12 Days of Girly Juice 2019: 9 Best New Sex Toys

Kate Sloan

Ah, sex toys. What would I ever do without them? (Answer: have unsatisfying orgasms and a worse relationship with my body, probably.)

I like to reflect at year’s end on my favorite newly-acquired sex toys of the year. Whether you’re reading this looking for gift recommendations (for a loved one or yourself!) or just out of curiosity, I hope you’ll find something of interest here!

 

9. Zumio S (available at SheVibe)

This teensy oscillating vibe is an updated version of the previous Zumio, and this time around, it’s designed to be more suitable for folks with ultra-sensitive clits. The whole Zumio line is more intense and pinpoint than I tend to prefer, so they’re never gonna be nightstand staples for me, but I like this one for forced orgasm play or when I’m in the mood to overwhelm myself with sensation.

 

8. We-Vibe Moxie (available at SheVibe and the Smitten Kitten)

We-Vibe’s one of the few companies I would trust to make a decent panty vibe, considering how often toys in that genre tend to be total garbage. The Moxie is, by contrast, a treasure: strong, rumbly, well-designed, and cute as hell. I wish the Bluetooth functionality was a little more reliable, but for my money, if you need a discreet vibe to wear in your underwear for public play or just to liven up a visit to the grocery store, this is the best one you’ll find.

 

7. Honour Steel Dragon Claw (available from Honour)

I requested this on a whim and it’s gotten more use than I ever expected it to. Dubbed “the weird scratchy thing” in my household, this elegant, ergonomic metal claw is great for sensation play, and the hefty handle can even be used for impact. It’s rare these days for me to encounter a type of toy I’ve never tried before, so this was a refreshing product to get my kinky little hands on.

 

6. Uberrime Jellyfish (available at SheVibe)

My vagina’s not a texture fiend, unlike those of some of my sex toy reviewer friends, so I wasn’t expecting to love this veiny, ridgy dildo. However, Uberrime did a brilliant thing by making this toy in a gorgeously soft and pliable silicone, which makes the extreme texture much easier for me to handle. Despite its obvious unreality, when I squeeze on this dildo, it feels weirdly… cock-like? #DildoMagic!

 

5. Bodywand Midnight (available at SheVibe)

I’m verrrry skeptical of new wand vibrators – hell, new vibrators in general – because so many of them are atrocious or just boring. Bodywand’s been making good stuff for ages, though (along with a fair amount of so-so stuff), so I figured this all-black electric wand of theirs would be worth a shot, and it was! I love the precise control offered by the dial, and the just-rumbly-enough vibrations topped off with some satisfying buzz.

 

4. KinkLab vampire gloves (available at Spectrum Boutique)

(Content note for this one: blood!) Okay, these are technically my partner’s, not mine. (We do intend to eventually combine our sex toy collections, however, if you know what I’m sayin’.) But they have come into contact with my blood, which – as risk-aware blood-play aficionados know – means that they now must be reserved only for use with me, for hygiene reasons. Vampire gloves are leather gloves with little metal spikes pointing out of the fingers and thumb; you can use them for scratchy sensation play, extra-intense impact play, and various other activities. These ones are well-constructed and super sexy, and I’ve enjoyed every scene we’ve done with them.

 

3. Dame Kip (available at SheVibe)

I love a cute, travel-friendly vibe! This one hasn’t quite edged out my other long-time faves, like the Tango, but I like it very much – it has a good motor and its design is well thought-out. The sunny yellow color makes me smile, too!

 

2. Vixen Creations Bandit (available at SheVibe)

Realistic dildos can seem a bit boring when contrasted with all the neon-colored dongs and ridged dragon dicks on the market, but sometimes classics are classics for a reason. This one has gotten a ton of use for me, mostly because it’s long enough to hit my A-spot and squishy enough not to ram my cervix into oblivion. Good job, Vixen.

 

1. Weal & Breech purpleheart mallet (commission your own from Weal & Breech)

This was an anniversary gift from my partner, custom-made for us by the utter geniuses at Weal & Breech, and it’s hands-down my favorite impact toy I’ve ever owned. It’s the thuddiest thing ever, feels and looks elegant as hell, and totally intrigues every kinky friend of mine who sees it. It’s a treasured possession, the kind of thing I would save in a fire alongside my computer and old journals. Get your hands on one if you love thuddy impact!

 

What were your favorite sex toys of the year?

