Welcome new readers and hello old friends!
How’s your summer so far? Here: A few gorgeous evenings. A heatwave last week. Tonight there’s a “Backyard Boogie” rave across the street. Could that mean the sun’s approaching its zenith? That 2024 is approaching it's fulcrum? My last Museletter came out in December. Since then, my audience has doubled, which has been amazing! Here’s a recap of this year's creative work.
With the exception of the occasional piece of creative writing such as In My Grief I Tip Chairs, or School of Velocity, it’s been all about the BOOKS this year.
Me Myself I Books
The year began with Liking Myself back into print. This beloved book is not by me, but my mom and I have kept it alive since the author, Pat Palmer, mom’s mentor and friend, passed away. Her daughters and I worked out our agreements and now have plans for a series of SEL titles based on this and The Mouse, the Monster, and Me, called “Me. Myself I books,” personal skills for kids. Please help make this a goal reality by sharing this link with parents, teachers, school counselors, therapists, and your librarian!
Ten Days, Ten Pounds
But every day through February, I worked to polish up my memoir manuscript, both savoring my luscious memories of traveling to Italy as a grownup for the first time, but also weary of the project after 9 years. But I did it! My goal now is to send out one query letter a day. Only 342 more to go!
But of course the muses have other ideas….
New Audiobook!
I'm obsessed with audiobooks* and I am finally making them! I've been recording The Winning Family in my glamorous basement studio! I’ve posted some chapters in The Whining Family (lol at the updated images.) Chapter 3 and 4 are now free; take a listen and share!
(Oh heck. I just realized I mispronounced “synonyms.” “ Symptoms” has an entirely different meaning! And just when I was making it look easy. NEWS FLASH: I am pausing play on the podcast until the audiobook is fully edited!)
We are opening pre-orders today! Please purchase one if you are able!
One for the Books
There have been some interesting developments in my Joaquin Miller Park project. On the nerdiest playdate ever with activist Mary Rose Kaczorowski, aka Redwood Mary, researching in the library archives, I discovered an Art Deco treasure right under my nose!
Coming Up
Saturday, June 15th 2-4pm at Books on B in Hayward
Coming up, I will be appearing with composer Merrill Collins next weekend at the CWC annual book launch! I’m honored to be part of a wonderful lineup with an unusual offering. If you're sharing SEL treasures with parents, teachers, etc., please also tell them about this musical tool for Human Rights Education! It's also great for church choirs, civic ceremonies, and even Zumbathons!. Plan ahead for Human Rights Day, December 10th. We sorely need some higher level thinking in the world right now!
Oaktoberfest is October 5-6 in the Dimond
Big news, I won a grant from my neighborhood association to host a dirndl fashion show during Oaktoberfest! There will also be a showing of the movie, a community talk, and a Polka battle! Stay tuned at the Dirndl Diaspora FB page!
Some Housekeeping
Remember: If you’d like to get ONLY this semi-annual Museletter instead of all those weekly postings, check the bottom of the About page for how to adjust your subscription. The page has been updated and is worth taking a peek! I even added a new funny graphic with my big puppy eyes. If you’ve enjoyed reading my essays such as My Dad is Back (and he’s in a box) and I Am Notable and Superlative, might you be asking yourself,
I also added a new button that says,
in addition to all the other Substack buttons that say:
So you know, by now, that paid subscribers (a.k.a. $upporting $ubscribers 🥰😇🙏🏼 ✍️) are not only making a big and most apreeeeciated difference in my ability to MSH (make stuff happen)—but also get access to The Cave where there’s more special stuff. Here’s what’s new in there since the last Museletter:
Destination: Disneyland video
A chapter about arriving in Venice from Ten Days, Ten Pounds
Full access to my Fiberlicious! workshop
Barbie, Queen of the Prom extra player cards (Mad About Plaid!)
The Winning Family audiobook chapters 1-4
Here’s your chance, old and new friends…if you subscribe this week I will add your favorite book, story, or movie to the Cave!
Have a great rest of your year, please keep in touch!
This newsletter is made possible by my supportive community & my Generous Muse. Please buy my books & attend my things.
The Parting Shot:
* Books I’ve enjoyed this year:
With my ears:
Woman of Ill Fame (Erica Mailman)
Waistcoats and Weaponry & Curtsies and Conspiracies (Gail Carriger)
Bartelby the Scrivener (Herman Melville)
The Blazing World (Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle)
Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
Truth and Beauty (Ann Pachett)
We Were Witches (Ariel Gore)
Vivaldi’s Virgins (Barbara Quick).
With my tired eyeballs:
The Claw of Attraction (David Michie)
Ghosts and Oceans (Jan Steckel)
And finally…
I also highly recommend the movie Stormy (currently streaming on Peacock) if you want to better understand the human cost of just one of Trump’s 34 felonies.
Hail, Stormy!
Dang girl you’ve been busy! Love you!
Oh. So that's where you've been.