Furthermore | November 2025

It's fall and my heart is happy 🍂

I’ve been taking lots of autumn walks and it’s been lovely

Happy November! Fall is officially upon us in the Pacific Northwest: lots of wind, rain, and colorful leaves piling up on the ground. We’ve already lost power once, and I suspect that will happen several more times before the season is over. I’ve got my candles out, my blankets close by, and more tea and coffee than my heart can handle (quite literally: I don’t tolerate caffeine like I used to 🤣)

It’s my favorite time of year, and I instinctively want to stay in and cocoon at home, but I’ll be making an exception next week when I fly to Charleston for YALLFest! I love this festival and am so looking forward to it. I love sharing the city with so many book lovers, meeting readers, seeing other authors, and getting to visit with the folks who help bring my books into the world. Also, I just really love Charleston as a city.

I’ll share my schedule below, and I hope to see some of you there!

Otherwise, I’ve been listening to a lot of classical music (I’ve been loving this playlist) and splitting my time between promo for The Sun and the Starmaker and revisions for REDACTED. For me, one of the trickiest parts of this job has been learning how to balance multiple things because that really doesn’t come naturally to me. I like to focus on one thing at a time, fully immerse myself in it, and not move on to the next project until the current one is done. But publishing often doesn’t allow for that.

Even if I only have one book I’m in the process of writing or revising, I typically have another that is gearing up for release, which means dedicating time to the marketing and promo side of things. Something that really surprised me when I started writing as a career is that promo can be a full-time job if I let it, and so I have to make sure that I’m spending the vast majority of my time on the writing itself, even with so many other competing things. It can be easier said than done, and it’s a constant work in progress for me.

(If anyone would be interested in a deep dive into how I structure my schedule when I have multiple things going on, just let me know! If you’ve read my past newsletters, I’m sure you’ve gathered by now that I love chatting about productivity, schedules, planners, etc!)

Sometimes I daydream about what it would be like to move to the coast and mail my manuscripts to my editor via FedEx and be completely disconnected from the internet. That side of me is in a struggle with my ambition and desire for community, nudging me to be present on social media and do events and go on tours and connect with readers and writers online. I think, for now at least, I’ve found a sustainable balance for both: I go to the coast when I can, trying my best to disconnect when I’m there, and those weeks away recharge me and refill the well so that I can show up for all the other things I want to do. I’m extraordinarily grateful that I can do both.

I have several updates to share below, so I’m going to cut myself off here to get to everything else. I’m wishing you all delicious-smelling candles, warm beverages, and lots of cozy evenings!

In Case You Missed It

I revealed the first part of my preorder campaign! Every preorder of The Sun and the Starmaker will help fuel the discoveries that improve the lives of brain injury survivors across the globe. I’ve partnered with the Concussion Research Laboratory and the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, and $1 from every preorder will go toward their incredible work.

As most of you probably know, I suffered a traumatic brain injury in December of 2023, and it is because of the research and clinical work of the Concussion Research Lab and UPMC that I was ultimately able to heal from my brain injury. This campaign means the world to me, and I appreciate each and every preorder more than you know.

Next up, if you’ve been wanting to get a signed and personalized copy, you can now do so through my beloved indie Elliott Bay Book Company! Please put your personalization request in the comment box at checkout, and make sure to get your orders in by February 10^th.

If you order through Elliott Bay, not only will you get the gorgeous deluxe limited edition of Starmaker, but you’ll also receive an art print done by the incredible artist Viv Tanner, as well as a pin of the Starmaker’s castle! These preorders will also contribute toward my campaign with the Concussion Research Lab.

And finally, if you’re going to be in Charleston at YALLFest next week, here’s where you can find me!

A Moment of Gratitude

This isn’t my normal moment of gratitude, but it’s important. I had a health scare recently (I’m okay!), and it has me reflecting on my incredible family and friends who supported me through a very uncertain time. I’m a big believer in preventative medicine, so I’ll use this time to gently remind you to please get your screenings when you hit the recommended ages: mammograms, colonoscopies, blood panels, etc. I’m fortunate to have health care that allows for these screenings, and if you are too, I’d urge you to get them. (If you’re coming to YALLFest and like to give out hugs—which is totally fine with me—I would just ask that you give a gentle one!)

There are so many stories I want to read and write, and I want to do everything I can to get to as many of them as possible.

As always, thank you so much for being here. 🤍

Love,

Rachel

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