*Drunk Lorelai Gilmore voice* "June 3rd..."
Delicate hands, Judy Blume in the flesh, and 2014 high school dances
Writing Updates
I feel some pressure. I’m writing two books this year, both coming out in 2026. Right now, I’m drafting what we’re going to call “Audrey” (because this book doesn’t have a title yet, and I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to share). Poor Audrey has been interrupted a lot these past few months. I had to pause things with her so I could wrap up revisions for my 2025 books, and after that, I was plagued with hand/wrist tendinitis that begged me to take a hiatus for several weeks. Thankfully, my wrists are feeling better, and while my hands are still randomly bothering me, I’ve gotten a lot of advice for how to care for them, as well better my overall posture, which is far from perfect. C, a former professional ballet dancer, has impeccable posture and he gently points out when I’m hunching. It’s apparently a whole thing while I’m driving, so…
I caved and finally bought the posture-correcting sports bra Taylor Swift wears, and am eagerly awaiting its arrival. It’s taking its sweet time.
“The scarf is merely a training tool.” - Queen Clarisse, The Princess Diaries
Back to Audrey. She is gaining speed, but with a busy family and social calendar and prepping for my move to California, it’s been slow.
(But honestly, so has my packing!)
I don’t think I’m going to share specific progress until she is a full draft. In March, I listened to Amor Towles speak at the New Orleans Book Festival. His conversation partner asked if he discusses his projects while he drafts them. “Never,” was his immediate response, and his explanation was twofold. The part that resonated with me—I’m now semi-paraphrasing—was that he views talking about his books as a “celebration.” Keeping his lips zipped motivates him to write faster so he can literally celebrate with people; if he talks about his work mid-draft, it feels like he’s congratulating himself for crossing a finish line that he hasn’t actually crossed yet. If he already acts like the medal is around his neck, he loses momentum.
That made me think about my own writing and how much I yap about it and if that correlates to my drafting speed. I wrote The Summer of Broken Rules in three months, and I didn’t talk much about it. Only my mom and my best friend saw pages. I needed to finish that book as soon as possible for my mental health. It took me a month and some change to write the first draft of While We’re Young. And I think part of that was because it was a #NaNoWriMo project, but still: I didn’t advertise. I just wrote.
I’m going to try that with Audrey for the foreseeable future. I’m a little nervous to double-check my calendar, but I think she’s due September 1st.
My (Not So) Teenage Drama Queen self totally thinks that’s tomorrow.
But, because I cannot resist, here are four out-of-context inspo photos…
Other Book Stuff
I have officially written a pitch for my second 2026 book! I’m calling her “Olivia.”
…we’ll see what my editor says.
And I’ve seen a cover sketch and color palette for Swiftie 4 (still don’t know when I can share the title). Not only is it stunning, but a little emotional! Mads and her family live in my childhood home, which was incredibly special to write.
Both 2025 covers fit in perfectly with my little K.L. Walther family, too.
Hopefully some sort of reveal is soon; I know I keep dangling this stuff and then keep not sharing it!
Meeting Judy Blume
Several weeks ago, C and I escaped south to Key West for a few days. The best way I can describe it is “Bourbon Street meets beach town.” Nothing like we expected, but a ton of fun! Our plane landed during a downpour, but by the time we left the airport, the sky had cleared and it was straight sunshine for three days. Also, there are wild roosters and hens and chicks everywhere.
On Tuesday, May 21st, I needed to go to the local bookstore in between breakfast and the beach. Why? Because The Guncle Abroad (the delightful sequel to The Guncle by Steven Rowley) had finally been gifted to the world! We arrived early enough that a bookseller was still shelving the day’s new releases. And I came in hot, as in “Do you mind if I steal The Guncle Abroad off your shelving cart?!” hot. The bookseller was visibly impressed that I knew about the book already, and I thought, “This woman looks really familiar...”
Then I went to the YA section to see if they had any of my books. They didn’t, but I happily browsed for a bit before going to pay for my treasure.
That’s when I saw another book lover ask to take a photo with the bookseller, who obliged…and it clicked right before the shopper held up a signed copy of Summer Sisters.
I had no idea Judy Blume lived in Key West; for some reason, I’ve always pictured her living it up in Maine?
Anyway, once I’d picked my jaw up from the floor, I went over to Judy Blume and nervously started gushing about how much I loved her books as a child and how special Summer Sisters is to me because the Vineyard is my happy place!
I was so starstruck that it never occurred to me to mention I was a writer. I managed to spit out what an inspiration she is, but not that I was a writer.
It wasn’t until C had wandered over from the history section that I thought, “Oh, wait, maybe I should say something?”
C is my top publicist. If I’m too shy to mention my occupation or downplay it (which is almost always), he’ll say something to the effect of, “She’s a bestselling author!”
I love him.
But alas, when he entered the picture, Judy Blume and I were talking about the thunderstorm the day before, so he didn’t realize I was talking to a literary icon.
So he casually joined the convo with Judy Blume.
I can’t remember what the context was, but once C had finished describing how our plane landed but sat on the tarmac for an hour and a half due to the storm, one last opening presented itself to share that I was an author.
And I still didn’t take it!!!
Because the store didn’t have my books. I wanted to physically show Judy Blume TSOBR or WHAM or MMTB, not say, “Oh, you don’t have any of my books.”
It’s totally okay that they don’t carry my trio, but I’ve done that in bookstores before, and have yet to discover a way to make it not-awkward.
I can picture my mom shaking her head as she reads this, thinking, Kaethe, your confidence needs to get better.
(I know, Jen).
In conclusion: Judy Blume is an extremely smart, kindhearted, and charming person. She also makes her own schedule at the bookstore, working whenever is convenient for her.
