People Magazine! Book cover! Contest!

That was so much we don't need a subtitle.

Dearest Readers,

Big news! Undead and Unwed has a cover!! People Magazine did the reveal. I know, People Magazine. What am I, famous? I’m very grateful to my publishing team at Quirk and People for featuring Undead.

The weird thing is that I just figured out how to cancel my subscription to People last week. I can’t help but feel that People is just trying to get me back with me. And, I gotta say, this is way better than a middle of the night drunk text. I’m thinking it over, People. We had a good thing going for a while. My feelings were real.

Now, regarding the contest, I have a whole pile of ARCs to give away. Head on over to my Instagram to enter the contest. I’m doing my best to give these things away. In my last newsletter I offered to give an ARC to any subscriber who commented on the post with an easy weeknight dinner. I made both the cheeseburger casserole and the honey soy garlic chicken. Thank you Amber and Mary! Both meals were delicious with plenty of leftovers. Terrell added the leftover chicken to ramen noodles the other day and it was almost like pho, no faux. Bad joke, I know.

I entered a contest myself this morning, well, a raffle. A woman in Northern Ireland is raffling her house off. So anyway, I might be coming to you from Northern Ireland after I get my passport updated. Raffling your house kind of seems easier than getting a realtor.

Speaking of realtors—how’s that for a transition?—here’s my favorite one. This is probably the only time I’ll have a favorite realtor section in a newsletter, but here’s Kaitlin Hannig. You should follow her on TikTok, or if you live in Utah, buy a house from her. Actually, she would be great to play Tiffenie if Undead and Unwed were made into a movie.

I’m not sure if I’ve discussed it here, but besides writing I run a writing group called Smut University. As part of the “curriculum” we have a book club. Tomorrow, May 22nd, Danielle Allen, who was also in People this week, will be visiting to talk about her book Curvy Girl Summer, as well as Sula, which is a book that inspired her. If anyone would like to join, let me know. I found out that my daughter is winning an award at honors night tomorrow (bad timing, but yay Lila!), so I will not be there. Give me a shout out if you would like to join. Read at least part of a good book (a day notice, I know) and chat with some cool people!

Instead of ending with a TV recommend (Hacks, btw) I’m concluding with a moment of zen. My son got a Bird Buddy, which is a bird feeder with a critter cam. Silas has been into birds since he was a toddler, though he is not always the best at identification. Two of my favorite misidentifications:

“Look a cedar wax wing.” Actually a bald eagle.

“Mom, listen, it’s a pileated woodpecker.” Actually a guy with a hammer.

In honor of Si, I present you with a North American Vulture eating a fish.

Until next time,

Sam