Big News: R.L. Stine said WHAT?
Plus: Cozy Palate Cleansers, Spooky Season Recs, Moo Deng vs Mary Katherine Gallagher, and Chaely's Halloween costume!
Hello, my joyful chaoticians!
I didn’t expect to send another email so soon, but Halloween is upon us and I have some wonderful spooky news to share:
R.L. Stine—the king of thrills, chills, and all things spine-tingling himself (long may he reign)—has endorsed my YA novel, Nothing Bad Happens Here! I mailed him an early, printed-out copy of my manuscript and waited, trying not to think of what this absolute legend might think of my story . . . or if he’d even have time to read it.
And here’s what he said about it:
“The perfect summer read! Rich teens beach-partying in glamorous Nantucket . . . and then a murder. Enough mystery, twists, secrets and surprises to keep you reading to the startling finish. Loved it!” —R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps and Fear Street series
When his kind words came in, I did a sort of gulping laugh/cry for while—a chaotic mix of excitement, relief, disbelief, and gratitude. Then Nick took me out to lunch at Redfin Blues where I vibrated with excitement—certain that the other diners could somehow tell that the woman with the unnervingly large smile was the proud recipient of a blurb from the R.L. Stine. If you have a young reader at home who likes a frightening good time, check out some of Bob’s excellent books (yeah, we’re on a first-name basis now, no biggie) like Shark Night or his Stinetinglers series.
Speaking of spooky season, I have a year-round hankering for books and movies that are a little weird or disturbing, especially if there’s an element of joyful chaos involved. On the darker side, I’m talking about the iconic line “Do you want to live deliciously?” from Robert Egger’s The VVitch, Michael Keaton’s whole vibe in Beetlejuice, and The Magic Dance in Labyrinth (be careful with that baby!).
And after satisfying that craving, I usually need a palate cleanser of something cozy, funny, and bright. Like the Plaza Hotel bathroom scene in the cinematic masterpiece Big Business—a scene I’d be happy to recreate in person at a future book signing. Or Macauley Caulkin jumping on the bed while eating popcorn in Home Alone (don’t try that at home!)
So whether you’re walking on the dark side of the moon or keeping it cozy, I’ve got some recs for you below, and I’d love to hear of any joyfully chaotic moments you’ve found on the page or screen.
In adult fiction, I’ve found lots of joyful chaos in Supper Club by Lara Williams, darker moments of it in Bunny by Mona Awad and little glimpses of it in the wickedly sinister novel Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison. My characters swim through oceans of it in my upcoming YA thriller, Nothing Bad Happens Here, as they surf the waves and crash parties in Nantucket. But just like fog can roll in at any time to obscure treacherous riptides, sometimes joyful chaos can slip into something more… reckless. (If you preorder the book, you’ll find out what happens! You’ll also be my hero.)
When you need a cozy palate cleanser, I recommend Baroness Von Sketch, a Canadian sketch show that will make you howl with laughter—and of course The Golden Girls, the quintessential hilarious comfort-watch with moments of chaos, usually delivered via Rose’s St. Olaf stories. For magical cozy vibes, read The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst—it’s delightful! And might I also humbly suggest Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery? It’s available to preorder for yourself and your besties here.
Until next time! I’ll be lost in a corn maze, searching for more joyful chaos to share with you. And if you’re enjoying these emails, please feel free to forward to a friend!
MORE FUN STUFF:
More cowbell! More links!
Pre-order my YA thriller debut, Nothing Bad Happens Here
Pre-order my adult fiction debut: Murder by Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery
And finally: here’s Chaely in her new Halloween costume! She’s not so sure about it, but I see the future star of the next Jurassic Park!
OMG! That's so amazing!! Congratulations!
Congrats! This is awesome.