'Tis the Season?
Productivity Looks a Little Different Right Now
‘Tis the Season?
Productivity looks a little different right now
I’ve been putting off this newsletter writing thing for weeks. You see, I’ve been insanely busy and have very little to show for it writing-wise. I’ve done a lot of laundry though!
Several kind people have reminded me that it’s okay to be less than productive; I have a 4-month-old baby and and eight-year-old to care for, after all. It’s okay if I can’t write, right? The writing will still be there when I have time. I know this, and yet it’s a struggle to internalize that truth.
It’s also far too easy to turn this confession into an all-will-be-well, I’ve learned my lesson, and I have this all figured out anecdote. I have nothing figured out. I’m drowning in a cute but overwhelming pile of onesies and tiny socks. And diapers. SO many diapers.
I’ve picked up a couple of half-finished manuscripts here and there. The words come, but they come slowly to this tired brain. So, to stoke the fires of inspiration, I reached out to a friend of mine to help revamp my writing space (she designed the most adorable reading nook and an entire cat gym in her house). What was once a blah and cramped landing space for a keyboard and way too many cords is now a lovely little haven for peace and creative thought. And yet, it’s been languishing for about a month while I scrambled for time to actually use it. *insert facepalm*
Even with my baby sleeping through the night, I have no idea how long it will take to get into a routine with marketing my book, managing social media, and writing. I’m still adjusting to meeting the needs of two kiddos, which is, needless to say, very different from meeting the needs of just one. I’m distracted. I feel frazzled and wrung out.
Right now, life is good and hard. I’m happy in general but not at all satisfied with my writing progress. I’m not even sure I’ll figure out how to have grace with myself for my lack of productivity anytime soon. So, I’m going to stop pretending that I have it all together.
The moral of this story is that I’m human, but maybe that’s the place where stories are born.
Writing updates and announcements
Despite a near-total lack of productivity since book and baby release in February/March, I do have a few things to share. While I’ve been in the throes of postpartum recovery and baby care, my middle-grade short story, “Camp Whimsy,” was quietly published in the Summer Camp Stories anthology by Outsider Publishing! “Camp Whimsy” is summer camp and useless superpowers. It’s about a girl breaking out of her comfort zone, broadening her horizons, and learning to recognize similarities and celebrating differences. In short, it’s about empathy and belonging
Since before my book launch, I’ve struggled to settle on a single writing project. I have several other manuscripts in various states of disarray waiting for my undivided focus. For now, my plan is to return to Project Red, a dark, modern-day fairytale retelling set in the drizzly forests of the PNW. I’ll share updates as they come.
Besides writing, I’ve lugged my postpartum mom body here and there, and I managed to have a fun coffee date with Nova McBee, Jill Williamson, and Lindsay A. Franklin! I also spent a wonderful day hanging out with my friend and fellow author, A.J. Wilcox (and I had the privilege of devouring/beta reading her gripping and atmospheric fantasy novel, Heart of the Wilds!).
I also signed books at Barnes & Noble in Vancouver, WA, in May and had a table at The Northwest Book Fair last month. Next month, I’ll be signing at Barnes & Noble alongside Anne Elizabeth, author of The Roots Trilogy! If you’re in the Portland/Vancouver area on August 15th, make sure you stop by for a sticker or a signed book or a high five - whatever floats your boat.
Speaking of boats, I’ll be attending the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend, WA, with my family in September (not to sign books, obviously). It’s going to be one whirlwind of a weekend, as I’m planning to attend my favorite writers conference on Saturday, September 12th AND the Forever Twilight Festival in Forks, WA, on Friday, September 11th. If you’re planning to attend the festival, make sure you pop in and say hi! I’ll be signing books from 10am to 4pm.
Another fun announcement: the Betwixt hardcover is on sale for $18.99 right now! The hardcover edition has gorgeous full-color sprayed edges depicting a misty forest landscape and hidden artwork designed by EmaLee Drawsart underneath the dust jacket. Email me a screenshot of your receipt along with your address, and I’ll send you a bookmark and a signed bookplate!
Lastly, if you’ve read Betwixt, I would be honored if you would take the time to post a quick (but honest!) review on Goodreads and/or Amazon. Reviews are a huge help to writers and to readers alike; they help get the word out about a book, and they help readers decide whether that book is a good fit for them. And if you’ve already reviewed Betwixt, thank you!!!
About Betwixt: Wren Ashwood moves to the forests of Southeast Alaska to live with her new guardians after her mother dies. But when her guardian reveals that her mother wasn’t who she pretended to be, Wren’s grip on reality and her sense of self begin to unravel. Wren must decide who to trust—a boy with striking green eyes, dreams from a different reality, and a voice purporting to be the forest—and uncover the truth about her mother’s past before the powers governing the forest destroy her.
For fans of Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert, Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer, and Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw.
Recent reads:
One Drop of Magic by Amanda Fresquez
Lore by Alexandra Bracken
The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater
Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories by Holly Black
The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
Nightweaver by R.M. Gray
Hekate by Nikita Gill
Book feature:
In a word, Hekate was powerful, possibly the most powerful book I’ve read yet in 2026. The verse flowed. The characters felt alive. The story felt fresh despite being drawn from Ancient Greek mythology. I will definitely be revisiting this one.
PNW native forest plant lore:
Blanketflower, Gaillardia aristata
Blanketflower belongs to the Asteraceae family. According to the USDA, it is an herbaceous perennial ranging from southern Canada to the northern United States, as well as Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. It is drought-tolerant and prefers well-drained soil; in fact, its growth is actually delayed when there is too much moisture.
A single taproot sends out long stalks, hairy lance shaped leaves, and disk and ray flowers in yellow and reddish-purple with a cluster of convex bristles at the centers. The fruit is hairy, gray brown in color, and produces a single seed. Blanketflower fruit matures in late summer or fall.
Many pollinators rely on blanketflower, including bees, butterflies, moths, and beetles. The cryptic moth displays a particular pattern and coloring to help it blend seamlessly with blanketflower. Blanketflower also feeds whitetail deer and bighorn sheep.
Interestingly, blanketflower was one of the plant species Captain Meriwether Lewis collected in the Helena National Forest on his famous expedition with William Clark in 1806.
The Nlaka’pamux from British Columbia use blanketflower to treat tuberculosis. Blanketflower is used by the Syilx (Okanagan and Colville) as an analgesic as well as a kidney, venereal, and orthopedic treatment. The Niitsitapi (Blackfeet Nation) and Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) have traditionally used the plant in a variety of ways, including skin disorders, gastroenteritis, and as a treatment for saddle soreness. The Havasupai eat blanketflower, using the parched, ground seeds to make seed butter, and the Niitsitapi use the flowers to make soups. Finally, the flowers are picked by the Kiowa or Ka’igwu and used as symbols of good luck.
Some folks have treated sunstroke with blanketflower. It is also considered to act as an anesthetic when chewed, but I would encourage anyone reading this to consult safety information from reputable sources and carefully evaluate risks before putting wild plants in or on one’s body.
Sources:
“Blanketflower.” United States Department of Agriculture Plant Guide, https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_gaar.pdf. Accessed 22 July 2026.
What do you do to stay encouraged when you’re incredibly busy but have nothing to show for it? Do you keep a journal or talk to a friend? Do you have some sort of visual system for tracking progress? Leave a comment or reply to this email and let me know!
Thanks for reading!
Kimberly