Dear Friends,

First of all, I’m going to be another one of those starting their newsletters with “I hope you’re safe and well during these times.” I know!  Every email you get these days starts out that way. But how else to begin a communication to people you care about? The thing is, I do hope you’re safe and well, because we are living in perilous times and I can’t pretend that we’re not.

Second of all, a year has passed since Mistress of the Ritz was published in hardcover, and today, it’s out in paperback. An entire year—and boy, so much has changed. A year ago I was on a plane every day, zipping in and out of hotels, meeting so many readers—shaking hands, hugging, all things that today seem unthinkable. It is a very strange thing to launch a new book, even a paperback release, from within the confines of my house, unable to get out and visit bookstores and readers, spot my book in the wild at airports, etc. A very strange thing. 

So what is an author to do?

Use a little magic! A little magic to whisk her away to Paris, and the fabulous Hotel Ritz, and relive her time there, when she got to go behind the scenes and learn more about this iconic hotel. So please join me, won’t you, as we virtually hold hands and hop across the pond to the City of Light?

Whew! And now we’re back! If you enjoyed our little trip, please consider buying the paperback of Mistress of the Ritz at your local independent bookstore, if at all possible. These bookstores are suffering greatly during the pandemic—as all retail is—and so many of them are trying desperately to stay afloat by offering curbside pickup, or shipping books. But if you don’t have an independent bookstore nearby, here are the online retail links:

So what’s an author to do during a pandemic? Keep writing, of course! I have been, and I’m so excited to share that I have a new book in the works. Look for The Children's Blizzard in early 2021, and stay tuned, because I will be sharing the gorgeous cover and all the details soon.

And authors also podcast with their friends during a pandemic! Edward Kelsey Moore and I have continued to do our podcast WHO THE HELL ARE WE?—safely distancing, of course, recording from our own homes. We’ve been doing lots of podcasts to try to distract us all from our troubles, so if you haven’t already subscribed, please consider doing so wherever you listen to your podcasts.

That’s all for now! I hope you can enjoy your summer safely. Please listen to those who have our best interests at heart and social distance and take every precaution. I have a lovely assortment of masks that are now part of my wardrobe! And while I am happy to wear them, I do look forward to the time I can wear lipstick again and get out and meet readers and visit bookstores.

But until then, I wear my masks and wash my hands and mostly stay inside, reading. And writing!

Love,

Melanie

Read about my books!