Looking for your next summer read? Look no further.
What’s out now?
Kristin Dwyer, Some Mistakes Were Made (5/10/22)
Val Nieman, In the Lonely Backwater (5/10/22)
Isabel Ibañez, Together We Burn (5/31/22)
Upcoming releases to add to your TBR list
Heather Newton’s moving, whimsical novel The Puppeteer’s Daughters will be out July 26, 2022. Launch Event at Malaprop’s Bookstore (8/2/22 6PM EST).
Rachel Griffin’s ethereal novel Wild is the Witch will be out August 2, 2022. Launch Event at Barnes & Noble Northgate (8/2/22 6PM PST)
Maia Toll’s witchy, dreamy book The Night School , as well as Notes for the Night and The Night School: Moonlit Magic Deck, the accompanying workbook and card deck, will be out August 9, 2022.
The Writer As Human
Gold Leaf Literary presents the first classes in our brand new series: The Writer As Human. This summer we have a three special hour-long courses to reinvigorate your stories and yourself, coax you into new visions of writing practice and career, and most importantly, bring you back to what really matters—being a human who writes.
Inspiration from the Quiet
With Maia Toll, author of The Night School
Wednesday, July 27th at 6pm ET
Live on Crowdcast
Sources of inspiration abound from everywhere, but who has time to notice them all in such a busy world. This session with Maia Toll will gently guide us to look at the quietest moments for the biggest insights using the nighttime as our guide. Together we'll learn new ideas for writer self-care, spiritual creative practice, and using your inner energies as a guide. We'll also get an exclusive sneak peek look at Maia Toll's forthcoming book The Night School: Lessons in Moonlight, Magic, and the Mysteries of Being Human releasing this August.
Maia Toll is the award-winning author of the best selling Wild Wisdom Series which has inspired readers worldwide to explore their human nature through the magical lens of the natural world. Maia’s latest endeavor, The Night School, explores the edges of the universe and the depths of the self, all through the lens of philosophy, divination, and astrology. Maia also owns The Herbiary, a store with locations in Asheville and Philadelphia, as well as online. For years she has hosted well-attended and beloved workshops for those inclined to connect with their magic side. You can find out more about Maia at maiatoll.com.
Intuition for the Journey
With Adrienne Young, author of Spells for Forgetting
Wednesday, August 10th at 6pm ET
Live on Crowdcast
The road from writer to published author is a perilous journey and it is a road that doesn't end after just the first book deal. In an industry all about selling, it can be easy to lose your footing and stay true to the heart of your work. In this session, New York Times Bestselling author Adrienne Young joins us to discuss both the courage and the conviction a writer needs to brave the waters of publication and the many challenges beyond. We'll focus on following that deepest voice within that we call intuition, knowing when to tell a story that calls to us and explore the power of saying "yes" and "no." We'll also get an exclusive sneak peek look at Adrienne Young's forthcoming book Spells for Forgetting releasing this September.
Adrienne Young is theNew York Times,USA Today, and Indie list bestselling author of the Sky and Sea duology, the Fable series, and Spells for Forgetting. Her books have been published in over twenty-five countries around the world and Fable had the honor of being selected as a Reese’s Bookclub YA Pick. Her first nonfiction project is The Storyteller's Workbook, in collaboration with artist and author Isabel Ibañez. She is also the creator of the Writing With the Soul workshop, the Fable Grant, the Storyteller's Retreat, #findmywritingcommunity, and numerous initiatives to support women and youth storytellers. You can find out more about Adrienne at adrienneyoungbooks.com.
Transformation of the Process
With Monica Hay, spiritual writing coach
Wednesday, August 31st at 6pm ET
Live on Crowdcast
How long have you been saying one day I'll write this story? Do your own limiting beliefs get in the way of having the writing practice you want? Are you worried that deep down your dream to be a writer might be a little silly? In our last summer session, spiritual writing coach, Monica Hay, answers all the questions that we're too scared to ask about how we get in our own way as writers and authors. We'll dive into how to set affirmations and attainable goals for ourselves, how to reimagine our daily practices, and how to nurture both our souls and our writing. We'll also get a special inside look at Monica's spiritual writing coach business and her secret tips to success that she gives her clients.
Monica Hay is a spiritual writing coach who brings years of combined professional experience in social work and the publishing industry. She earned her B.A. from University of California Berkeley and her Masters in Publishing from Portland State University. Combining her love of helping others, her spiritual practices, and her love of books and writing, her coaching business was born. Monica specializes in ADHD/ADD support and mental health support. She pushes her clients to dream bigger and to show up for their art. You can find out more about Monica at monicahay.com.
Registration for these events is $20 each. If you would like to attend all three, we will give you $10 off the cost, so you'll pay just $50. You'll be able to join us for the discussion, ask questions of our guests, and we'll send you a follow up email with tips, links, and more. You can register for classes at goldleafliterary.com/classes.
Upcoming Classes with Gold Leaf
Flatiron Writers Room: Publicity for Small Press Authors (9/8/22)
Small, independent, or University presses are amazing places and put out hundreds to thousands of fabulous books a year. In many cases, these presses have small to nonexistent publicity departments, however, and need authors to manage things like reaching out to media, setting up a tour, and organizing other book-related events for themselves. Even with bigger presses and those that have dedicated publicity and marketing departments, there are often ways authors can benefit from knowing what publicity is and how to go about trying to get it. This course aims to give authors a crash course in publicity and some strategies for getting it.
Great Smokies Writing Program: The Literary Ecosystem (5 Tuesday evenings starting 10/18, 6:00-8:30)
We want to prepare aspiring and current writers for the best of times and the worst of times by giving them the knowledge and tools they need. We will look at what we refer to as the literary ecosystem: the roles within the publishing community, self vs. traditional publishing, working with agents, publishers, and bookstores, and how to build a community that will sustain, and be sustained by, you as an author. We will also help you hone your goals for your work, craft an elevator pitch, and practice talking about your work as a finished product. Virtual vs. in-person events, using social media, newsletters, and other digital resources to connect with readers, and other tips and tricks for making the most of pandemic times and after are included.
Gold Leaf ‘s Six Year Anniversary!
This month marks Gold Leaf Literary’s sixth year of business, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the support that has gotten us to this point. Thank you for being a friend of Gold Leaf!
Pinterest Board: Create a Pinterest board of images that display the atmosphere of your book. These can be character references, landscapes, outfits, and anything else your heart desires. Having a scrollable collection of inspiration can spark interest and excitement in potential readers.
Picture credits: Tomi Adeyemi (@tomiadeyemi)
Playlists: Give your audience a new perspective on the vibe of your book with a curated playlist!
Picture credits: Stephanie Garber (@stephaniegarber)
Real-World Inspiration: Do you have an excerpt that was inspired by something you saw during your research process? Share that image coupled with the excerpt on your social media!
Picture credits: Heather Newton (@newtonavl2)
Hobey Ford (@hobeyfordpuppeteer)
As always, please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone you think would enjoy it. We appreciate you and our lush literary ecosystem so much!