Getting Serious About Becoming a Librarian
& I'm writing poetry again...
I’m writing poetry again.
I’m feeling like a conduit again.
Sort of.
That’s the best way I can think of to describe my poetry writing process, and I’ve been finding admiration in this consistent reminder from my friend, Clara1:
If it hurts, make it art.
I’m writing poetry again when I definitely should be working on the second book of the Eichon Series.
Funny how writing a book works. And each book’s process is different.
Suzanne Collins announced her new Hunger Games title, and there’s been some writing chatter about the time it takes between book projects/releases, which is, well, timely for me too. Honestly, I think every writer who publishes worries about this at some point.
I even see genre leaders struggle with this idea (and adjacent worries), like Susan Dennard in a recent newsletter:
Yes, the typical thing to state here is something about imposter syndrome. But I don’t feel like an imposter. I feel like I belong in the writing community, in my own small space and way. And I’m comfortable with that.
What I’m not comfortable with is how resistant I am to drafting this second book.
The first two books of the Eichon Series were always meant to be a duology, in honor of Terry Pratchett and the first two Discworld books. So, I’m struggling not just with general second-book woes, I’m also having big emotions about closing this part of Syd and Adeline’s story.
But, I believe every book should challenge me in different ways and I’m trying to keep perspective. I’m hopeful for a 2025 release of book two but I can’t make any promises to readers right now as I’m only 50% of the release date equation.
Also: life is life. This isn’t my full-time, or even part-time, job.
I’m not saying writing the next book isn’t important or that I don’t love it, mind you. I love writing and books with so much passion that I’m finally starting to gather my application materials for returning to grad school for an MA in Library and Information Science to become a public librarian. I’m somewhat nervous, but mostly just excited.
Nothing makes more sense for my vocational and professional interests and supports my values in access to information and community building quite as well as public librarianship2.
As my dear friend said to me this past weekend, “Someone has to protect books in North America.”
Why not me?
Poll Time: Poetry?
Last month, I asked how often you’d like me in your inbox. While most of you said weekly, I’m choosing to go with the second-highest voted, monthly, because that’s most sustainable for me. As always, thanks for your input! Here’s another question for you:
On non-newsletter weeks, would you like to receive poetry in your inbox?
Hey! It’s Pride Month!
And I have some exciting news from my publisher! Deep Hearts YA has created a Young Queer Pride Bundle 2024 of their Kindle titles and included my book Tilting Gravity!
If you’re looking for more queer stories, this is such a fantastic bundle of talented and compassionate authors. I’m honored to be included among them. <3
Grab the bundle on Amazon before the end of June!
And It’s National Indigenous History Month!
I split my time and working location between the U.S. and Canada and, in Canada, it’s National Indigenous History Month! Learn more here.
If you’d like to follow along with the themes of the month, here are the weekly themes of June to educate yourself and others:
June 1 to 9: Environment, traditional knowledge and territory
Need help getting started? Try this interactive map!
June 10 to 16: Children and youth
June 17 to 23: Languages, cultures and arts
June 24 to 30: Women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people
Ask A Queer Author
Is there a feeling like LGBTQ books are going more mainstream with the popularity of certain book/tv series? And if so/not, what does that mean for new authors in those spaces?
I certainly hope so! There’s room on the shelf for all of us.
This increase in market demand would likely mean different things for different new authors, honestly, but that feels like a bland response.
So, in general, I think it means we have to be bold in our first drafts—the ones no one else sees. Those will be our north stars that keep our truths alive while we refine our stories for publishing.
Check out the article Why Are Debut Novels Failing to Launch? in Esquire>Entertainment if you want to learn more about the debut landscape in publishing right now.
Clara Elena García, who just announced her latest book deal! If you like mythology and poetry, you will want to follow her.
Do you have your library card? Most public libraries just need a photo ID and a piece of mail with your name on it. It’s completely free, though some allow you to purchase a membership if you don’t have a local address. And, best of all, most U.S. public libraries now have ebook, audiobook, and seed (yes, like the thing you plant) collections!