Hi folks!

Just a reminder that our discussion for Dreaming The Eagle will take place on Tuesday at 8pmGMT… link is below!

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87257065003?pwd=Z2uRYZ6QOgnFeli2a9WQIgPs4BbfV7.1#succes

We will be joined by Manda Scott herself, so prepare a question or two! We will be announcing the winner of the giveaway during the discussion.

Can’t wait!

Ed and Will

So. In one of the cooler things I've had the chance to do, I got to send over an interview to THE Kaden Love, author of Toothsucker. Kaden is an indie author who wrote a wild sci-fi cyberpunk vampire story unlike anything you've ever read. Original concept, chaotic energy in the best possible way, and one of the weirdest interpretations of vampirism I've seen.

I had the great fortune of asking Kaden a few questions about himself, his process, his inspirations, and a lot more. Here's what he had to say!

Tell me about yourself! What’s your favorite genre to read? What are you currently reading? What’s your grand-slam all-time favorite book?

As you can tell with my writing, I am a huge fan of cyberpunk and thought provoking scifi. The weirder and the more it hurts my head, the better. I grew up being a much more of an epic fantasy reader, which I still love, but I've been tending towards scifi as of late. It's hard to pick an absolute favorite, but to choose some, it would be Hyperion by Dan Simmons, Memories of Ice by Stephen Erikson, Neuromancer by William Gibson, and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the world by Haruki Murakami 

The obvious question: Why teeth? How did we get here? What prompted the dentata of it all?

funny enough, this all started as a short story I wrote in college that was a play on the tooth fairy. I love the moral dilemma of an ethical vampire who hates to hurt people, but has to feed. I wondered what if we gave tooth fairies a reason for collecting teeth then made one wonder if he could trick people into leaving their teeth under their pillows to avoid ripping them out.

Did you always envision this as a cyberpunk world or did it start somewhere else first?

It started as a fantasy short story. When I decided to turn it into a novel, it was a dark fantasy reminiscent of Dark Souls. I got super into cyberpunk when I was about 3 chapters in and decided to start from the beginning with a new light (you get the pun if you've read Toothsucker).

Describe how it is you picture this manifestation of light-as-currency in your book as best you can. Bad drawings are encouraged. So are good drawings.

The color spectrum is really interesting, noting especially how in light there is different energy emitted by ultraviolet and infrared. This was the basis. I wanted to make light something physical, in the sense that data is, so it turned into currency, ammunition, apparel in the form of clothing highlights and make-up, and so forth. Society in this hyper-capitalistic world is sorted by the colors. Blue is the average city, Violet is reserved for the elite of the elite, Orange is the poorest of the poor, and Red is a literal wasteland for fiends created by this world’s neglect (mostly beings that were once human but have since changed due to this whole pharmaceutical mess that gives the story it's backbone).

Have you ever pitched this story to a traditional publisher or literary agent, or was this always “meant” to be an indie project for you?

I queried it for a month or so but went indie and am happy with the audience I have so far. I love having it indie because I can pump books out a the speed that I like (books 2 and 3 are both being released this year), but I would love to go traditional to help it reach a wider audience eventually.

What was your experience like with getting the audiobook made for Toothsucker? How did you find your narrator? What was the most surprising thing you learned while working up the audiobook?

The audiobook was actually a really funny experience. I tried for a long time to get a publisher to help me do an audiobook, because my social outreach has grown a lot since the first books release. With a larger social media following, I get random messages all the time from people trying to promote their own things, but I still try to check them even if I don't answer them, I got one from a narrator saying that he would like to throw his hat in the ring to see if I'm interested in having him narrate Toothsucker. At this point I was still looking for a publisher, but I listened out of interest. Turns out, Jordan Joshua WAS THE VOICE for Petya (the main character in the series). We started working together quickly. I loved his work and his wide range of voices, that I think is starting to rival Jeff Hayes for me. He's doing so well and it's putting even more sound effects into book 2 and I can't wait for more people to listen to it! Funny enough, even though I think he is one of my favorite narrators I've ever listened to, I hate listening to my own audiobooks cuz I feel like I'm listening to myself. Talk. Whenever I am reviewing them for potential errors, I have to do something to distract myself because I hate listening to my own words, even though I am pretty proud of my books.

How is indie audiobook publishing different from print? What would you do differently?

With indie, I was able to negotiate a rate and do a one-time payment to my narrator, rather than sharing royalties. Even though it's a little more expensive up front, it's pretty nice because I get all of the money from the sales, except whatever audible steals from me. At this point, I'm about to publish my fifth novel and I feel like I have the system down pretty well. The only thing I want to change is a larger audience, but that is hopefully coming with time.

Are there any people in your real life that you’ve used as inspiration for any characters in the story? Do they know? How do they feel about it?

As you read in the dedication, this was made for my wife's best friends who were stuck in detainment in the US for 1.5 years while trying to flee the war in Russia. The stories that Petya tells about his detainment were inspired by the inhumane conditions of ICE facilities here and the tragedy of people seeking safety. That is a long depressing story that never ended in them making it to the US, so I felt they deserved a story. They both know about the dedication and appreciate it immensely. The romance in the novel is somewhat inspired by me and my wife, though there are many characters with minor inspiration. 

Have your parents read your book? What do they think?

Funny enough, they have both read the first book and loved it. They are currently working on reading book 2. They're fans and I think it makes them proud 

Your social media is very active and engaging. What do you think helps you market your work the most online? How do you stay so connected with your online audience?

I'm glad that people find me entertaining and enjoy my book reviews, I've been very blessed to have some success on social media. The best for marketing tends to be when other people review my books or talk about how much they enjoy. Then. I might make some sales from my post, but whenever I find a genuine fan that talks about how much they love my books, that does so much more for me. That genuinely enjoys my books, because any any support like that means the world to me. The Instagram community has been a lot of fun from me as an author and I can't thank the people that talk about my books enough. When Brandon Sanderson or George RR Martin get another book review. Their world doesn't change. When someone reads one of my books, there is a good chance. I will see the review posted and it means so much to me. Every sale matters. Every reader matters.

When you were first putting this story together, was there an author or authors you wanted to emulate or were drawn to for inspiration? Or did you just open a Word document and start flying?

