Grey Friday

The sun went away, but at least I’m almost done working

For the last year and a half, I’ve had several ongoing freelance projects outside of my full time day job. This is not unusual (for me). For most of my design career I’ve plugged back in after dinner several nights a week and planned Saturdays (and many Sundays) around working hours that often begin before 6 a.m. so as not to lose too much time with family.

In fall 2025 I started a graduate program in social work. Part time, but even so, it quickly felt like too much. I don’t know what I was thinking, because at that time I also needed to edit my novel on a deadline, fix a bunch of issues with the house we’d just moved into (it’s from 1934 and sat empty for 29 years before we bought it), and of course, it’d be nice to still have a life of some kind. Spoiler: I kind of haven’t. Had a life, that is.

That’s entirely my own fault — though I could also point out scope creep on freelance work, unforeseen timing between moving and getting a book contract, and the fact that I applied to grad school the summer before (in 2024) and waited almost a whole year to start, not knowing what was converging in my future. Anyway.

There are several unfinished drafts lodged in my Substack dashboard. They’ve been building up all spring because I just haven’t have time to write anything. My cars need oil changes, the house needs attention, I haven’t been able to work on my new novel much, and my family misses me. I miss me.

But today I sent the final invoice for my last major freelance project, and I won’t be taking on anything new for a very long time. I took the summer off from grad school. And my book is not only finished, it’s out in just over two weeks . . . !

I think (I know) I’m ready — and finally able — to relearn the art of not doing. I mean, I won’t stop altogether. I can’t. I still have a job, a family, and those cars still need maintenance. But I plan to find some space in the coming weeks for remembering that it’s nice to just sit. That’s it. Just sit.

And after I’ve done a good bit of just sitting, I’m going to celebrate this mad, wild, wonderful moment in life. There’s always an ebb and flow to everything, and this most recent flow brought with it many good things.

If you’re not too far away, I’d love to see you at my book release party in Ypsilanti on June 25.

If you are far away, join me for the live book launch with Slant Books on June 23! Note: This is an RSVP event — please sign up!

If you’re an early reader, remember to get your review + rating posted on Goodreads. (Preferably before the book release!)

And if you haven’t read an ARC or preordered yet, ask your local bookstore to order a few (because you’ll send your friends in to get their own copies), or visit my website for preorder links. (Hint: IndieBound [Bookshop.org] is having a sale right now.)

Now I think I’ll go find somewhere quiet to just sit.