February '26 ins/outs
I FINISHED MY NOVEL
Well, I did it—I finally finished my second novel. I sent out my first batch of queries this weekend, diving back into the trenches after shelving my first book last summer.
Truthfully?? I don’t have the anxiety or nerves I did the first time, mostly because I know what to expect now. Not that I’m an expert at this—I just think nothing can really prepare you for your first time querying a novel, facing weekly rejections, learning about the pitfalls and quirks of the publishing industry, getting let go from your job halfway through, questioning all your life choices, etc. etc. I feel more at peace this time, and not only because I think this book is a banger and 100% without a doubt more “queryable” than the first one. A year of therapy will do that to you!! 🤠
My second novel, CRUEL SUMMER, is basically TELL ME LIES set a few years after college, if Stephen DeMarco wasn’t a total psychopath and nobody dies. It’s a toxic romance set in LA and New York about two failed creative types who haven’t seen each other in six years until they run into each other at the airport on the way to their mutual friend’s wedding. The ideal setting for reading it is roasting on a beach, but it’s also a deeply emotional story about ambition and how to balance passion with practicality that would be right at home in a book club. Because it’s me, one of the main characters wants kids and the other probably doesn’t (uh oh)—but it’s not nearly as big of a focus as it was in my first book. It’s more of the ranch dressing on a salad that’s full of romantic angst and friend group drama. Delicious.
What else would you like to know???? I’d love to tell you a little more about the writing process (it took a full year including two rounds of beta readers) and report back on what it’s like querying for a second time once I really get going. Here’s a Google form where you can ask me anything about writing, my novel(s), publishing, querying, rejection, etc. Don’t be shy! Ask me whatever!
In the meantime, here’s a silly little mood board I made because why not :)
I genuinely can’t believe it’s almost March but I guess maybe I can because 2026 has already been too long and we’re only two months in. 🙃 Roughly 4-6 more weeks of cold weather over here and then it’s (Minnesota) summer, baby! My season! x
1. Dressing like a therapist for my grad school Zoom interview — They say dress for the job you want, right?? It was a group interview, and the other woman on it also had on a collared shirt with a sweater, lol. (These are both from Sézane and I have a feeling I’ll be buying more colors in the future.)
2. Alysa Liu’s “do it for the fun” Olympic gold medal-winning routine — Tears streamed down my face the first time I watched this. There’s something so insanely powerful about someone who does things in their own way, for fun, for joy, because they want to share their art with the world. I’m choking up again even typing this. Stay tuned for a full essay tomorrow.
3. IGK ‘BLONDE POP’ Purple Toning Shampoo — I’ve used so many purple shampoos over the years, but I like this one the best. Lathers extremely well and doesn’t smell terrible (looking at you, Clairol “Shimmer Lights”). The only downside is that it’s kind of expensive, but I’d say worth it if you’re in the market for a brass-fighting shampoo.
