On the occasion of my (upcoming) birthday, I decided to compile a list of my top 50 favorite books (so far, and read into that number what you will—ahem!) Normally, I hate these best of/favorite lists, mainly because it’s so agonizing to narrow them down. The beautiful torture of it all! That was the case here, but it also allowed me to take a minute to savor standout reading experiences among the thousands of books I’ve read (including, oh so many submissions as an editor).

Sharing a list like this is also a little bit self-indulgent—why do you care about my favorite books? Maybe you don’t! But I, personally, love to get a glimpse into people’s favorite books, or peer at the bookshelves—it tells me something about them. What does this list say about me—who knows? One observation I have is that it’s a decent mix of fiction, non-fiction, commercial, upmarket, and memoir—no one category dominates. I’m drawn to authors of all types, backgrounds, and styles as well. And I promise these are pure and true selections: I didn’t curate the list with any eye or intention toward making myself seem better read or more well-rounded than I am! No, I have never read Moby Dick or Ulysses and never will. And yes, I have read every book by Toni Morrison and none of them rose to favorite level, alas, though much-admired.

One note: I didn’t include any books I’ve published as an editor—talk about impossible choices. Also, these titles are in no particular order or ranking, except the first few are books I loved as a kid/teen. As a sidebar: I have to laugh that at, like, 14-years-old, one of my favorite novels (Raising Demons) was about a harried white mother in Connecticut raising her stressful children. As the Black, single childfree woman I grew up to be, that’s a head-scratcher, but says a lot about the power of literature to connect! haha

When I look at this whole list, actually, that’s what I see: the power of literature overall. It’s no exaggeration to say that reading has been one of the most influential factors in shaping the person I am, not to mention, my career and life. Books have brought me the most uncomplicated joys, the deepest satisfaction, and some of the greatest escapes. They’ve helped me to figure out how to live, how to be, and how to think.

So as I look back, take stock, plan ahead—as certain milestones compel you to do—I’m taking a minute to appreciate and be grateful for that influence. To be honest, I arrive at this threshold a little shaky and anxious and that’s another reason I wanted to do this list. To remind myself that books have always been a beacon and a guiding light, and whatever else happens in the coming decades, that will never change. However uncertain the future may be, there is one thing I will always be able to count on and look forward to: my next great read. The most simple, but most profound, steadfast treasure.

I’m so curious if we share any favorites!

BONUS: I do want to shout out an August read for your TBR’s—Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner. I had the privilege of publishing Dawn’s last book, Three Girls from Bronzeville. Her recently published novel may have a new editor (sniff, sniff), but the same stellar story-telling in this story about racial and class dramas that ensue when a Black couple leaves Chicago for a “utopian” suburb.

I will be back next month to tell you about a Fall novel that will absolutely end up on many “favorites” and “best of” lists. It’s SO delicious and delightful and has smash hit written all over it. I’m very eager to meet and gush with the author and can’t wait to share this recommendation and our conversation!!! All will be revealed…SOON!!!

Happy birthday, fellow Leos!

We’re going to get to my August recommendation for you! But before that I have a somewhat blasphemous confession for a publishing person: I don’t love hardcover books. I find them heavy, cumbersome to carry around and curl up with, and with the modest size of my NYC apartment, I don’t have a lot of excess bookshelf space to collect them. So I’m very selective about the hardcovers I acquire and keep—books that I know I want to have a sacred place on my shelves for years to come.

But here’s the rub: I also don’t like e-books! Mainly because I do most of my “work” reading that way (for clients or, in the past, reading submissions) and so I have a Pavlovian response to go into in “work mode” if I’m on my iPad, as opposed to being in a pure pleasuring reading mindset. (Though I’m lucky in my work there’s so much of a blur between those!) As far as audio books, I’ve come around to them more and more, but I’m so picky about narrators which narrows the options! So that leaves….paperbacks; in my opinion, the very best format: lighter, cheaper, portable, same great story!

The challenge for me with paperbacks, though, is that they typically come out about a year after the hardcover. (For some quick publishing terminology we refer to books in their first year of publication—usually in hardcover—as “front list” and anything after a year in the marketplace as “backlist.” You hope for a strong “backlist sales,” which means a book will not only sell well when it’s first out, but will continue to sell and sell forever, usually in paperback— looking at you, Catch 22 or To Kill A Mockingbird among thousands of others.)

It requires patience, then, to wait for a paperback version of a book I want to read, which is why I try to track down early galleys and ARCS of books I’m excited to get my hands on and blab about. I get to read early AND in a format I prefer—win/win. But if I miss the window, I also keep a running list of books to look out for in paperback—including my August recommendation for you! It’s a little bit of a departure from my usual hardcover suggestions but every now and then I’m going to shout out an exciting paperback on the horizon for my fellow soft cover lovers. Like: THE WHITE HOT by Quiara Alegría Hudes which was published to great acclaim in hardcover last year and comes out in paperback on August 4^th! (See hardcover jacket on the right and paperback on the left—kinda fun to do a comparison.)

Granted, despite its August pub date, The White Hot doesn’t exactly scream light summer read if you’re thinking beach settings, frothy romances and friends in cabins. But, if you’re like me, and love an absorbing, intense read year round, and a short book you could finish in 1-2 afternoons on a porch, this fits the bill.

The novel centers around a young, struggling mother who, in a fit of existential desperation (relatable), runs away from her life, from her daughter, her mother and grandmother whom she lives with. The book, a short powerful punch, unfolds as a letter to the narrator’s daughter recounting the odyssey of her “escape” and explaining the reasons for it. Reading this book was like sinking into an extended poetic allegory and it left my brain vibrating with imagery. This novel is all about voice, voice, voice and language, which is incredibly lush and lyrical as you’d expect from a Pulitzer Prize winning playwright. A sampling:

A few pennies of joy anted into my heart. Well, maybe joy is too strong a word, but there were moments in that derelict station where being alive was no longer an emergency, or an aesthetic.

My anger had launched a thousand voyages and voyages were my birthright. There is a legacy of departure and seeking that is your inheritance too. Despite all the domestic playacting , you are born of journeywomen. Know this, remember this, when you step towards place you’re not meant to go.

The world had cracked open and the river appeared in a lunatic plunge raging into the gap. The wet thing screamed. It was a stone esophagus swallowing the planet’s fury. My ribcage and back registered the blast. I stood dumbstruck and drawled, repentant in nature’s cathedral. Had I never heard water before?

That’s sure one dynamic way to describe a body of water!

I could go on (and on) but it gives you a taste. And I hope encouragement to add The White Hot to your TBR.

Discoverability remains the biggest challenge for all books, in all formats. And that can be especially true for paperbacks, where there’s often not a tour or extensive review coverage to support the publication. In fact, more and more publishers are cutting their losses and not even bothering to publish a paperback if the hardcover doesn’t sell enough copies. To my mind, the whole business model needs a little bit of a shake up. For example, I, for one, would love to see a a lot more authors successfully published as “trade paperback originals” meaning the first and only edition is a trade paperback.

