Books are open + new writing project launches TODAAAY

Also, hi! It's been a while 😎

Someday I’ll stop opening these newsletters with a “Man, been a long time, huh??!!!” intro, but honestly, I kind of love that I really only send these out to y’all when something big is happening. While I would love to think that you’re all waiting with bated breath for my next missive, the truth is that some of you probably don’t even remember who I am! And that’s okay, because this trend of popping in with big news and then ducking right out back out of your life again is honestly one of the only habits that I’ve successfully maintained over a number of years!

That said, it’s been a year and a half since my last newsletter. Since then, I’ve moved to a new apartment, adopted a rescue puppy, spent a couple weeks in Egypt, and officially got Covid. I do have plans to write more in detail about most of those things (except for the Covid…can we all promise to never write about that? Not in books, not in movies, not in songs…), but that’s the basic summary for now.

Let’s get to the news:

Books Are Back Open!

My books have been closed to new reading clients for a few months while I juggled a fairly packed schedule of existing clients, projects, and travel, but they’re officially back open for a limited time. My offerings and rates have changed, so you’ll want to brush up a bit on what’s new before booking.

Also, if you know someone who would love to receive a reading as a gift, hit the button that says “REPLY”, my guy, and I’ll get you set you up with a sweet gift card.

The End of the Beginning

Today is the first day of a new writing project I’m launching on this here Substack. It combines narrative non-fiction with retrospective immersive elements (actual diary entries, throwback playlists, relevant photos) with present day journal-type entries, all while we hurtle towards a major life event that is already set up to be so ridiculously dramatic that I couldn’t have even fictionalized a more cinematic scenario if I had tried.

And, speaking of fiction, it also revives a…shall we say…“novel” character.

Basically, one of the most important stories of my life is coming to a head and I’m gonna write about it.

Which actually was a really intense decision that took me months to make. A core lesson of the last few years has been trying to figure out how to tell the whole truth about my experiences while still remaining respectful - and even protective - of those who were a part of those stories. Which sometimes feels frankly impossible: You can smudge the details a bit and protect others, but then it always feels like there’s a little bit of truth that you left out, a tiny, jagged piece you still have carry inside of you. Or, you tell literally all of it, tits to the wind, and then run the risk of being perceived as someone who will happily sell everyone out for a story or a song.

And honestly, I don’t have that balance nailed yet, and I’m almost assuredly going to screw it up at some point (if not at a lot of points)…but I just can’t let it hold me back anymore. I’ve been hiding all these things about myself because I’ve been so scared of hurting other people with the truth or dealing with their reactions after the fact, and it’s made me a prisoner of my own life story…locked in and haunted by old memories that I should have let go of long ago.

So like Rihanna sings (and also me, when I find myself in uncomfortable situations such as standing inside an Egyptian pyramid while the claustrophobia bears down on me): I don’t wanna do this anymore.

So I’m sharing it.

But only behind the gates of a private, paid subscription.

There’s a lot about this story that is incredibly complex and personal, and one really good thing I learned from the BWE Secret Sharing Circle* is that locking that kind of content behind a paid subscription is a nice, effective way to keep out the riff-raff and the looky-loos and the people who cannot be trusted with sensitive content (not that any of YOU would fall into those categories 🥰).

And also, I’m just kind of done with giving away my best writing for free 🤷🏻‍♀️

So, with the first above consideration in mind, I’m keeping the description of the project intentionally vague…but I CAN confidently tell you that it will be spicy. Think Nicholas Sparks-type lost romance mixed with ‘80s movie makeover montages sprinkled with elements of My Best Friend’s Wedding capped off with Kelly Taylor “I choose me” vibes.

It literally launches today, and you can access it month-to-month for the cost of a movie ticket, or be a smart shopper by signing up for the annual rate. Both will give you access to the daily posts/story and the above-mentioned immersive, private content.

I’m also adding a Founding Member plan, which, along with the above, will get you:

✨ Access to my Close Friends content on IG (and on TikTok, once I get that all set up? YOUTHS), where you’ll get exclusive daily updates and special posts

✨ Occasional video diaries and podcast episodes

✨ Live Q&A’s if you’re into that sort of thing

✨ A free signed edition of the book IF I decide to make this into one (I’m still working on the Amber Colored Life books so I can fulfill those pre-orders, though, so honestly no promises)

✨ Some other fun community-type stuff that I don’t have fully sketched out yet

So that’s it! Join if you want, or go hug yourself if you don’t!

But since it literally launches today (reasons included in the launch post!), I gotta get to launching. You can sign up below. Or don’t!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*BTW, BWE Super Secret Sharing Circle members have already been grandfathered into the above - you only need to up your membership if you want to be part of the Founding Member Plan

Until next time,

AC