a giveaway, columbus book festival, and short stories on itchio
The Keeper of Lonely Spirits has officially been out for a month (or slightly more), and The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher has officially been out for two years (or slightly more). so I spent the other week listening to the Keeper audiobook for the first time. and then immediately listening to it again. and then when it ended, it started auto-playing from the beginning, even though that’s not how my playlist settings are, so naturally I listened to it a third time.
I was going to start this newsletter obsessing over the audiobook, which is narrated by David Sweeney-Bear, but there’s simply too much to say. so instead of inflicting that on you here, I wrote a blog post about it.
if you’re interested in that, click here to read: link to audiobook blog post on my website
if you’re interested in the audiobook edition of Keeper, I recommend LibroFM, since (a) your purchase supports indie bookshops and (b) not only can you listen on their app, but you can also download the DRM-free MP3s hell yeah
click here to get the audiobook from LibroFM: link to The Keeper of Lonely Spirits on LibroFM.
it’s also the time of year that Peter arrives in Harrington for the first time, so the Ohio springtime has me in a chokehold* as I imagine my darling old man coming to town.
*okay, even more of a chokehold than usual, because obviously I love this time of year
…and now for something completely different
one-month book birthday giveaway (ends May 2)
to celebrate Keeper’s one-month birthday, I’m running a giveaway for one (1) hardcover on my socials. to enter…
follow me on the platform of your choice (Instagram, Bluesky, or Tumblr)
share my giveaway post on that platform
for a bonus entry, tag a friend in the comments on the post
as usual, the giveaway is open internationally to anywhere that can receive USPS packages! although the giveaway is running across socials, there will be only one (1) winner. the giveaway ends at 5p.m. EST this Friday, May 2.
click here to go to the giveaway post: link to giveaway post on Instagram | link to giveaway post on Bluesky | link to giveaway post on Tumblr
columbus book festival (july 2025)
in case you missed it on socials last week: the Columbus Book Festival announced their featured author line-up for 2025, and I’m in it! I’ve been wanting to go as a featured author since the event started in 2023, so I’m delighted that I finally get to <3
this year’s festival will be on July 12 and 13 at the Main Branch Library and Topiary Garden in Columbus, Ohio. in addition to panels and signings, there will be activities like author speed-dating, games, and crafts, as well as live music, food trucks, a whole tent full of indie authors, and various bookish vendors throughout the festival grounds.
click here for more information: link to the Columbus Book Festival website
reminder: short stories on Itch.io
I’ll be announcing this publicly on Thursday (May 1), but as a reminder—or in case you missed my last newsletter—my previously published short stories are now available on Itch.io!
they’re available in PDF or EPUB and are currently set to name-your-price (although tips are appreciated). you do not have to have an Itch.io account to download the stories (which is one of my favorite things about the platform).
a brand-new, never-before-seen short story will be published in the coming months, so be sure to follow me on Itch.io (if you’re there) to be notified when it releases!
if you follow me on socials, shares of Thursday’s announcement posts are appreciated <3
click here to download my short stories or follow me on Itch.io: link to my page on Itch.io
odds & ends
recent reads:
I finished The Teller of Small Fortunes (2024) by Julie Leong and immediately ordered her next book, The Keeper of Magical Things (expected later this year)
being in a mood for queer Gothic novels, I also read A Sweet Sting of Salt (2024) by Rose Sutherland, My Darling Dreadful Thing (2024) by Johanna van Veen, and A Botanical Daughter (2024) by Noah Medlock. (April was a good month for reading thanks to the six-day weekend I got for Easter)
recent watches:
Pride & Prejudice (2005) in theaters, where it was re-released in celebration of the 20th anniversary. (ouch.) I’ll probably live-post my way through it on Bluesky some time soon, so keep an eye out for that if you enjoy my movie watchthroughs
recent listens:
The Keeper of Lonely Spirits audiobook, obviously, as well as a CD of Irish folk songs I got at the renaissance fair years ago
recent birds:
the first warblers are here! obviously I’ll see many more come May (especially now that I have a bird walk scheduled), but it was great to catch a glimpse and listen of some yellow-rumped warblers at a nearby park last week
until next time!