Most of my earlier books were very plot focused, but I know a lot of people enjoy character focused stories. Pierce Brown did this very well with Red Rising, by making the characters and plot equally as interesting. I tried to tap into that with this, but I think the greatest inspiration was the anime cyberpunk edgerunners. This show managed to pack such an emotional punch into 10 mere episodes. I loved the blend of cyberpunk crime, with a brilliant romance and the drastic fall of a certain character. To me, this is the perfect cyberpunk story, which made it such a big inspiration. I am also a huge manga fan, and each novel in the series was drastically influenced by a certain manga. Chainsaw man, and the works of Naoki Urasawa were particularly influential to my work.

What one piece of advice would you give to anyone just starting to write their story or manuscript?

Just start writing. Write everyday no matter how few words and don't let a day go by without writing. Use every moment you have to write, even if it's on your phone during a busy work day. Utilize all the spare time that you have to make that novel happen, because unless you commit it won't.

Okay, so I lowkey hate promoting myself 😂 but I recently updated my tier offerings and wanted to share them with you all!

No pressure at all to upgrade your tier...seriously!! But if any of these sound fun and you want to join in, I’d be so grateful!

Here’s the breakdown:

The Reading Lounge (Free Tier) ✨

This is where you’ll find my general posts, unhinged book thoughts, reading updates, and all the random bookish things I want to talk about!

You’ll also have access to our Discord chat! (Which, I’ll admit, we need to use more 👀)

Think of Discord as a fancy group chat where we can share what we’re reading, swap recommendations, talk about books, and hopefully build an actual little bookish community together!

The Reading Nook ($5/month) 📚

This is where the digital book club officially begins!

Each month, you’ll get:

• A monthly newsletter with our reading vibe/theme

• A book pick that matches the theme

• Annotation tips + reading ideas

• Book (and maybe anime ) recommendations

• A cozy monthly virtual reading hangout!

  • The reading hangouts will be a mix of reading sprints, music, and chatting, basically a little online reading night together!

You’ll also get access to my digital book tracker/planner (iPad-friendly for apps like Notability, Goodreads, etc.) and possibly a private Discord space for Nook members, depending on what everyone wants!

So basically:

The Reading Lounge = casual bookish fun, my random thoughts, and a place to hang out.

The Reading Nook = a deeper reading experience, a digital book club, and a space to connect with other readers.

Again, no pressure to upgrade. I just wanted to clear up what each tier includes!

I’m so excited to build this little bookish corner of the internet with you all 📚✨

If you love stories that are haunting, psychological, and twisty, you’ll want to put author Elizabeth DeVecchi on your radar immediately.

Her upcoming novel, The Shadow Beside Her: A Horror Novel, masterfully blends the grim realities of historical horror with spine-chilling supernatural suspense. Set against the backdrop of Italy during World War II, it promises to be a deeply atmospheric nightmare that horror fans won't want to miss.

We sat down with Elizabeth to chat about her childhood transition from scaredy cat to horror author, the fascinating historical rabbit holes she encountered while researching her new book, and why real-world dangers can be just as frightening as the monsters under the bed.

For readers who are discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe your books in three words?

Haunting, psychological, twisty.

Horror clearly holds a special place in your heart. What first drew you to the genre, and what keeps you coming back to it as a writer?

I was a total scaredy cat as a kid: horror films terrified me (though I admittedly saw my first horror flick at a drive-in … when I was 8. So that might be why.), I wouldn’t go near roller coasters, and jumped at anything that went bump in the night. Then I picked up some Lois Duncan books and loved them.

My parents had a basement library in the furnace room where they kept the scarier, more adult stuff. That is where I found Jaws, The Omen, Carrie, and other more mature horror books. Once I was hooked … I was hooked. I think the scaredy cat in me liked the idea that the things in the pages were so much more horrible than anything I was actually facing. Like, if I could survive the book, I could survive the real stuff.

As an author, horror is my go-to because I find it cathartic. There are also so many horrible things that happen in real life that are beyond our control. When I sit with paper and pen, I am in control. Well … until one of my characters goes rogue and the story shifts in a different direction.

Your upcoming novel The Shadow Beside Her blends historical horror with supernatural suspense. What inspired this particular story?

The creature in The Shadow Beside Her appears in my first novel, A Whisper in the Dark. I started this project to give some back story. Thinking about the events that eventually lead up to A Whisper in the Dark were my inspiration.

The Shadow Beside Her takes place in Italy during World War II. What made that setting and time period the right backdrop for this novel?

The creature I created thrives in environments of conflict and terror. So, I was looking for actual events that would fit well as a backdrop for the story I wanted to tell. Research led me to the events that occurred in the Apennines in 1944.

I have such love and respect for the Italian culture; writing something with Italy as the setting was an amazing experience. It also warms my heart that I was able to share some linguistic and cultural aspects in the story. My family in Italy will actually be able to read bits and pieces without having to translate.

What was the most interesting or unexpected piece of research you came across while working on the book?

I inevitably fall down research rabbit holes when I am writing a novel. First and foremost, the abject horror of the events that occurred on Monte Sole in Italy in 1944 shocked me to the core. We didn’t study any of that in school.

On a more pleasant note, I also did a deep dive into the minutia of how photography worked back then. From choosing a camera for Maria’s uncle (a Zeiss Ikon Nettar), to figuring out how he would have developed the pictures in war-torn Italy (Kodak sold home processing kits in a box), I was totally absorbed by this bit of research.

Many readers love stories where the real-world dangers can be just as frightening as the supernatural ones. What draws you to exploring that balance in your fiction?

In my own experience, I find that the more realistic a danger is, the more it frightens me. If I cannot picture myself in that situation, I might be scared by the story, but at a more superficial level. When we mix the supernatural and fantastical with real-world horrors, blanket the impossible with the possible, it makes for a deeper, more primal fear.

🌟 Unlock the Full Interview!

Want to dive even deeper into Elizabeth's writing world? We asked her the tough questions about her specific writing routines, how she handles characters who go completely rogue, her favorite fictional characters, and what she's working on next!

Join The First Editions Premium Membership Today to unlock the full, exclusive Q&A, along with premium book recommendations, behind-the-scenes author access, and much more.

