E.B.'s Notes & News: December 2023 ❄️☃️🐢
Notes & News: December 2023
Well, I guess it's time to finally share the big news. I've been putting off speaking about it on the internet because of my own weird superstitions, but now that we're approximately six to ten weeks away from the event, it's time:
This is going to be my last newsletter for a little while because Richie and I are adding a new creature to the Bartels-Corrado Menagerie... a HUMAN creature!
(I swore I would never take one of these posed pregnancy photos but Janna Herman tricked me into it.)
That's right, Baby Bartels Corrado ("Baby BC") is due to arrive around the end of January, and so I am going to go on "newsletter parental leave" for the next six months to give myself some time to adjust and focus on new projects: figuring out how to be a parent, figuring out how to be a writer and a parent, and some new book ideas as well (though lol if that last one will actually happen while I have a newborn). So because of all this I've decided to take the first six months of the year off from sending this newsletter, so keep your eyes on your inboxes in July 2024 when I will start things back up.
It was hard to make this call because I love sending out these monthly check-ins. I especially love sharing the link round-up of all the things my friends have been writing, publishing, making, and creating! But I know this is the right thing for me to do now, so thank you for understanding. And thank you for always reading! Each month it is so wonderful to hear from so many of you about what you have been up to and the things that resonate with you that I write about in here. Thanks for being a part of my writing/pets/Good Grief community. <3
But anyway, have no fear! You still have one last regular newsletter to read before I go on leave. Scroll down for more.
xoxo,
E.B.
People & Places to Support:
I know this time of year we are all getting inundated with requests to donate to important causes (ask me what my inbox looked like on Giving Tuesday -- it was pretty overwhelming) but here is one more to add to your list.
The fantastic writer and person Cinelle Barnes is going through a tough recovery right now after suffering from a brain aneurysm right before Thanksgiving. Cinelle's friends and family write on the GoFundMe page:
Many of you will be aware that our beloved sister, Cinelle, survived a brain aneurysm this past Tuesday, November, 14, 2023. After a successful brain procedure on Wednesday, she is awake, speaking, walking, and responding well to doctors’ tests but remains in recovery in the step down unit and will be unable to work for a period of time at the very least until 2024.
So many of you have graciously and generously reached out to offer well wishes and assistance to Cinelle, Stephen, and Anouk. This GoFundMe has been set up to streamline the process for any who wish to stay updated on Cinelle’s progress, leave words of encouragement, and offer financial assistance.
Thank you so very much for your faith in and hope for Cinelle’s fullest recovery and for all the love you’re sending her way.
Cinelle was one of my favorite people to interview for Non-Fiction by Non-Men, and she has been nothing but kind and supportive and encouraging of everyone in her sphere. I think Cinelle's situation has hit me especially hard recently thinking about becoming a mom myself and worrying about what would happen to my kid if I had a major medical emergency like that. So please consider donating even a little amount to help support Cinelle and her family as she is unable to keep up her usual freelancing as she takes time to heal.
Writing Notes & News:
Talk about perfect timing for one last big Good Grief update before taking a newsletter break! Last night the doorbell rang and it was our mail carrier Cindy. At first, Seymour was sure she had come up to the door just to give him a special treat but instead (alas) she needed me to sign for a package... an international package... from Korea.... YES THAT'S RIGHT! is finally out!!! Wisdom House ("one of the most influential publishers in Korea" according to their website) published the Korean version of Good Grief on September 6th (my niece Agnes's birthday!) and I received my five gratis copies last night. This week had been pretty much garbage up until that point, so this was a much-needed bright spot. The book looks beautiful. I love the white and grayscale design and the way they used the same illustrations from the American edition in a different way. (See above and also visit the @goodgriefpetsbook Instagram where I will post more photos and also a video of me flipping through it!) So, if you know anyone in Korea, tell them to go buy Good Grief!
Also, while you're at it, if you're in the U.S.A. please consider buying Good Grief this holiday season! A hard publishing truth is that not every hardcover gets turned into a paperback. Often publishers make the call to do or not do this based on sales numbers. At the moment, HarperCollins does not have plans to print a Good Grief paperback, which, honestly, really sucks, because I feel like even more people would want to buy copies and give them to people who have lost pets if it was in a paperback (cheaper) format. The hardcover is selling well enough (anywhere from 5 to 20 copies each week!) but that isn't considered a blockbuster by a Big Five publisher. HarperCollins said they will "reevaluate" the idea of a paperback after they see how holiday sales are... which is also frustrating because Good Grief is not a book you give at Christmas, but a book you give year-round, whenever a pet dies. So what I'm saying is that if you've been thinking about on stocking up on copies of Good Grief to have on hand to give out when people lose their beloved pets, maybe consider doing it now??? Thanks for all of your continued support. I seriously could not have done it without you all.
In non-Good Grief news, the 11th Non-Fiction about Non-Humans interview went up on Fiction Advocate! This interview is with Maddalena Bearzi, author of Stranded, another excellent tile from Heyday Books. Once again, I was introduced to Maddalena by Marthine Satris (fellow Wellesley alum!) who knows exactly what books from Heyday I will love. Plus, you can find all the past Non-Fiction about Non-Human interviews at this link here. AND PLEASE NOTE: there will be two more Non-Fiction about Non-Human interviews going up in December and January (before I go on "interview parental leave" as well), so keep an eye out for those. I will post about them on social media, even if I am not sending out a newsletter to tell you about them.
