From The Desk of J. Morgyn White

Welcome to 2024!

I was happy to leave 2023 behind although all-in-all it was a year of progress. In the spring I was awarded Best New Writer at Futurescapes where one of my cohort compared my work to Brandon Sanderson—so you can imagine my head has swelled to a size that no hat will accommodate. I readied a new book this year called By Their Rules, a 1950s suspense inspired by the true crime Ann Woodward case. Last year’s agent didn’t feel that it fit in their portfolio and so I am again in the query trenches. 

I have a couple of projects on the go— a romcom set in the world of organic farming, a literary styled eco-fantasy, and a speculative fresh take on vampires. I am also retooling Valravyn in 2024 to raise the tech to current standards and lift the writing to my current level. This time, if it doesn’t find a traditional home, I may decide to publish it myself. I am working for the full year on it with a great mentor, Nephele Tempest and a small cohort. At the end, I’ll decide what is the best road to take.

Meanwhile my newer historical work in progress (codename Mattie & Thom) is incredibly exciting and pulling the momentum from some other projects while it clamors to be attended to. The story is set in 1839. At the moment it begins on a plantation in Savannah, Georgia and then moves north to New York City. The 1839/1840 period of New York City history is fascinating. The city was growing at an incredible rate and fortunes made in merchant shipping was being poured into real estate. The Brevoort Mansion is the pivoting point for my story, set in what is now Washington Square. There, a massive party changed the lives of my two main characters. You can read a little on the site but it involves a notorious masquerade ball! The characters in a poem by Irish poet Thomas Moore (not the Sir) called Lalla Roohk are what are at the core of this novel. 

I will go into more details on the story later, but one of the intriguing research asides (and there are many, including Edgar Allen Poe's adventures at the time) is on Daguerreotypes. This early form of photography which moved to cheaper and faster forms very quickly, began in 1837/1838 and was brought to New York City in 1839. I have been studying the forms of them, and learning about the cases and styles of early photography. You’ll see some of a small collection I’ve started on Instagram as I gather real life portraits for characters in my book.

Speaking of books, I’ve ready a good number this year: My recent blog post is here with my top recommendations. I’ve also watched a number of great TV shows this year including The Gilded Age’s second season and Apple TV’s The Buccaneers based on the novel by Edith Wharton (which I have on my to-be-read pile).

If you enjoyed Bridgerton and the CW's Reign, The Buccaneers is something you should check out. The big hit of the year for me was Slow Horses (also on Apple TV) based on the book series by Mick Herron. I’m a long time Gary Oldman fan and his performance is chef’s kiss.

I will leave you with a couple of recent additions to my miniature book fob collection and a my now-favorite recipe for cinnamon rolls which I think is heritage worthy. 

Sending out wishes that 2024 is your best year ever!

Joanne