Connect with Elizabeth DeVecchi

Don't forget to support this incredible debut author by pre-ordering her upcoming release or grabbing her backlist!

• Pre-order The Shadow Beside Her: Amazon Link

• Catch up on her previous books: A Whisper in the Dark and A Twist of the Lens are both available on Amazon.

• Website: www.elizabethdevecchi.com

• Socials: Instagram | Facebook | Bluesky | Threads | LinkedIn

Today, we are diving deep into the dark, atmospheric, and brilliant mind of horror author Elizabeth DeVecchi. Her upcoming novel, The Shadow Beside Her: A Horror Novel, seamlessly blends supernatural suspense with the grim historical realities of World War II Italy.

In this complete uncut Q&A, Elizabeth opens up about her journey from a childhood scaredy cat to a master of psychological horror, her extensive historical research rabbit holes, her unique writing routine which involves a surprising amount of yarn, and why her rescue dog deserves a co-author credit.

Grab your favorite beverage, turn on a reading light, and enjoy this exclusive insider conversation.

For readers who are discovering your work for the first time, how would you describe your books in three words?

Haunting, psychological, twisty.

Horror clearly holds a special place in your heart. What first drew you to the genre, and what keeps you coming back to it as a writer?

I was a total scaredy cat as a kid: horror films terrified me (though I admittedly saw my first horror flick at a drive-in … when I was 8. So that might be why.), I wouldn’t go near roller coasters, and jumped at anything that went bump in the night. Then I picked up some Lois Duncan books and loved them.

My parents had a basement library in the furnace room where they kept the scarier, more adult stuff. That is where I found Jaws, The Omen, Carrie, and other more mature horror books. Once I was hooked … I was hooked. I think the scaredy cat in me liked the idea that the things in the pages were so much more horrible than anything I was actually facing. Like, if I could survive the book, I could survive the real stuff.

As an author, horror is my go-to because I find it cathartic. There are also so many horrible things that happen in real life that are beyond our control. When I sit with paper and pen, I am in control. Well … until one of my characters goes rogue and the story shifts in a different direction.

Your upcoming novel The Shadow Beside Her blends historical horror with supernatural suspense. What inspired this particular story?

The creature in The Shadow Beside Her appears in my first novel, A Whisper in the Dark. I started this project to give some back story. Thinking about the events that eventually lead up to A Whisper in the Dark were my inspiration.

The Shadow Beside Her takes place in Italy during World War II. What made that setting and time period the right backdrop for this novel?

The creature I created thrives in environments of conflict and terror. So, I was looking for actual events that would fit well as a backdrop for the story I wanted to tell. Research led me to the events that occurred in the Apennines in 1944.

I have such love and respect for the Italian culture; writing something with Italy as the setting was an amazing experience. It also warms my heart that I was able to share some linguistic and cultural aspects in the story. My family in Italy will actually be able to read bits and pieces without having to translate.

What was the most interesting or unexpected piece of research you came across while working on The Shadow Beside Her?

I inevitably fall down research rabbit holes when I am writing a novel. First and foremost, the abject horror of the events that occurred on Monte Sole in Italy in 1944 shocked me to the core. We didn’t study any of that in school. 

On a more pleasant note, I also did a deep dive into the minutia of how photography worked back then. From choosing a camera for Maria’s uncle (a Zeiss Ikon Nettar), to figuring out how he would have developed the pictures in war-torn Italy (Kodak sold home processing kits in a box), I was totally absorbed by this bit of research.

Many readers love stories where the real-world dangers can be just as frightening as the supernatural ones. What draws you to exploring that balance in your fiction?

In my own experience, I find that the more realistic a danger is, the more it frightens me. If I cannot picture myself in that situation, I might be scared by the story, but at a more superficial level. When we mix the supernatural and fantastical with real-world horrors, blanket the impossible with the possible, it makes for a deeper, more primal fear.

You write across horror, suspense, and short fiction. How do you know when an idea should become a short story versus a full-length novel?

Funny story: both A Whisper in the Dark and A Twist of the Lens started as short stories. But something in my brain knew that they needed to be developed … that there was more to tell. Many of the short stories I have written as of late were for specific submissions calls, whether by invitation or not. So, I knew I had to keep my word count within the parameters and to get my ideas across in the space allotted.

Looking back at your publishing journey so far, what has surprised you most about becoming an author?

I thought that writing the books and finding a publisher would be the hard parts. Turns out, there is a huge amount of work after that: from promo to setting up signings.

The most wonderful surprise has been the dedication and support of readers who have stumbled upon my work in the most organic ways. Readers who approach me and talk about characters in my stories as if they were flesh and blood real. It is amazing.

You've lived, studied, and traveled in several countries. How have those experiences influenced the stories you choose to tell?

In the back of my mind, I sometimes wish I had started this writing journey earlier in my life because I often feel like I am playing catch-up … though to what I don’t know. That said, the experiences I have accumulated along the way, traveling, living, and studying abroad are an essential part of the stories I now tell.

Each language opens a door to understanding the people who speak it. Each sojourn in a different culture offers new knowledge for the gathering. It’s extremely humbling to be outside one’s comfort zone, to be taught new ways of seeing things. Those experiences and ones I have only gained through aging, have made me a much different storyteller than I would have been had I started earlier.

What role does setting play in your writing, and how do you create an atmosphere that feels immersive for readers?

Setting is extremely important to my stories and I try my best to make it come to life for my readers. If my characters travel a certain road during the story, for example (like in A Twist of the Lens, where Charlie rides a restored motorcycle from Indiana to Colorado), I want to know what is on that road, what the scenery actually looks like. If I can physically get there, I will. If not, I’ll look through photos and even “travel” it on Google Maps.

I immerse myself in studying the plant life, smells, temperatures, sounds, and tastes of the places I choose for my stories (whether they are real or I need to invent them) before I begin to write. The more I know about the place I have chosen as a setting, the more the descriptions will naturally seep into the story as I tell it.

Do you tend to plan your stories in detail before writing, or do you enjoy discovering twists and surprises along the way?

I am not really a planner. I tend to start writing when I have a general idea of where I would like to go with the story. You never know when a character is going to say “not so fast!” and do something that turns everything in a new direction. I prefer to let them lead me.