Publishers will often do this for an unknown, untested author for whom readers might take a chance on at $15 bucks, rather than $30, or authors that are trying to reach a younger audience. But most often hardcovers still rule the day, because the margins are so much better on a $30 book, than a $15 book. (Publishing math! Or actually just math, math). Publishers are able to pay a higher advance then to authors, which helps give them a competitive advantage and helps authors make a living—which, believe me, I love. But I also love the idea of readers being able to stretch their budgets to buy even more (frontlist) books.

Is the hardcover going to die? Never and for some content—cookbooks, lifestyle and marquee authors who readers will flock to in hardcover—it makes sense. But reading habits, economics and paths to discoverability are changing faster than the business models are and publishers (and authors) are going to have to take a serious look at how and when a two publication process makes sense going forward. Which brings me to another departure for this month: I didn’t talk to the author of The White Hot, who I’m sure would have been lovely, but I wanted to change things up and lean into a little more of the behind the scenes of publishing. So I chatted with Porsha Burke, who is the Associate Publisher at Storehouse Voices, an imprint at Penguin Random House. I wanted to dig more into the current landscape for paperback publishing and to offer a window in other roles in the industry, too. People often think of author and editor, but there are many other roles and people who make different (and vital) contributions to the making and selling of books.

Enjoy our conversation below!

Oh, before you go, I have a couple of bonus reads for you. In case you missed it, the paperback for my solo debut novel All The Men I’ve Loved Again came out a few weeks ago! (Speaking of paperbacks!)

And my former author (and current friend) Mary Pauline Lowry has a new novel just out this week—Last Night Was Killer—it’s a truly delightful comic murder mystery. Also, Jo Piazza, my former author (and current writing partner: our next book arrives in October!!!) has a new novel coming this Tuesday—The Parisian Heist—art, wealth, history, romance, heists and make it feminist!

Get these summer reads while they’re — and it’s —hot!

I’m writing to you from 34,000 feet in the sky cruising up the eastern seaboard from Atlanta, returning from the Black Romance Book Fest—a scene if there ever was one! Anytime someone says or implies, “Black women don’t buy books,” I will offer receipts of more than 2000 melanated women lugging around carts full of newly purchased novels. Another takeaway? The self-publishing scene is thriving. I saw so many indie authors with long, snaking lines of people eager to buy the many books and series these writers have published and marketed without any “gatekeepers” being involved whatsoever. It was something to behold; makes me teary, actually.

Or maybe that’s because I always get wistful and in my feels whenever I fly (just me?) Perhaps it’s the liminal space and feeling untethered from the noise of the world (I never, ever get Wifi even if it’s an option) and the reflection and mental space that allows. Nowhere to be, and nothing to do but think your thoughts or watch a movie you might never other watch otherwise. Or, of course, read— that, too. Flights are an opportunity for all the above. Also writing—hence me getting out my laptop to write to you. Why is this in letter form? Well, I had letters very much on my mind after I chatted with my featured author this month—Evann Normandin. Her novel, The Good Parts, my extremely enthusiastic July recommendation for you, is SO captivating in a way I will gush about in a moment, but the real life back-story and the fictional inciting incident both revolve around a consequential letter. I loved this because in my own debut novel, All The Men I’ve Loved Again, letters feature prominently, as two characters keep in touch across the Atlantic ocean in the year 2000. (I grow more nostalgic by the second for a pre-cell phone world!)

And guess what? The paperback edition of All The Men I’ve Loved Again is out TODAY! That’s part of the reason why I’m reaching out to you on this random Tuesday, to share that fun news, on top of this month’s recommendation—a two for one for you! (Even the covers pair well!)

Paperback publications often have less “ummph” (to use a professional term) than the hardcover—no big tour, no GMA appearances, no Publisher’s Weekly profiles like with the hardcover pub last summer. But it’s nice to think of this more budget friendly, totable version finding its way with readers; an even more beach bag friendly format for what’s already a great summer read. If you missed the chance to read All The Men I’ve Loved Again in hardcover or you have a reader friend who enjoys stories of first love and second chances, I hope you’ll check out and spread the word about the paperback. And thank you to all the readers who’ve reached out over the last year with kind words — those messages and love stories you’ve shared have also made me teary!

I told you, I’m in my feelings era! (Ironically, actually, I’m wearing a bright green shirt that reads “Feel Your Feelings” and more than one person in Hartsfield International Airport stopped me to comment on it. I consider it a personal mantra and a PSA.)

Along those lines, these days, I’m very into stories where characters are willing to put their whole fragile hearts on the line, are willing to fight, against reason and odds, for something that matters—love, self-actualization, purpose, redemption. Which brings us to The Good Parts, and its hero, Landon, who has zero chill in matters of the heart and neither do I, so relatable. When Rose, the love of his life, takes a pill to erase her memory, he’s devastated to think all the history and memories of their decades long love affair are gone, just like that. But he also sees an opportunity to win her heart….all over again. I mean, talk about a brilliant premise, which lends itself to the book’s equally brilliant tag line: She erased their past. He’s betting on their future.

Evann’s editor at Grand Central, Nicole (who came up with that tag line) sent me an early bound manuscript for a blurb all the way back last December—that’s how the book came on my radar, randomly in the mail one day. Now, blurbs can be tricky. I always love to be asked (and am honored!) and I try my best to take the time to read and offer support. But, it’s also true there are only so many hours in the day, so I told Nicole I would do my best to read, but honestly wasn’t positive I could get to it.

The high-concept premise intrigued me enough, though, to dip into the first page straight away just out of curiosity. And well, dear reader, I essentially looked up two days later. Is there anything better than getting sucked into a “I can’t stop reading this!” experience? (I last felt like that reading devouring an ARC of Strangers.) As soon as I finished the final (perfect) sentence of The Good Parts, I emailed Nicole with effusive praise. I think mine was the very first blurb to come in, but since then, many illustrious authors have also showered the book with glowing adjectives like, “deeply moving”, “clever,” “shattering,” “captivating.”

I’m thrilled to see all the accolades lining up—not least because Evann had tried to sell two other novels to publishers before this one sold (in a big auction.) It’s such a fabulous example of writerly tenacity being rewarded, a matter of the right book hitting at the right time. It’s a telling reminder for all writers: however many books are in the proverbial drawer, the book awaits and will have its day. Keep going, have faith (another cheesy t-shirt mantra.)

Evann’s journey to her debut novel is, itself, an exercise in hope and resilience—just as the love story she penned is… just as all love stories inherently are. It’s one of the few areas of life where no matter how much we “fail” at it, no matter the hurt or disappointment, somehow, some way, compelled by something deep within us, we’re always willing to try again. Almost as if we’ve taken a pill to help us forget the worst of any heartbreak….

I was thinking about that a lot at the romance book festival, seeing all these women ecstatic to be swept up in fictional stories. This is the second year for the event and it exemplifies the absolute explosion in the romance market, along with the increasing number of traditional and indie titles published in the category (double from 2020-2023!); the new imprints (like, Slow Burn, 831 and Requited) that have launched, and the new romance dedicated bookstores opening all over the country. This makes sense because reading habits are always a reflection of and a reaction to the cultural zeitgeist. We’re in a moment where happy endings and hope itself feel all too elusive. It can feel dangerous or dumb to want something so much your wild little heart might burst, be it love, or a book deal, or democracy to hold. Everyone is, apparently, lonely as ever, dating is dead, marriage is a tedious, outdated undertaking, etc.— at least according to the many dismal headlines that keep popping up in my feed.

