Hi there!
Every once in awhile a coffee shop chat feels rather appropriate, especially if an essay isn’t itching away at my fingertips. If we were to gather around steaming mugs of white chocolate americano with a splash of cream for me, and I don’t know, a straight cup of Joe for you, I’d probably tell you the following:
*I’m slowly cranking away at my next book. But ideas and phrases and sentences inside books take time. Sometimes an idea makes complete sense once day, but then there’s a fair amount of wrestling that needs to happen before it all the way makes sense to others. Also, getting your butt in the chair is usually the hardest part of all. See also: me.
*I’m heading to a writing workshop in Durham, North Carolina this weekend. I’ve never been to this state! I get to see two of my writing darlings, Erin and Micha. I get to learn from one of my favorite writing teachers, and another peer I imagine will soon emerge as a favorite instructor as well. And I get to craft and revise the aforementioned bullet point, so win-win.
*Speaking of teaching, I’ve got one on the books too! Join me and my buddy, Marla Taviano, for All the Holiday Feels: A Writing Workshop. The deets: Saturday, December 10th, 8 am - 10 am PST/11 am - 2 pm EST. Cost: $60. Basically, if the holidays feel like a magical, warm and fuzzy, twinkle-light time of year and also a stressful, angsty, guilt-ridden, triggering time of year, then this two-hour workshop might just be for you.
Okay, pause. Breathe. This is where you respond and give me a couple of updates in return. And truly, I do hope you hit “reply” and tell me a bit about what’s been going on in your proverbial neck of the woods!
Now, a couple more updates:
*Marla, who I mentioned above, is rad. She and I only just connected a couple of months ago when I read her book, unbelieve, which we chatted about on IG Live. If you haven’t yet listened to a “You’re Brilliant!” conversation yet, please, jump on the boat. It’s like a podcast, but raw and unedited and just altogether fabulous, if my biased persona may say so herself.
Here’s who I’ll be talking to in the next month and a half (before breaking for the holidays and basking in the glory of cookies, cookies, cookies):
11/22, 11 am PST: Kelley Nikondeha, author of The First Advent in Palestine
11/29, 11 am PST: Jelani Memory, one of the authors behind 100 Diverse Voices on Parenthood
12/6, 11 am PST: Whitney Simpson, author of Fully Human, Fully Divine
12/9, 9 am PST: Katelyn Beaty, author of Celebrities for Jesus
12/13, 11 am PST: Jenny Booth Potter, author of Doing Nothing is No Longer an Option
*On the home front, things are rather pleasant, dare I say, slightly boring right now. I just made my first round of homemade strawberry kombucha, thanks to a neighbor who brought over a slimy SCOBY. The garden is full of collard greens, rainbow Swiss chard, and yes, three tomato plants that are still going to TOWN. Northern California, y’all. The boys are playing lots of soccer and football, which we love, even if it’s slightly taken over our lives. James is doing lots of yoga and relishing in his favorite season of all. (Hint: it’s starts with “pig” and ends with “skin”).
*Oh, and one more: the boys are now participating in “Gaga’s Book Club.” My mother started a book club with her grand babies and it’s just the BEST thing ever. If you’re a grandparent or a special human in a young person’s life, consider following in her footsteps. Your children can guide you through the difficulties of Zoom! Also, the current book pick is The Christmas Pig, which all three of us are reading together.
I’ve got a couple other things that I’m eager to share with you, but the time is not yet right! Meanwhile, I really would love to hear how you’re doing, so send a couple of updates my way, will you?
Warmly,
Cara
I look forward to your emails so very much. For me, eager for a weekend away in Boston and making chai as I dive into my last pile of books before the end of the year. ❤️
I CANNOT WAIT to do this writing workshop with you!! 🥰🥰🥰