That said, I do write an ending to my books when I am about halfway through. It inevitably ends up changing, but I want to at least have a coherent and developed endpoint down so the final product doesn’t seem rushed.

What does a typical writing day look like for you?

At the moment, there is no typical writing day, as I write around my other responsibilities with my family. I try to eke out blocks of time to write each day, sometimes heading to coffee shops or the library to get away from seeing the things I need to get done in the house.

That said, when I do have time to write, I start clearing my mind by crocheting a kraken. I can think about what I am going to write while crocheting and when I finish, I’m ready to write and have a cute little creation to boot. This has earned me the name The Kraken Lady in some circles, as I like to give them out at conventions and sometimes have them for sale on my table or as part of giveaways (when you make one every day, you end up with A LOT of krakens).

Which part of the writing process do you enjoy most: brainstorming, drafting, revising, or hearing from readers after publication?

I love love love interacting with readers. When my characters come to life in the mind of a reader, it is a total high. Of course, I also love writing the stories and it can sometimes be hard to write the end and have to move on to another world and another tale.

If you could give aspiring writers one piece of advice, what would it be?

First, I would say to not judge yourself while getting down that first draft. Don’t get caught in a cycle of continuously going back to edit every time you sit to write. I did this and it drastically slowed any progress. Get it all down. Then you can go back and begin to edit. You can’t edit what isn’t there. Also, find a good tight group of Beta readers. A group that will be brutally honest.

As a reader, what kinds of books are you most drawn to when you're not writing?

I am drawn to stories with elements of horror … especially psychological horror. That said, I am in four book clubs and only one of them is horror-themed. This has me reading books from all sorts of genres, often ones I wouldn’t search out on my own. I would suggest this to other readers (ok, maybe not four book clubs. It can be a lot). You may find yourself in love with a book you never would have picked up on your own.

If you could experience one book again for the very first time, which book would it be and why?

Honestly, there is more than one book that fits in this category. Though, I think books have a different effect on us at different times of our lives. I’ll pick one. If I could, I would love to go back in time and read Watership Down for the first time again. It had such a profound effect on me when I was a child. For one thing, it taught me to look at something “mundane” like the bunnies in our backyard through a whole new lens.

Your bio mentions an ever-changing menagerie of pets and guest creatures. Have any of them ever inspired a character or scene in one of your stories?

Dante, our rescue dog, inspired my debut A Whisper in the Dark. In fact, the very first scene is what happened to inspire the book. I bring a life-sized photo cutout of him to my signings and he signs each copy with a nose or paw print.

My son’s gecko, Limoncello, inspired some of the aspects of the creature in that book and in The Shadow Beside Her. And the cat in A Twist of the Lens is based on our kitties.

What is a question you wish readers asked authors more often?

Oh, I am always blown away by the variety of questions my readers ask. No complaints here!

Just for fun: if readers could only pair one snack and one drink with The Shadow Beside Her, what would you recommend for the ultimate reading experience?

For authenticity’s sake, I would have to say homemade tortellini, a slice of castagnaccio (chestnut cake) and a glass of Nonno’s negretto wine.

📚 Support the Author!

Thank you so much to Elizabeth DeVecchi for giving our premium community such an amazing behind-the-scenes look into her work! Show her some love by pre-ordering her next release or expanding your bookshelf with her backlist below.

• Pre-order The Shadow Beside Her: Amazon Link

• Grab Her Backlist: A Whisper in the Dark and A Twist of the Lens are both available right now on Amazon.

Connect Online:

• Website: www.elizabethdevecchi.com

• Instagram: @themoonthesunandlittleman

• Threads: @themoonthesunandlittleman

• Facebook: Elizabeth DeVecchi Profile

• Bluesky: @esdevecchiauthor.bsky.social

• LinkedIn: Elizabeth DeVecchi on LinkedIn

A very happy almost-weekend to you! I am feeling giddy after a NetGalley approval email I received this morning—We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman, the sequel to 2024’s We Solve Murders, might just be my weekend read. Osman’s writing never fails to bring me joy.

What’s on your weekend shelf? 😊

This week’s reads:

• The Great Game by Arvind Ethan David (read): A pacey historical thriller with a touch of Conan Doyle. I liked Balvinder dev Singh’s narration and the book’s broad themes of colonialism and empire. The writing was a touch wordy but the action scenes were solid and at the end it leaves you with much to think about.

• The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon (read): It was an absolute pleasure to read this 1930s mystery/romance inspired by the real-life Detection Club. The mystery is solid and while I had a hunch for most of the book, I was surprised—and very happy!—to be proven wrong at the end. Look for an interview with Jackie in the next Cluesletter!

• Scary Movie Night by Miranda Smith (currently reading): A horror-themed birthday party turns deadly! I am loving the Hitchcock references in this one, plus the juicy drama and chaos. These characters are messy. 👀

• Wisdom Corner by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (currently listening): Virgil Wounded Horse is trying to escape his vigilante past on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. But murder pulls him back into the game! I literally just barely started this one, but I’m looking forward to high-stakes justice.

This week’s book mail:

• Promised Land by Henry Wise (out September 1): A Virginia-set mystery following Deputy Sheriff Will Seems as he pursues a missing persons case. Sequel to the Edgar Award-winning Holy City.

• Night Objects by Eli Raphael (out now): A coming-of-age mystery set on the rugged Washington coast in which, after sudden tragedy, a teenaged girl is sent to a renowned boarding school for the Pacific Northwest’s elite.

• The Season of Sinking by Daphne Woolsoncroft (out now): Another Washington-set mystery in which a woman’s unsettling past creeps back into her consciousness after she returns to her hometown after her mother’s recent death.

• Let’s Not Go Overboard Here by Erica Hendry (out now): After the death of her best friend, a grieving workaholic joins a yacht trip in Greece—and when a guest goes missing, she assumes the worst, and sets out to investigate.

• A Neighbor’s Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish (out now): In an exclusive London apartment building, lonely resident Gwen befriends a new neighbor, triggering a dangerous train of events.

Thank you to my friends at Atlantic Crime and Hachette/Grand Central Publishing for these gifted books.

Yours mysteriously,

Manon

Welcome to the Ink & Ether July '26 Dispatch

Hi Book Friends!

