January Maggie

Oh, did we have a December?

The other day, I spent an hour cooking three different dinner meals and separating them into a tottering stack of containers for my freshly deep-cleaned refrigerator. Then I turned my attention to the mint green bento lunch box I’d apparently bought some long-ago January and stuck in the back of the pantry some February, only to be discovered this month when I finally dealt with the Jenga shelf of half-gone cracker boxes and dusty bags of bean mixes, not to mention the still-in-the-box slicing multi-tool I’m too chicken to learn how to use. I joyfully filled each pristine section of the lunch box, frowning only when I couldn’t figure out how to keep the almond butter-and-craisin-lined celery sticks from capsizing into each other. Ultimately, I created an organic, aesthetically pleasing work of balanced protein and complex carb art. I snapped a photo of my lunch before toting it off to my newly rearranged office at work, texting it to my husband with the caption: “January Maggie.”

He needed no further explanation.

This is not a post about diets—January Maggie has been on this planet for 47 New Year’s Eves now; she’s resolution-resistant, and skeptical of the patriarchy year-round. Nay, this is a post about Getting My Sh*t Together, which I found more challenging in 2023 than I have in probably 13 years prior (since, not coincidentally, January 2010 when I got sober).

Launching my first novel in September 2022 has been an absolute fever dream. I spent five-and-a-half years working on this book—and when I say “working” I don’t just mean writing and revising; I mean strategizing, submitting, sweating, agonizing, commiserating, recommitting, editing, enduring. The fact that it now exists as a fully formed thing out there in the world—that people are buying it, reading it, talking about it—continues to baffle me in the best way, no matter how many events, interviews and book groups I attend. And I have attended so, so many. It’s been a whirlwind and one of the most thrilling, fulfilling times in my life.

It’s also been … a lot. There are only so many hours in the day, and something had to give. Stupidly, I decided that was my health and my revitalizing solitude. I hung on, sort of: speed-walking the dog instead of solo miles in the woods, showing up unshowered to my kid’s games instead of cleaning the house, sliding sock-footed and breathless through the finish line of every deadline at work. But I also kept a jumbo bag of candy in the side panel of my driver’s side door, let all of my papers and problems pile up for later, and stopped carving out any time at all for reading or resting. My anxiety rose as my mood plummeted, despite all of the incredible moments I continue to experience. Not gonna lie, things got a little dark, even as I saw brighter light than I’ve ever known.

And so, here I am, clawing my way back to myself. I didn’t manage a newsletter in December even though a whole bunch of awesome stuff happened. But I’ve spent the first part of January finally resuming and protecting those little rituals that make my life feel like mine: coffee and candlelight in the early morning darkness, solo runs with winter lungs, belly laughs with my family. Turning off Slack messages and turning on Miles David as I cook all these meals for one.

As a result, I’m feeling so much steadier in my skin, and that much more excited for all that’s to come in 2023—and there is so much. Read on for what I’ve got on the docket so far, and tune in later for a couple of things that haven’t been announced yet. Thank you for continuing to show up for me and this book in remarkable, surprising, incredibly generous ways. The January in me sees and salutes the January in you.

Stuff you missed because I didn’t tell you about it

Phew, when I say whirlwind, I mean whirlwind. Since my last newsletter in early November, I’ve had readings at six bookstores and libraries in Wisconsin and Minnesota, visited five book groups and led a writing workshop. Thank you to all of who came out to Arcadia Books, Magers & Quinn (you can watch that presentation here), Pearl Street Books, L.D. Fargo Public Library, Leopold’s Books Bar Caffe, and the Waukesha Public Library in November and December, as well as the incredibly lovely book club folks that have hosted me. In this case, I’m going to let images speak for me instead of words—click the button below to see three and a half months whoosh by in 90 seconds, or check out my Instagram reel of the same thing.

