Book & Bramble - Welcome

Image Description: An overgrown path winds through shrubs bordered by pink and purple lupines with pine trees in the distance.

                            February 24, 2022

                Book & Bramble - Welcome

A Letter from Caitlyn Paxson
Dear Reader,

Hello, and welcome to my monthly newsletter! I’m a storyteller who reviews books and writes things and interprets history. I’ve always joked that I inadvertently design different periods of my life to resemble specific fairytales (an argument could be made that I take my degree in folklore too literally!), and I have to admit, living on a little farm on Prince Edward Island/Epekwitk and alternating between scribbling away in my garret, green-witching around my garden, and pretending to be a fake Victorian spirit medium at a museum definitely feels like a chapter in some sort of tall tale. 

Image Description: An overgrown path winds through shrubs bordered by pink and purple lupines with pine trees in the distance.

So, I hope you’ll enjoy following me down this path! Here’s what to expect in your inbox once a month:

Writing
Maybe you’re here looking for reviews or other writings! I’ll share links to anything I’ve published recently. 
Here’s a past review to get you started: A Delicious Gothic Romance Strikes Just The Right Balance Of Heart And Horror.

Reading
Looking for a recommendation? There simply isn’t time to fully review every great book that happens my way, but if something stands out, I’ll share it here! I tend to read mostly Young Adult (of all genres) and adult speculative fiction/fantasy, though lately I’ve also been delving into picture books and romance novels.

Crafting
I’m a crafty lady! I spin wool, I embroider, I knit, and I make wreaths, among other things. In 2021, I made a wreath out of things I found outside for every month of the year. And then I put them on my head! I called it Wreath of the Month and posted about it on my Instagram. In 2022, I’m specifically making crowns, so expect lots of pictures of me swanning around the farm wearing them. Maybe I’ll even share some of the outtakes where I have to hide from our neighbor, a very serious farmer who thinks I’m a weirdo (he did once catch me scampering through his field in fake ram horns and a cloak, so I can’t really blame him).

Image Description: A woman with long brown hair (me) wears a wildflower wreath on her head. A wreath made of purple lupins, lilacs, and other flowers hangs on a white wooden fence. A woman (also me) wearing a collar made of sunflowers looks sidelong at the camera.

Growing
I keep a pretty big garden full of food and flowers. Come growing season, expect to hear a lot about what I’m planting, tending, and picking.

Image Description: Fresh-picked corn lies nest to a basket of purple beans, orange tomatoes, and pattypan squash. A lush vegetable garden rests in the speckled summer sunlight. A bright orange sunflower radiates in the August sun.

Watching
Maybe sometimes I’ll get excited about a show or movie.

Enthusing
I have a lot of very talented friends and family members and you’re definitely going to hear about what they’re up to.

I think that covers it! My hope is that by sharing what I’m working on, you can discover some things to try for yourself, whether it’s a book, a craft, or an idea for the garden. Thank you for joining me on this adventure!

Wishing you the best books and the most berry-full brambles,
Caitlyn

I write this from the traditional unceded territory known as Mi’kma’ki. Two books by Indigenous authors that I really enjoyed recently are Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley and Mi’kmaq Campfire Stories of Prince Edward Island by Julie Pellissier-Lush. 

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