Dear Reader,

It has been an unforgivably long time since I have written to you. I have been trying very hard to fight through many things to revise a novel I still can't tell you about. I promise I will as soon as I can.

But the end of that effort will be soon. I'm not sure what I'm going to do after that. I have a few unfinished stories that are possibilities for The Next Book, but I will need to discuss them with people to know how I will progress with them and then choose which story to finish first.

But I am ruled by novelty, and I yearn for something new. I want to open the windows and let the fresh air in, smiling as the morning of a new story's shining warms my face. I cannot go long without fresh air and new light, as I will languish in the gloom of the usual.

I know you anticipate me, of course, and so you know what I will tell you next:

I have an idea.

It shines like the morning. When I let my guard down I start thinking about it, indistinct, big, fuzzy with possibility. There's so much I don't know. But I know the sentiment it evokes in me, so I have taken to making lists.

Of books, naturally. I wish to share a dozen titles in alphabetical order by title, so I may transmit a hint of the mood and the world distracting me from my tasks:

1. The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design, Roman Mars, Kurt Kohlstedt
2. All the President's Men, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein
3. The Black Mozart: Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Walter E. Smith
4. Call For The Dead, John le Carré
5. The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
6. Forensics, Val McDermid
7. The Game of Kings, Dorothy Dunnett
8. Going Postal, Terry Pratchett
9. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N. K. Jemisin
10. Her Majesty's Spymaster, Stephen Budiansky
11. Inventing the Renaissance, Ada Palmer
12. Paladin's Grace, T. Kingfisher
13. Sorcery & Cecelia, Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer

This list is incomplete, but I hope it gives an idea.

On a related note, I am traveling to Montréal very soon, for inspiration, my birthday, and a little bit of fortune telling. I have a list for that too, of course:

• A journey by train: since I'm on the night flight I will arrive in Montreal hours before I can check in, so I'm taking the train to Ottawa so I can write, eat lunch, and travel back.
• Thrifting: Montréal is having Fashion Week, but I'm going to hunt through thrift stores for some treasures
• Museums: I'm going to check out museums. Which ones? Don't Know!
• Divination: I will give un-birthday tarot card readings for a special Sapphic Saturday:

Joie de livres, 5163 boul. Saint Laurent, Montréal, Québec

the 27th of September

I will also be walking, exploring, and getting something to eat. I will take pictures to share!

I shall work to write again soon. Until then, I remain

Sincerely yours,

C. L.