Upcoming Readings & Signings

MOUNT HOREB: Jan. 23, 6:30 p.m. — Mount Horeb Public Library joint appearance with Alex Bledsoe, author of “Dandelion”

FITCHBURG: Feb. 19, 2:00 p.m. — Fitchburg Public Library reading and signing

MOUNT HOREB: Feb. 22, Noon — Mount Horeb Rotary Club featured speaker

LAKE GENEVA: April 26, 6:00 p.m. — Lake Geneva Public Library

FORT ATKINSON: April 29, 11:00 a.m. — Dwight Foster Public Library in Fort

SPRING GREEN: May 18, 6:00 p.m. — Spring Green Community Library

Upcoming Workshop

American Family Insurance’s DreamBank has asked me to share my experience with magazine and book publishing in a virtual class through its Imagination Workshop series. Registration is free for this 90-minute “Demystifying the Publishing Journey” workshop, which will cover my 17-year path, offer resources found within the Madison area, share tips and misconceptions, and give advice in Q&A. One randomly chosen participant will also receive a signed copy of “Still True.” The virtual event takes place on Feb. 6 at 6:00 p.m. and the Facebook event link is shareable via the button below.

Book Groups!

I am having an absolute ball visiting book groups. It’s so fun to finally talk about what actually happens in “Still True” instead of talking around it to avoid spoilers. More than that, I’m astonished at what readers are seeing that maybe I didn’t; they’ve got me looking at my book in new ways, making connections even I hadn’t considered. What a wild thing, to put something I thought was complete out into the world and then watch it become something else after other people get hold of it. It also makes me really, really miss my old book group, which I ran for five years until it disbanded maybe 15 years or so ago. It was tremendous; multigenerational, filled with brilliant souls. The good news is we’re trying to get the band back together again for a reunion meeting to discuss, naturally, “Still True.” I sure hope it happens. Until then, I’ll continue to be a grateful guest in the homes and cafes and on the Zoom screens of stellar book groups around the country. If you’d like me to visit yours, don’t be shy—email me!

News and Year-End Lists

• I got the absolute honor of my book life in December when Arcadia bookseller Todd not only chose “Still True” for his holiday list (and said exquisite, generous things about it), but he also delivered the news that my book was the bestselling title of Arcadia’s season. A couple weeks later, I learned that “Still True” was Arcadia Books’ second bestselling title of the entire year. Honestly, that’s probably more of a testament to the power of independent bookstores than it is to my book. The fine folks at Arcadia have handsold the bejeepers out of this novel, and it shows, and I’m beyond grateful. Do watch the entire video if you’re looking for your next great read, because Todd picked some seriously excellent books. Then watch the other videos from his fellow booksellers and your TBR list will be filled for the rest of the year.

• Similarly, I was beyond thrilled—like, literally squealed when I saw it—to be highlighted in A Room of One’s Own bookstore’s artistically commissioned, colorfully bound, thoughtfully curated 2022 holiday catalog. Special shout-out to co-owner Gretchen Treu, who has been so sweetly supportive of my book—she also mentioned it in this terrific radio interview when talking about the challenges of promoting books that are published by academic or smaller presses. Give it a listen for book recommendations and an in-depth conversation on the critical role readers and indie bookshops play.

• I really, really enjoyed this holiday radio interview for The Matt McNeil Show on AM950, The Progressive Voice of Minnesota. I was especially surprised and pleased when Matt said it was one of his favorite interviews, too. We recorded a good talk and then, shortly after, he was seriously injured in a car accident. Thankfully, he’s on the mend and I continue to send gratitude and good healing wishes his way.

• Thank you to Isthmus and writer Michael Popke for including “Still True” in the 2022 book list! If you’re interested in following other news and interviews, please visit my website at the button below.

Farewell to David Rhodes

Finally, a sad note. Author David Rhodes died in November. He was a remarkable writer and spirit, one I’ve written about in my other newsletter (Sunday Reads, published monthly for Madison Magazine). I was honored with the invitation to sit down with his wife Edna in her home to write an obituary for Madison Magazine. You can read that story here.