So, of course, romance novels and love stories are a draw! We want to be pulled into the pages of a story where we can let our guard down. Where we can shed the cynicism we wear like armor in actual life, and root for love with full, ridiculous abandon. Where we can be titillated by the steamy, spontaneous sex we may not be having. Where we can believe that two people who love each other can conquer anything. Where we can enjoy a vicarious vulnerability as we reckon with the questions that fuel every good love story: What does it take for love to spark, grow, last? What obstacles can it survive—Time? Distance? Loss? Infidelity? A pill that makes you forget it?

I raced through the alternating chapters and timelines in The Good Parts breathlessly on the hook to figure out what ultimately happened between Rose and Landon that drove them apart (and drove Rose to such drastic action as wiping her memory –it’s a doozy) and if they would find their way back together. I think they’ll be some debate about how “happy” this ending is, but it also got me thinking: do our relationships ever end? Not really. We carry a person we’ve loved with us forever, along with all the ways they’ve shaped us, for better or worse. No question: love leaves a mark.

So do good books.

I hope you’ll check out Evann’s novel and listen to our chat, where we talk about that letter changed the course of her life and how we all have so many of these sliding doors moments. Maybe you’ll be inspired to write someone a letter! Even better: maybe…hopefully…All The Men I’ve Loved Again and The Good Parts will inspire to remember that as silly and mortifying as it can sometimes feel to give into your big feelings, and to embrace or chase something (a love, a dream) with unbridled optimism, it’s never foolish to follow your heart.

Here’s to a summer of love.

Xoxo,

Christine

In general, I’d like to use Book Forward to promote authors and books that might be “under-discovered.” What’s the point in me telling you about a book that’s guaranteed to be touted everywhere you look anyway, over a “hidden gem” that I’d think you’d enjoy and might not be on your radar to look out for? The Shampoo Effect doesn’t fall into that latter category as it’s already generating a ton of buzz and comes on the heels of Jenny’s very splashy debut novel, Pineapple Street. But! I’m featuring it anyway because (1) I loved and tore right through it and found it to be such a quintessential summer read and (2) Jenny and I are longtime friends / colleagues in the same small-ish club of book editors turned novelists and this presented a chance for us to dig into that shared experience on Zoom for everyone to listen in. (As opposed to where we might usually do it: lunch at a midtown restaurant.)

There’s one major way Jenny and my editor-turned-author journeys diverge though—I left full time, in-house work in 2018 when I started writing novels and Jenny is still working full-time in the hallowed halls of Penguin Random House along with a full writing career (how, Jenny? How do you balance all this? Don’t worry, I asked her in our chat!) In her role as VP/Editorial Director at Knopf she continues to publish banger after banger, including a little book you might have heard of: Yesteryear.

Talk about a novel that’s the exact opposite of hidden gem— more like blockbuster phenomenon. I confess I haven’t read the book of the moment—yet—myself. That’s largely due to my overall resistance to the whole trad-wife trend, on account of it being so white-coded in complicated ways. I talk a big game about all books being for all readers, and a lot, too, about how racially segregated reading can be and I think a book like Yesteryear exemplifies that in a way. Which is to say, I don’t see this story resonating widely with Black and brown readers mainly because we, historically, have a very different relationship to any concept of the “exalted mother” and to domestic labor. This idea of the “tradwife” and “keeping home” as a performance, social media trend or even political/feminist cudgel belies the difficult and painful history of Black women doing this work, for white women, for centuries. It wasn’t (then or now) about the likes, but about survival. And the twist that Yesteryear turns on, being transported back to 1855, well, it has a lot less of a vicarious appeal depending on your race.

Here’s something I find interesting: every few years, we have a novel that takes off like Yesteryear, that everyone in certain segments of society seems to be breathlessly buying, reading and discussing. Another such book? The Help, Kathryn Stockett’s 2009 mega bestseller, which is also, interestingly enough, about a privileged white woman exploring domestic labor, through Black maids. (Coincidentally, Kathryn has a new historical novel just out, too.) I bet someone smarter than I am could do a fascinating 5000-word think piece drawing on the parallels between those two novels, the significance of their wild success, the 17 years that have passed between these two historic publications and what it all says about race and feminism.

Anyway, while I might not be the target audience for Yesteryear for my personal reading, I’m still very curious to read it as a “publishing person” and from that perspective, I also appreciate the impassioned conversations it’s driving about the themes of the book and the story itself—the very point of literature. And all those sales! Almost 100K hardcovers and counting according to Bookscan.

I know writers can sometimes be mystified and maybe even a little resentful of one book’s success over another’s or its acquisition price. Why is this author/book only getting a $100K advance while this author/book over here commanded seven figures, as Yesteryear did? All fair—and complicated—questions (speaking of race and feminism, ahem!) But, ultimately, whatever the on-going (and worthwhile) considerations of access, fairness, subjectivity, or bias in the industry, the runaway success of one book serves all books in a rising tide lifts all boats sort of way. It can energize book buying and refill the coffers at publishing houses, funds that publishers can then spend acquiring and marketing “smaller” books. So I cheer the success of any book for those reasons, including Yesteryear, and also because I know it’s a reflection of Jenny’s vision, hard work and passion.

Jenny’s authors, I’m sure Caro Claire Burke included, will tell you she brings a deep care, curiosity and humanity to her work as an editor, and Jenny’s readers will tell you the same thing. It’s very evident in her sophomore novel. The Shampoo Effect is a rich lather of a juicy premise, characters that feel like real people, and sharp and funny prose. (I told myself I could work in lather, bubbly or rinse, but only one of them!) There’s also just the right, fun touch of publishing behind-the-scenes that comes via our heroine, Caroline, who is a former editorial assistant, aspiring writer and daughter of a famous thriller writer. When Caroline moves to a Massachusetts beach town for a fellowship, she falls hard for Van, “who has the personality of a Border Collie.” (Never has a flap copy description been more dead on.) Only one problem: Bailey, Van’s on again/off again hook up since they were teenagers, learns she’s pregnant with his baby just as his relationship with Caroline relationship is taking off. Wondering how these crazy kids were going to sort out this tantalizing conundrum kept me on the hook with the same absurdly intense investment with which I tune into the weddings episodes of Love Is Blind to see which couples will make it. (That’s high praise.) But beyond that central intrigue, the story expands to explore the bonds, deep history, fluctuating dynamics and personal crises of a tight group of friends and, my God, am I sucker for books (or movie/TV shows) about best friends or a circle of old friends. (This is making me want to do a round-up of my favorite friendship books). Jenny expertly uses the classic literary ploy of introducing an outsider, Caroline, to this social circle, who upsets the delicate balance and becomes the catalyst—literally—for secrets to be revealed and alliances to be tested in thought-provoking and big-hearted ways.

