Wait…it’s already March?

Time flies when your country is under an oligarchy 😬

I had fully intended to be very diligent with updating my substack. But here we are, March 1st, and I’ve gone the first 2 months of the year having nothing to say. I mean, I vacillate between being speechless and screaming %&@%*@^ as I watch everything unfold in this country and the world around us.

PROOF OF LIFE…though I’m still in my pajamas and it’s well past lunch time. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I’ve also had 2 senior puppers who have decided that a fun way for mommy to spend all her money is to have her take them to the vet every week or so. Senior dogs are both the biggest blessing and a heartbreak just waiting to happen. We almost had to say goodbye to one of ours, Chrissy, going as far as to discuss what day we’d bring her in to put her to down. But, this hasn’t been the first time we thought it was the end and she’s bounced back as if nothing was wrong at all. And apparently, it wasn’t going to be the last. She’s doing great as of today.

And, of course, there’s the daunting task of last minute edits and marketing preparations and cover discussions and planning and all the blah blah blahs that go into releasing two books into the world this year.

So maybe I’ll just focus on catching you up on that side of things for this month’s newsletter. Seems a better topic than the other things that have been on my mind.

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May 13th is right around the corner and with it, the release of THE ROMANCE RIVALRY. I’m not kidding when I say that this book IS PURE JOY…it was a joy to write, a joy to edit, and honestly now, a joy to market. Because this whole book is a celebration of my favorite thing—the romance genre—and the books and authors and tropes that make it so special.

And not even P U B L I S H I N G with all its bullshit, can bring me down. (that’s a lie, but I’m trying to not let it be one).

Can I be honest with you? Publishing, especially YA publishing, sucks. It’s not a meritocracy. It’s not a system built on fairness. Every marker for success is arbitrary, bogus, out of the author’s control. There are very cleary the haves and have nots. And it’s pretty hard not to feel shitty about the entire process as an author.

I have been on the side where my publisher has supported me and my book. And I have been on the side where the publisher could care less if you sell any copies at all. And the difference between being on one side vs the other has had nothing to do with me and everything to do with…well, I have no idea. The whim of the publisher?

In any case, THE ROMANCE RIVALRY has had 3 editors and 3 imprints attached to it. It’s almost a miracle that in this tumultuous day and age of YA publishing (especially contemporary YA), it’s even making it to the shelves. But it’s doing so with very little acknowledgement or support from in-house.

I almost decided to throw my hands in the air, say fuck it, and just look forward to my next book. But…remember how I said this book IS PURE JOY? And we need that right now. Shit, I NEED THAT RIGHT NOW. So, I’m gonna do whatever it takes to celebrate it.

All that said, let me share with you all first, the preorder campaign for THE ROMANCE RIVALRY!!! And then, maybe I’ll also hint at what the TOUR will look like…just a tiny glimpse?

Preorder a copy of the book HERE from MEET CUTE BOOKSHOP (my beloved local romance indie!) and you get…all this!

No joke, the trope mini buttons are THE CUTEST!

And, I think I promised a hint about a book tour? (obviously) Not publisher sponsored…but rather, funded by my 401k (kidding…kinda) and the generous hearts of some of my closest author friends. Let me tell you who’s coming with me!!!

More info and all the details to come…soon!

There’s also so much going on with my adult release, JULIA SONG IS UNDATEABLE (Oct 28). A book I’m SO FREAKING PROUD OF!!! But this newsletter is getting long and I’m already tired. Ha! But maybe next time we catch up, I’ll have a cover to show you????

Let me close with this. On the bidding of my bestie Julie Soto, I binged INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE (the tv show). I’ve never read the books nor seen the movies so I had very little idea what it was about. And after 2 seasons in the can, I can say, it’s one of the most f*cked up, beautiful, HOT, and deeply romantic things I have ever seen. I mean…I sobbed multiple times. And (much to Julie’s delight), I loved it so so so much!!!!

LOOK AT THIS ANGUISH…

(ignore dog hair on screen)

Cannot recommend it enough. And if you do end up watching it, please tag

Julie Soto

in all your posts so she can have the credit of being the vampire who turned you and count you among the many. :)

Okay…that’s it for now! Sorry I’m all over the place. No promises it will be any better next month, but here’s hoping! <3

xo,

Susan