Hello Reader!
December for me means lots of fun baking! Between Winter Solstice, Christmas, and my brother's birthday there will be enough calories flying around here to shock all of Santa's reindeer. I just have to decide what they'll all be. Anything pretty I may share on Instagram if you're interested in vicarious calories.
You'll notice this newsletter is a little longer than usual. We've got two interviews this month: editor Kayleigh Merritt and children's author Nadia Khan. My plan is for this to be the last double interview newsletter, so future newsletters won't run so long.
The exciting news here is that I've finished my first full draft of my butlers book! I'm hoping by the end of January to get all comments back from my alpha readers, do my revisions in February and by the end of February or early March get my draft to a developmental editor. We'll see if that plan keeps together!
But it does make me wonder, what about your 2026 writing goals?
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🎉End of Year Sale🎉
Now through Dec 31st, when you book a project for 2026 we'll be celebrating the end of 2025 with sales! 20% off developmental edits, manuscript evaluations, and coaching services. But you're on my newsletter, so you know what that means: newsletter subscribers get an extra 5% off any sale. Email me with any questions or to book now.
🎁 I do gift certificates! 🎁
MEET THE AUTHOR
I want to help authors celebrate their accomplishments! Do you have a book getting published soon? Email me: I'd love to interview you about your experiences to share with fellow writers!
Nadia Khan & Zoey Wonders Why And The Great Catastrophe
Q: Is this your first published book? What made you decide to write this book?
A: This is my 3rd book. I have published two award-winning children's books. The idea for Zoey Wonders Why and the Great Catastrophe came from noticing a real gap in children’s literature. There are so many fun and adventurous stories for preteens, but very few that explore the tougher realities many kids face quietly—like a parent losing a job or dealing with unhealthy friendships. These experiences can deeply shape a child’s emotions, yet they’re often overlooked or softened in books. I wanted to change that.
My goal in writing this story was to create a space where kids could see themselves and their feelings reflected. Through Zoey’s curiosity and her search for answers, readers are encouraged to think about their own experiences, build empathy, and understand that it’s okay to ask questions when life feels uncertain.
I also wanted this book to serve as a bridge for parents, teachers, and caregivers—to help start meaningful conversations. When children see a character going through something familiar, it becomes easier for them to talk about what’s happening in their own lives. Stories connect us, and my hope is that this one sparks connection both at home and in the classroom.
At its heart, Zoey Wonders Why and the Great Catastrophe is more than just a story—it’s an invitation for preteens to embrace their emotions, strengthen their resilience, and approach life’s challenges with empathy and courage.
Q: What particular challenges did you face in your writing? Do you have any tips for other writers who might face similar challenges?
A: There were many challenges I faced when writing, many of which go beyond the words on the page. One of the biggest, I believe, I had was overcoming self-doubt — that quiet voice that questions whether the story is good enough or worth telling. Writing requires vulnerability, and putting your ideas into the world can feel daunting.
Another challenge I faced was maintaining discipline and consistency. I have 4 boys, and they would take a huge chunk of my time. Inspiration can spark a story, but it’s persistence that finishes it. Making time on your schedule to start writing, even if it means leaving your home and going to a comfortable place like a coffee shop, can lead to creative manuscripts. Balancing writing with everyday responsibilities while staying motivated through revisions and setbacks requires real dedication.
My advice for authors in a similar predicament would be the following:
- Embrace the process, even the messy parts.
- Writing (and publishing) can feel overwhelming at times, but each challenge teaches you something valuable — about your voice, your resilience, and your purpose.
- Find your community.... Connect with other writers, mentors, or groups who understand the ups and downs. Sharing experiences makes the journey less lonely and far more rewarding.
Q: Are you a self or traditionally published author? Why did you decide this was the publishing path for you?
A: I’m a self-published author because I wanted to be part of every step of bringing my stories to life. From the illustrations and storyline to the marketing and editing, I love having the freedom to shape how my books connect with readers.
Q: Can you describe your publishing experience for writers who hope to publish one day?
A: I joined a publishing program called SPS, where I worked with a mentor who guided me through every stage of creating a book. The program also offered genre-specific meetings with fellow authors, which became one of the most valuable parts of the experience. Through these virtual sessions, I learned what to look for when having a manuscript edited and gained practical insight into publishing through platforms like KDP and IngramSpark.
Q: What is one piece of advice that someone gave you that you'd like to pass on to other authors?
A: The best advice I received was to remember why you started. When doubt creeps in, reconnect with the heart of your story and the readers you want to reach.
https://www.zoeywonderswhy.com/
Editing Insights Club
Welcome to the Editing Insights Club! Here I'll introduce you to editors and other professionals from all over the publishing world. You'll see we're all here as part of the community that supports writers in their journey to success.