If you’re a fan of J. Courtney Sullivan (also one of Jenny’s authors!) or Kevin Wilson, you’ll love this one. It hits a similar sweet spot tonally: plot forward with a literary flair, not too taxing to read with a slight rosé buzz, with the sort of wistful emotional wallop you get when you’ve caught a really beautiful summer sunset and it feels like there’s some sort of message just for you in all that majesty.

With Memorial Day on the horizon, I’m wishing everyone a summer straight out of an engrossing beach read— lively characters, big heroine energy, road trips, easy laughs, picturesque backdrops, hot romances, surprising twists, happy endings. May it all be yours!

And I hope you have as much fun watching my chat with Jenny here as we had having it.

WORDS, WORLDS, AND WONDER still has open slots! This is the writing retreat I’m co-hosting in Kenya, Sept 22nd-29th! Life is short, make the leap. Why not seize this moment to go on a far away adventure, to pause “real” life to invest in your art, to make friends and build community in a meaningful way in a beautiful place, to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If not now, when? Email me with inquiries!

Okay, a quick word on Lindy West…speaking of topics the world doesn’t need another person weighing in about! I’m only inclined to do so because she was my second author interview for Book Forward in February, a month before her memoir (which I loved), Adult Braces, came out and I’m so sympathetic to the firestorm she’s found herself in, one I don’t believe she anticipated the scale of whatsoever. My only comment is as a long time book editor and publisher of memoir and that’s to offer a gentle reminder that it’s a fallacy to think that because someone writes about their personal life, openly and honestly, a reader is entitled or even invited to engage in all manner of commentary about it. Freedom of speech and all that, yes, you can blab and opine as much as you want. But I’ve seen so many “reactions” –particularly the condemning ones—couched with “well, she wrote a book, so she asked for it.” That thinking is off base at best, and unkind at worst, especially when the critiques are not about the book itself—the craft, the structure, the story-telling—but solely about the author’s life choices. I’m particularly troubled by the commentary questioning “honesty” in memoir writing; yes, of course, memoirs have to be factually accurate and true to the author’s actual experience, but emotional honesty is a moving target. That’s why I described Lindy’s two memoirs, written several years apart, as in conversation with each other, in a way. Our lives are always evolving! And any given person’s interpretation of and feelings about their life, work, body, marriage, are a moving target. They change and grow, often in a timeframe that’s not aligned with a publishing cycle. Which means, any personal essay or story is simply a snapshot in time. It’s hard enough to write and publish a book without being the target of a public pile on. I have so much respect for memoirists who have the courage and wherewithal to share their stories—that act alone is a gift and makes the person on the other side of the page worthy of compassion. My publishing dream (I have many) is that we would all keep that in mind when we go to our channels and platforms to critique anyone’s work; writing a book, any book, but especially a revealing one, is inherently an act of bravery, by a real human with real feelings— judge accordingly. You can also replace “writing a book” with “living a life” in the previous sentence and the same call for compassion applies!

The Lindy West flare up, though, is prime example of the overwhelming noise. I love Bookstagram, as a mission and community, but I’m also somewhat overwhelmed by the ways it, too, seems to gotten louder and more frenzied. Influencers breathlessly touting (bragging about?) how many books they’ve read in a day a week or a month—10! 34! 90! And then often rating and offering opinions of those books in extreme (sometimes unhinged) ways. I get it—it’s hard to get people to pay attention to reels, opinions, or recommendations and bookstagrammers (and newsletter writers!) are as much a victim of the attention economy as anyone else. Especially as these spaces have become more competitive and commercialized, with influencers vying to get the “hottest” advance reading copies from publishers or to be flown to NYC by them for swanky events. Status is seductive, as is money! And yet, I, personally, long for slower, quieter, more considered and generous takes that feel personal and subjective in the best possible way. Our opinion are not facts.

Thus my goal here—one single recommendation a month, and also some added value of a takeaway or two, whether it’s backstory about a book directly from the author or their team, or a behind-the-scenes tidbit about publishing or writing advice/pep talks. I want this to be a place where readers and writers and anyone drawn to books enjoys (emphasis: enjoy!) a quick-ish read and hearing from the author themselves in a light-hearted chat.

So… we should get to it!! I got a little distracted with my Ted Talk preamble. Onto a May novel, highly worthy of your TBR!

Kayla Rae Whitaker’s Returns and Exchanges is a stellar follow up to her much heralded 2022 debut, The Animators. In this, my fourth Book Forward dispatch, I realize I’ve covered a range of publishing journeys: an author who has a lot of novels under her belt (Sadeqa Johnson), an author who has a few non-fiction books (the aforementioned Lindy West), and then a young debut novelist (Tolani Akinola) and now, as it happens, (completely accidentally) I have a recommendation that falls in with another publishing milestone…the sophomore book.

Sophomore novels can be so tricky…Debuts are all promise and upside, and by the time you get to book three, four and beyond, an author has built a steady audience as evidenced by the opportunity to even publish multiple books. But the second book is fraught territory! Maybe an author’s first book did well; it got nice buzz, reviews, sales, and even ended up on bestseller or “best of the years” lists (like The Animators did)… the author might feel pressure to have the next book live up to the expectations and success set out of the gate. Conversely, let’s say that debut didn’t do so well, or as well as expected, an author might feel pressure to overcome that with a second (and potentially last) chance to grab readers! This is a classic damned if you do or don’t situation, meaning there’s no escaping the pressure either way, which is why it’s best for writers to put that out of their minds all together. Each book and each publication is its own proposition and unique journey. And each book may swing wildly between themes, structure and terrain as the author stretches and grows, a cause for celebration because who knows what delights await us as they do!

Kayla’s first book was about a friendship between young creatives and the fall out that comes after they embark on making a movie together. In Returns and Exchanges, she brings us a sweeping family saga set that stretches from the 80s to present day about a Kentucky family building a discount store empire in the Midwest and the dramatic reverberations of their choices through the years and through their class ascension. I was in awe of the way each character in this large cast was so minutely observed, as Kayla deftly switches between kaleidoscopic and deeply humane POVs. And the prose had me marking wise gems like, “But good fortune had a way of telling you a story about yourself that was just that: a story.”

The many starred prepub reviews and blurbs for Returns and Exchanges deploy adjectives like “extravagantly intelligent,” “singular” and “ambitious.” It is all of that, but for my part the main descriptor that comes to mind is immersive. Sometimes all the reviews and accolades center around what the author has accomplished on the page—a lot, here!— and sometimes the accolades about what the book did for you; in my case, absorb me for 432 pages. I also appreciate when I fall for a book that’s slightly outside the frame of my obvious “go tos” almost like a treasure I’ve stumbled up on, instead of sought out. This novel one came on my radar a few months back because of the early buzz, which made me curious.

