I missed my Monday blog this week. First time in over two years. And here I am at 4 a.m. on a Friday, the eastern sky a faded bruise blue, waiting for my coffee to steep, catching up with you.

The skipped blog post . . . It's not that I didn't have anything to say. Oh my, there's so much I haven't told you. The workshop that brought me back to my old neighborhood and face-to-face with my dread, handing me a story and delivering me from my lingering longing; the adventure that is right around the corner, a return to a place of inspiration and soul-peace; the nagging self-doubt that comes with waiting for someone to accept my work, assuring me that this thing I'm doing is really a career and not a one-off lark. Preparing to teach my first writing class. Taking my first writing class in ages. So much to share.

But I'm working hard to fit everything in and for once, something had to give. I've regained my footing with Tui, my third novel, and that momentum has meant everything. To write fresh material, to not quite know where a story is going, after months and months of revising and editing two novels, with deadlines looming and others' hands on my work . . . this is to return to the essence of me, what gives shape and color and texture to my writing spirit. It also helps pull my thoughts away from the other, this business of being an author that is so counter-intuitive to my introverted, scribbling-away-in-the-garret self.

This blog is meant to be a commercial-free zone. Although I share stories of my writing and publishing journey, it's a place of refuge from the book promotion to-do lists and author platform-building. Those things must be done, but they can be done elsewhere.

Except today. Because there are things I want to share with you and I need to let you know where to find my news. I received the front and back covers for the ARCs (Advance Reader Copy) of In Another Life earlier this week—well, the front cover I've had for quite some time, but now it is more than just a .pdf snapshot, it's the real deal, with log line, back cover copy, a price, EVERYTHING. It's beautiful. It's real. So exciting.

As this commercial break winds down and we return to our regularly-scheduled programming, this is what I want to share with you: I'm just about to launch an occasional newsletter from my website that will have updates on the publishing process and eventually, this author's events. Right now, and through late summer, signing up for the newsletter means you'll be entered to win a signed ARC of In Another Life (I'll have several to give away); next week's inaugural newsletter has a glimpse of that cover I'm so thrilled about!

Plus, I've been futzing around with the website, adding new content, playing with the design. I'd love it if you'd take a look and tell me what you think: Julie's Author Website and Newsletter Sign-Up

And now the sun has cleared the eastern mountains. Time for a run, and a day of writing.