12 Days of Girly Juice 2019: 10 Perfect Sex Songs

Kate Sloan

Music is important. It’s a love language, a mood-setter, a spirit-lifter. When nothing else can make me feel sexy, music often can – which is part of why I highlight 10 of my favorite sexy and sex-adjacent songs for you here every year. Here are my 2019 picks! (Want to listen to all of these songs, as well as previous years’ faves, in one handy playlist? Here you go!)

Kid Bloom – Different State of Mind

Sinking right into the crimson clouds / Waiting for this thing to spin me out / I’m swimming in my head

This song is the musical embodiment of what it feels like to sit and people-watch in a park on a sunny Saturday while stoned off your ass. It’s slow and trippy and relaxing and makes me feel like everything is right in the world (a rare feeling these days). It’s also perfectly suited for sex, especially a languorous, lazy fuck on a weekend afternoon when you have nowhere to be but in bed and nothing to do but each other.

Kehlani – Honey

I like my girls just like I like my honey: sweet / A little selfish / I like my women like I like my money: green / A little jealous

I knew I liked Kehlani’s voice when I realized I’d Shazam‘ed the same song twice – this one – upon hearing it in public. Both times, I was struck by the feeling of needing to know who this masterful, smoky-voiced singer was. Kehlani sounds gorgeous in this song, like she deeply understands the feelings of love and sex and relaxation and can convey them directly from her own brain to yours, like an injection.

Carly Rae Jepsen – Everything He Needs

Soft rain / We roll the windows down / Sweat disco all night / It’s clear / We’d like to fool around / His hands reach for mine

Carly Rae is essentially the patron saint of unrequited love, so it’s rare to hear her sing an uncomplicatedly romantic song about someone she’s actually (presumably) dating/fucking. Maybe that’s why this song stuck out to me so much on my first listen-through of Carly’s latest album. This tune is like if Barry White and Carly Rae did a collab; I didn’t know how much I needed it to exist until I heard it. (Carly also, notably, released the ode to masturbation “Party For One” this year – but tbh, I like this one better.)

Bruno Major – Like Someone In Love

Sometimes the things I do astound me / Mostly whenever you’re around me

I mostly knew this jazz standard from Blossom Dearie’s adorable version. Bruno Major gives it an R&B update here, magicking this 75-year-old song into something new and sparkling. I think if a baby boomer and a millennial collaborated on an album specifically for ~romantic interludes~, it would all sound like this song: classic, yet seductively modern. It’s the sort of thing almost all of us can agree on.

The Japanese House – We Talk All the Time

We don’t fuck anymore / But we talk all the time, so it’s fine / Can somebody tell me what I want? / ‘Cause I keep changing my mind

Maybe it’s weird to say that a song about no longer wanting to have sex with your partner could be sexy, but what can I say – Amber Bain is a babe, and her songs are gorgeously sensuous. I have so many faves from her latest album, Good At Falling, but this is probably the one I’d most like to fuck to. The rhythm is driving, the lyrics are dark and sweet, and Amber’s voice is as pleasingly raspy as ever. I need the Japanese House to release, like, eight more albums, stat.

Tegan and Sara – Hold My Breath Until I Die

Shame on me / ‘Cause I can’t help falling at your feet / It makes me mad / To see you leave like that

I would not normally describe Tegan and Sara’s music as sexy – I mean, T&S themselves are, obviously, but their music isn’t always. However, this song has breath-play undertones (even if Tegan is actually singing about romantic anguish rather than kinky sex), and I’ve never heard Tegan’s voice sound sexier than when it goes a little breathy and plaintive in the verses of this track. I think if she sang me this song in person, I would faint…

Daniel Caesar – Japanese Denim

My blue jeans / Will last me all my life, oh yes / So should we

This romantic slow-jam makes me want to slow-dance in the dark with someone whose body fits nice with mine, which is kind of the gold standard for sexy songs, isn’t it? Daniel’s voice is like luxe purple silk. And he’s Canadian, like me!

Great Grandpa – Favorite Show

Laughing at myself again / I’ll zone out til I’m dying / I’ll zone out til I’m dead

I went through a period this year where I would wake up every day with this song stuck in my head. I don’t really know what it’s about; I just know it’s calming in its repetition, and it has the type of gently rocking rhythm that works really well for fuckin’.

