A Festive Return!
And with a big announcement to boot.
I know it has been awhile. Gosh. We had such high hopes for consistency in the first half of the year. I only have myself to blame, of course, but 2025 has been a doozy in general, so I’ll give myself a break. Something I almost never allow, but I’m starting to, more and more.
I suspect it may have something to do with turning 40. My big birthday was earlier this month and even though I am an enthusiastic “birthday person” in general, I was extra excited for this one — and not just because I got to celebrate with an incredible trip to London and Paris AND Highclere Castle AKA Downton Abbey.
I have distinct memories from my childhood of seeing 40 black flamingos or worse — 40 tombstones — in various yards around the neighborhood when everyone’s parents were turning 40, complete with “Over the Hill” verbiage. While it was all meant in jest (I guess?), the attitude appeared bleak to say the least. And, to me, it sounded so old, but I suppose that was the point.
But everyone I know that turned 40 recently? They can’t get enough of this decade, especially women. Careers are firing on all cylinders, marriages and families are flourishing, friendships are rich and meaningful. Nobody has time for anything else! It’s so liberating! The people-pleasing days are officially over. And for God’s sake, it’s really not that old? I’d go so far as to say that “old” is a mindset. We’re so conditioned to make jokes about our age and what we’re losing and what’s left to the sands of time — but I honestly feel like I’m gaining so much? Centering my age around my life decisions? How oppressive. Who can live like that? Better question: why live like that at all?
Anyway, I used to care so much that everybody liked me. I was almost aggressively helpful, bending over backwards for people that I now know probably (definitely?) wouldn’t have done the same for me. Not that life has to be so transactional all the time, but I don’t want to be all the things for all the people. Nor do I have to! But I think that’s why I enjoyed writing a lot of bitchy, villainous characters because truly, I would never.
But maybe now? I would…
And with all that said, I’m so pleased to announce my forthcoming third book!
More to come, but I can sincerely state that I’ve never been prouder of anything I’ve written than this book. I put a lot of myself into it (maybe too much — spooky!), but considering it was such a joy to write, a welcome challenge to really push the envelope and a concerted effort on my part to level up as a writer, as a woman, as a person, I don’t think I had any other option than to open up more than ever before.
On the flip side of that, writing this book felt like being in conversation with something MUCH larger than myself, and I really cannot wait for readers to dig in so we can all LET IT RIP!
xx RKC
PS I’ll pop in more often here — thinking Fridays, the most festive of all the days, no?