And my latest for Wellesley was a very fun Q&A with Banu Subramaniam, the College's new chair of the Women's and Gender Studies Department. (Yes, I will also be going on "actual parental leave" from Wellesley, from approximately the end of January to the end of May. Exact dates TBD based on what Baby BC feels like doing in terms of timing.)
Events Notes & News:
So as you might have guessed, "newsletter parental leave" also means "events parental leave." As of right now I have no upcoming events planned relating to Good Grief or otherwise. (It's strange and a little sad but also sort of freeing???) Though I am sure I will have more things set up for summer/fall 2024, so if you can't wait until my next newsletter, be sure to check the events page on my website for the most up-to-date info.
In the meantime, you'll be pleased to hear that I crushed it at Literary Death Match on 11/15. I won my round (shockingly, since I went up against the super talented J.D. Debris!) and only lost in the final to the great Desmond Hall because I panicked and couldn't do math on the spot in my head (if you've ever been to an LDM event, you'll know what I'm talking about). I am proud to say though that I made LDM history by being their "most pregnant reader ever" to participate, so that is pretty damn cool. I'll be adding that to my resume!
Reading Notes & News:
I would like to dedicate this reading section to Kelly J. Ford and her latest novel The Hunt, which I just finished and love love LOVED. (See above for a photo of how I spent 90% of my time while reading The Hunt.) First, Kelly, my apologies that it took me this long to read your third book (it came out in July!) but WHAT A PLEASURE IT WAS once I finally got to read it! Here is what I wrote on GoodReads and The StoryGraph about it:
An absolute page turner, THE HUNT is both a thrilling mystery and a deep psychological exploration of the dynamics of a small town. Kelly J. Ford brings in many voices and stories, weaving them all together in the gripping plot that makes up THE HUNT, but also takes her time with thoughtful character development. I'd recommend THE HUNT to anyone who likes dark books and small town drama! Plus, if you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend letting Kelly J. Ford "kill you off" in one of her novels. What a thrill to see the role the Bartels family played in this mystery!
Seriously, I absolutely flew through The Hunt once I sat down to read it, and if you are looking for a book that will suck you in this dreary winter season, I highly recommend it. 10/10 stars. Love you, Kelly! Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve next!
Friend Notes & News:
Look at all these super cool things these people have been doing!!!!!
MY NIECE WON A DAMN AWARD! Agnes was honored with the 2023 Little League Mary Dailey Award (see photo above). Her two former coaches had nothing but glowing things to say about her. Here is one of my favorite parts of the speech they gave about Agnes: "Her play alone immediately empowers her as a leader. However, it is not just her incredible ability that serves her in this role. Agnes is always talking and always teaching on the field. Behind the plate, she is like an orchestra conductor for her entire team... Whether the player was a 6th, 7th, or 8th grader, that player knew Agnes had their back. Agnes could give feedback in way that wasn't condescending and delivered cheers better than anyone on the diamond. Is Agnes a fantastic softball player? Absolutely, 100%. Is that why she deserves the Mary Dailey award? Absolutely not. She deserves the award because she is a positive, vocal, and empathetic leader who makes her entire team better." I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!
Macy Lipkin started a blog! Here's the link to her first post.
Jaime Green wrote for the motherfucking New York Times Magazine!!!!! Click here to read her piece about space junk!
Elisabeth Sherman is always writing great stuff over at Food & Wine and I especially enjoyed her recent reflection on the Crock-Pot, an appliance which I am guessing is about to get a lot more use in our house when Baby BC shows up.
Tatiana Johnson-Boria was interviewed for poets.org!
Deborah Sosin wrote about Matthew Perry for Cognoscenti. <3 <3 <3
And speaking of Cognoscenti, just look at all these lovely love letters to Boston! Written by so many people I adore! Theresa Okokon, Desmond Hall, Anne Sharp, Alysia Abbott, Bethany Van Delft, and edited by Cloe Axelson and Sara Shukla!
Plus, a shout out to Mo Ramage who always reads and replies to this newsletter! Last month she told me about this very cool organization that her friend Kyra Wilson Cook founded called the MetroWest Writers’ Guild! I had not previously heard of the MetroWest Writers' Guild before, but it seems awesome and even though I am currently actively trying to eliminate things from my schedule/life before Baby BC's arrival, this is definitely an organization I want to get involved with in the future. Check it out!
Menagerie Notes & News:
As you can imagine, preparing to welcome Baby BC also means preparing all of our animals to welcome the baby as well. I've been reading the tips and following the Instagram advice accounts, but I still can't help but be a little nervous about how things are going to work out later this winter. (Me? Worry??)
Above you'll see a photo of Seymour from the Blessing of the Pets ceremony at The Parish of the Epiphany back in October. Richie and I asked Rev. Bob Davidson to specifically pray for Seymour to be a good dog brother to this baby, and we'd appreciate you all sending all your good vibes and thoughts and love as we (all of us!) transition into this new phase. xoxo.