Her’s – Under Wraps

I feel like I ran with a headstart / And you’re only just starting to live / Got a lot to gain / Not a lot to give

I only found out about this band because they tragically died in a car crash this year. My brother Max texted me about it, sad and shaken up, his own band having just played in a music festival with Her’s. Stephen and Audun sound angelically beautiful on this slow-grooving, sensual track; their octave-wide harmonies feel as old as time. Put on some good headphones and work your way through the Her’s discography – it’s a lovely (and kinda sad) way to spend an afternoon.

Alina Baraz – To Me

I’m not asking for too much / I’m asking the wrong motherfucker / Just ’cause we’re in love / Doesn’t mean that we’re right for each other

Alina makes it onto this list every year (literally… every… fucking… year), because she truly makes some of the sexiest music in the biz. If I’m having trouble getting into the mood to bone down (increasingly a problem for me as I get older, achier, and more ace), putting on some Alina tunes always helps at least a little. This song isn’t even particularly sexy – it’s more like “sad with a side of sexy” – but Alina sounds just as ethereal and captivating on it as she always does, which is to say, very.

 

What were your favorite sexy songs this year?

12 Days of Girly Juice 2019: 11 Favorite Blog Posts

Kate Sloan

By the end of this month, I will have written and published 133 blog posts in 2019. I am a fiend; somebody stop me!! (Except don’t; this blog has become my main source of income in recent years.)

To sum up the year – and to give you some reading material to hang onto for when you’re hiding from your family in the bathroom over the holidays (lol) – here are my 11 favorite blog posts I published this year! (Curious about previous years’ favorite posts? Here’s 2018 and 2017!) These are ordered chronologically, rather than preferentially. Let’s dive in!

Early in the year, I wrote “Roleplay and Rapport at the Library Bar,” a post chronicling a roleplay scene I did with my partner where we pretended to be strangers meeting up to do an interview for a magazine story. This is one of my favorite scenes we did all year and I’m glad I had the presence of mind to write about it while it was still fresh! I liked including a few actionable tips at the end of the post for how to do a similar scene if you’re inclined to; I’m hoping to write more “sexy meets helpful” posts like this in 2020!

I always appreciate opportunities to write sponsored posts that are thought-provoking and engaging, and one of my faves of the year was “Sexting, Spanking, Stroking: What ‘Counts’ As Sex?“ The parameters of “sex” are unclear and ever-shifting, especially in this day and age, and it was fun to pontificate on the distinction between “sex” and “not sex” in this meandering post. I especially liked including little vignettes of encounters I’ve had that were ambiguously defined: “Does this count as sex?”

One of my most emotional posts of the year was “Obsessed & Distressed: Reflections on Rabid Love.” It’s about people whose affections could be deemed “obsessive” (like me) and whether or not their partners need to match that level of enthusiasm in order to stay with them happily. I’m still not totally sure where I fall on this – I think I could be happy with someone who loved less vehemently than I do, provided I was still getting that kick of hyper-focus from another relationship in my life – but it was fun to weigh the different sides of the issue nonetheless.

For my 7-year “bloggiversary” in March, I wrote “How I Became a Full-Time Sex Writer,” a timeline of my evolution into the salacious scribe you see before you today. I hope some folks found this helpful who are considering pursuing, or are already pursuing, a career like mine. When walking such an unusual path, it helps to have a road map, even if someone else’s journey isn’t quite the same as your own.

“You’re Someone’s Favorite Flavor“ was a retelling of a metaphor I’ve loved and used for a long time, about ice cream and attractiveness. I heard from a lot of people that this post helped ease some of their own panicked insecurities, which was, for me, the whole point of writing it.

My introversion remained an important part of my identity this year, hence writing a guide about “How to Take Yourself on a Date.” I was inspired by comedian Lane Moore’s dedication to the self-date, as detailed (alongside lots of other stuff) in her brilliant book How to Be Alone, and decided to write about my own experiences with this somewhat quirky practice. If even one person felt more empowered to “treat themselves” after reading my post, then I did my job!

When my partner came out as non-binary in July, I (of course) promptly wrote an R-rated post about it: “How They Fuck Me.” This was a meditation on the trans and non-binary partners I’ve been lucky enough to have, and the ways that their gender discoveries interplayed with our sex lives. This was one of my most popular posts of the year and I’m so glad!

I had a coming-out of my own in August, publishing a post called “So… I’m Demisexual!“ This was an identity I’d been pondering for a while, so it was good to have a chance to articulate it more fully, both for myself and for others. Ace-spectrum identities are still widely misunderstood, and shining more light on them is always worth doing.

