Kiss the Girl is a USA Today Bestseller, and other updates!

Goal posts

This morning I got a text from a fellow romance author congratulating me. I released my 20th novel, Kiss the Girl, last week Tuesday. I went on my first tour, which was incredible. I went to three cities, plus home in NYC. I slept maybe 10 hours across five days, still managed to write six thousand words toward my middle grade draft (I turned it in on Monday, thank you.) So I’ve been pretty tired. Which is why my answer was a very elegant, “?”

Kiss the Girl had hit #38 on the USA Today Bestseller’s List.

In the book world, which most of you who read this newsletter know, hitting a list is the most coveted goal when publishing a novel. Since I was a baby debut author in 2012, I have seen authors twist themselves into knots about this. I learned early on that hitting lists was not where I wanted to spend energy. You can’t always control this outcome. It’s a whole thing, but anyway, alls to say that I haven’t hit a bestseller list. I’ve been in anthologies that have hit (Star Wars), it’s never been one of my books.

Some photos from tour

When I mentioned this in a post on Instagram, I got a lot of DMs expressing disbelief that I’ve never hit. I’ve been publishing for 11 years and have published 20 novels in that decade-plus. I’ve had books that have done badly, mostly well, and a few super well. I know what’s in my control. I know what publishers can do to set up a book for success. My job is just to keep writing.

This past week I met so many readers. I caught up with old friends. I listened to people tell me a memory associated with me, show me tattoos, and give me letters, tears, hugs. As a writer, I ideate in community, but I create alone. During this solitude, it’s easy to forget why we’re writing and who we’re writing for.

All this to say, thank you for reading my books. If you missed out on the pre-order campaign but bought a copy of Kiss the Girl reply to this email with your receipt or a picture of your book, address (open internationally), and I’ll ship them out to you.

Other updates

I turned in my last deadline. It’s a Star Wars novel and I’m so excited to edit it.

I am working on fun promo for my next anthology, co-edited with Natalie C. Parker, Mermaids Never Drown.

I’m editing my next novel, and seen below.

As much as this industry changes, and success veers like a tempest-tossed ship, I know where I’ll be. Writing the next book.