I'm in my Spotify Wrapped era...
It's the end of the year! Let's get into it.
Well, I sure didn’t lie when I said I wouldn’t be sending out my newsletter on any kind of set schedule because wow! Almost finished the year with only one going out! But I couldn’t close out 2023 without a little wrap-up. I’ve never been great at blogging, or journaling, or doing any of the stuff everyone is so great at in their newsletters, so here I am trying my best!
2023 has been a bit of a whirlwind year, but I think I’ll wrap up my top moments, in no particular order!
Italy!! If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw me gushing all about this trip. I spent it with my amazing second family, and even though it was completely chaotic, I had an out of this world good time!
But truly the best part about Italy was… I sold another book while I was there! Which we celebrated so loudly (screaming/laughing/crying/etc), our host (who lived next door to our villa) was very concerned, came over to see what was going on, and through some very bad translating thought I was getting married, possibly to a man named Simon Schuster!
In addition to selling my third YA novel, I also sent my second off into the world and I’ve been so touched by the love people have had for this world and these characters. Junie and her friends hold such a special place in my heart - the little piece where it’s summer forever, and crying is okay, and Florida is made of magic. (Florida is still a little magical, even if its politicians would like us not to notice!)
I also got to do so! many! events this year! Both my own and other authors’ with the incredible Novel Neighbor, who I have to shout out for being the best bookstore! If you ever want to hear someone wax poetic about their local indie, hit me up. I love this store and these booksellers so much!!
Of course, with all the great things that happened this year, pretty much the worst thing happened too. This was the year our family had to say goodbye to Zeke. And while I tell myself fifteen years was a great long life for any dog, I still can’t really talk about him without crying. (I am trying! But I, like Junie, am a crybaby at heart!) But of course, being without him made us want to open our home to a foster dog who needed a lot of care, because we were, for the first time in so so long, a no-dog home. And that’s when our local rescue found Gus, who’d been hurt so badly, he needed a no-pet household, preferably a no-kid household, to heal. Of course we knew we’d love him, but we didn’t quite expect to love him so much, so quickly, and to the point where, after only a few months after losing Zeke, we could not let Gus go. He is a wiggly, sunshiney, cuddly little goober. (So different from Zeke, who was extremely lovey but in a much different way lol.)
Truthfully, this year hasn’t been the easiest, but I’ve been extremely lucky to have friends and family to lean on, to have new hobbies and obsessions to throw myself into (please talk to me about F1, I’m begging you), and to have a new book to think about. Because yeah, I sold a book while I was in Italy! It’s not a sequel to This May End Badly, and is in fact so far removed from that world, I’d barely call it a companion. But it does have one big thing in common with TMEB, and in this one, he gets to be the love interest! (Finally!) Three is back and worse than ever, y’all!
You can find links to preorder or add to Goodreads here!
Catch me in 2024…
I have a few events planned for 2024, but for now, let’s talk about Love Y’all Fest! I’ll be in Atlanta for Love Y’all from February 16-18, and you can find out all about getting tickets here!
Yes, you read the experiences page right. I will be at the YA Skate Night! Come hang out and watch me hopefully not break an ankle!
Some end of year thoughts, as a treat:
When is someone going to cast Archie Madekwe in a romcom?
Did I really watch five seasons of Drive to Survive just to get a crush on Toto Wolff?
When will Ryan Ross return to make more music, and does he know how much I miss him?
ATARR,
Sam
If you didn’t have a crush on Toto after DTS, I would be worried about you