One of the most fun posts I worked on all year was “The Joys of Distraction Play (or: I Wrote This While Getting My Clit Sucked).” Was this the first time that writing a blog post was, itself, a kink scene for me? Quite possibly…

My partner recently noted that my journalism education comes through in my blogging, and my post “The Case of the Disappearing Safety Pin Fetish“ was a prime example. I stumbled across this 1954 case study while researching a piece for a client about fetish psychology, and was immediately captivated. It led me to reflect on the ways fetishists are (mis)treated in our culture, and the hope that we might one day all be free to pursue our various kinks in whatever (risk-aware, consensual) ways we want.

Finally, I would be remiss not to include “Announcing… My Book Deal!!!“ in this list. I worked on this post behind-the-scenes for weeks while I awaited the go-ahead from my agent to shout about my forthcoming book from the proverbial rooftops, and I think it came out really cool. It contains not only the pertinent details about the book, but also a timeline of how the entire deal came to be – from the glimmer of an idea, to a signed contract in my hands. I hope it fires you up to pursue your own book deal, if that’s something you want!

What were your favorite blog posts you read this year (either on this site or elsewhere)? Link ’em in the comments!

12 Days of Girly Juice 2019: 12 Femme Essentials

Kate Sloan

Hello! Today kicks off 12 Days of Girly Juice, my annual year-end wrap-up series where I highlight everything that captured my attention most all year, from songs to events to sex sessions. The first instalment of the series is always about my 12 favorite fashion and beauty items of the year – so here we go!

Keith Haring limited-edition Coach Rogue bag

This was one of my anniversary presents from my partner mb last year; I had tweeted about it many months earlier and I guess they made a note of that! The entire collaboration collection between Coach and Keith Haring was very up my alley – lots of pinks and blues, graphical hearts, and sequins – but this piece, in particular, really called to me. “You needed to own it,” mb told me later.

This bag is made of ultra-supple blue leather, and is roomy enough for the books and journals I like to cart around with me (though tragically, not my laptop). It has a paler blue heart on the outside, made of – get this – leather sequins. The entire thing is so thoughtfully constructed, and it’s one of the most unique pieces I own. I look forward to carrying it for many years to come!

Velvet

This year I examined the possibility that I might have a mild velvet fetish – based on the fact that whenever I went shopping, I was unavoidably drawn to velvet items, and often felt quite sexy wearing them or even just touching them. Later I was invited to submit a story to an erotica anthology on the topic of queer women’s fashion, and what I ended up writing was an XXXplicit XXXploration of velvet fetishism. By the end of that writing process, I was like, “Yup. Probably into velvet.”

Some of my fave velvet items this year were the simplest: a couple of Christmasy A-line dresses in red and green, a pink slip dress with lacy edges, a deep V-neck crop top in rich raspberry. I think my all-time favorite velvet item, though, is a purple blazer I thrifted in high school, which has since been lost to time. One day I’ll find another one!

The Ordinary skincare

I’ve always liked simple skincare products the best. CeraVe and Cetaphil are my jam, with an occasional Lush product thrown in there. So I don’t know why it took me so long to get around to trying stuff from The Ordinary, which is known for its super stripped-down products, but I’m glad I finally did.

With the addition of their glycolic acid toner, squalane, rose hip seed oil, “Buffet” serum, and salicylic acid masque to my routine, my skin looks better than it has in a whiiiile. Yay!

Pink cardigan

At some point this year I misplaced my favorite old hot pink cardigan from H&M, and it immediately became obvious how central this garment was to my personal style. So, with my partner’s adorable encouragement, I replaced it with a basic one from Amazon and it’s remained a cornerstone of my look.

Kate Spade Holiday Lane Page bag

I bought this structured black leather tote to be my new go-to carry-on bag when I travel, because my old one was falling apart, and so far it has served me very well. It’s roomy enough for all the shit I tend to take with me on planes – laptop, journal, Kindle, gum, wallet, headphones, meds, Kleenex, lipstick, passport, an occasional silly neck pillow – and it also looks sleek and professional and Businesslady Chic.

People sometimes ask me for travel tips, since I do a lot more of it now, being in a long-distance relationship – and one of the best I can offer is this: establish travel routines that you find comfortingly familiar. I always take the same route to the airport, always wear some variation of the same outfit, always prepare and pack in the exact same way. Having a reliably good carry-on bag is an important part of that routine for me – it contains everything I need to get me through the anxiety-provoking process that is travel. It’s not just a purse, it’s a lifeline!

