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And by minute, I mean, about a year.

Here’s a very succinct recap of what I’ve been up to, just to catch you up:

RelationshipsTravelingHangingoutwithmydogHikingTakingWalksInTheRain

ClimbingTreesImprovTeachingImprovStartingABusinessMovingAwayFromTheBusiness

SpendingTimeWithFriendsAndFamilyFallingInLoveMovingInRedecoratingEatingBreakfast

WritingArticlesResearchingFreestylingMakingArtMeditatingReadingWatchingTheGreatBritishBakingShow

SwimmingBartonSpringsMoreGreatBritishBakingShowGettingOffTwitterGettingBackonTwitterGetting

BackIntoWritingDoingLaundryGettingNewBedding

I think that about sums it up. So onto new things: as you can see, I am back on the blog, baby! If you’re being a good detective a la Randy Potts (Peter Able series, check it out), you might have surmised that this means I am getting back into Author Things.

And I am – I’m feeling excited and re-motivated to get back into my books/articles/author career, after nearly a year of exploring other things. My last post announced my new company, Present Company, which does still exist. But in exploring creating a business and working directly with teens, I realized what was missing for me: WRITING!

I really need the creative expression of writing in my life, and while I’ve continued writing poetry and articles over the past 12 months, I have put marketing my current books and writing new ones on pause. And this blog post is here to tell you, I’m pressing play. Or, taking it off pause. Or if you have an AppleTV, just pushing that big button in the middle.

At any rate, I’m aiming to get back into writing more on this blog, being more active on Twitter and my Facebook author page, contributing more to Elephant Journal, and ultimately, creating new books*. 

I’ll have an announcement soon about those new books and new content. For now, I just wanted to say – it feels good to be back. You’ll hear more from me soon!

❤ Natalie

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It’s been a while since I’ve updated you all on “book things,” because to be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve had an update to share on that front. See, a while ago I took an intentional break from career to focus a bit more inwardly and on my relationships. Well, it’s been several months of this now, and I think I’m about full-up on introspection and Big Emotions for a minute –

I’m ready to dive back into my writing career!

The first thing I have on the docket for you guys is a new Kindle Scout campaign for the third and final book in the Peter Able series. The first two books were published with Kindle Press, and I’d thought that the third was a shoe-in; that I wouldn’t have to submit it to the Scout Campaign. Unfortunately, that’s not the way it works, apparently, so coming up next week, I’ll be launching my third (and last) Kindle Scout campaign!

For those who have been following Peter along his journey, you won’t want to miss your chance to vote for this finale’s publication. For those who haven’t been following Peter along his journey, well, you also won’t want to miss your chance to vote for this finale’s publication! (But do be sure to check out the first two in the series before the third is released!)

The next thing coming up is: more author appearances! Last week I had a meeting with the head of Austin ISD’s SEL Program (Social Emotional Learning), and we discussed some exciting possible opportunities going forward. If you’re a parent in the Austin area and you’d like me to visit your child’s school (either middle or high school) to discuss books, or specifically, mindfulness and/or developing a positive body image, please get in touch.

And finally – it’s been a while (at least a year) since I’ve actually written a new book. So – why not write one of those this year too? The next book on my list is likely a third to accompany Just Call Me Is and Call Me Perfect. This one will cover yet another important topic for children and teens: sexuality and gender identity. I went into this a bit in Call Me Perfect, as the book’s focus was on self acceptance (though it did focus more specifically on body image); but god knows there is well enough material to create a separate book on this. I imagine the fourth book in the series will discuss addiction – specifically, living in a household (as a child) where addiction is present, and how to deal.

So, that’s my book news for now. As always, I’m continuing to write a weekly article for Elephant Journal, and will be posting those on my Facebook author page upon publication.

Hope you all are having a great start to 2018 so far!