I know it's been a minute since you heard from me. I admit I haven't exactly been staying on top of keeping you updated. But that's about to change so expect monthly updates with all the details of what's happening at I&E. Let's go!

What's been on my mind

There’s been a lot happening for Ink & Ether in recent months. Doing consistent weekly pop-up events has been amazing and exhausting (in the best way of course). It’s definitely shown me that there are people who like this thing that I’m creating and for that, I am extremely grateful. I had to take a small break to reset and enjoy time with my family, but I’m back and I have some great plans for the future of Ink & Ether.

What's new on the shelves

The bindery books section has exploded! I’ve added some new titles and restocked some old ones so please be sure to find the new Bindery collection on my website. Catch a glimpse of some of these titles below.

Our Sister’s Keeper by Jasmine Holmes: If Beloved and Get Out had a baby in 1920’s Mississippi and gave her a coven.

The Devil Of The Deep by Falencia Jean-Francois: If Pirates of the Caribbean was Haitian, queer, and had something to say about blind faith in corrupt gods.

Black Salt Queen by Samantha Bansil: If Game of Thrones was set in precolonial Philippines, centered women entirely, and actually made you root for the villain.

From the grimoire

Anyone who knows me, knows I enjoy dabbling in the mystic arts. Since Ink & Ether began, I have wanted to find a way to incorporate my esoteric knowledge in some way and I think I've come up with something.

Every month I will draw a tarot card to select a title to spotlight.

This month's card pull is drawn from The Good Tarot by Colette Baron-Reid.

The card pull: 8 of Earth (8 of Pentacles) - the card of the devoted craftsperson

This card reminds us Rome wasn't built in a day. Sometimes success is built from daily acts of devotion. Incrementally. By showing up day after day, doing the work, putting in the time, and mastering your craft. Every small act of devotion compounds. The work is the magic.

For your reading life this month I'm pairing this card with You Were Born For This by Chani Nichols. This read is a reminder that your purpose isn't found in a single moment but excavated slowly, through honest self-study and the willingness to keep going.

And for fiction, A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna. After Sera Swann loses her power, she tends the Inn and keeps working to reclaim her magic.

This month the card is asking, what are you building quietly that deserves more of your attention?

Find Ink & Ether this month

I am making a concerted effort to have more events outside of pop ups. After all, how else is one supposed to build community? This month you can expect the first meeting of our Silent Reading Group. And soon we’ll be adding a Sunday Letter Writers group too! More on that to come.

July 17 - Summer Night Market @ Communitea Coffee

July 19 - Pages & Pour: Silent Reading Group @ Communitea Coffee

July 25 - Bagels and Boutiques @ Rekindle Coffee

July 25 - Mystic Night Market @ Lunam Love

You read that right I have 2 pop ups on July 25! What can I say, I felt bad for taking a few weeks off. I figured this was a good way to appease the bookselling gods LOL

Beyond this month there are already some big book events in Ink & Ether's future. Look out for us at Dragons & Dreamers and The OC Book Fair: Vol. 3!

For more events, visit the Ink & Ether website.

The Letter Corner

The Sunday Letter Project is something I discovered on Instagram. Started in 2025 by a couple in the UK with a stationery shop, The Sunday Letter Project is an analog path to connection with our neighbors in a digital world. I started writing letters on Sunday’s and have come to really enjoy the ritual of recounting my week to no one in particular.

Soon, Ink & Ether will become a full fledged “Letter Keeper” as they’re called, and will act as a poste restante for letter writers seeking a pen-pal. Write to friends and family, or your future self, or find a pen-pal on the other side of the world, the point is to find connection and slow down.

You can learn more about The Sunday Letter Project here and I’ll keep you posted on what’s next. It's my deepest hope that in the coming months we can create gatherings around letter writing and build network outside of this part of the country and world.

Before you go

Whew! That was a lot but thanks for getting through that with me. I’m manifesting magic for you this month.

With gratitude,

The Keeper

First of all… thank you so much for joining! I’m so excited to have you here 💕

The Reading Nook is basically our little digital book club where we can read together, talk about books, and build our own little corner of the bookish internet.

Here’s what you can expect each month:

• A newsletter introducing our vibe/theme of the month

• A book pick that matches the theme

• Annotation tips + reading ideas

• Book (and maybe anime 👀) recommendations that fit the vibe

• A cozy virtual reading hangout!

For our reading hangouts, think cozy reading night vibes: music playing, reading sprints, chatting, and just hanging out with fellow book lovers.

We’ll talk about what we’ve been reading, discuss whatever bookish chaos is happening (because there is ALWAYS something 😂), plan future themes, and of course… actually sit down and read together!

You can read the monthly book theme pick or choose your own book that fits the vibe. The goal isn’t to force everyone to read the same thing, it’s to create a fun space where we’re actually excited to pick up a book.

You’ll also get access to a free digital book planner/tracker!

👉🏾 Link to Book Tracker/Planner

You can upload it to iPad-friendly apps like Notability, GoodNotes, or any PDF annotation app you use to track your reading journey.

Again, thank you for being here. I’m really excited to build this little bookish community together.

Welcome to The Reading Nook 📚✨

If you’d like a signed and personalised copy of DREAMING THE EAGLE sent by Manda Scott herself, comment below!

Hello Friends,

Here are some updates for you:

Quarterly Book Mail (those you filled out the form in March) will mail next week! I am late!)

Forms for paid subscribers to sign up for the next quarterly mail will post here next week! Make sure you open your mail.

WHAT FEEDS BELOW ARCS for paid subscribers have gone out! If you want to make sure you receive an arc for CRACKS, you might want to upgrade now. You need to be a paid member for at least 3 months to qualify. (You will also get to see Cracks cover early! (within the next 2 weeks! It's a BANGER!)

Book Club

Women in Horror

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Discord Channels are up including discussion for the TV show)

Good Day To Read Indigenous

Calling For A Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah

Discord Channels are up.

Book Club - I have struggled this year with bookclub. Participation is low and I have not been able to read the books by the end of the month. I am considering moving to a Yearly Recommended Reads list, shared in January, and posting the channels for all of the books for the year at once. What are your thoughts on this?

https://www.pangobooks.com/bookstore/jackofallnays

All of my Pango books are 20% off. They must all sell by next Tuesday or they will be meeting a free little library.

