October 2024: Writing and Reading

It's almost time for discounted Halloween candy!

It’s hard to believe that we’re one month closer to to 2025. At this time last year, I was taking my daughter trick-or-treating in her pink dinosaur costume… soaking up all of the moments with just her before she took on the role of Big Sister in February. Now, I’m prepping for Halloween with a Big Sister (ladybug) and Little Brother (tiger). Time has gotten me in my feelings right now.

What I’m Writing

Here’s what’s going on in my writing universe:

I’m officially on submission!

My YA horror, Between Me and Morgan Valentine, is officially out with editors! While I hope that there’s good news in the near future, I know all too well that publishing moves slowly and in mysterious ways. So please keep your fingers crossed for me. I’d love to be able to say “I have an announcement!” in a newsletter one day…

And now it’s on to the next thing.

The advice that every author who has been on submission before has given me: Start working on something else. And having been on submission before myself…and having NOT done that, I knew something had to change this time around. If I’m not writing or focusing on another project, that meant there was more time to refresh my inbox. Refresh my inbox. Refresh my inbox. Refresh my—

Life has been busy, though (read: the ladybug and tiger I referenced in my opening paragraph). So while I haven’t made too much progress, I am focusing in on my YA horror/rom-com set at a horror convention. I’m still working on a rough outline, and then I’ll be diving into pages. I’d originally drafted about 30K words last year, but I’ve decided to shift the focus a bit. So it’ll be a fun game of “what can I salvage, what can I toss?”

What I’m Reading

Here’s what I’ve been reading this month:

The Women by Kristin Hannah: This book took me several months to get through because of life, but if I had my way I would’ve hunkered down on the couch for hours and not resurfaced until I’d finished. What an incredibly beautiful and painful story about a young woman who volunteered as a nurse during The Vietnam War. I learned so much about the war and the role of women during that time. This was my first Kristin Hannah book! It will not be my last.

Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones: I’d originally picked up this book to use as a comp title for my own novel, and was sucked into the story of two teens who start a podcast about a teenager who’d gone missing in their town years before, and the repercussions of telling a story that doesn’t belong to them. Funny, heartbreaking, and so well done.

Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu: This vampire story predates Dracula by over twenty years! I’m a huge fan of vampire lore, and this story’s felt like a blind spot to me. It’s short (the version I read was just over 100 pages), but incredibly effective. Lush, gothic, and frightening!

Some things that have made me smile recently:

Listening to “The Monster Mash” with my daughter. Making my son laugh. Honey and chamomile tea. A Vampire Weekend matinee concert at Madision Square Garden. Crossing out lines on my to-do list in highlighter. Mini pretzels and chocolate chips. Watching all of Nobody Wants This in under 24 hours. Spending time with my mom and sister. A dance floor full of happy people at a wedding.

FUN STUFF:

If you’re partial to books, subscription boxes, bookish merchandise, and writing, I have a few affiliate codes I’m happy to share with you!

Code READWITHDANI for 10% off at Hello Clio (a purse for your Kindle!)

Code READWITHDANI for 10% off at Once Upon a Book Clu

My Book of the Month referral code can be found here.

If you’re a woman writer looking for a fiercely supportive writing community, I have happily been a member of Quill & Cup since November 2022. Together we learn about craft and mindset, cheer each other on no matter where we’re at in our writing journeys, and prioritize rest. Try joining us for a trial week! My affiliate link is here.

I’d love to hear what you’ve been writing, or reading, or what’s been making you smile recently. What’s your ideal reading setup? Feel free to reply to this email and let me know! You can also find me on my website or on Instagram as @danjvrobertson or @readwithdani.