Happy Sunday, friends! I hope you had a good week. It’s a nice, quiet day at Chez Ellison. Jordan is having a snack on my desk, Jameson is sound asleep in my reading chair. The sun streams boldly in my window—the new house is filled with sunlight, so much more than the old one.

It is deceptively calm at the moment. This week was wild, mostly anxiety driven, I think. I had a big lunch event that took a lot of prep, and have been on regular repeat/refresh of the websites looking for vaccination appointments for our parents. The cats had to go to the vet for their annual checkup, I got my first haircut in 6 months, and there are these crazy looming deadlines... on top of the chaos that is the last two weeks, it was a bit much. It’s amazing how stressful worrying can be. How just leaving the house becomes a study in epidemiological risks. How many layers of masks will make it safe to spend two hours indoors among people... 

I was talking with a friend about the correlation between lower vitamin D and higher anxiety levels, and looking back, I think we’re onto something.  I upped my Vitamin D and the second half of the week went much smoother. Something for you to think about if you, like many of us, get a little over-anxious in the winter months.  

Scheduling is underway for the HER DARK LIES virtual tour, lots of podcasts and bookclub visits ahead. The January newsletter is out, so if you didn’t receive it, check your promotions/junk folders. Lent is a month away, and while I have a book launching in the middle of it, I am going to try and take some time off the socials. Weekly check-ins, most likely. I have a lot of creative work ahead, so I’m gearing up!

And with that, grab your cuppa. Onward!

THE LATEST ON THE INTERNET:

42 Books Everyone Will Be Talking About in 2021. Are any of these on your TBR?

The Bomb That Struck the Heart of Nashville. A heartfelt and important piece from Margaret Renkl. Waking up Christmas morning to the bombing was shattering for us all. After the year we had in Nashville, it was a surreal capper.

CBTB's Most-Anticipated Early 2021 Crime Books. So honored Abby from Crime By The Book included HER DARK LIES on this awesome list!

Literary Characters Who Would Make Great Librarians. This is fun to consider. Who would you like recommending books?

These Precious Days, By Ann Patchett. Lovely, and long, essay.

In honor of the start of A Discovery of Witches season 2, I thought I’d remind you I got to interview the divine Deb Harkness for A WORD ON WORDS four years ago. Such a blast! I'm already in love with Season 2 and Elizabethan England!

27 Debuts to Look Forward To in the First Half of 2021. Fresh crop of new authors to support!

This Little Free Library at the South Pole is the First in Antarctica. Very cool!

Don't Sleep On The Best Romance Novels Of 2020. Because sometimes you need a happily ever after.

Don’t forget: Goodreads is giving away 10 copies of HER DARK LIES! (US only.)

The Best Crime Shows of the Decade. See any of your favorites?

That’s it from me. Take your vitamins, don’t forget to floss, and for heavens sake, wear your masks, and I’ll see you next Sunday!

Peace and hugs,
J.T.