The Epistle
12 Days To ODD SPIRITS, Endpapers 👀, Autumn Recs
Welcome, dear reader! Take up your gleaming shears, cut the gourds and fruits from the thick vines, and load up your harvest wheelbarrow. We’re overdue for a publishing update and a dishy run-down of everything I’m loving this autumn.
ODD SPIRITS On Netgalley
We are T-minus 12 days out from the re-release of ODD SPIRITS, perhaps my most tender piece of work yet (if you don’t believe me know that I am a Scorpio who is loathe to show vulnerability and I get nauseous thinking about how I went in on the devotion in this one) and I’m very proud of it! The good folks at Angry Robot might still be approving last-minute Netgalley requests, so scurry over if you’re looking for an early access copy!
Learn more about the characters from The Sunday Times bestselling author S.T. Gibson's Evocation in this gorgeously illustrated prequel novella to The Summoner's Circle series.
It takes a lot of commitment to make a marriage between a modern ceremonial magician and a tarot witch work, but when a malevolent entity takes up residence in Rhys and Moira’s home, their love will be pushed to the limits.
Brewing up a solution is easier said than done when your magical styles are polar opposites; throw a psychic ex and a secret society in the mix, and things are bound to get messy.
Have you preordered yet bestie? Preordering is the number one way to telegraph to my publisher that my work is worth investing in, and that there are readers waiting for my newest book, which helps me be able to continue writing them!
(If you’re very speedy, you might be able to grab one of the signed special edition Waterstones edition with the super emo black boards and red foil!)
In the meantime, feast those eyes on the glorious endpapers of Rhys and Moira featured in the tricked-out, completely gorgeous ODD SPIRITS standard edition.
Thank You For Loving AN EDUCATION IN MALICE
I was informed this afternoon that AN EDUCATION IN MALICE, my sultry dark academia Carmilla reimagining, has earned out its advance! I’ll spare you the publishing math here, but that basically means that enough of you bought the book that my publisher recouped their investment cost and I now start keeping royalties. The writing and revision process for this book was thorny, and I was dealing with a lot of mental health and self-concept issues at the time, so the fact that so many of you resonated with my daring girls and their dangerous professor means absolutely everything to me. Thank you, thank you!
I’m In The Proverbial Kitchen, The Metaphorical Studio If You Will
I don’t even think I can give you an accurate read on everything I am working on at present because I’ve slipped into a creative fugue state. I turned in Summoner’s Circle Book 2 revisions, and because I have no sense of self-restraint, got delightfully absorbed into co-writing [REDACTED] which I will say absolutely nothing about except it’s a completely indulgent spicy trope medley. You don’t even want to know how many words I’ve crammed into these weeks between revising SC2 and surrendering myself body and soul to the SAVAGE BLOOMS revision. So if you don’t see me tweeting anymore (like, at all, I am Free), or posting on IG that much, that’s why! But I’ll be trying to share more updates and behind-the-scenes peeks here.
Everything I’ve Been Loving Lately
Autumn is here in New England, all crisp wet winds and afternoon drizzles and overcast days. The moodboard this autumn is black cherry nails, sharp-toed slingbacks, subscribing to print newspapers, sipping flat whites while bundled up in a scarf and striding through the city, and of course, these Jane Birkin-inspired bangs that I’m completely obsessed with.
I’ve been branching out and diversifying my video essay diet, and I’ve discovered some awesome new-to-me creators I want to share with you!
Watch Recs
We’re In Hell: The Internet Is All Over
Dasia Sade: Why Art No Longer Reflects Reality
The Financial Diet: Miranda Hobbes The Original Girlboos
Book Recs
I’ve been racking up those audiobook hours, and reading some really awesome books outside of my usual genre. My favorite one recently, and the one I recommend most unilaterally, is AMBITION MONSTER by Jennifer Romolini. A gorgeous, gutting portrayal of work addiction informed by childhood trauma set against the high-ticket bubble of the early aughts New York publishing industry. It’s a gorgeous memoir on it’s own, but also a really stirring piece that will encourage you to get your priorities straight and be present in your own life, yesterday. If you’re gifted and talented, burned out, and tearing your hair out from trying to have it all, this one is for you.
Smells Recs
I was fortunate to wander into a Sakonett Candle Company booth at a local street fair a few weeks ago and stumbled upon the most glorious candle of all time: Beacon Hill. It’s a sexy, woodsy, elegant scent that smells EXACTLY what I imagine the Aristarkhov house in Beacon Hill to smell like, so if you’re a David fan, you NEED this candle. I also picked up a perfume oil called silhouette, which is a lovely dry parchment musk scent with a kiss of unisex florals. Treat yourself!
That’s all I have for you this week, dear reader, but I’ll be back in mere days with a big old Summoner’s Circle-related announcement that you don’t want to miss. Keep your eyes on your inboxes, ever-vigilant and watchful!
Be safe and well until we two meet again.
-S