Reading books and dog sitting
a mid summer update
Hey everyone,
As I write this newsletter, I’m joined by a special guest who is sitting at my feet and chewing on his favorite toy.
This is Zeus, my adorable doggy nephew. My husband and I are watching him while my brother in law and sister in law are on vacation this week. Zeus likes belly rubs, looking at himself in the mirror (lol) and eating pork jerky (for dogs). Surprisingly he’s not afraid of fireworks or the vacuum. Before I sat on the couch to start writing this newsletter, I said to Zeus, “Okay, now it’s time to watch some Sex and The City.” He wagged his tail a little, so I thought he’d be interested, but so far his attention has been solely captured by his toy. (Yes, I’m doing another SATC rewatch. It’s becoming a summer ritual at this point.)
Quick bookish housekeeping: my next YA book Heartsick goes on sale October 7th! I’m doing a signed preorder campaign, which will include an art print. I’ll announce full details of that soon! But for now, I want to share that I’m partnering with indie bookstores Inkwood Books and Kiss and Tale for the campaign. You can preorder a signed book from Inkwood Books now. During checkout just note that you’d like your copy signed and/or personalized. Kiss and Tale is still working on making preorders available on their site, but I’ll let you know once those links are available!
So, what have I been up to since my last newsletter? I went to the Cowboy Carter tour and it was amazing. I can’t remember if I talked about this in a previous newsletter or not. If I did, it bears repeating lol. I attended the inaugural Black Romance Book Festival and had the best time. It was so wonderful to meet so many readers in person and see author friends. I finished the first draft of my next adult romance, The Summer Girlfriend. (Truthfully, it was like the fourth draft. I revise a bunch before I let my editors read my drafts for the first time—something I’ve talked about before in this newsletter). I moderated an event with Arriel Vinson for her wonderful debut YA Under the Neon Lights at Cafe Con Libros in Brooklyn. A couple weeks later I moderated another event at Cafe Con Libros, this time with Ashley Woodfolk and Olivia Cole for their very fun and hilarious book Call Your Boyfriend.
This upcoming week I’ll be at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn with Brittany Kelley, moderating her launch for her book, Relationship Goals, which is pitched as Ted Lasso meets How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. This was a very fun read, and tickets for the event are available here! On July 19th, I’ll be at B&N Union Square with Sangu Mandanna to talk about her next book A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping. Tickets are available here!
Lots of moderating happening over here! It’s been making me think about the Journalism courses that I took in undergrad lol.
I’ve mostly been reading for the events that I’ve been moderating, but while I was on deadline over the last couple months, I did manage to fit in some time to read books for fun. I read I Think They Love You by Julian Winters, about Denz who is fake dating his ex to prove to his family that he isn’t afraid of commitment and is the best choice to step into the CEO role of his family’s event planning business after his dad retires. I read Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams, an enemies to lovers romance about Emily who falls for her nemesis/fellow teacher Jack after he moves next door. I read Audre & Bash are Just Friends by Tia Williams, a YA about 16 year old Audre who is working on a self help book for teens for her college admissions but realizes she hasn’t lived enough life to offer solid advice; enter Bash, her fun consultant. (Audre is Eva’s daughter from Seven Days in June!) I also read It’s You Every Time by Charlene Thomas, about Sydney and Marcus who are stuck living the same day over and over, and they have to work together to figure out how to break the cycle. These were all five star reads for me!! I highly recommend them for your summer TBRs!
Aside from rewatching SATC (currently on season 2; Carrie and Big just broke up for the second time), I watched season 2 of America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders on Netflix. I was so happy to hear that the cheerleaders got a significant raise. They work so hard. Fun fact, on Halloween in the first grade, I dressed up as a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader (the costume was appropriate for kids of course lol). I went to the movies with my best friend and saw The Materialists. I love Pedro Pascal, and he was very charming and dashing. But Chris Evans’s character really stole the show for me. He yearned so openly and vulnerably! It fueled my theory that Marvel has kept possible romantic leads held hostage over the last decade and a half lol. Now that Pedro is in the next Fantastic Four movie, who knows when we’ll see him in a romance film again!
I took a three week break from writing, and it was nice to give my brain a creative breather. During my break, my husband and I took a mini road trip up to Lake George, and it was relaxing to be in nature. Alas, tomorrow the grind restarts. But even though writing is hard, I really do love my job, and whenever I take a break, I eventually get to a point where I’m always itching to write again. While I wait to get edits back on TSG, I’m using this time to work on a couple different things that I’m excited to share more about soon. I’m going to keep trying to fit in time to read for fun when I can. The next book on my (very big) TBR is Plus Size Player by Danielle Allen. It’s one of my most highly anticipated books of the year and I can’t wait to start reading!
Okay, Zeus keeps dropping his toy next to me on the couch and looking at me with his big puppy dog eyes, so I’d better stop writing and play tug of war with him for a little lol. I hope you’re all taking care of yourselves. Until next time!
xo, Kristina
I finished Plus Size Player today! It was INCREDIBLE!