I just got hit with unexpected cat surgery (teeth extraction) and the price range is $1783-$3338. (LOL). Ordering books from my Pango, at my links here on Bindery by clicking any book below (I get a small percentage on ANY book you buy once you click through using my link, or upgrading your subscription will help with this crazy cost. If you follow me on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fromthemixedupdesk

buying anything in my shop helps!

I love my pet and he needs the treatment. This pricing is BONKERS.

BOOK THREE as you know, I'm now on the search for the 3rd book for our imprint. I think I found the one! (Paid members have heard the details of this book, which is much different than anything I've published so far!) I will keep ya'll posted. I am crossing my fingers and toes to get this book (But, if not, I'll try to survive. I do have more manuscripts to read!)

I will be back to my regular posting schedule next week! I am also looking to earnestly try to grow my Youtube.

If you aren't already following me on Youtube, you can do so here:

https://www.youtube.com/@fromthemixedupdesk

Oh, and if you haven't already heard:

We have hit 650 preorders for What Feeds Below and so everyone who preorders gets GOODIES! Including the PEN!

We've done it. We've made it to the halfway mark of the year! I can't believe it's half over already. 2026 has been a banner year for me with reading and coming out on top reading some incredible books I never thought I would get the chance to read.

I've had so many opportunities and changes and experiences in the last 6 months I almost feel like a different person sitting here typing this up. I've read ARCs, connected with authors, joined a writing cohort, taken on a job doing developmental edits, started a podcast, started an interview series...

All because I just like to talk about my weird and wonderful books.

So, halfway through 2026, let's talk about those wonderful books and what's been a 5-star read for me this year.

The Archive Undying by Emma Mieko Candon

My first five star read of the year. Candon built this incredible, lush, weird, amazing world I wanted to live in. Fever dream mech fantasy about a man trying to figure out how to be normal and escape a past that won't let him go. Sunai makes horrible choices, but all of them consistently lead him back to the one place he never really left. I loved how wild and bizarre this was. I was left wanting more and more of this world and I hope so hard that Candon continues this series.

Slewfoot by Brom

If you want me to rate your book five stars, make it about female rage and killing puritans. Brom outdid himself with this one. He wrote Abitha with such conviction there's no way his wife didn't advise him on it, I refuse to believe a man capable of capturing the frustration and rage about the female experience so accurately. I love the tapestry of witchcraft and small mindedness and the blindness of religion and the effects of patriarchy on us all. This was so delightful and 5 stars well earned.

The Wolf and His King by Finn Longman

Book so good I emailed the author. I've never emailed an author before. Finn was the first. This book is a retelling of a real 13-century fairytale that was the first example of fiction in medieval France. Longman turned it into a beautiful test of prose, writing styles, and an exploration in chronic illness, queer identity, and what it means for love to endure. This book was so full of yearning and so beautifully written I finished it in a day and I bullied several other people into reading it after.

Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

I picked this up on a whim because the premise was bizarre. A man is slowly turning into a great white shark because of a genetic disorder? And someone said it wrecked them? Okay, bet. And bet I did. I walked away sobbing over this heart wrenching, existence examining piece on caretaking, loss, illness, and love. Shark Heart does not get enough love for what it did.

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Muir is incapable of writing something that isn't five stars. Her use of prose and style, turning the writing itself into a character... nobody does it like Muir does. Every book in this series is different, it changes you. Nona was her solarpunk installation that gave me so many painful, beautiful moments of seeing characters I loved overcome and endure for each other. It also made me mad at Jod.

Memories of Ice by Steven Erikson

I am a Malazan bro because of this book. MoI was the culmination of two books - 1800 pages - worth of trust in a process I was unsure could be trusted. Erikson delivered on every single front. He gave readers something incredible in this book and really proved to me how multifaceted and gifted he is at world building and writing. This was an incredible installment.

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

I am a different person because of this book. Because of Sciona, unlikable heroine and dogged in her pursuit of knowledge. Because of Thomil who understands the cost of power and pushes to make Scion see it, too. I adored this book and how it addressed the importance of intersectionality and listening to marginalized voices. It was so beautiful and fearless and Wang knows exactly how to break your heart to teach you something important. This book should be required reading.

Headlights by C.J. Leede

This was the first ARC I have ever given five stars to. I was a mess. A disaster. If you had told me a book about an unretired FBI agent investigating wild killings where victims are skinned and the perpetrators have no memory would change me, I would never have believed you. I adored every second of this. It was about wildness and fear and loss and love and so, so much more than I can articulate in a single post. If I had my Bindery a few months sooner, I would have written pages upon pages about this. Leede's writing is poetry, her symbolism is subtle and unique, her approach to loss and grief is spellbinding.

The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennes

Ennes will go down as one of the most stunning writers in the modern era. They have a grasp of language that I can only hope to have a fraction of. This book was weird and stunning and unforgiving. It made me forget I was reading about bugs because I was constantly engrossed in the characters and the world and the slow collapse of this bizarre government. It accosted my senses in incredible ways and showed the costs of power without question. I adored the characters and I will forever be rooting for Guy and his love of the theater. Ennes made politics, art, and theater inextricable from each other. One begets the others, every time. I am so, so impressed at this book.

The Soft Touch by Daniel Polansky

How did one man pack so much into a novella? Really. I finished this, stared at the cover, and bought everything Polansky has ever written. I loved this world. I loved how stubbornly optimistic Wren was and how he refused to let pessimism win in a town where pessimism already believed it had won. He was clever and sharp, the writing was witty and dry, and everything was so alive in such a short time. I didn't want it to end, this wild blend of steampunk magic. This novella made me realize the draw of urban fantasy.

The Butcher of Nazareth by David Scott Hay

I have a whole post about this book and I can never stop saying wonderful things about it. Hay created a masterwork here, just an absolute class in how to leverage the physicality of writing to meet the story and create something beautiful and tragic. II was so sad and so hurt for the Butcher, but I was in his grief with him in ways I didn't think I could be in a book. I am deeply impressed by this story and how David crafted it. Everyone should read it, especially if you love religious horror.

