Friday Reads 10.3.24

October. For once, I am not panicked about the year drawing to a close. I am ready to hunker down, enjoy the cooler weather, prep for the holidays and book tour, and simply be. I have a new book to get started on, one that I’ve been noodling on in Story Planner (see this stage—Concept and Title—for more on that process) and several other projects that need wrapping up.

But y’all, it has been a week. Moving my folks; packing up the library; the last round of golf in the Park; the excitement of A VERY BAD THING in First Reads; the news…I’ve cried too many times to count—tears of joy, of sadness, of empathetic horror. Emotional whiplash. The thing is, it all pales in comparison to what is unfolding in Eastern TN and Western NC. As difficult as this week has been, it is an honor to have the opportunity to sort through my memories, knowing too many people have lost everything. I know folks all across the southeast are hurting today. My heart is with you.

Here are a few places you can look if you want to help:
Tennessee
North Carolina
General Disaster Relief - The Y’all Squad
Bookish Relief - BINC

Books heal, too. Let’s do this.

has a new book out this week - EVERY MOMENT SINCE! I’ve read it, and it is fantastic! Darkly compelling and richly layered. Superb.

I finished THE GOD OF THE WOODS and I loved it. Bad decisions make for wonderful mysteries. I also found a deer bone necklace I made at camp in one of the random boxes I had to sort, with my camp name, Little Deer. Made it all that much better.

Next up is CREATION LAKE by Rachel Kushner. I’ve been looking forward to it for a while now, and my library hold finally came in!

Gillian Macallister WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME was on special this week and I snapped it up. A Halloween-themed book, just in time for the holiday? Yes, please.

I’m about to gear up for a bunch of interviews for A WORD ON WORDS, and I have some really cool books waiting for me at home. More on them next time.

As I mentioned above, A VERY BAD THING was chosen for Amazon First Reads, and it has already been a rollercoaster of fun. It’s awesome that you can get two books this month, too. A suggestion? My friend and fellow thriller writer Tony Wirt has a book in the program this month, too: PIKE ISLAND. So you can download BOTH our books for free this month, or, if you’re not a Prime member, you can get them for $1.99 each. For you print lovers, the hardcover and trade paper will be released on November 1, as planned. Same for the audiobook. (Saskia Maarleveld reads, and she is FABULOUS.

So, what’s happening in your world? I’d love to hear what you’re reading this weekend! Any recommendations?

And if you’re reading from any of the areas devastated by Helene, will you let us know you’re okay? It’s been hard to touch base with everyone, for obvious reasons, but people are coming back online now throughout the southeast, and I’d love to hear from you.