Lickability T-shirt

This is a weird thing to include, because it’s not girly or fancy or remarkable, but: my partner gifted me a T-shirt bearing the logo of their company, and I wear it a lot. It feels like the grown-up, millennial equivalent of sporting your partner’s letterman jacket (or, um, leatherenby jacket) – it’s a reminder that I’m loved. It’s also very fucking soft, and goes with everything. Score.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

Y’know, sometimes you gotta shout out the unsung heroes. I’ve been using this concealer all year to cover an unidentified red spot that’s sprung up between my eyebrows (is it psoriasis? Is it sebhorreic dermatitis? It’s one thing for sure: resistant to my medicated creams for both of those conditions, ugh!!). The vanilla shade, which I use, also has a slight yellowish hue which – on my skin tone – works well for concealing purplish under-eye circles. The formula is creamy enough that it doesn’t get crusty and gross-looking like so many other concealers do, and it stays put pretty well, especially under powder. I’ve pretty much stopped wearing foundation, but concealer is a must-have for helping me feel cute, which is (for me) basically the point of wearing makeup.

L’Oreal lipstick in “Devil’s Matte-vocate Red”

This one was a real sleeper hit for me… My mom brought this lipstick back for me on a whim after a New York jaunt, and I wasn’t expecting to love it, but I do! It’s a rich shade of ruby red that just works. It stays on longer and more evenly than lots of more expensive reds I’ve worn, and I feel cute as heck in it.

Sugarpill lipstick in “Girl Crush”

I’ve previously written about the liquid version of this lipstick, but the standard version has been a major fave this year. It’s one of the best cool-toned hot pinks I’ve ever found, along with previous faves, NARS Schiap and Bourjois Pink Pong. Plus the packaging is legendarily cute and the formula is decently long-lasting without being drying. Sugarpill really knows their shit.

High-waisted jeans

I used to think this style was unflattering on pear-shaped people like me. That might be true – I don’t really know – but I’ve reached a point where I don’t give a shit. I have a pair of high-waisted jeans from Madewell and one from the Gap, and I feel super cute, curvy, and babely in them. When I tuck a shirt into them, I feel more put-together than I usually do in jeans, which helps them feel more in line with my polished femme aesthetic (I’ve previously had trouble wearing jeans because they made me feel sloppy and boyish, which is… not my gender). All hail good, flattering denim!

Black and silver dress

I forget when I even bought this slinky dress from H&M, but it’s very much a fave. I’ve worn it to dinners, drinks, shows, and even a wedding. It feels sexy and fancy, but is also incredibly comfortable (an important consideration for someone with chronic pain and depression!). I can throw it on over a black lacy bralette and a pair of tights and I look like I put serious consideration into my outfit. Ideal.

Cute phone cases

It’s 2019, so your phone case is more a part of your outfit than ever before. In an age of mirror selfies, this shit matters! I had a super sparkly rhinestoned one from BlingsSupplyShop earlier in the year, and then got tired of leaving a trail of rhinestones in my wake everywhere I went, so I switched to a “Sick Sad Girl” case from LookHuman (it’s a Daria reference). It gets compliments nonstop and makes me happy, which is all you can really ask for.

 

Those were my fashion and beauty faves this year! What were yours?

Announcing… My Book Deal!!!

Kate Sloan
Signing my book contract at the Library Bar. Photo by my sweetheart mb.

Yes, friends, I have good news: after many months of preparation and negotiation, I have signed a book deal with Laurence King Publishing! One of my long-time dreams as a writer is finally going to come true. Here’s a brief FAQ:

Q. What’s the book called?

A. The working title at the moment is 101 Kinky Things Even You Can Do.

Q. What’s it about?

A. It’s an accessible, consent-focused, safety-forward introduction to kink and BDSM for vanilla people and/or beginners. It covers 101 different kinky activities, from aftercare to wrestling. Each chapter explains the kink in question, theorizes about why people find it hot, and offers concrete suggestions for incorporating it into your sex life, both solo and partnered.

Q. When will it be out?

A. March 2021, so I’m told! Yes, that is a long time from now. Wow. I will have lots more details for you (where to get it, etc.) as the launch date approaches.

