Parisian Phoenix Publishing

I’m behind on things– perhaps my own fault because I got distracted at my local public library yesterday and perhaps gave myself some time to read when I should have been writing.

One of my goals for this year is to read more current fiction and to read popular fiction. As I told my local public librarian, I don’t have to like it, I just need to read it. I learned I can devour a Lynsay Sands novel in about four hours, but that I won’t like it.

I’m such a reader/snob.

I’ll eventually be posting Monday’s Substack newsletter on the blog, another perhaps… perhaps today… perhaps who knows? I’m barely keeping my head above water on projects but that is the life of someone running their own business. The hustle.

So, without excessive detail, let me just once again tout my friend Laurel Wenson, who writes sweet books and I mean that in the descriptive genre sense. She has a sweet young adult book that deals with body image and eating disorders (A Promise to Keep) and a sweet new adult romance (A Heart to Heal) both in the small town of Caldwell, Mass. Her latest work is the sweet romance, “friends” fiction Harbor Cove Brunch Club, which has a bit of mystery to it of the “who is this guy” variety.

Laurel and I had our semi-regular kinda-monthly breakfast date. This time we visited Plants and Coffee, a coffee spot where I can be found hanging out with clients probably every other week. It was Laurel’s first visit.

I told myself I would get a rose iced tea (herbal) and a bagel, and perhaps order a latte for the afternoon at home. That did not happen. The words “honey lavender latte” slipped out of my lips before I’d decided on my breakfast.

As we chatted about Laurel’s class she’s teaching on publishing (an online course via Northampton Community College), my clients, our families and our writing– I started noticing younger people with books.

And I got very distracted.

So… I approached them.

“Excuse me,” I said, “but I have a small local book publishing company, and if I protect your identity and not show your face, may I take photos of your books?”

To all those people who love to tell me, proudly, “I don’t read,” may I present exhibits one and two: examples of the endangered species, Readers in the Wild.