how I quarantine
Hi friends—
Life has changed quite a bit since we last spoke, hasn't it? On a personal level, my book came out (yay), but my US tour and all other book events were cancelled (boo). And then, of course, on the much more important macro level, the world is fighting covid-19. It's a scary, unprecedented time, and there's no right way to deal with it. I've been lucky to only have a few friends come down with the virus, and they've all recovered or are improving. I'm so grateful to all the healthcare workers, delivery people, grocery store staff, and so on for putting their lives on the line to keep the rest of us fed and healthy. The sacrifices some of us are making pales in comparison to those who have lost loved ones or are battling the virus on the front lines. Still, being stuck at home for 55 days (and many more to come for some of us) is difficult to get used to, even for an introvert like me. The way I muddle through is by keeping busy. Sometimes that means being productive work-wise—I'm making good headway on my second novel! Sometimes it means undertaking bigger personal projects I wouldn't have prioritized if I were on tour or constantly out and about.
None of my coping mechanisms are earth-shattering—I'm reading, baking, and playing games like the rest of you—but I thought I'd share some of the stuff keeping me occupied, in the hope you might find something here that brightens your day a little too.
Board Games
I bought some new games, based on recommendations from friends on the Internet and this super detailed site, Board Game Geek. My focus was two-person games, since it's just my husband and me at home. So far 7 Wonders: Duel and Ticket to Ride are our favorites. We like Azul a lot too. We played Carcassonne once and... well, didn't love it... but I'm determined to give it another chance at some point!
Gardening
The UK is not known for its sunny weather (understatement of the year), so our balcony hasn't gotten much use for the two years we've lived in this flat. Enter the lockdown and not being able to go outside more than once a day. Suddenly this little space has become much more enticing, and I decided to spiffy it up with some plants. First we did a deep clean of the floor, furniture, rug, and cushions. Then we used a plant delivery service called Patch (we've used them a few times, including for our mini Christmas tree last year, and love them) and had four new plants delivered. On the tables are English Ivy. In the far corner is a Canary Island date palm, and in the near corner is a Bay tree. Supposedly you can pluck bay leaves right off the tree and use them in recipes like bolognese sauce; how lovely does that sound?! I already love the space so much more. And since we're having unseasonably gorgeous weather this spring (because of course we are), I suspect the area will soon be getting a ton of use.
Baking
I've been baking bread for years but hadn't made much in the past months because of the time commitment required to promote one book while writing another! With the quarantine, I've been making good use of my kitchen, starting with blueberry muffins, my first pizza dough, and walnut and onion bread. Next on my list is a cinnamon crumb surprise. All of my bread recipes come from Rose Levy Berenbaum's The Bread Bible, which is an excellent cookbook and educational tool.
Reading
Perhaps my most predictable pastime has been reading up a storm. I loved all four of these recent reads, particularly the bottom two. You've got two fiction and two nonfiction picks here, so there should be something for everyone!
Book News
I'm thrilled to share that Darling Rose Gold is officially an international bestseller! She debuted on the USA Today bestseller list and has been on both The Globe and Mail's and Toronto Star's bestseller lists in Canada for a couple weeks. Thank you so much to all of you for your support and enthusiasm—I'm only on these lists because of you! I've loved hearing your thoughts on the book and am always curious what else you're reading. You can find me on Instagram or just reply to this email if you want to chat.
I'll finish with a silver lining. My favorite season is spring, and my favorite tree is the cherry blossom. The lockdown has been hard for a multitude of reasons, but a small and perhaps silly one was not getting to see London in bloom—the parks staff here does such a beautiful job. Imagine my delight when I discovered two pink blossom trees on our block, the very same space I'm allowed to walk my dog Moose! I've been looking forward to our post-lunch jaunt every day since. I try to take a few moments to stand under the trees and take them in. I may not be able to see much of nature this spring, but these two trees feel like such a treat. Once we're back to our normal lives, I hope we all remember the gratitude we felt for small things during this time.
I hope, wherever you are, that you're staying safe, healthy, and sane. Hang in there, everyone. May we all keep seeking out those silver linings.
If you're looking to add to your bookshelves, might I suggest during these difficult financial times that you buy from a site that supports local bookstores? In the US, try Bookshop.org. In the UK, you can use Hive. Booksellers will so appreciate your support!
Buy Darling Rose Gold in the US: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books A Million | Apple Books
IndieBound | Kobo | Google Play
Buy The Recovery of Rose Gold in the UK: Amazon | Waterstones | iTunes | Kobo