Q. How much of it have you written?

A. Currently a little over half. It’s due in January, so I’m making good time!

Q. How did you get the book deal?

A. Read on, my friend – here’s that timeline of events!

December 4th, 2015: I go to a local sex shop to interview one of the owners for a story I’m writing about the sex toy industry. At the end of our exhaustive, hour-long interview, he says, “I think this topic could be a book, and I think you’re the person to write it.” My face immediately morphs into the human embodiment of the thinking emoji 🤔 as I say out loud, “Hmmmm!” I take the streetcar home thinking about whether I’ll ever write a book, whether I even want to, and what it would be about.

February 7th, 2018: I get a PR email from an editor promoting a sex-related book she worked on. Her email signature says she’s also a literary agent. I take a chance and mention casually that I’ve wanted to write a sex book for a while. She replies, “If you ever do write that book, please feel free to reach out to me about it, as I definitely am seeking clients in the sex and sexuality realm.”

March 28th of this year: I get an email through my contact form from a commissioning editor for Laurence King, a publishing house in London, England. “I’ve been thinking we should consider a fresh approach to sex in book form and I wondered if you would be interested in talking about it,” she writes. “Please contact me if that sounds interesting.” I stare at my inbox in awed disbelief.

April 2nd: I “hop on a call” with the editor to toss around some potential book ideas. The two pitches I’ve prepared for her, it turns out, are more conceptual, cerebral, and wordy than is really appropriate – Laurence King publishes beautifully-designed books, often on art or photography or design, loaded with illustrations and diagrams, not usually densely-packed paragraphs of storytelling. So I think on my feet, and pitch this: “101 Unusual Kinks & Fetishes.” I explain that I’ve always been fascinated by the most eccentric sexual interests, from balloon fetishism to sneezing fetishism to knife play, and that I’d love to highlight those for a curious audience. The editor gets audibly excited about this idea and asks me to put together a proposal.

April 7th: I send over my proposal, including sample sections on topics like collars, hypnosis, and masochism.

April 18th: My editor gets back to me and says that after discussing my proposal with her team, she now thinks there would be more of a market for a book on kinks anyone might reasonably get involved in, rather than being focused on hyper-specific fetish subcultures. The working title “101 Kinky Things Even You Can Do” is suggested.

May 4th: After multiple thoughtful and helpful conversations with kink-savvy friends, I submit a reworked version of my proposal, this time including only kinks that the average vanilla-identifying beginner might be curious about actually trying in their own sex life.

May 24th: My editor emails to say that she just pitched my book at an “Ideas Meeting,” and while she was nervous about how people would react to the topic, “it was a resounding success.” She tells me she needs some time to calculate the costs of the book and such, before the company can make me an offer.

June 1st: I email that literary agent from long ago to tell her about my current book situation and to ask if she’ll represent me.

June 7th: The agent calls me and we chat about what agents actually do and how she and her agency can support me through this process.

July 12th: My editor tells me that she recently overheard someone at the company saying the funniest sentence ever devised (according to me, anyway), “Kink is the new houseplant.” This doesn’t make sense unless you know that Laurence King had a very successful book about houseplants. 🤷🏻‍♀️

July 22nd: I sign my agency agreement with the Carol Mann Agency. I officially have an agent, yay!

August 13th: I receive my official offer from Laurence King – a proposed advance and royalty rates, the size of the book and quantity of first print, the word count and deadline. I forward it to my agent and we put together lists of follow-up questions and points to negotiate.

October 17th: Amidst weeks upon weeks of back-and-forth negotiations between my agent and publisher, I’m getting increasingly anxious – I haven’t started writing yet, thinking I can’t or shouldn’t until the contract is signed, but my deadline isn’t budging nonetheless. My agent writes to me, “There’s no reason you can’t start working now. We are nearly there, so if you have the bandwidth, you don’t have to wait until the ink is dry to commence!” I open Scrivener, set up my word count goals and due date, and start. It’s nervewracking but so so good.

November 16th: At long last after months of negotiations, I sign the final contract, over good cocktails and oysters at the Library Bar. We toast to my book and the hard work that got me here.

November 27th: My agent gives me the go-ahead to announce the book, and I publish this blog post!

On a personal note, I want to say thank you to each and every one of my readers. Y’all are the reason I got noticed by a publisher and an agent to begin with, and you’ve also given me the space and feedback that has enabled me to develop my writing voice and niche(s) over the ~7.5 years I’ve been writing this blog. Your encouragement has kept me going at tough times, and I think about you every time I write anything. I really look forward to hearing what you think of the book when it comes out!