Meet: Kayleigh Merritt
Developmental Editor, Line Editor, Coach
https://editsinthemargins.com/
What type of content do you edit or proofread?
I primarily work with fantasy, soft sci-fi, and various kidlit—picture books, middle grade, young adult. I will occasionally take on mystery, romcom, or memoir if I feel the core story/vibe are a good fit.
What's your favorite thing about your work?
Other than getting to live my life in the fantastical worlds others have created? It’s a really beautiful thing to wake up and know that I’m going to spend the day combining my love of writing with the ability to help others. Developmental editing and coaching are like puzzles needing to be solved, and when you help an author find the right piece of that puzzle or have a big “ah-ha!” moment, it’s much more fulfilling than getting a Slack shoutout working for some corporation.
What is one tip you like to share with writers searching for (or working with) an editor?
Oh gosh, one? I have an entire blog post about this. I would say the biggest thing I would want an author to understand is how important it is to find an editor who understands them. That means that the editor understands and/or can match their communication style, their work/genre, and their goals.
. . . And to have a contract in place. (I’m sorry, I know that’s two, but contracts are so important!)
What are some of your favorite things outside of editing?
In terms of other work I enjoy, I adore coaching. It fulfills everything I miss from when I used to teach and allows me to connect with authors on a different level than editing does.
Beyond work, though, I love baking/cake decorating, game nights with friends, puzzles (no surprise there), reading at the beach or by a lake, and thanks to a recommendation from someone in the community on Bluesky, I’m currently playing this cozy game on the Switch called Tiny Bookshop.
What's a book you're reading for fun right now?
I’m currently reading What the River Knows, the first book in the Secrets of the Nile duology from Isabel Ibañez.
You can also find Kayleigh on her LinkedIn page!
4 Kinds of Pacing to Check as You Self-Edit
Have you ever started a book where the plot idea excited you, but you can't get into it? Or maybe someone has read your writing and liked your ideas, but "something is off." One thing to check the pacing.
There are two major kinds of pacing: story-level pacing and sentence-level pacing (which breaks down into word, sentence, and paragraph pacing). As a developmental editor, I focus on story-level pacing, while line or copy editors generally focus on sentence-level pacing. But you can work on this as you self-edit as well.
Word-Level Pacing: Some people may argue that this doesn't really fall under pacing, but to me, if it slows the reader down, it's part of pacing. Here I'm talking about the so-called "$10 words." Does your reader need a dictionary to understand the word? Are you using a fancy word because you like it or because it fits? "Felicity" fits in a Regency-era novel, but that same word is going to sound out of place language-wise when used in the 21st century. "Lachrymose" is a perfectly good word, but ask yourself if the majority of your audience is going to stumble over it. Will it pull them out of the story? Would using "sad" keep them reading at a smoother pace? If you do want to use the big $10 words, how many can you get away with before your readers are pulled out of the story so often they decide to stop reading all together?
Sentence-Level Pacing: How are your sentences flowing? Are they all the same length? Long and complex? Short and choppy? When you say them out loud, notice the difference in the rhythms those lengths give the story. Varying the sentence length is a good way to help keep readers engaged.
Paragraph-Level Pacing: Remember being assigned a "classic" novel like Dickens back in high school and seeing nothing but blocks of text? That's a writing style that has changed over the years, and now paragraph length is another good way to vary your writing pace. Mixing things up can emphasize information and change what sticks in the reader's mind. Long paragraphs of descriptions might lull readers into a false sense of security and then: a paragraph that is only one sentence long! A clear sign that that information is important!
Story Breaks: Stops, starts, and pauses are just as important in pacing as the words you use. Do your scene breaks and chapter endings move characters and scenes easily to the next place? Do you end things too abruptly? This is always a good thing to ask a beta reader about if you aren't sure.
My Reading Shelf
Mimi Matthews' new book in the Crinoline Academy series, The Marriage Method, is perfect for lovers of slow burn Victorian romance, cats, and mysteries. I loved how Nell shows Miles she can be his partner and that they both bring their own skills to a surprise marriage of convenience—and Nell may be the better investigator of the two!
Tracy Borman is one of my favorite historians and her books are always on my intant to-buy list. The Stolen Crown explores Elizabeth I's relationship with her need to name a successor and with those who were closest to receiving her crown. We all think we know the story of how James VI of Scotland was named her heir on Elizabeth's deathbed—but newly discovered evidence shows it wasn't quite what we think! Brilliantly researched, engagingly written, a must read for history lovers!
