sumer is icumen in

the scoop on summoner's circle + saint's summer edit

Welcome back, little mystics! It’s been a more than a minute since I broke off my engagement, ran away to New York, and surrendered myself entirely to the tides of the city in the great ocean of rebirth. I think we’re overdue for a chat about book news and goodies, everything I’ve been loving lately, and the media that’s been keeping me sane. Let’s begin with this medieval English round about the coming of summer.

The Midsummer Special

I’m so pleased to announce that I’m now publishing not one but two essays about arts and culture, spirituality and desire, and the craft of writing each month on Substack. You’re currently enjoying the free experience: just book news and monthly favorites. If you’ve ever been curious about joining us in the inner circle, now is the time!

All paid subscriptions are 22% off until the solstice, which means roughly $5 a month for unlimited access to my essays and backlist. This month’s essays are on writing polyamorous romances and my complicated relationship with Roman Catholic theology and aesthetics.

Substack is the primary way I supplement my income as a single woman working writer in NYC, so thank you for being here! Paid or unpaid, your support means the world to me.

The ASCENSION Countdown Begins

We’re about seven weeks away from the ASCENSION launch on July 8th, and it’s about to all start feeling incredibly real incredibly fast!

ASCENSION is darker, sexier, and messier than EVOCATION (it’s Rhys’ book after all, he’s got to get emo) but if you’re a fan of Catholic guilt, gossipy queer friend groups, public relations scandals, and sorcerer dinner parties gone terribly wrong, I think you’re going to love it.

An ASCENSION moodboard for those who like to catch a vibe before they read.

Preorders are the number one determining factor in authors hitting bestseller lists, earning good bookstore placement, and getting more publicity and marketing support from publishes. If you’re planning on picking up ASCENSION, a preorder both secures your copy and makes me and my publisher soooo happy.

Summoner’s Circle Series FAQs

New to the Summoner’s Circle Series? It’s my queer and polyamorous offering to the urban fantasy genre, steeped in real-world magical traditions. If you wish your favorite magical CW TV show was gayer, spent time fantasizing about what The Raven Cycle would feel like if the characters were in their thirties, or looked at John Constantine and said “I can fix him”, this one is for you.

HOW MANY BOOKS ARE IN THE SERIES?

0.5 ODD SPIRITS, out now in illustrated, foiled HB (Waterstones special available)
1. EVOCATION, out now in HB and PB (Waterstones/Owlcrate/Fairyloot specials available)
2. ASCENSION, coming July 2025 (Waterstones special available for pre-order)
3. DIVINATION, 2027
4. TRANSMUTATION, 2028

WHY SUCH A BIG GAP BETWEEN BOOK 2 AND 3?

The witch who lives in the tower must rest her fevered brain before she writes down any more of her visions. Also, DIVINIATION spotlights magical traditions Im so excited to share (rootwork, Santeria, brujeria) but that I myself do not practice, so I need some extra time to do research! Enjoy your intermission, hydrate, and then meet me back here to finish strong.

WHAT’S THE READING ORDER?

Chronological! The series can be enjoyed if you read EVOCATION first and then pick up ODD SPIRITS, but it you want to get the best feel for the characters, love story, and world, start with ODD SPIRITS! ODD SPIRITS also has color illustrations and endpapers of our gorgeous magical trio, so you don’t want to miss that.

WILL WE MEET NEW LOVE INTERESTS?

Yes! Every novel introduces a new love interest into the big tangled polyamorous web (although the course of true love never did run smooth!!) along with a new supernatural threat. You’re gonna have to read through to the end to see how the chips of love and magic finally fall, however.

TOUR TONITE, QUEEN?

I’ll be doing some local domestic stops this year for Summoner’s Circle (Kentucky, I’m coming for ya!) and I’ll be at RomanceCon and hopefully NYCC, but other than that, no tour! Let the witch slumber! And how much fun will it be to see each other again in 2027 for The Year of Moira? 🤞🏻

Events

Imaginarium Con in DC is all sold out, but for anyone who is attending, come by Laura Samotin’s and I’s table to get your book signed and also get an insider scoop on the white-hot speculative crime romance we’re co-writing. There might even be something incredibly limited-edition for those who come say hello!

