Should I have sent this newsletter? I don't know. But I hope you understand my rationale. 🌻

Spring is finally on its way. The sun is out today, and flowers are budding in the garden.

Yet my heart is heavy. Ukraine is not that far away. I have Ukranian friends in Frankfurt. I'm old enough to remember the Bosnian/Serbian war--it was the first time I realized how fragile our world is. It doesn't take much for people to attack each other, even with the memories of the last World War etched into every European's conscience, no matter their age.

I pondered if I should send this newsletter at all. It seems so frigging frivolous when there's people dying literally this very minute. And yet, we've got to move forward. There's no other option.

I don't write books that are deep and meaningful and meant to change the world. I write because I want you, my readers, to safely experience emotions and adventure.

And when I give you a happy end, I want you to sigh, put the book down, and realize that for a while, you haven't thought about the shitshow we turned our world into.

In a way, that's motivating me to continue writing what some might consider trashy romances and make-belief nonsense. Now more than ever, our stories save us from despair. And that's worth a lot, I think.

xo, Ella