A New Era
New books, a new human, and finding balance in 2025
Hello, my friends. It’s been a while! Last we met I was very pregnant and gearing up to publish my second book. Since then, both book and baby have debuted (in the same week, no less!), and I’m pleased as punch with both of them.
I spent FYREBIRDS’ launch week in a hospital haze, completely missing my launch party (for those who attended, I’m sorry I missed you!), and trying to wrap my head around motherhood. I spent the months since it released in that exhausted, excited, perpetually overwhelmed state that I imagine all new parents find themselves in. All of which is to say that I didn’t get to celebrate FYREBIRDS’ release the way I would’ve liked, though it was for the best of reasons. I’m really proud of this conclusion to the NIGHTBIRDS duology: it’s full of so many of the things I love best, including some good old-fashioned patriarchy smashing. If you’ve read it, let me know what your favorite moment was in the comments, won’t you? I’d love to know which scenes you liked best.
I’m just now easing my way out of maternity leave. My working life - my whole life, really - looks so much different than it did when I left it in August, both busier and less predictable than it’s ever been. I have to find new ways of making time for my writing, the everyday work of living, exercise, and maybe even fitting in a social life too. I owe my editor a draft of a new book in June, and I’m excited to be diving back into it. But I’m also nervous, if I’m honest, about how this year is going to go. So for 2025, the word I’ve chosen is BALANCE. I want to find a balance between motherhood and individual personhood, hustle and rest, work and play. Every day, no doubt, that balance will look different; some days, I hope, will be full of inspiration, while on some I know I won’t be able to work at all. But with some help, and the sage advice of friends who’ve done this dance before me, I know I’ll find it. I plan on enjoying this first year with my boy without feeling anxious about what else needs doing. I might have to write in the car, or during nap time, or late at night with the light of candles burning. I know I’ll have to shift and adapt. It’s a new frontier, and I’m excited to explore it.
(PS: I’m lucky in that writing is my job, and that it’s helping me to pay for part-time childcare. But if you’re a parent struggling to find time for your writing, I highly suggest listening to Amie Kaufman’s episode on carving out time when you have none: it’s very good. I know I’ll be re-listening.)
(PPS: I won’t be publishing a newsletter as frequently this year, but it’s the best way to keep in touch about my upcoming book and author things in general, so stick around!)
(PPPS: If you haven’t check out the FYREBIRDS audiobook yet, read by the incredible Saskia Maarleveld, you can hear the whole prologue and first chapter right here)
News
NIGHTBIRDS came out in Germany, with the most beautiful sprayed edges, and FYREBIRDS came out in France (the cover is stunning)! I’m continually so pleased to see this story being published in other languages, inviting new readers to join the party.
Meanwhile, on Pub Dates
After two years of taking readers behind the scenes on our writing, Amie and I wrapped up our second season! We dropped some episodes we loved producing: launch day episodes for both FYREBIRDS and THE HEART OF THE WORLD, and some spoiler episodes too, where we answered all the burning questions people had after reading. In the FYREBIRDS spoiler, I answered some GREAT questions about some of the stuff that goes down in the book: you’ll hear me giving some behind-the-scenes reveals that I haven’t talked about anywhere else. It’s quite juicy.
What a time it’s been! I’ve loved building an audience and connecting with them in this format. It’s (not quite) the end of an era. We’re taking a break for now, but we’ll be back whenever we have something new and exciting to share: a new book, say, or something about writing and publishing we think you’ll be excited to hear about. Stay subscribed so you don’t miss what’s to come.
And on The Exploress…
I published some fun episodes while I’ve been off on mat leave: one on Elizabeth I and her love affair with pirates (as well as some stories about the lady pirates of the age) and another about the female crime gang who ran riot in 1920s London. I also revamped an old episode from Season 1 about female mediums, giving it a good polish up. So if you haven’t listened to the show yet, that might be a good place to start!
I hustled hard in 2024 to keep this women’s history show of mine going, and this year it’s going to take even MORE to pull this particular rabbit out of her hat. I probably won’t be publishing quite as many episodes, but I’ve got some really good ones planned, so stay tuned. And if you want more Exploress, I’ve published a LOT of bonus content over on my Patreon. If you want a low-key way to check it out, you can try a week for free - I’d love to see you over there.
What I’m Reading/Listening To/Watching
I’ve binged some great shows lately! Namely, the latest season of Outlander (FINALLY), The Day of the Jackal (Eddie Redmayne is so creepy and I love him), and Season 2 of The Law According to Lidia Poet. I’m not usually a lover of subtitles, but this show roped me right in: Lidia is akin to an Italian Phryne Fisher. A lady lawyer/sleuth in great historical dress who doesn’t take no for an answer? Yes, thank you.
Between the brain fog of pregnancy and the exhaustion of new motherhood, I had a hard time reading in 2024. But I DID still get to enjoy some winners, a few of which I gushed about recently over on Pub Dates. Here are some of my favourites:
The Enchanted Lies of Celeste Artois by Ryan Graudin
Deep is the Fen by Lili Wilkinson
Morgan is my Name by Sophie Keech
Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Breenan
Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
The Fragile Threads of Power by V.E. Schwab
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Yours From the Tower by Sally Nicholls (my first read of 2025: so cozy, so sweet, so nice. Jane Austen fans, get into this)
And a few of my most anticipated reads of 2025:
Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson
Lady’s Knight by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (I had the privilege of reading this early and it’s so good. If you want something that’s A KNIGHT’S TALE + THE GREAT, but make it queer, add it to your list)
The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (my forever auto-buy author)
Bury My Bones in the Midnight Soil by VE Schwab
Enemy of My Dreams by Jenny Williamson (I just finished this debut steamy ancient historical romance, set against the backdrop of the dying Roman Empire, and it’s SO GOOD. If you like history + spice, pick this up in February. I’ll be dropping an interview with her over on The Exploress soon!)
I’d love to hear what you’re looking forward to reading this year! What do I need to put on my TBR?
Until next time.
Agreed, your new human is adorable ! Congrats!
ok your new human is perfect omg