I talk and think a lot about readers’s habits and why they’re drawn to what they are. We so often make categorical statements and choices: “I don’t read literary fiction.” “I don’t care for romance.” “Fantasy isn’t for me.” “I hate family stories.” And that’s fine, liking what you like is not a crime, but it’s always nice to stretch! And for editors, authors and publishers, we need readers to be willing to do this, to take a chance on a new author, or new genre, otherwise it’s impossible to expand the marketplace. These discoverability considerations are a preoccupation for publishing folk: how do readers know a book exists? What makes them pick it up? Because it sounds cool? Because they already love the author? Because they’ve read reviews? Where? Because they were forced to read when their book club picked it? Sometimes, it’s all the above. Sometimes, it’s because of a great jacket!

And speaking of…Kayla’s novel seemed like a good one to talk about covers and the process. A little behind-the-scenes peek, including outtakes! I chatted with Chris, the designer, about his inspired work for Returns and Exchanges. Chris is a freelance graphic designer—it’s common for publishing houses to hire folks not employed by the publisher on a project by project basis. He was excited to take this on because it was a break from the non-fiction covers he usually does and thus offered a little more room for creativity. First, he got a brief about the design, the initial step in the process in which the editor outlines a loose vision for the visual tone, the audience, and relevant comp titles. Here, the editor called for a “character driven literary fiction cover, with a 70s/80s retro twist.” The novel is about a department store but no one wanted that to be too on the nose, with shelves or the like. Chris got to work, first reading Kayla’s manuscript and pulling out imagery from the text that could work for the cover. And then he got to researching—he looked at store layouts, catalogs, and vintage typefaces and logos, which were especially crucial since fonts can be such a shorthand for an era. Here are some initial designs Chris came up with that he shared with the art director.

The art director would lay out proposed options, like these, on a table at the weekly cover meeting and the editor, publisher and, usually, some marketing and publicity folks weigh in. Of course, these are subjective opinions. But reactions are also informed by years of experience and guided by concrete questions, too: is the design too busy? Does the author’s name and title stand out? Is the color pallete eye-catching—too soft, or too bold? Does it look fresh/interesting or too derivative of other covers in the marketplace? Etc. This is a fascinating process because some of it- much of it- comes down to vibes in evaluating whether the visual concept ultimately does the book and story justice and in a way that compels readers to pick it up. No easy feat!

It’s kind of fun to see the different iterations, which are all strong. I have a clear runner up, but I like where the jacket landed and (spoiler alert) so does Kayla; it’s one of the things we chatted about in the video below. Also: her writing routine (which made me feel like a slacker) and what she’s most looking forward as her sophomore novels hits bookstores May 19^th. Enjoy our conversation and if you’re inclined to preorder Returns and Exchanges—I hope so!—there’s a campaign happening with Astoria Bookshop where you get a signed (personalized book) and a temporary tattoo with purchase. How fun.

ARE YOU LOOKING TO LEVEL UP YOUR CRAFT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO SUCCEED AS A WRITER FROM AN INDUSTRY EXPERT—(ME!)? I have just the global adventure for you! I’ve been to a few writing retreats lately and have been reminded of how impactful they can be, so I am that much more excited to be hosting one!!! In Kenya, September 22^nd-29th. The details about Words, Worlds and Wonder are here. It’s going to a once and a lifetime experience—a magical one. I don’t throw that word around a lot. It will also be safe and easy—all of the details are planned for you. All you have to do is bring your passport, pages and positive vibes! Apply today!

Diving into Leave Your Mess At Home, Tolani Akinola’s debut novel, I had an out of body experience… It was as if I were back working full-time at a publishing house experiencing that particular giddy excitement that comes with falling in love with a submission in just the first few pages. In my mind, I was already calling my assistant into my office to rave, thinking about which colleagues would read the manuscript, crafting my pitch for ed board and running mental numbers for the P&L editors have to put together to make the financial case to acquire a book.

And then I remembered…I don’t work in-house (at the moment!) Every so often, a book comes along to make me lament that, that makes me miss the game. Leave Your Mess At Home is one of them. It’s exactly the type of novel I loved to acquire as an editor (and read as a reader!)— a brilliant, poignantly messy family saga that takes us deep into the minds—and hearts—of the characters and illuminates something indelible about how relationships and families work (and don’t). Let me tell you, I was gripped by the four Longe siblings, their psyches and dramas, questionable choices and tender flaws.

So I’m quite vicariously jealous of Seema Mahanian at Pam Dorman Books/Viking, who had the pleasure of landing Tolani’s debut in a pre-empt, snatching it from the clutches of the six other editors who were interested. Smart woman. (And fun fact, the manuscript was called, Black Nylon at one point and then it was sold as House Longe Has Gone Astray—titles can be a wild ride!)

There’s nothing like a brand new literary voice crossing your desk—in fact, it’s the high editors live for. Like crisp new sheets, the first hot cookie out of the oven, arriving in a place you’ve never been before, debuts conjure the particular joy of novelty, fresh starts and discovery. Sure, it’s beautiful and gratifying to work with the same author over many years and many projects and on the writer’s side, your second, fourth or your 213^th book (looking at you Danielle Steele) are each special in the own right. But you never get to publish your first book again and that itself makes it a literal once in a lifetime experience.

Tolani and I talked about that in our chat, about embracing the debut magic and the ups and downs of the journey to get this moment, from all those solitary sessions writing in coffee shops or at her mother’s dining room table or at MacDowell, to the starred reviews that started coming in as I wrote this newsletter. Tolani’s fortunate to have had many “ups” along the way (I like to believe the universe aligns for talent!) including getting selected as a Lit Up Fellow in the publishing pipeline program Reese Witherspoon/Hello Sunshine launched in 2021. Through it, she got to bond with fellow writers at an industry boot camp (in Nashville ,no less) and be matched with a veteran in the game for one on one mentorship and support (Curtis Sittenfeld, no less)!

I’m heartened by these sorts of initiatives and their tangible impact in helping writers of color break through the stubborn barriers and biases that still exist in publishing. Emphasis: still. I would argue that a renewed commitment to diversity in publishing is more important than ever as tangible DEI efforts and conversations about its importance have wavered. Anecdotally speaking, these days, (the further we get from 2020) I don’t hear agents proclaiming how hard they’re “looking for diverse voices” or editors proudly toting just how many “diverse books” are on their lists. I always found those eager pronouncements a little uncomfortable, if well-meaning, but it’s better than the alternative: returning to the industry status quo where it’s implicitly assumed the majority of readers are white and that they only want to read books by white authors, with white characters. Of course, there’s a robust market of non-white readers! But the latter too often proves true—white readers gravitating only to white authors.

Leave Your Mess at Home dazzles with its richly observed family dynamics in a way that reminded me of two New York Times bestsellers: Claire Lombardo’s, The Most Fun We Ever Had and The Immoralists by Chloe Benjamin. Both those novels (by white authors) were touted as “universal” family sagas and gained wide readership. Tolani’s book deserves the same reception; and when we think about its potential audience, it inspires us to examine our definition of what stories, what types of stories, are considered “universal.” It also offers the opportunity for a reminder and invitation: it’s a beautiful thing to seek out and read books by people who don’t look like you. I, for one, do it all the time!

