account. In light of the upcoming ban, I’m happy I didn’t go all in. The idea of having years of investment in growing a following taken away arbitrarily is another reason I’m building my community here. Facebook has done this to authors for years. Someone hacks your page, and poof - the thousands of people you’ve amassed are gone. I’ll say it again and again: find ways to control the path to your audience. Newsletters might seem stodgy, but no one can take them from you.

I’m skimming over the actually important part of the week. A new book! I have exactly zero information to share except it’s underway, I’ve written 10,000 words on it so far this week, and I’m happy drafting sans outline. It feels so good to be back to work. I’m also working on the copyedit post for 22 Steps. Everything is moving slowly this month. Apologies.

On to the books. As anticipated, I read Lisa Jewell’s DON’T LET HIM IN, and I have to say, it’s another winner from one of my favorite writers. Lisa has the ability to take something seemingly banal and twist it into a terrifying thriller. This book is very much an homage to Tom Ripley, but I think even Ripley himself would be impressed with the twists and turns.

I also am deep into Jayne Ann Krentz’s SHATTERING DAWN, another fabulous entry in the Lost Night Files. I love how Jayne’s books just grab you from page one. She is the queen of the strong opening.

➡️ A quick reminder — I will be chatting today with Jayne; we’re doing a Facebook Live on her page at 5 PM ET | 2 PM PT. We’ll talk about her latest as well as A VERY BAD THING and my new fantasy, THE BOOK OF SPIRITS! Our chats are always loads of fun. Do stop by!

Finally, in anticipation of next week’s blockbuster release of ONXY STORM from Rebecca Yarros, I’ve been rereading FOURTH WING. I know, I know. I’ve read it before. But the mark of a great book, in my mind, is one you want to reread to see what you might have missed the first time. (Or the second - ahem.) Also, when the world looks bleak, escaping into a war-torn land with brave young women and hot enemies and dragons makes it a little less awful. Plus, my dad loves them—I can’t wait to read book three for our two-person book club.

Rebecca fascinates me on many levels, not only because we share a chronic illness. Here’s an article from ELLE that is very insightful. There’s an especially wonderful and salient quote: “Social media is like living in a hall of mirrors, and no one should look at themselves that often.”

Amen, sister.

That’s it from me today. What are you reading this weekend? Any great recommendations? What do you think about the TikTok ban? Will it hurt book sales?

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