Sheri's July Newsletter

Details on a secret project, NEW Q&A section, and publishing updates

Dear Reader,

I’m writing this while on tour with Canticle, my husband’s choir ensemble. We brought our youngest along and left the three older ones with my parents, so traveling is a little easier. Although we don’t always get the best sleep, haha.

Hearing music every day has been restorative. I’m reading A Multitude of Dreams, by Mara Rutherford, when I get a chance. It’s such an immersive read. I loved her The Poison Season (which you’ll find on my list of book recs below!).

Sometimes I find myself longing for the order and schedule of fall and school, but I’m doing my best to enjoy these warm, chaotic days. I’m storing up the beauty of my garden to contemplate when everything is white and frozen.

In other news, these newsletters will now be monthly! I have so many things to share each month as we move closer to the launch time for THE SELLER OF SECRETS, and this is my favorite way to communicate with you all, so why not do it more often?

In this newsletter you’ll find:

• 25 Atmospheric Fantasy Novels

• My latest 5 star read

• NEW Q & A section

• Secret project details

• Publishing update

• Magic Forest Proofreading

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I’ve curated a list of 25 atmospheric fantasy novels—my very favorites—for my new subscribers and for you! I know what it’s like to finish a good book and wonder what to read next. Now you don’t have to. :) Putting this list together was like going back in time and remembering all the books that took me to another world and sometimes made me want to stay there. Find the list using the button below.

Self care tip: When you finish an immersive book you loved, take a few moments (or a day!) to ponder what you read and why it drew you in. Stories need a little time between them to settle, so they don’t lose their impact on us.

Take a walk. Make another cup of tea. Clear your mind. Now you’re ready. <3

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My latest 5 star read

Saints & Monsters, my latest 5 star read, was truly unforgettable.

Ellen McGinty was a new author to me, but the pretty cover (see above) and description of a princess who accidentally steals a dragon’s heart got my attention.

And it kept my attention. I started the book nervously (as I always do when I try a new author), afraid I would be disappointed. That moment never came. I was locked in from the first page.

Ellen McGinty’s writing style is lyrical and immersive, the pacing is perfection, and the characters fiercely loveable.
My favorite things:

• a dauntless princess

• a refreshing dragon POV

• the MOST delightful setup for unexpected love (I giggled every time the heart was mentioned, you’ll see what I mean)

• crisply atmospheric

• set in Japan

• tension & yearning, no spice

It’s an old tale spun in an exquisite new way: a princess with a crooked spine must sacrifice herself to save her beloved country, but the choice she makes bring matters to a crises. Now bound to a dragon, she must find a way to escape death despite her weakness AND save her people, including her cursed sister and mischievous brother. All while trying not to fall in love with the wrong person.

Saints & Monsters is a perfect fit for fans of Brigid Kemmerer and CJ Redwine. I did not want this story to end! McGinty is a new autobuy author.

Get your copy on Bookshop.org, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble. Find out more about Ellen McGinty (she lives in Japan, ya’ll!) on her website or on Instagram.

Have you read this book? Reply to this email and let me know!

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Q & A

This newsletter is our space to get to know each other, and this is your chance to ask whatever you like!

I’ll start off with a question I commonly get. Reply to this email with an questions you have, and I’ll answer as many as I can in my next newsletter.

Q: How do you balance being a mom and writing?

A: I’ll be honest, sometimes I do poorly at this. There have been weeks where our rhythm flows smoothly and I transition from writing to mothering easily. Then there are weeks where deadlines build up or I get obsessed about some element of my writing and I forget that I need balance.

I love writing and feel called to do it, but without a doubt, being present for my children is the most important thing for me. But here’s the thing: when I lean too far toward mothering and neglect my creative calling, my children still suffer.

I become less whole. My joy fades. My children are young yet, but I imagine that when they’re a few years older they’ll recognize when I need to write. Maybe they’ll hand me my laptop or journal and shoo me away. Because they know I usually come back from a writing session with a clear head and a full heart. When I give myself to the creative work and do it in the presence of God, it’s worship.

All this to say, while my rhythms of writing change throughout the year, the heart of it is remembering that both of my callings serve each other. My mothering deepens and enriches my writing. My writing uplifts and refreshes my mothering.

Did you find this helpful? Or do have a question you’d like to ask? Hit reply to this email and let me know!

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Secret Project

I’m grinning while I type this because I am so excited about this new project! I wish I could give you every last detail but I can’t yet because this baby is very new. Here’s what I can say:

I’m writing a sequel to THE SELLER OF SECRETS.

• It’s from Roza’s(her sister) perspective

• I’m calling it PROJECT PAINTER

• It has its own unique magic system and setting

• It involves these things: exotic roses, a haunted cloister, magical paint, sacrificial love, artisan bread

• It will be deeply romantic and deeply atmospheric. THE SELLER OF SECRETS is the story of Bell discovering the power within her—the power we all have to create change. PROJECT PAINTER will be the story of Roza learning what it is to be loved—not for what she does or how she looks, but for who she is.

• Check out my post here and comment what the clue is and I’ll give you a gold star. :)

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Publishing Update

Artwork: I’m waiting on a first draft of the cover for THE SELLER OF SECRETS! I’ve seen some rough sketches and I’m so excited for the final result. My agent Rebecca Lawrence (also an artist) has been working on a map for the book and we’re almost done.

Manuscript: I’ve finished with line edits and am now waiting for the copy edits to come back. It feels like the hard part of editing is done, but I do need to read it very carefully several times and make any last changes.

I keep scanning my launch plan calendar and I can’t believe how close we are to sending out ARCs this fall! I’ll be opening my street team soon for my newsletter subscribers, so stay tuned for that.

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