Okay off that particular soap box (for now). I had such a lovely chat (see below!) with Tolani (because she’s lovely) and one of the things I enjoyed hearing about (among the many topics we flitted to) is the evolution of her book. She didn’t intend this to be a novel about a family or multiple siblings at all, it began as a story of just one character and an unrequited love…

It’s such an important reminder that stories can start in one place and end up in a completely different one. Let that be a lesson that we should be open to surprise (and flexibility) about where our stories will take us.

In fiction as in life.

Preorders are always important, but in the case of a debut author even more so as a show of enthusiasm and support. So consider hitting that buy button now. But short of that, I highly recommend keeping an eye out for this one in April! One of spring’s most exciting publications, coming in hot, along with trench coat season and Peeps.

Happy reading, bookish beauties!

Exciting news! I’m co-hosting a writers retreat in…. KENYA this fall! All the details are below, including link to apply, but the TL;DR highlights: September 21st-26th 2026, $3000, all-inclusive (except RT airfare), 10 spots available for women who want to level up their craft and take concrete next steps on their publishing journey, explore a beautiful island on the Indian Ocean and make memories and friends for a lifetime….

Join Christine Pride and Erika Koss for this five-day creative getaway for writers and seekers. This one-of-a-kind retreat is open to women from anywhere in the world, at any stage of their creative process or writing project, across forms and genres. It offers a chance to escape to an ancient, beautiful Kenyan island, where you’ll carve out space for writing and creativity and build community with a small, carefully curated group of worldly women, alongside the backdrop of the Indian Ocean.

Daily workshops will help you delve deeper into all areas of writing and publishing– you’ll get feedback on your work, tips for shaping and sharpening your book idea and pitch, expert craft lessons, as well as behind-the-scenes insights about the ins and outs of the book business, all of which will help you level up your talent and bring you that much closer to publishing success. You’ll also have precious free time, space and inspiration, in the form of the surroundings and dynamic (optional) writing prompts to practice and produce.

“I’m eager to share all my “insider” secrets, advice and strategies…writing and publishing a book can feel daunting but it helps to be armed with as much information and feedback as possible from someone who’s worn a lot of hats in the business and seen it from all sides.”– Christine, a publishing industry veteran with two decades experience as a “Big Five” book editor and the bestselling author of three novels, We Are Not Like Them, You Were Always Mine, and All The Men I’ve Loved Again.

In addition to the publishing and writing education, you’ll have a seamless and unforgettable travel experience where you don’t have to worry about a thing but packing your bags, thanks to our host, Erika Koss, who first visited Kenya in 1994, and has lived there full-time since 2019.

“I’m thrilled to be hosting an international group of women writers in a place I hold dear! I look forward to sharing some of the special treasures and treats that both Kenya, and its ancient island of Lamu, have to offer. This special retreat promises to transform us in vibrant ways – as sea, salt, and sand inspire us all to go deeper into our writing projects.” -Erika, a writer, researcher, and globally authorized coffee trainer in sustainability and sensory analysis, formerly a literature specialist at the National Endowment for the Arts

WORDS, WORLDS & WONDER promises to be an unforgettable adventure. Aside from progress on your writing, you’ll leave with new friends, memories for a lifetime, gorgeous photos, and boundless creative energy.

If there ever was an opportunity to invest in yourself and your craft– this is it!

THE DETAILS

DATES: SEPTEMBER 21st- 26th, 2026

• Arrive to Nairobi International Airport on Monday 9/21

• Depart to Lamu Tuesday morning 9/22

• Workshops (9-12:30 daily) + Excursions + Dinners

• Depart Lamu Saturday morning 9/26

• Depart Nairobi anytime after 5pm on Saturday 9/26

PRICE: $3000*

*Includes:

• Zoom consultation with Erika to address questions about travel, packing, visas, etc.

• Workshop with Kenyan writer Yvonne Adhiambo Owour (for those who arrive before 12noon on Monday 9/21)

• Nairobi Welcome Dinner on Monday 9/21 (for those who arrive before 5pm)

• 1 night accommodation in Nairobi

• 4 nights accommodation in Lamu (private room and bath)

• Airport transfer (car service) from Nairobi hotel to airport (for Lamu flight on Tuesday morning 9/22)

• RT boat transfer to and from Lamu airport

• Three mornings of 3.5-hour writing workshops led by Christine

• A 30-minute private 1-1 virtual consultation with Christine scheduled after Kenya

• A sensory writing workshop led by Erika

• Meals: breakfast and dinner daily, plus snacks, water, juices, coffee, and tea

• Two evening excursions: to Old Town and a Sunset Dhow cruise

• Traditional Swahili Dinner

*Does not include:

• RT airfare to Nairobi and connecting flights to/from Lamu

• Car transfer upon your arrival and departure to/from Nairobi International airport

• Visa to travel to Kenya, any vaccinations, medicine, or alcohol.

APPLICATION

FIND LINK TO APPLY HERE

*Important dates:

• Application deadline: May 1st, 2026

• Early bird (non-refundable) deposit for accepted applicants: May 15th, 2026 (includes a free massage at a special Lamu spa!)

• Non-refundable deposit*–$500– due: June 1st, 2026

• Remaining balance due: July 1st, 2026

*Payment options:

• Zelle, Paypal or Venmo

ADDITIONAL INFO & ADD ON:

• Have questions about traveling to Kenya, logistics, or anything related to scheduling (such as arriving early or staying later)? No problem! Send Erika an email at AWorldinYourCup@gmail.com, and she’ll be happy to help and send you the full FAQ document.

• Want to come early and attend a unique African Literary Festival? Erika will be there! Macondo Literary Festival in Nairobi, Kenya, co-founded by Yvonne Adhiambo Owour. Contact Erika if you’re interested in flying early to Nairobi; special hotel rates may be available.

TESTIMONIALS

PRAISE FOR WRITE WITH PRIDE

“Christine is a true delight—generous with both her knowledge and her time. Her uncanny ability to pinpoint the core of a story and offer concrete, actionable improvements makes her invaluable. Write With Pride was curated with meticulous care and surpassed my expectations in every way.”

“I had high hopes for the Write With Pride and was not disappointed. Coming home with direction and clarity about my writing project has uplifted me! I am grateful for Christine’s approachability, her insight and her experience. Her enthusiasm for sharing a wealth of knowledge makes me first in line for the next opportunity to Write With Pride!”

“Write With Pride retreat was so much more than I expected. Not only was it an immersion into the craft of writing and insider knowledge of the publishing industry, the workshop allowed me to look at my memoir from a bird’s eye perspective and see what was hiding behind the curtain. Christine’s knowledge and warmth put me at ease and I walked away inspired to write more authentically.”

“Write With Pride was an exceptionally positive experience for me. The space Christine created during this retreat felt honest and safe. I applaud Christine’s quick communication, organized agenda, and thoughtfulness — no detail in our schedule was overlooked. All time was spent wisely, Christine’s vast experience in the industry was invaluable and her feedback was very constructive. I highly recommend this to anyone in their writing journey, you will not regret it.”

