Three Things for the Beginning of May ...
Knitting a novel, unknitting a sweater, starting over.
What I’m Writing…
I’m finally able to share one of the essays I told you I’ve been writing! In it, I tell how I got the idea for my new novel, The Stolen Child. It’s on my beloved MDK.
What I’m Knitting…
I was happily knitting my Crowberry sweater, feeling so proud of the twisted rib and watching my rows of knitting growing like a beautiful blue ocean of yarn when …straightening out my stitches on the needles, I realized I’d made a rookie mistake. Way back at the beginning.
When I joined my stitches, I’d inadvertently twisted them and blindly kept knitting. I immediately googled “how to fix twisted stitches when joining” and watched one YouTube video after another telling me that if it isn’t fixed in a couple rows, there’s only one thing to do: take the whole thing out. I ignored that advice and tried untwisting every which way, like some drugged up acrobat. Only to accept that indeed, I had to take the whole thing out. First instinct: cry. Second: scream. Third…
So…
What I’m Thinking About…
Starting over. I’m always struck by how knitting is a metaphor for so many things in life. And my big mess up with my sweater reminded me of that yet again. Starting over is a good thing. Terrifying, but good. Not too long ago, I was facing the end of a relationship. I was filled with fear, anger, disappointment. And on the hottest summer day, I had to move from the home I’d raised my kids in, the home I’d created.
But that night in my new home, surrounded by boxes and unfamiliar sounds, I got in my new bed and all that negative emotion started to dissipate. Excitement crept in. And pride—at almost 60 years old I’d done one of the bravest things of my life. I was starting over. Taking a leap of faith.
And also…
The winner of these gorgeous art supplies and a copy of The Stolen Child will be announced on pub day, May 7. That means you still have time to enter. All you need to do is subscribe to this newsletter!
PS …
I am starting a wonderful book tour that kicked off at the Newburyport Literary Festival last weekend.
Tomorrow I’ll be at the Providence Public Library in conversation with Sally Hepworth and Robin Kall. If you’re in or near Rhode Island, join us!
We have two ticket types - $30 for one book and $50 for both so this is quite a deal! Parking is right next door- LAZ parking Fountain St/Empire. We have special $10 parking for this event.
For ticket types please click here.
And here’s the whole list of events so far, from Boston to Cape Cod, Woodstock, NY, to NYC, Mystic, CT, to western MA, and beyond. I hope to see you in person!
Thank you for reading my newsletter! I’ll be back with three more things in a couple weeks.
Looking forward to seeing you and begin my reading of The Stolen Child at Buxton Books in Charleston, SC!
please sign me up! having difficulty doing so Love your flower photos & am loving The Stolen Child!!🥰