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⤝❖⤞The Monday Missive ⤝❖⤞
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Hello friends! I'll be making a few tweaks to the newsletter so as to improve engagement in the coming weeks, so things may look a little different going forward. However, I'll still include the same information each week, so don't worry that your preferred sections are going away.
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As a reminder, the review campaign for What Is Cannot Be Unwritten is now live, so please click on the link and join! You get to read this book well before anyone else (it releases on November 7), all for the low price of a short review on Goodreads.
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This week, I visited the tiny Indian Museum of Lake County, which is unique in that it features local Native American artifacts that wouldn't be found in a larger museum. I absolutely loved that the curators gave the exact locations of the finds: places that I've visited before or at least heard of. This really forced me to wonder what Northeast Ohio had looked like centuries ago and made me confront the fact that what I know of as America is not eternal; it was shaped through bloodshed and migration.
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With that in mind, let's look at a poem by Jennifer Foerster, a Muscogee/Creek woman.
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Relic
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An atlas
on the underside of my dream.
My half-shut eyelid—
a black wing.
I dipped sharp quills
in the night’s mouth—
moths swarmed
from my throat.
I pulled a feather blanket
over my skeleton
and woke—
a map of America
flapping in the dark.
Once I dreamt
of inheriting this—
my mother
who still follows crows
through the field,
my sister’s small hand
tucked inside hers,
me on her breast
in a burial quilt.
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About the Eirenic Verses
There is still plenty of time to join the review campaign for What Is Cannot Be Unwritten on Booksprout! Please note that you do NOT have to have read the first three books to enjoy this one. It is an entirely self-contained story that, while in the same universe, follows a completely different character.
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The book will be released on November 7, 2025, though preorders will open on Halloween - how fitting for such a creepy book. It's relatively short, about 65,000 words, so you will definitely be able to finish it up by the release day.
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Writing Tip of the Week
Many writers, especially beginners, get extremely discouraged when they don't get positive feedback. This, as many things in life, comes down to ego: "I am already perfect, and you telling me I am not challenges my sense of self."
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Breaking the ego-focus and moving toward a growth mindset can be particularly challenging when it involves something we care about deeply, such as writing. As such, approach it from another angle and begin building a growth mindset through something else, such as a brand-new hobby. Try something that you have never done before and don't think you'll be good at, such as painting.
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It is so crucial for our growth as people that we suck at something sometimes. Not only does this build humility, but it also reveals our ego-driven sticking points, such as a fear of looking stupid or tying our self-esteem to our actions.
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What I'm Reading This Week
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Watch Your Back: How to Avoid the Most Dangerous Moments in Daily Life isn't about fighting a bear or surviving an airplane crash, situations that most of us will never experience. Rather, it's about those daily sticking points that could easily become dangerous: a suspicious person circling your car at the gas station, an aggressive driver trying to run you off the road, or an active shooter in your workplace.
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My favorite part of this book is how it explained that mindset, more than fancy tools, is what can help you survive almost anything.
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Last Week's Posts
My "Stages of Writing" article is essential reading for anyone who wants to start writing but is totally overwhelmed by the process. It's also a great resource for those who often find themselves getting scattered by trying to revise while they write, or worrying about marketing when they're plotting.
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Burnout is, unfortunately, a common problem for highly productive writers, but I've got your back. Check out that article for some practical tips about healing your relationship with writing and getting back to what you love.
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What Makes Good Queer Representation in Fiction?
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Bring pride to the LGBTQ community through nuanced and thoughtful representation, including the unique aspects of queer community.
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Read My Authoriview Interview!
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Learn more about Cameron Sidhe, author of the LGBTQ literary fantasy series The Eirenic Verses. Explore her past, inspirations, and everyday life.
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Weekly Quote
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"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect."
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Share the Monday Missive with your friends!
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I hope you're enjoying my newsletter. If you are, maybe your friends and colleagues would too! Please send them this "Manage Your Subscription" page where they can sign up! Your support is greatly appreciated.
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I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your Monday morning with me. Next week, we finally crash-land in October - the best month of the year! I hope you'll celebrate spooky season with me.
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