I love that.
Here are a few photos of the trip, including Ernest Hemingway’s house.
Reader Q&A
How do you stay motivated in the endless waiting periods of publishing?
This has changed over time! I now don’t feel like I’m waiting as much, because once I turn a project in, I have something to immediately pivot to, whether it’s starting a new book or resuming a WIP (my schedule is super tight for the next few years—a good problem to have). I treat those next steps like rewards. Once I finish and submit Audrey, I can finally work on Olivia! I also reread DMs from my readers or browse Bookstagram content as a reminder that people are excited for my next book. It gives me all the warm and fuzzies!
But when it did feel more endless, I annoyed my agent with emails and tried to fill my free time brainstorming or outlining or even drafting another project. I always like to feel productive and plan for the future. Keeping busy is key.
What’s the #1 thing you’re looking forward to this summer?
Deciding where to hang all C’s and my artwork in our new apartment. Neither of us is a “blank walls” person!
What is your favorite romantic comedy?
I have about a hundred, but recently I rewatched You’ve Got Mail. It’s just so freaking clever and funny and I always get choked up at the end. “Patricia makes coffee nervous” is one of my favorite lines.
You mentioned Josh and Leda went on a babymoon? Does this mean she’s pregnant? Boy or girl?
Who knows! They want to be surprised, but Lily’s decorating the nursery and Penny Bickford’s hosting the baby shower.
Could you describe all the While We’re Young main characters in one word?
Passionate
What are Wink and Honey up to?
Honey just got back from visiting her sister in Virginia. Meanwhile, as co-patriarchs of Paqua Farm, Wink and his brother have been busy overseeing a construction project.
What’s your book with Wit and Meredith going to be about? Any clues, please we need more.
There’s a bachelorette weekend in Swiftie 4. I listened to “Cruel Summer” over and over while writing the chapter’s final scene.
Are you going to do any sequels to any books?
I shared my sequel stance earlier this spring. You can read it here!
Will you ever do a story about Becca (instead of her being a secondary character)?
Context: Becca Morrissey is Luke’s younger sister. After writing Maybe Meant to Be in 2018/2019, I wrote a companion manuscript called Crush Me, about Becca’s senior year at Bexley. For valid reasons, my publisher passed on it.
Actual answer: I don’t think so! Just because she already has her own story, so I’d have a hard time writing her into a new one. I very much consider her a part of the KLW Universe—I name dropped her in TSOBR—and while her book is unpublished, I’m really attached to her journey. Who she is, what happens, how she grows, who she loves, etc. She’ll always have a special place in my heart, though. She really helped me grow as a writer, especially in terms of writing characters who are nothing like me!
What do you have coming up?
An engagement party, a cross-country move, my birthday, maybe a trip to my happy place, and a lot of writing.
My Bookshelf
Okay, so I’ve actually read a few books since my last newsletter. After my sister raced through it, I finished Funny Story and really liked it! This might be a hot take, but I felt like Emily Henry’s signature banter wasn’t as prominent in Happy Place, but it was definitely back in this book. I loved these characters (MILES!!!) and being back in lakeside Michigan.
I maintain that I want to be EH when I grow up.
I’ve also gotten some requests for my EH ranking, so here it is (and it wasn’t easy):
Book Lovers
People We Meet On Vacation
Beach Read
Funny Story
Happy Place
I also read The Guncle Abroad in record time, and what a treat. I loved the romp through Europe, and like the first book, the story was hilarious yet so poignant. I am so lucky to have my own guncle, who is the B-E-S-T best.
Third was Annabel Monaghan’s Same Time Next Summer. I definitely got those summer vibes, but it wasn’t for me. I’m still excited to check out her other books, though!
My Playlist
Truthfully, I am still listening to TTPD on repeat, but this past weekend was my tenth high school reunion (highlight: leaving campus with an adult book concept). For nostalgia’s sake: five songs that were on every Saturday night dance DJ’s set-list.
Levels - Avicii
TiK ToK - Kesha
We Found Love - Rihanna, Calvin Harris
Come On Eileen - Dexys Midnight Runners
Like A G6 - Far East Movement, The Cataracts, DEV
Bonus Content
Below is a Swiftie 4 snippet that ended up tweaked during revisions (and that I’ve further tweaked for this), but still: a sneak peak! Your narrator is Madeline “Mads” Fisher-Michaels. She was an absolute delight to write.
I walked aimlessly along dress racks, stuck in my head until hushed voices stopped me in my tracks. A conversation was happening just around the corner, in a smaller room (how big was this bridal place?). “I know [Redacted] wants them to be uniform,” I heard Katie say. “No mix-and-matching. Same color, same style, stuck in the same century as those invitations she wants.”
“Don’t worry about [Redacted],” Amanda told her. “I’ll have her obsessed with [Redacted’s] portfolio by dinnertime.”
“Oh, you work wonders, Ms. Gallant,” a third voice said, one that sounded a lot like [Redacted]. I peeked around the corner to see that the Gallant sisters indeed huddled together and holding up a phone. FaceTime. “Because those mockups [Redacted] sent were an absolute snoozefest.”
Amanda snorted. “Go ahead, [Redacted]. Tell us how you really feel.”
“[Redacted] asked if Austin and I have even chosen a color scheme,” Katie rambled like she was nervous. “I feel like everyone secretly thinks I have no clue what I’m doing.”
“Well of course you have no clue what you’re doing,” [Redacted] said. “It’s a wedding, Katie, and as far as I know, you have no prior experience in planning one.”
Next month, I’ll update you all on the road-trip.
Cheers,
Kaethe