So this has been my year in favorites so far. I've read 100 books on the nose so far and this is the sliver of those who really changed something about me. Every five star I give out changes a piece of me - my perspective, my sense of self, my understanding of a genre, something. I walked away from each of these books with something new in my bones that wasn't there before. I love all our popular series just as much as the next person, but my heart will always be with books that dig deep and demand things of me nothing else does.

So the absolutely wonderful creative team at Bindery wants to create a logo for the fictional band from our second book CREATIVE DIFFERENCES by Annabel Paulsen & Lydia Wang (peep that pre-order link!!) and I want to know which logo is your favorite!

SWANBOAT is a sapphic indie rock band born out of Boston, and the name of the band is one of the reasons I fell in love with the book. When I met one of the authors, Lydia, for the first time, we bonded over both being from the Boston area! In the Boston Public Garden there are swan boat tours on the lake there, which have been operating since 1877, and there's a scene in the book I can't wait for you to read that takes place there!

I imagine the vibe of Swanboat is very boygenius/MUNA (we love a trio!) -- imagine these logo options on a drumkit or on a t-shirt! Which of the below do you think we should move forward with?

Let's discuss 7 Moons Hotel:

1. Many of the novel's biggest revelations happen early or are foreshadowed heavily. How did that affect the tension for you? Would the story have been more impactful if certain plot twists had been revealed later, or did the early reveals serve another purpose?

2. The protagonist experiences significant events in a relatively short span of time. Did you feel you truly understood their motivations, fears, and growth by the end of the novel? What moments, if any, would you have expanded to create a stronger emotional connection?

3. Several supporting characters play important roles in moving the plot forward. Which character did you most want to know more about? What additional backstory, relationships, or scenes would have made them feel more fully realized?

4. The novel balances mystery, fantasy, and emotional themes, but often prioritizes moving the story forward. Do you think the fast pacing came at the expense of character development? If you could add one chapter anywhere in the book, where would you place it and what would it explore?

5. Looking back at the novel as a whole, which emotional moments felt earned, and which felt rushed because the characters or relationships hadn't been developed enough? How might deeper characterization have changed your reaction to the ending?

Our July-August 2026 Book Club Pick is These Eternal Bones by Maggie Fern!

I have A LOT going on this month (updates soon!) which will undoubtedly impede upon my usual reading schedule, so I've decided to give myself 2 months to read this book instead of just one. That means there will not be a book club poll for August, and we'll resume doing that in September.

You'd be surprised how difficult it was to find gothic fantasy penned by indie authors! After scouring TikTok, I'm glad I was able to find a few. Fair warning about this pick: it is labeled as a dark vampire romance, so if you're not into that, this may not be the book for you.

P.S. It's available on Kindle Unlimited 😊 Reading updates and discussion questions to come soon!

Ok besties,

Writing this means spilling the beans on some upcoming content, but at the risk of my idea getting out there, I had to tell y'all about my most recent audiobook experience.

First, let me set the scene. I just finished The Calamity Club and was in my feels. Upon reflection, I realized it made me nostalgic for another book, perhaps an even better one. Memory casts a golden glow over past positive reading experiences, giving them a shine that might not be as accurate as one might hope.

Well, I thought long and hard about it and ultimately decided that I had to know if The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was as good as I remembered. For years, I told everyone this book was my favorite novel. I read this book in my youth (prob late teens) and felt it deeply in my old soul. But would it be as good as I remembered?

So, I checked out the audiobook on Libby and dove into the familiar world of the famous Ya-Yas of Thornton, Louisiana. I knew almost instantly that the choice to listen was the CORRECT choice. Narrator Judith Ivey was PERFECT for this role. Her Southern drawl and perfectly accented French drew you right into Vivi's mind and heart. Before long, I couldn't put it down, making up chores that must get done this instant.

Totally transportive with bright, vivid characters, this book is perfect for fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Elin Hilderbrand, Mary Kay Andrews, or Kathryn Stockett. The book follows 40 y/o Siddalee Walker as she sets out on a quest to unearth enough old hurts to better understand why she had such cold feet about marrying her beau, Connor. Her complicated relationship with her melodramatic mother, Vivi Abbott Walker, might have something to do with it. To better understand herself, she must first learn more about her mother's colorful history, rich with both bright and dark tones. So, she asks her mother to part with the one thing that might help: The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, otherwise known as her scrapbook.

Sidda soon discovers the images and scraps of information in the scrapbook aren't enough to fill in all the blanks. Luckily, her mother's lifelong girlfriends show up with champagne, pecan treats, and endless stories. What Sidda learns about her mother, and eventually herself, is life-changing.

As expected, this book thoroughly entertained me. I laughed, I cried, I got lost in memory, and I felt all the feelings. And unlike The Calamity Club, I got the MOST satisfaction from the ending. Full of nuggets of wisdom and Southernisms, The Divine Secrets is the type of book that reflects images of yourself and the women in your life. Mothers and daughters are the main focus, but woven throughout is a love story unlike any other: the story of four best friends madly in love with each other. No, not that kind of love. A purer type of love exists in the pages of this book.

While my own mother wasn't as wealthy as Vivi, she lived out loud, just like her friends and many of my friends' mothers. Southern Women are unlike any other breed. We are charming, fun, and funny, but we are also deep wells of strength, perseverance, and persistence. And the women in this book are perfect illustrations of that dichotomy.

Published in 1996 and set between 1993 and the 1930-60's, this book was an absolute time machine. Not only did it make me nostalgic for the 90s, but I also found myself reminiscing about my grandmother's stories about life in Louisiana in the early-to-mid century. In particular, there's a scene in which a very young Vivi recalls going to Atlanta to see the premiere of Gone With the Wind. It was not unlike the account my grandmother shared with me about seeing the film in theaters and the joy it brought her and her friends.

Speaking of the Gone with the Wind scenes, I can't lie and say that the book is without its problems, chiefly depictions of Black characters and race relations in general. There is definitely a romanticization of the Southern (white) way of life in the early 20th century. I recognize that and know that it could be problematic for modern readers. As I hope you already know, I feel strongly about amplifying Black voices and stories, so reading some of these scenes was hard for me. There are, at least, some redeeming sentiments in the rest of the book, reflecting on the unfair power dynamics and poor treatment of Black women. Sadly, I do think it is an accurate portrayal of a certain type of Southern sentiments at the time in which the book is set.

