Wallowing in Ink with Courtney Floyd Issue 30

Hello, hello! If you’re new here I’m Courtney. You probably subscribed because you’re ​interested in my debut fantasy novel​. Or maybe you liked my ​cozy horror audio drama series​ and wanted to learn what else I’m up to. Or, hey, maybe you stepped between two ancient hemlock trees in the woods and found yourself here, out of breath and a little confused. Whatever the case, welcome.

Updates

This month, my book went up on my publisher’s website, pre-order links went live, and the final cover landed in my inbox. 🎉

I can’t show you yet, but I’m so excited to share. It’s absolutely stunning. Here’s a snippet to tide you over.

In other news, there are two new episodes of Unfortunately… (the writing podcast I started with my friend Mona West). You can listen here! We have so many more guests joining us this season to chat failure, struggle, and writing — please consider subscribing if that’s at all your thing.

January Recommendations

2025 has already been a lot. Last week alone was a small eternity. I guess it’s bound to feel that way when you live in a country where a bunch of fascist broligarchs are smashing their way through democracy, some while literally throwing Nazi salutes.

It’s orchestrated chaos, and it’s meant to make us freeze. But I’m neurodivergent. I’ve spent a lot of my life in various states of uncertainty, overwhelm, and overstimulation. I’ve learned that to keep going, it’s important to narrow down. Filter out some of the noise. Get grounded. Then and only then can you contribute to the fight.

For me, right now, that means reducing the channels by which I get my news. I've been appreciating ​What the Fuck Just Happened Today?​ , a newsletter recap of political news that lands in my inbox at around 6pm every weekday.

I’ve also subscribed to Stacey Abrams’s podcast ​Assembly Required.​ Listening to her and her guests talk things through is incredibly helpful and leaves me feeling hopeful. And hope is a necessity in this fight, friends.

Finally, I’m reading ​Fighting Fascism: How to Struggle and How to Win​ by Clara Zetkin. The Haymarket edition presents the text of her 1923 report with a very helpful introduction.

Do you have resources you’re turning to right now that you’d like to share? Please respond to this email and tell me about them!

A Quick Poll

I have been bumping up against the outer limit of things to wallow in subject lines for a bit now, and I’m contemplating a change. I’d really appreciate it if you would weigh in:

Thanks for wallowing with me,

Courtney