Letting Joy In

in which I share with you my complicated feelings about publicity, marketing, and celebrating yourself.

Here is the reality. I’m curled up in my newly built writing nook downstairs. The chair is low to the ground and wide enough for me to cross my legs and shift restlessly as I sort through ideas and try to figure out the next plot beat for the project that comes after HUNGER. Dog toys are scattered everywhere, a stuffed Pennywise my brother left on my mailbox last year is watching me from the closet door I haven’t bothered to close, and the outside door is covered in a year’s worth of pollen and dust. Also, my favorite hoodie has too many stains to ever be worn in public again, yet I will continue to do so because it’s my favorite hoodie.

Talking about these truths makes me feel so much better because the social media aspect of promoting HUNGER has been a little exhausting. Up until these past few months, I had a balanced relationship with Instagram. I shared authentic parts of myself to make genuine connections, and I think that’s because I had nothing to promote but community. Now, I have a duty to promote the thing I wrote, something I’m so damn proud to have hitting shelves in *checks calendar* three weeks. The switch has been difficult, and I’m finding my voice in this new stage of the career.

But here on Substack? You get the version of me that’s deeply connected to my messy, teenage Livejournal phase. Honestly? Totally fine with that because it means reminding you that behind all the AWHF Neon Light Advertisements I keep shilling out on Instagram, I am just a gremlin in a corner, downing three different beverages at once while lamenting I haven’t moved enough.

I am also someone who is deeply excited for this season of life. Saying that to you, or to anyone, is a weird and big step for me. I’ve always been reserved in my emotions—especially excitement or anticipation. I always fear the let down, the catch I didn’t see coming, the bit of information that pulls the rug from beneath my giddily dancing feet. I’ve been working through this with a therapist (she’s the best), and I think it comes from a fear that I haven’t worked hard enough to truly earn successes.

What a load of bullshit.

I’m here to tell you what I needed to hear: you are allowed to be happy and excited. You are allowed to celebrate your wins. You are allowed to be proud of your accomplishments. You are allowed to acknowledge that both luck AND skill played a hand in whatever it is you have accomplished.

This industry is mercurial. The attention HUNGER is receiving today may not come to my second book. It may not come my way again. The accolades and Big Shiny Boxes listed below may never happen for me ever again. That’s just the business.

This means I have two options: dampen my emotional response to this season of life out of fear of being crushed OR rejoice and be grateful for all that comes my way.

Therein lies the heart of this newsletter. Gratitude. I say it all the time on Instagram and in my emails to readers, friends, my publishing team, booksellers, and family (but not the bogus AI fishing attempts sent through my website. Sit down). I’m grateful. I’m just so damn awed and humbled by anyone and everyone who has invested in me and my work.

My promise is to keep giving back. To share whatever I know, feel, or experience with you in the hopes that it helps. To answer questions. To share on Turning to Story. To be there for those who have been there for me.

In the spirit of HUNGER, let’s celebrate some stuff going on.

AWHF News

• First, the biggest shoutout to Katie Sue for working with me to create an AWHF Cookbook! The recipes are SO damn delicious, y’all. We’ve got a lemon pound cake, spicy caramel brownies, a delightful quiche, and so many other recipes which Katie created with HUNGER in mind. If you want that, please fill out this Google Form.

• Preordered HUNGER and want character art and recipe cards? Fill out this Google Form too!

• Want a personalized or signed copy of AWHF? You can preorder from any of these stores, and you’ll automatically get the preorder goodies!

  

• While it’s not officially released for by OwlCrate, AWHF is the June pick for this year. I worked closely with the team at OwlCrate to help approve designs for the entire package, and I cannot begin to tell you how gorgeous it is. Also, the amount of work the designers and artists put in to making these book packages so unique is so damn special. The way the team understood HUNGER and put all the details into visual form made me sob no less than 12937189237 times. Like, look at this end page sneak peek. If you’ve read HUNGER, you know what picture that is!

• You can read a short excerpt of HUNGER on Reactor!

• Oh, no big deal. HUNGER was in the Goodreads newsletter as an anticipated read for June—AND SHE’S NEXT TO LEIGH BARDUGO! Years ago, when I really set my sights on publishing, I turned to Shadow and Bone to teach myself how to write. I have my original copy upstairs and all marked up. This is ridiculously surreal.

  

• HUNGER is also on the Best Books of June for Barnes & Noble and, as of this morning, a June Editor’s Pick for Amazon.

  

  

  

• Here is the list of events surrounding HUNGER. If you’re in WNC or the piedmont of NC, come join me! I’d love to see you!

  

• There’s still TWO things in the pipeline for HUNGER and myself that I can’t tell you about yet, but please know I am BURSTING with delight about both of them.

Deadline…?

Yes, I am on deadline again. A swift one at that. What am I on deadline for? Please know that it’s twisty, romantic, time-loopy, and queer. It hasn’t been officially announced, so thanks for celebrating with me early!

The Leftovers

• I’ve been listening to The Great Divide on repeat. Doors and Paid Time Off will be on my wrapped. Betting you now.

• My husband and I just finished watching The Jinx. If you’re into true crime or you want more reasons to eat the rich, please watch. It has more twists and turns than a soap opera and yet it’s real life. If you’ve watched it, you’re obligated to message me so I can talk to you about story structure.

• We took a family trip to the Outterbanks a week or so ago. Vander sat curled up on my husband’s lap for the entire eight hour drive because he gets car sick like his mom, we watched the new season of Secret Millionaire, and walked to the beach daily.

  

• I can’t stop playing WoW. The coordination required to beat a raid or a mythic dungeon on a high level calls to my inner honors student. Also, when I top the charts as a healer, I secretly feel like a badass.

I have no idea what the next three weeks have in store for me, but I’m so ready to embrace it with an open heart!

Cheers!

Anna