Southern darlings, I’m coming to KENTUCKY! Even better, I’m going to be celebrating the Summoner’s Circle Series with Elizabeth Kilcoyne, one of the most brilliant authors in the game, and my dear friend and cherished critique partner. This is a free and unticked event, and it’s my only Summoner’s Circle event of the summer, so please join us and bring a friend!

Everything I’ve Been Loving Lately

I have been bathing myself in beauty and learning and new experiences, which is pretty much the only way I know how to bounce back from big life changes. Lucky you, summer is the perfect time for a lush lifestyle edit! Nonspon as always.

PODCASTS

I’ve been digging New Creative Era, a podcast between Yancy Strikler, founder of Kickstarter, and Joshua Citarella, one of my favorite thinkers and culture writers. It goes deeper-than-usual into the strategy and economics of emerging creative models from the artist’s perspective. I’m also in the process of having my soul saved by Back From The Borderline, a brilliant show blending mental health, art, and religion and esotericism to call the deep-feeling among us back to ourselves. And of course, I am a loyal listener of Chani Nicholas’ Astrology of the Week Ahead podcast!

READING

I can’t tell you how fast Chelsea Fagans’ sophomore romance novel THE HIGH DIVE swept me right out of the breakup dumps and into SwoonCity. It’s a sundrenched romance about a decade of longing, money and class, and the tension between love and ambition, all set against the backdrop of a yacht trip through the Mediterranean. I’ve also been savoring Topaz Winter’s brilliant chapbook PORTRAIT OF MY BODY AS A CRIME I’M STILL COMMITTING, mulling over just a few poems a day so my heart can truly enter into them. And of course, Patti Smith’s DEVOTION was everything it was talked up to be and more.

BEAUTY

Chelsea spoiled us with the gift bags she gave out at her cocktail party for THE HIGH DIVE, and now my favorite moisturizer and barrier repair cream is Instant Angel by Dieux. Thank you Chelsea and Diuex, I fear I am addicted.

I’ve been searching for my ultimate vampy brick-brown for ages and I think I’ve found her in L’Oreal Color Riche Intense in Le Nude Assertive . This is the only time Mac has ever let me down (pleeeease reformulate Antique Velvet for better coverage Mac, you’re so sexy) and I’m thrilled the drugstore came to the rescue.

PERFUME

It is L’Emperatrice summer! She’s a tart, juicy fruit frag with soft femme florals and clean skin. It smells like ice water steeped in melon, the sensation of a sundress brushing your thighs, the wildest most magical part of your Inner Girl, and eating berries in the park while you read.

It only comes in an EDT at present but the fleeting sheer quality is part of the perfection. Go for L’Emperatrice Royale if you want stronger florals and a touch of anchoring wood, plus a bit more longevity.

DIGITAL TOOLS

I’m drafting a whole new book from total scratch (the second book in my gothic Unearthly Delights series with Orbit) and that means it’s time to fire up Pacemaker again! The ULTIMATE writing tracking app, Pacemaker is super customizable to your word count and goals. You can balance multiple projects at once PLUS track editing and proofing, and of course, it auto-updates. I would never have anything turned in on time if it wasn’t for Pacemaker.

Finally, after being incredibly resistant to budgeting apps for a very long time (I get very Christian Grey about my money, I have to look at it and touch it and control it manually) I have found my budgeting soulmate in Copilot. It helps you budget and save organically based on your spending habits and expenses, and you can customize pretty much everything. It’s sleek yet fun, intuitive yet detailed. Big kiss.

That’s all I have for you this week, dear reader! Come back next week for my essay on the memefication of conclave, Catholicism for the aesthetic, post-ironic religion, and my relationship to The Church. If you’re new here, considering subscribing, and if you’re on the free tier, considering hopping onto the paid tier for all my juiciest personal essays. Don’t forget to use your discount code! Friends don’t let friends pay full price on a sale.

Be safe and well until we two meet again!

-S