It’s week fifteen of 2026. How is the writing going? We made it through March, Ides and all, and we’re vaulting into a tumultuous April. I am coping with the news cycle by being defensive – turning off alerts and waiting to scroll until 5pm – and by being offensive – packing my days full of art, music, words, and food.
Last week I snatched a little time off down in LA with my daughter, who is touring colleges. I loved getting a peek at how our young people are going about their lives, doing their things, whether that’s running an on-campus bike co-op or designing a fashion line for Nike. We were also fortified by some hot and spicy tofu soup, giant bowls of açai and chia pudding brimming with berries, and miles of art galleries.
I will never understand or enjoy LA traffic but I kinda got LA as a place for the first time on this trip. (Also: Parking valets in strip malls? This is truly a thing.)
I’m writing this on a rainy early evening Saturday after a day spent writing a mammoth Novel Study post (and a week spent editing!), so I’ll keep this short. In other Novel Study news, I’m going to run a free pop-up Novel Study Book Club session for Freida McFadden’s The Intruder, starting May 11. The book club theme last year was bestsellers and McFadden absolutely dominated the list, with three or four different titles making the list, so I want to read and analyze one of her books to feel like I’ve captured the zeitgeist of the year. If you want to read along, I’ll set up a couple discussion posts as well as a live Zoom session in June. I’ll have a formal sign-up link in my next newsletter but I can also add you to the list if you just reply to this email. Come join us!
How SA Cosby balances internal and external tension in King of Ashes
SA Cosby’s King of Ashes is a taut, propulsive thriller as well as a nuanced, moving portrait of a “tragic hero,” to use Cosby’s own description of his protagonist. This is Cosby’s fifth book, and he skillfully manages the internal and external tension to give readers a thrilling plot ride, layered over a rich exploration of pain, loss, and the human capacity for both violence and forgiveness. In this essay, we’ll explore how he maintains that balance, seeing where he prioritizes action and where he prioritizes theme and character exploration.
Upcoming appearances
I love speaking to writers and editors—check out my Speaking page or reply to this email if you are interested in having me speak to your group.
IPA BookCamp, April 24, Newark, NJ: I’ll be giving a talk about revision strategies and how to read your manuscript like an editor
Our Thing of Joy this week is, what else, an Artemis greatest hits video! What a joy to see these folks do their jobs and share it with us.
Stay well, y’all, and keep fighting the good fights.
Kristen
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