While no longer my go-to genre (Southern women's fiction), I recognize how formative this book was in my passion for historical fiction and strong female main characters. I loved this re-read and relished the time I spent listening to the wild tales of Vivi, Teensey, Caro, and Necie. Told with SO much heart, love, and respect for these characters, Wells created something magical in this book (and series). She tapped into the secrets of womanhood, motherhood, and sisterhood that give shape to our lives and the world's we create.

It's magic, I tell ya. Très magique, chère. ♥️

Let me know if you enjoy this type of content. It's a little too personal for the blog and a little too long for social media. Bindery felt like the perfect place to share this review. But I want to know what you think!

Coming soon...

Stay tuned for a super secret project that I can't wait to reveal! I have about 200 pages left, but I'm blowing through them. 😜

xoxo

c

If your next mystery pick is Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry, you're in for a wild ride and we've created everything you need to make your reading experience even more memorable.

Whether you're hosting a full book club, reading with a friend, or diving into the mystery on your own, The Page Ladies Book Club has you covered with four guides designed to help you laugh, theorize, and uncover every twist along the way.

📚 Book Club Kit & Individual Book Club Member Reader Guide

Planning a book club meeting? Our Book Club Kit includes discussion questions, themed activities, a host guide, a themed menu with recipes, games, decorations, door prize ideas, and more!

Download the Book Club Kit & Individual Reader Guide here

👯 Buddy Reader Kit

Reading with a friend? Our Buddy Reader Kit guides you through the novel with scheduled check-ins, spoiler-conscious discussion questions, fun activities, prediction prompts, and collaborative detective challenges that make every twist even more enjoyable.

Download the Buddy Reader Kit here

🔎 Deep Dive Solo Reader Kit

Prefer to read at your own pace? Our Solo Reader Kit transforms your reading experience into an interactive mystery investigation with guided journaling, clue tracking, character analysis, theme exploration, reflection pages, creative prompts, and more.

Download the Solo Reader Kit here

Which Kit Is Right for You?

📖 Book Club Kit – Perfect for hosting your next book club meeting.

👯 Buddy Reader Kit – Ideal for reading with a friend, partner, or family member.

📚 Solo Reader Kit – Designed for readers who love annotating, reflecting, and fully immersing themselves in every chapter.

Or download all three and choose the reading experience that fits you best!

Thank you for reading with The Page Ladies Book Club. We hope these resources help you enjoy Last Night Was Killer even more and inspire some unforgettable discussions.

Happy reading and happy sleuthing! 🔎📚

Some books make you laugh. Some keep you guessing. And then there are books like Last Night Was Killer by Mary Pauline Lowry, which somehow manages to balance murder, motherhood, grief, romance, political intrigue, and pole dancing into one wildly entertaining mystery.

Our book club couldn't stop talking about this one.

📖 Book Club Deep Dive

At first glance, Last Night Was Killer feels like the perfect cozy mystery setup. A woman wakes up after a night she can't remember only to discover there's a dead body in her trunk. Naturally, she's the prime suspect.

But this story quickly becomes much more than a whodunit.

Tilly Turner is far from your typical amateur sleuth. She's a struggling stand-up comedian, a grieving daughter, a single mother raising twin girls, and someone whose life seems to unravel a little more with every chapter. Instead of making her frustrating, those flaws make her incredibly relatable. She's messy, overwhelmed, sarcastic, funny, and constantly trying to hold everything together while life keeps throwing new disasters her way.

That emotional realism became one of the biggest talking points in our discussion.

Rather than making Tilly a flawless heroine, Mary Pauline Lowry allows her to make mistakes, question herself, and keep moving forward anyway. Beneath the humor is an honest story about starting over after loss, rebuilding confidence, and learning that asking for help isn't a weakness.

🕵️ The Mystery

One of our favorite parts was how unpredictable the investigation became.

Just when we thought we had the killer figured out, another clue completely shifted our theories. Every member of our group had a different suspect at some point, which made for one of our most animated discussions in months.

The mystery layers together missing memories, political corruption, criminal enterprises, unexpected betrayals, and plenty of red herrings without becoming confusing. It rewards readers who enjoy piecing together clues while still delivering satisfying surprises.

😂 Humor That Never Feels Forced

What truly separates Last Night Was Killer from many mysteries is its sense of humor.

The pole-dancing classes could have easily become a gimmick, but instead they add confidence, friendship, and some of the novel's funniest scenes. Combined with Tilly's sharp inner dialogue and awkward encounters, the comedy provides a perfect balance against the darker elements of murder and grief.

Several of us laughed out loud more than once.

❤️ Themes Worth Discussing

Our conversation naturally moved beyond the mystery itself.

Some of the biggest discussion topics included:

• How grief affects every decision we make.

• The impossible expectations placed on single parents.

• Female friendships that grow in unexpected places.

• Reinventing yourself after failure.

• Finding humor even during life's hardest moments.

• Whether Tilly made the right choices or simply the only choices she felt she had.

These emotional layers gave our discussion far more depth than we expected from a comedic mystery.

📚 Book Club Rating

⭐ Mystery: 4.5/5

😂 Humor: 5/5

❤️ Emotional Depth: 4.5/5

🕵️ Twists & Suspense: 4.5/5

💬 Discussion Potential: 5/5

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½

If you're looking for a mystery that's equal parts funny, heartfelt, suspenseful, and completely unpredictable, Last Night Was Killer is an excellent book club pick. It offers plenty of laughs while still delivering meaningful conversations about grief, motherhood, friendship, and second chances.

Thank you to William Morrow, NetGalley, and Mary Pauline Lowry for the opportunity to read and review this book.

💬 Book Club Question

If you woke up with no memory of the night before and discovered a dead body in your trunk, would you investigate on your own to clear your name or call the police immediately?

📚 Want to keep the discussion going? Tap the link to download our FREE Mini Book Club Reader Kit for Last Night Was Killer, complete with discussion questions and bonus activities. 

Looking for the full experience? Join The First Editions to unlock our complete Book Club Kit, featuring an extended discussion guide, themed activities, printable worksheets, hosting ideas, and exclusive extras designed to make your next book club unforgettable.

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