Hi friend,
Can you believe it's October already? I haven't sent a newsletter since late July, and would love to catch you up on my news!
First off, congrats to Julie Parrish, the winner in last month's 2nd birthday book giveaway. Julie will receive a signed copy of The Exit Strategy.
This month, scroll down for a way to win 40+ novels from some great authors (and a new e-reader).
Book 2 Progress
Despite some big car trouble on the way, Hubby and I made it our new nomad work location of Puerto Escondido. The photo above is from the day we got the keys, and the gorgeous beach that is five minutes walk!
Since arriving, I've been heads down with a goal of finishing my 5th draft of my second book before I leave for the Women's Fiction Writers Retreat in Alexandria this Monday October 10th. And I made it!
Still lots of work to do on language and refinement, but this was a big rewrite that I will be sending to my editor in December. I hope this novel will come out in 2023 or 2024.
The Exit Strategy Wins its 13th & 14th Award!
My 2020 debut novel, is the little book that could -- it just keeps on chugging!
I was delightfully surprised that it recently won the 2022 Top Shelf Book Awards in Women’s Fiction with an honorable mention in General Fiction. And it's still getting great reviews - two recent ones below.
A new Season on The Best of Women's Podcast
My co-host Ashley Hasty and I launched a new podcast season with great new episodes (examples below), and we celebrated our 100th episode at the start of September!
Plus, I'm thrilled to share a new collaboration for book clubs. For each of our guests, Book Club Bites will post a book-related recipe straight from the author, plus book club questions and more!
SUBSCRIBE HERE TO THE PODCAST NEWSLETTER
40+ Book Giveaway
Once more, I’m part of a special giveaway. If you follow me and other authors of literary, historical, and book club fiction on BookBub, you can win lots of great books.
Enter now through Wednesday October 12th and you could win 40+ novels and a new e-reader.
ENTER THE 40+ BOOK GIVEAWAY HERE
Are you a writer?
I'm part of a group of authors called the Author Talk Network, and recently we introduced a new ebook called Sharp Tips for Exceptional Writing, that you are welcome to download for free.
DOWNLOAD THE EBOOK FOR WRITERS
Travel Update - big car trouble!
I shared last month that hubby and I were moving our nomad life to Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca. Since then we've settled into a lovely apartment, which feels like a jungle paradise (complete with geckos, spiders and the odd scorpion - eek!).
We purchased a used SUV the week before we left and unfortunately the engine gave out on the way (while we were traveling at 65 mph down a hill on a highway).
Two hours on the side of the road and a three hour tow truck ride later, we made it to the city of Oaxaca. But that was in early August and two months later our car is still at the mechanic (Six hours away from where we are!).
So far, we've waited for three replacement engines. Two arrived and the mechanic declared them junk. And the third one is coming mañana (tomorrow) and has been for about a month (yes you're allowed to laugh because it's such a cliché).
Do you think perhaps when we named the car Confi (as in confiable aka reliable) we were tempting fate?
A few videos that may make you smile:
Car drama!
Making up for it with a visit to the Mezcal festival
Take a morning walk with me in Puerto Escondido
Celebrating two more book awards
Wishing you all the best of pumpkin spice season.
In gratitude,
Lainey
|