K.R.'s Monthly Newsletter

Happy New Year! How did we get here already?

January 2024

Vol.1

Hello,

Is it just me who’s wondering how we’ve arrived at the third Thursday in January already? Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’ve just emerged from our coldest snap on record for 50 years. Dear neighbours with frozen pipes and no water. Others struggling through power failures. Then, we got over that for one day. One day! Pipes starting thawing out. Then yesterday, we had 30cm of snow fall overnight and in one day. That’s a foot of snow for our American friends. Again, that isn’t much for other parts of the US and Canada, but it’s rare on what we “fondly” (although often through gritted teeth) as the “wet” coast of Canada.

However, I’m happy to report that with the kindness of neighbours, we had someone clear our long, steep driveway with a snowblower, salt it. That meant we could get my husband out for his 6-hour chemo treatment, plus 2-hour blood transfusion. I literally thank God every day that we live in a tiny village with people that actually care about each other. 🩶

Gracie’s first snow. She loves it, but she doesn’t have to shovel it!

---

All right, enough about we Canadians’ weather obsession. Let’s get on book stuff!

What I’ve Been Doing

Do you mean other than trying to stay warm and shovelling snow? Of course you do.

I. Am. Back. Writing.

Yes, I am! Of course, I’ve been here on Substack writing for you, which I love. But getting back into writing a thriller; it feels wonderful. A little daunting after so long away from my manuscript, but it feels so good. Like anything we procrastinate on (because of real excuses or not), I was terrified to open my Scrivener file and look at what I stopped writing that day last August that my husband was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. First came the terror, then the new medical routine (it’s amazing how quickly we adjust to our “new normal”), then a few roller coaster moments in between, and now…

I’m back with clarity and joy. Joy that I still love the writing. Even with the pain of the restraints that I used to tie myself to my desk. I know, but I know myself; it was the only. And a little bondage, well…sorry, we don’t need to go there. Where was I? Yes, I still love the writing and the setting (a tiny village somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Ring any bells?), and I’m super excited about the premise. I still have a few plot points to work out, but suddenly, as I write my Morning Pages, creative ideas for the story are literally streaming through. The Muse isn’t dead. She was just a little cranky and refused to show up for a while. It happens.

By the way, if you’re dying to read bits of the raw manuscript, vote on the title (I’ve got some really cool alternative) or be the first to see the cover reveal, I have a little gift for you. For about the price of a cup of coffee per month, you can join the Words, Wisdom & Conversation community and…

Okay, shameless self-promotion out of the way. If you decide to join, Bello and Gracie thank you for helping to keep kibble in their bowls. 💓 🐾

---

With everything going on, it’s been a tough month for reading, which I not only love doing, but I consider it part of my “job.” Here’s the run-down that I shared in my Sunday Curated Chronicles, as well as a new one:

— The Success Myth: Letting Go Of Having It All by fellow Substack writer, Emma Gannon. I literally have just cracked the spine of this beautiful hardcover, but as one of Emma’s subscribers, I already know I’m going to love it. (Normally, I would send you to Bookshop.org to buy it but as it’s back ordered, I’ve used a link to Amazon.)

— I’m reading an advance copy of The Off Season by Amber Cowie. It’s a wonderfully dark, atmospheric thriller set in the Pacific Northwest. It’s available here for pre-order with a release date of May 24th. While you’re waiting, I highly recommend her other novels. I’ve read them all and loved them.

— After binge watching all five seasons of Virgin River (I know, I’m surprised at myself too!) I picked up Robyn Carr’s first book in the Netflix season. She’s hugely successful, and I wondered if I’d enjoy her writing as much as I enjoyed the TV series. And I did! I’ve got to tell you, if I had more time, I think I’d binge read her book series. Thoroughly enjoyable.

— I’m absolutely hooked on A Death in Malta by Paul Caruana Galizia. For those readers who may not know, I set my third international thriller, Everybody Knows in Malta. Though it’s fiction, it’s very much based on the true story of the horrific harassment and eventual assignation of the author’s journalist mother, Daphne Caruana Galizia. His background of the country of Malta—beautiful, but corrupt—is exceptionally well researched and written. He also honours his mother’s life and death as a journalist in an honest, but deeply personal way.

— Next in my TBR pile is The Drowning Woman by fellow British Columbian author Robyn Harding. Everything from the brilliant cover and recommendations from friends, I know this one will not disappoint.

If you’ve ready any of these or have some recommendations of your own, please leave them in the Comments section below.

---

📚 And now to the winner of last month’s giveaway!

Every month, I draw a name from those of you who open the newsletter and I say thank you to one loyal reader with a $25 gift card to the bookstore of their choice.

Drum roll, please… the winner of December’s gift card is Cathie Lady Lost3. Huge congratulations, Cathie. Please check your email. 🩶

I YOU WOULD LIKE THIS MONTH’S GIFT CARD, hit “Reply” to this email and I’ll put your name in the draw.

---

And that’s a wrap. Stay safe and warm. 🏝️ I’m thinking of you with more than a little envy if you’re in a warm climate. That’s where I should be.

Be good to yourself and others. Kindness is always rewarded. Thank you for yours!

K.R. 🩶