Barbie, Book Two, and the in-between

finding inspiration from the Barbie creator and the delightful Katherine Center

Hi there, hey, hello!

We didn’t make it opening weekend, but my daughter and I made it to Barbie last Monday.

I’d heard good things. The good things weren’t good enough. It was a delightful, weird, moving, hilarious story. The best kind of creative storytelling.

When you enjoy a thing—book, movie, music—do you immediately deep dive into it? If so, I think we’re now best friends.

Because that’s what I do and after looking into the director, Greta Gerwig, what stood out to me was the joy Gerwig expressed about her life as a writer & director. Referring to herself and the movie’s leading lady, Margot Robbie, Gerwig said:

I love it so much. I love every part of making a movie, soup to nuts. And Margot is the same way. For us, it’s Disneyland every day. I honestly can’t believe I get to do this.

That quote showed me what I’m missing when I grumble and gripe about some of the writing and indie publishing process. Gerwig loves the whole process. Soup to nuts. (Did I have to google that phrase? I did. Was I pretty sure it was something dirty? Yes. Was I wrong? Again, yes.)

That quote reminded me of a thing I’ve lost sight of: I’m doing a thing I love for work.

IT’S SO COOL!

Sure, it’s not my only work and it’s certainly not paying the bills, and I’m not currently featured in Rolling Stone like Ms. Gerwig.

But putting books into the world for a living? That’s a dream for me and I’m currently doing it. It took my perspective and shifted it sideways. Which I think I needed.

Becauuuse

Book 2 might be, could be, delayed.

I know, I know! I hate this news too! The goal was to release Then Comes Marriage by the end of August.

Now the goal is September and we’re going to hold that lightly.

But there’s a good reason why!

Book Deets

Then Comes Marriage is in the hands of an editor! She came highly recommended from another trusted writing source, and I can’t wait to get her feedback. Is it nerve-wracking? Yes, a little. But is it exciting, to imagine how good this book can be with some professional shaping?

SO EXCITING.

Big Reveal #3

However, there’s still so much good stuff to share about Then Comes Marriage and I don’t have to wait for edits to do it!

In the last newsletter, I shared the main characters’ names, Iris and Ray. Do I love these two? I do, so much! Could I tell you more about them now? I think I will.

At 36, Iris is an artistic, determined, divorced mama, somehow keeping herself and her two small boys afloat with a knitted baby goods business and a sweet but tiny rental home.

Creative. Scattered. Kind. Thrifty. Deeply feeling. All of these describe our earnest and lovely Iris. In fact, Iris named her youngest son Ernest (Ernie), and her older son Atticus so deep does her belief in the goodness of the world run.

And Ray Fox is swept off his feet when they meet at their local farmers’ market. Dedicated to building his family’s farm, Ray hasn’t had time for romantic entanglements…until Iris sets up in the stall next to him at the market.

Introverted. Loyal. Thoughtful. Quietly passionate. Ray, with his deep Southern draw and unassuming ways, catches Iris’s attention in a way that’s never happened to her before. And when he asks her on a date, she has to decide if she’s ready to jump…or bolt.

And below here’s my inspiration for these two. Sigh. These faces.

And that’s not touching on the delightful, unruly cast of characters surrounding them!

Come August tune in for more details and…a cover reveal!

And while you wait, have you read First Comes Love? It’s such a hopeful, fun & funny story, though I say it myself, and while you wait for Then Comes Marriage, I’d recommend picking this one up!

In the meantime, school is on the horizon for my family, along with both my kids and yours truly having a birthday!

So, I’ll have things to keep me busy while we await some editorial work.

What are you anxiously anticipating? New movie, new book, possible move, possible job? Share below, I’d love to keep you in my thoughts!

Take care,

Emily