I was a big fan of the author’s previous book, Shrill, and the Hulu series adapted from it starring Aidy Bryant, so I was locked in and primed to be excited for this follow up. And it is very much a follow up in the sense that there’s a lot of reflection and annotation from Lindy about what she wrote and revealed in Shrill (…and didn’t!) and how her life has changed since and because of that bestselling book. That’s the thing with life—you can capture a slice of it in a book or in an essay and then it marches on and so do you, changing and evolving in ways that make almost any snapshot instantly outdated. I was taken with how thoughtfully, openly and honestly (!!!) Lindy reckoned with that tension on the page, how she measured and accounted for the distance between who she was then and who she is now. It was almost like the two books are in conversation with each other.

Adult Braces is a quintessential road trip story, covering Lindy’s month-long travels from her home in Seattle across America to Key West and back in a most unique van named BAAAA. Lindy’s need to and reasons for wanting to embark on this adventure escape resonated with me—hard. In fact, when I chatted with her about her book (see video below!) I was on my own month-long sojourn of self-discovery in Mexico. Sometimes we need to drop out of our lives in order to return to them more fully, sometimes perspectives can only shift if the actual view does, sometimes we have to go searching for answers even if we don’t know the questions. And sometimes we need to read a riotous story about a woman doing just that.

What I appreciated about Lindy’s particular approach, though, is that she clearly decided to do the road trip for its own purpose, independent of writing about it and then she came around to turning it all into a book afterward. This saves the whole enterprise from reading like a pre-planned gimmick to mine content rather than a sincere venture of the heart and soul. Lindy did a series of audio notes while she was traversing all those highways that make for delightful little “real time” dispatches in the book, but even more importantly, make for a special addition to the audio book. It reminded me how writers are –and are smart to be—thinking ahead about ways to make their audio books special while they write/create.

What I also adored about this book? It made me laugh!! And heaven knows how much I needed that at the moment, how relatively rare it is to find on the page. But when you can pull it off…it’s as magical to be able to make someone crack up while reading, as it is to touch them enough to make them cry. Lindy has honed her voice on the page perfectly to thread the needle between deep and sometimes dark personal revelations and comic relief. It makes her the perfect witty road trip companion, like you’re in the passenger seat, sticky thighs against the leather seat, with your own Big Gulp, talking about L-I-F-E as the miles pass.

And that’s what it’s all about with memoir —voice, voice, voice—the more specific the better. As I always tell my writers/clients: ideally, I should be able to read any graph in your story and recognize it’s uniquely yours. You have a style of writing—poetic, exclamatory, sparse, zippy—that’s as particular to you as a fingerprint. Too often, the fatal flaw in memoir writing is, it’s just too generic. It falls short of making the convincing case that your wholly unique observations and perspectives are worth the reader investing time and money in. Voice is what takes even the most common of experiences—divorce, grief, infertility, etc.—and renders it transcendent. Nailing that is as hard as it is essential for good memoir writing.

And we need it more than ever! Everywhere I turn in publishing circles these days someone is bemoaning how hard it is to sell and publish memoir. It seems it’s become a radioactive category, no one wants to touch it (unless it’s by a B-list or above celebrity and those books abound.) If Adult Braces were a debut memoir (and not Lindy’s fourth book and coming on the heels of a NYT bestseller), I wonder if it would have been published in the current market. Which is so very sad. Yes, publishing trends come and go and there’s always a genre that’s “dying” (memoir) and one that’s flourishing (romantasy), but I hope, for my own sake as a passionate and voracious reader in the category, it rebounds. I would even argue that there’s an imperative case to make that happen: our personal stories and perspectives are more important than ever in today’s increasingly lonely and isolated world. Memoirs are vital to stoke that sort of empathy and reveal something essential about lives and experiences that are not our own…what it’s like to have your husband abruptly leave you after 29 years of marriage. What it’s like to survive a concentration camp (a book I re-read every year). What it’s like to help someone die. Which are just some of the latest personal journeys I’ve read (and loved and learned from).

And in Lindy’s case—what’s it’s like to wrestle with a certain level of fame; what it’s like to have people judging your body in the most intrusive of ways; what it’s like to be on the front lines of the body positivity culture in the age of Ozempic; what it’s like to get everything you want and find it doesn’t make you as happy as you thought it would; what it’s like to have your marriage on the brink and pull it back from that terrifying edge…What it’s like to get braces in your forties and gracefully navigate a communal campground shower.

I know I was all the better for mulling these thoughtful questions myself and for have windows to laugh while I did so. And for being reminded that there are so many corners of this country to explore. Lindy may have even inspired this city girl to go camping in a national park - gasp. If that’s not evidence of the power of memoir!

I hope you enjoy my chat with Lindy—it’s spoiler free, which was hard to do because there’s a bombshell development by the end of the book that I was eager to dig into with her!

As always, preorders help authors, so if you enjoy our talk, you’ll enjoy the book so just go ahead and smash that buy button now, as the kids say.

(PS: In our chat, Lindy and I immediately dove in to discussing the cover for her book—which her team nailed on the first try. I can’t tell you how rare that is. Though I’ve been lucky in that way, too—both for We Are Not Like Them and All The Men I’ve Loved Again it was pretty much cover at first sight. When, usually, the cover design process is one of the most fraught points in a book journey. It’s not uncommon to have tears! Anyway, it inspired an idea: for one of these newsletters, I’m going to see if I can gather all the cover designs and iterations the book I recommend went through, to offer a peek into that part of the process—stay tuned for that!)

BONUS BOOKS: Whenever Tayari Jones publishes a new book, it’s an event. For those of your that loved American Marriage and have been eagerly waiting for a new novel ever since, next week (2/24) is your moment! I haven’t read Kin an advance, but the electric critical buzz inspired my own pre-order and I’m quite excited to dive in.

GIVEAWAY: If you do read Adult Braces, or any books I recommend, would love to hear your thoughts! Anyone of who shares/comments is eligible to win an ARC!

Happy reading friends, eyes on the prize: that first warm afternoon reading a book on a park bench or a hammock, sun on your face. Soon, soon, soon!

Sadeqa Johnson’s next historical novel hits shelves on February 10^th (of course, you can preorder now.) This is one of the last books I finished in 2025 and what a joy to close out my year of reading (36 books in all!) with a story that swept me away and back in time for a most delightful (and much needed) escape.

Which is saying something because I must confess, I’m not the biggest reader of historical fiction in general. (But I also practice what I preach and make a point to stray from my “go-to” genres to stretch as a writer and reader; please do this, it’s hugely beneficial, I promise.) I think some of my bias stems from the fact that, as a Black woman, much of the genre centers around history that feels personally irrelevant to me and my ancestors, or, alternatively, it treads through difficult terrain given the hardships Black and brown folks have faced in the distant— and not so distant— past.

I have a hard time, for example, reading about racial atrocities, Jim Crow or slavery even when the story is powerful, humane, page-turning, and National Book Award worthy—though I’m rewarded when I emotionally steel myself and push through: looking at you, Underground Railroad. That said, of course there are historical stories, fictional and otherwise, that spotlight Black joy, triumph, humanity and power. The Keeper of Lost Children is one of them. It’s also inspired by a fascinating true story—a so-called “hidden history,” which has become a popular feature in the genre, where authors build fictional stories around lesser known true events or real life figures. This story is drawn from the experience of Mabel Grammer, who started a life-changing initiative to find homes for babies born of Black American GIs and German women, mix-raced children who were often shunned or abandoned by parents who couldn’t take care of them for various reasons in the wake of WWII.

