Brick by Brick
Either the first or second newsletter I sent this year was angst-ridden, mainly because They're Gone was on submission and I had no idea if anyone was going to publish it. And, listen, 9 times out of 10, being on submission is just an awful experience.
Now the year is wrapping up, and so much has changed. You're probably growing tired of that sentiment, given that everyone is deservedly celebrating the end of 2020, but I'm surprised at the number of personal changes in my writing life.
I started the year with They're Gone on sub. It ended, happily, with the book published and the recipient of lovely reviews from Buzzfeed and Kirkus and PW and Oline Cogdill and the Washington City Paper and more. It ended up being my first hardcover and audio book, and a step forward career-wise (which doesn't always happen when you publish a book).
I started the year writing under one name (E.A. Aymar) and ended it having published under two (now also E.A. Barres). I like it! It gives me a cool dual identity thing. I FEEL COMPLEX.
I started the year as a board member of the International Thriller Writers. That ended, unhappily, with my protest resignation and then, weeks later, the entire board stepping down. It was the right thing to do, both my decision and theirs, although I should have been vocal about my choice. And it was an awful situation for everyone involved but, fortunately, a new board is in place and the organization's future looks promising.
I started the year hosting Noir at the Bars twice a year. But, like everything, the series went virtual and I ended up hosting 14 through the course of 2020, featuring approximately 100 writers. The events introduced me to a lot of wonderful people and garnered an enthusiastic, if rather bloodthirsty, following. And it brought me a lot of joy to host the series, and to work with singer Sara Jones and mixologist Chantal Tseng. I really loved that.
I ended the year with another anthology, The Swamp Killers, co-edited with my friend Sarah M. Chen, that gave me the opportunity to work with great friends and wonderful writers. And I had the chance to contribute to the anthologies Writers Crushing COVID-19 and Revenge of the Widow Malmon, both of which were projects I was honored to be included in.
I wrote a bunch of columns for the Washington Independent Review of Books and one for the Washington City Paper. And I got to be on the Kojo Nnmadi Show! WHAT.
I got to spend more time with my wife and son, which was wonderful because I was frustrated with how little I saw them prior to this year. I'm sad about that changing in 2021, although not (obviously) about the circumstances leading to that change. But I hope to find a better balance. I don't want to miss more of their lives.
And what for 2021? Well, I don't have a book scheduled to come out, which seems odd since I published novels in both 2018 and 2019. I have some fun projects coming up (and "fun" is downplaying it), but this business is so confusing and heartbreaking and exhilarating, often in the same day. I do know that writing novels and essays and stories is all I've ever wanted to do, and no matter how it comes about, I'm so thankful for the opportunity. And thankful to you for reading them.
My friend, the writer Sarah Erdman, once told me that I was building my career like one builds a house, brick by brick, and her metaphor is apt for two reasons. Yes, the going is (at times) slow, but it must stay steady.
And with every word written, every character who suddenly springs to life, every book published and read, you come closer and closer home.
Taking a moment to give love to an anthology mentioned above, Revenge of the Widow Malmon. This was such a fun project, and I'm grateful to Kate and Dan Malmon for letting me take part in it. And all the proceeds go to the MS Society! Check it out HERE.
In Conversation with Hannah Mary McKinnon
Sister Dear was one of the best books I read in 2020 and, after reading it, I had to learn more about the author, Hannah Mary McKinnon. We became fast friends and, when the opportunity came up to do an event with another writer, I immediately asked her. This should be fun! She has a lovely British accent that's going to make me sound even more uncultured than usual. Check it out HERE.
Craft Chat
The Bethesda Writers Center is a fantastic resource for writing folk in this area, and I'm honored that I'll have the chance to chat about craft with Zach Powers, author of the sensational novel First Cosmic Velocity. Zach is sharp and smart and I'm going to spend the entire time taking notes. Occasionally speaking, sure, but mostly listening and stealing his ideas. Check it out HERE.
Listen, I'd never tell her this, but Susi Holiday is just one of the coolest, most impressive writers around. As someone who, like her, has a day job and a writing gig, I'm astonished at how prolific she is - not only that, but her books are startlingly original and play with a variety of genres within crime fiction. I recruited her to write for The Thrill Begins, back when I ran The Thrill Begins, and was always impressed with her insight and humor.
And a writer Susi recommends you should read? C.J. Skuze.
My recommendation is the SweetPea series by CJ Skuze. The main character, Rhiannon, is a seemingly normal woman living a normal, dull existence. She amuses herself by writing a daily Kill List of those people she'd like to get rid of. But when she snaps, and the fantasies become reality, things really take a very dark turn. But the selling point is that Rhiannon is hilarious. I am absolutely addicted to this series, and hugely impressed by how the author keeps it fresh from book to book - with the third one seeing the incredibly versatile Rhiannon taking on a Mexican cartel. The first two books are out now (SweetPea and In Bloom) and the third, Dead Head is out in 2021. The TV series is in development by See-Saw films and Sky Atlantic, and due for release in 2022.
To find more information about each writer, click on the images above.
It's contest time! The monthly contest winner wins copies of the books listed in my "Two Writers You Should Read" segment. So, for this month, the winner of The Last Resort and Sweet Pea is:
asc__f@___.com
Congrats! Check your e-mail for a separate note from me, and happy reading!
I got nothing except this:
We should acknowledge that this year was a tragedy. There's an urge to write against that, to take control of our own narrative, to feel the very human necessity of joy. There's nothing wrong with that! The human body and mind are made for recovery.
But it's cheap not to to admit the devastating impact of what COVID-19 has wrought, or to ignore and thus cheapen the millions of people infected, and affected, by this disease. We'll get through this, but we're unmistakably limping through.
My friend Rachel and I were talking in late February about a scenario where we (the universal "we") could know someone who died because of this disease. And now, in late December, we live in that scenario. We've all suffered, or known people who have suffered.
Good arises from tragedy, but it's still tragedy.
For those of you grieving, I'm sorry. Loss changes us, and it's often unexpected and unwelcome and overwhelming. I'm so sorry for your suffering.
I know some of you are health care workers and you're exhausted and feel rather unappreciated. But please know that many of us are indebted to you, and love you, and thank you.
Our bodies are meant to heal. Tissue mends, scars fade, tears dry.
We do persist.