Hi First name / Friend, “Every summer looks different.” My friend Erika recently shared this sentiment with me. The mix of plans, people, and unexpected twists provides a certain feel. Throw in weather, and each season has its own temperament. For me, summer 2025 was eye-opening. As we head into fall (far from it here in Miami), I’m reflecting on what I've learned. - Nature never gets old. You can see deer a thousand times on the side of the road, but somehow it’s like the first time. Every time.
- Letting go is the easier, healthier solution. Move on. Rise up. Stop clinging to situations and people that don't serve you.
- Social media is a time suck, but it’s not going anywhere and it's a great way to connect. Thank you Izzy K for making it fun again.
- It's been less than two weeks since I turned in book nine, and I don't know what to do with myself. The itch to write is real. I'm most alive and at peace when I'm creating. I love what I do. Even in the worst moments.
- I’m often teased for being a homebody, eating dinner at 5:30 PM, ducking out of large events or skipping lunches. I feel guilty for saying no. It’s a struggle; it weighs on me. When I'm writing, I'm immersed in characters and their lives. I'm shaping and molding and pulling together complicated storylines. My head’s a tangled mess. Then there are events and book clubs (grateful, trust me). My job requires me to be on, and being on can get physically and emotionally draining. My social battery requires a reset. Hence, quiet (early!), intimate interactions. It's not easy, but I'm getting better at boundaries.
- It's possible to read two books in one single day and fall in love with both. The Correspondent and Heart The Lover. Highly recommend. I know many authors don't read while they write. I can't imagine life without reading. Books are my fuel.
- It's also possible for a 7.5-pound dog to eat a gallon size plastic bag and fifteen - twenty chocolate chips and act like everything is normal. Still, don't leave plastic bags with chocolate chips around your pets.
- In high school, my cousin Ricki and I longed for Miami winters. We’d roll the car windows down and sing our favorite 80s tunes at the top of our lungs. Fast forward, Bear flies to Miami leaving me alone on Beech Mountain. I hopped in the car and headed to Blowing Rock. There I walked Main Street, had a glass of wine (loaded with ice), my favorite pizza at Mellow Mushroom (with jalapenos), and popped into FireLight Books. The drive home wound along the Blue Ridge Parkway--windows down, sixty-degree breeze, music blaring. Several lessons here: I can be comfortably alone. Memories and nostalgia are crystal clear when you’ve got the wind blowing on your face. How fortunate we are to experience this gorgeous part of the country. How much I love the smell of approaching fall. And just how much of a genius Billy Joel is.
- Did you watch his documentary? You should. While I tackled the mountain roads, his music and lyrics swept through the air. This bears repeating. Music has the ability to catapult us through time. What a gift these talented storytellers give us.
- Intergenerational friendships are a thing. Guess we're trendsetters, Merle. At eighty and fifty-five, we've enjoyed fifteen years of close friendship. During our recent time in the mountains, the age gap felt non-existent. It was pure joy.
- Best to keep your head out of your phone--safer for you and those around you. I walked my dog around the mountain, head buried in my phone replying to emails, when a car came up beside me. I looked up to a monster bear standing about ten yards ahead. Mr. Bear, not to be confused with my bear, stared in my direction like: why are you heading right for me? The car stopped because they were wondering the same. They opened the door for me and drove me home. Yes, my son asked which was more dangerous, a car full of strangers or the bear.
- Even when it rains every day, which it kind of did, you can always find something beautiful. I don't mind rain in my happy place. Thunder is a bonus. Especially if I'm curled beneath a blanket reading, writing, and streaming with my favorite people around me. Find the beautiful.
Hopefully, I can take some of these lessons and make some decent fiction. Right? Meanwhile, we're back in steamy Miami. No writing + scorching temperatures + rain = more reading. If you want recommendations, here are my June, July, and August Women Writers, Women's Books lists, plus my AQUA Pinecrest September picks. Finally, thank you. Many of you reached out about our author pal Kerry Lonsdale with kind words and support. Your thoughtfulness has meant the world. To her. And to us. Grief is a complicated thing. And no more heartbreaking and life-altering than the loss of a child. I immediately put Kerry in touch with my friend, Carla Kaufman Sloan, who tragically lost her seven-year-old son, Calder, in 2014. Carla set out on a remarkable journey involving signs, connection and her foundation. Follow her on Substack and listen to her story below. And buy Kerry's book if you haven't already. You'll love it. |
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Thanks for being here and sharing life with me. What did your summer look like? |
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200 S. Biscayne Blvd.
Miami, FL 33131, US |
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