You can hear more about the origin story of the novel in my conversation with Sadeqa (see below!) but the book was acquired in 2024 by her lovely editor, Dawn Davis, who runs the 37 Ink imprint at Simon & Schuster. Dawn was also Sadeqa’s editor for The Yellow Wife, her first historical novel after two contemporary ones. (fun aside: Sadeqa began her career as a self-published author with her debut novel, Love in a Carry-On Bag. And the developmental editor she hired for that book? Wouldn’t you know, she became her long-time agent— an example of all the overlapping circles in this business. Hi, Cherise!)

I asked Dawn about working with Sadeqa and no surprise she said Sadeqa is a “total delight” and “keeps growing into herself.” I wondered, because I’m always curious (nosy?), if there were any sort of editorial challenges or sticking points in the process. There are always one or two that it takes great teamwork and a mind meld between author and editor to address—getting the ending just right, a chronology that just won’t line up, trouble-shooting plot holes, etc. This collaborative problem solving is another joy of the work. And not just that, an honor really, when you, as an editor, have earned the trust of a writer to have the vision and ability (and the care!) to help them elevate their work. Not something we take lately! Having been on both sides of this dynamic, I can say that the trust and gratification goes both ways, actually, when you have an editorial relationship that just clicks. The dream.

In this case, (and no spoilers here!) one of the story-telling challenges came down to character development and making sure, Ollie, one of the three main characters, had an arc that was both authentic and redemptive. “We wanted to leave Ozzie’s complications intact,” Dawn tells me, “but at the same time I kept sounding the bell that the audience will primarily be women so he had to ultimately appeal to them and Sadeqa kept saying he has to be true to the experiences of men like her uncle who inspired the character. That’s where we had our editorial tug-of-war but we’re both pleased with where we landed.” This reader was too!

I had a real soft spot for Ozzie, but all three hero(ine)s are as well-drawn as they are different from each other. Beyond these incredibly sympathetic characters Sadeqa’s created, one thing I found so special about this novel is the clear conviction and sense of mission that infuses the story-telling. Sadeqa’s work brims with that ineffable quality where you can tell the author is motivated by a profound purpose to tell this story.

This quality is something I try to stress to my authors and coaching clients: Remember your why. Why is the story you’re writing so important to you? Why do you have a burning desire to tell this particular story over any and all others? Why is it important that it’s in the world? How, specifically, will it change or impact a reader? In my experience as both a reader and editor, the very best books stand out not because the sentences are so beautiful (though that) but because they have true personal meaning and heart infusing the pages, whether they’re the frothiest and smuttiest of rom coms or the most serious of “big think” books. It’s the author’s passion for the subject/world that carries the day and makes it irresistible for readers to care about the worlds and characters they’ve created as much as the author herself does.

Sadeqa makes a clear case for the “why” that propelled her in writing The Keeper of Lost Children in our chat. I know you’ll be as inspired as I was. And I know she’d love to see you on her tour. May 2026 be the year we all get to more book events IRL— a resolution I can get behind!

GIVEAWAY!

I’m going to give away my (gently-read) ARCs of each Book Forward recc. To be entered to win The Keeper of Lost Children, be a paid subscriber, recommend Book Forward on Substack, and/or leave a comment or question. I’ll draw a name, reach out to get your address, and put the book in the mail to you!

BONUS BOOKS!

Because I can’t keep it to just one, here are two more novels coming in February that I loved.

Here’s to looking forward to our next favorite book…

But what’s equally true is that I love ( love, love, love) talking about books. I’ve gotten to do that a lot over twenty years working in the publishing industry as an editor, novelist, ghostwriter, teacher, coach, etc. Chattering enthusiastically about a story you’re excited about—your own or others— is maybe my favorite part of the work. As an editor, that moment begins as soon as a submission arrives in your inbox from an agent and you open that file. Especially if you fall in love with the manuscript (what a rush!) and want to acquire it…then you never shut up. You tell your assistant about it, then you tell your colleagues in ed board, then you maybe have an acquisitions meeting where you make your case for your imprint to acquire it. You get on the phone with the author and agent to blab about how much you love it. And if the book ends up becoming yours to publish, all that cheerful blathering is only the beginning. You have months, YEARS, more of it ahead of you as you champion the project to the sales team, to publicists and marketers, to booksellers, to readers, and on and on. It’s this passionate, extrovert’s dream: holding a proverbial bullhorn and offering the unbridled, pure, infectious enthusiasm that goes into celebrating a story and the author’s hard work and vision to bring that story to life.

I’m also the girl who likes to think about dinner when she opens her eyes in the morning, who plans her next vacation when she’s on her current one, who lives for the question, in books and in life: what’s going to happen next? Which is to say, anticipation might as well be oxygen, the vital source that powers me through my days (especially the tedious ones.)

Having exciting new books on the horizon to look forward to reading is a simple pleasure at the top of that list. And if that’s the case for you too, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this a word of mouth source from your trusted book loving friend. Yes, yes, taste is so subjective—obviously there are books I’ve fallen for that others haven’t and vice versa. But when you’ve spent your career learning to intuit what will resonate with readers, you develop a strong sense of books that will fit the bill. And it’s always nice to get recommendations for books you might not already have your radar. I would love you for to come here to find books /genres/authors that you might not have otherwise read, but will give a try based on my sincere and persuasive endorsement. It would be an honor for you to trust me with your next read!

And it won’t just be me making the case—you’ll also hear from the authors themselves in video interviews or Q&As because the only thing better than talking about authors is talking with them about their work. This is your destination for exclusive and intimate chats with your favorite writers or to fall in love with a new one. And, in some cases, you’ll hear from the publishing professionals behind the publication, too, for “peek behind the curtain” scoop.

How often will I post? I have no idea! At least once a month, maybe more over time.

Will I just be making reading recommendations? That’s the core, but so much is happening behind the scenes in the industry and I want to get into that, too. I also want to share what I’ve learned on my own publishing journeys, on both sides of the book so to speak, so you can expect some writerly dish and craft talk here and there along the way.

What else will I get here as reader/subscriber? BOOKS! I’m going to give away books to subscribers whenever I can, including ARCs. Isn’t the chance to get free reads enough of a reason to be anywhere?

I hope the comment section here will also give you a chance to talk about your own reading and TBR lists, to fawn over the authors who have Zoomed in (leave them a message!) and to ask me anything at all about writing and publishing that I promise to address one way or another.

With all that said, I welcome you to…

FIRST OFFICIAL POST AND RECOMMENDATION COMING SOON. I HOPE YOU’LL SUBSCRIBE AND SPREAD THE WORD.

(*OR IT’S VERY EASY TO OPT OUT BY “UNSUBSCRIBING” IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE ON THIS MAILING LIST!)