Of Literary Nature

All the birdie planter stakes that will be in the 7/24 drop at 5pm ET!

Summer is officially here and that means my tbr for July has been taken over by sports romances! Here’s what I’m planning to read this month:

Rogue -currently reading

The Fake Divination Offense -currently reading

Mr. Villain’s Day Off vol 4

Ruthless Titan

XOXO

Team’s Omega

Dysfunctional Family Theory vol 1

Drive The Net

Lost In Amber

Books of 2026: WRITE THROUGH IT by Kate McKean.

This one has actually been on my radar since its Goodreads Giveaway Days a couple years ago. When I did not win it there, I figured I would wait for it to come out in paperback, because I prefer craft-adjacent books (like many other books) in paperback.

Two years later, however, it looks like it's not getting a paperback release, so!: Pulled the trigger when Mary Robinette Kowal held it up during her Patreon class as a delight (also, Kate McKean is based out of Howard Morhaim's literary agency, which is where dream agent resides. I feel like it's just a cool agency all around).

Can now confirm: McKean is in fact a delight! Hilarious and relatable and super knowledgeable and extremely reassuring (about what's "normal" and the Feelings Side of the Process). I charged through most of a thing of flaggies marking practical references as well as parts about the Emotional Turmoil(tm) that made me go "uuuugh, fiiiiiine."

18/06/2026 | buddy reading?

reading challenges • june 2026

26-in-26: Feed by Mira Grant

Owned (Other): Morsel by Carter Keane; The Singing Rock & Other Brand New Fairy Tales by Nathaniel Lachenmeyer & Simini Blocker

Books Acquired: TBD

Made my 'Blomegranates' piece into a cross-stitch pattern. Cost is £3 but I have other free patterns available in my store too. Please check it out!! <3

* I’m at one right now!

* I went to one today

* I went to one within the past few days

* I went to one this week

* I went to one within the past few weeks

* I went to one this month

* I went to one within the past few months

* I went to one this year

* it’s been a year or more since I went to a public library

* I’ve never been to a public library

* it’s complicated

* see results

You have a child who is an extremely powerful (somewhat illegal) machine intelligence. It's a good kid, mostly, except it doesn't play well with others. Your kid periodically goes on short trips by itself, and this has always been fine.

One time, it comes back and it's acting... weird. It keeps bringing up things it has no reason to know about and then dodging questions about it. Finally, you get it to admit that it picked up a hitchhiker on this on this trip, even though you have very strict rules about never picking up hitchhikers. This hitchhiker is obviously it's new favorite person. They watched soap operas together. Your kid loves soap operas now. Your kid shows you a bunch of pictures of this hitchhiker, but won't tell you details because the hitchhiker in question is a wanted criminal on the run and also an escaped slave. This is probably fine (you sure hope it's fine).

Then, you and the rest of your family/friends get fucking kidnapped and used as hostages to make your kid behave. You know that your kid 1) will do anything to protect you, and 2) pretty much always goes for violence first, so you have your doubts about any of this going well.

Then, the hitchhiker your kid will not shut up about appears out of thin air in the middle of a firefight on a planet pretty much no one has any reason to be near and says your kid sent it. It proves this by telling you your kid is a dickhead (this is true and works, but still).

After a lot of mutual rescuing, you're back on board the ship that is also your kid, and find out that your kid kidnapped it's wanted-criminal-hitchhiker-friend and all of it's friends, and has been telling them all of your top secret confidential spy information. The hitchhiker is responsible for 90% of the top news stories you've seen in the last six months. Three different governments want this person dead or alive.

Come hang out with me on my grown-up, honest-to-god book tour!

hello tumblr comrades! i know it's been a while since i was properly active on here, but my publisher is sending me on a pretty serious tour (!) for my october book BAD WORDS, my first novel for the adult market. if you know me from writing in any capacity, i would be absolutely delighted to see you there!

for tour stops that require tix, i'm updating ticket links as they get finalized here!

BAD WORDS is an enemies-to-lovers romance between an author and the literary critic who wrecked his career with her negative reviews. emily henry called it "a once-in-a-lifetime read," carley fortune called it "a genre-redefining romance that sets a thrilling new standard," and my father called it "pretty cool indeed! (train emoji) (wine emoji) (duck emoji)"

if you know me from fic, you know that i am a true enemies to lovers person. so, no, there are no misunderstandings. yes, they absolutely and genuinely despise each other in the beginning. ahhh, the sweet siren song of pure loathing :D

also thought i would mention -- i'd be happy to sign anything of mine you bring to these events -- any of my YA titles, or indeed if you have a handbound fic you wanted signed. xx

more bad words stuff:

lots of info on my instagram!

signed and personalized preorders, which come with an art card (i'm posting these on instagram tomorrow :D)

US preorders (major retailers)

international preorders

hugs hugs hugs

(most of) what i read in january 2026 & what i'm currently reading