Hello all! I’m trying something a little different where a newsletter is concerned. Is this a newsletter? A podcast? An audio blog? Something in between? Regardless, it’s going to be a journey. And I’d love for you all to join me! You can listen to my newsletter by clicking the embed above, or you can read the audio transcription at the bottom of the page if that is your preference.
This month, we’ve got:
- A brand new book published! No Gods, No Monsters is out into the world.
- The launch of a collaborative writing project called Many Worlds
…and more! Don’t forget to check out all of my upcoming events here.
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No Gods, No Monsters has received some incredible press! It has received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Booklist, and Library Journal.
As in Turnbull’s first novel, The Lesson (2019), the otherworldly aspects of the story act as a lens that brings the characters’ richly depicted lives and complex relationships into sharp focus. . . This is a deeply human story, beautifully and compellingly told.
—Kirkus
Audio Transcription
Hey, friends.
This is going to be a quick one because this last month has been intense y’all.
But it’s really only two things that I need to update you on.
First off, No Gods, No Monsters is officially out in the world. I’m excited and very nervous about this fact. If you’ve already started reading, I hope you’re digging it so far.
The book is weird, I know, but it’s also my whole heart. So, I really appreciate you taking the time. I should mention that Dion Graham did a narration for the book. I told you last time that I was really excited about that part. And no matter how anyone feels about No Gods, this narration is going to turn heads, a’you. He absolutely killed it, a nd I’m so grateful for him, putting in all that work.
I want to share some accolades the book has received. Starred reviews from all four trades, that’s Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist.
No Gods was also selected as an Indie Next Pick, a LibraryReads Pick. Recently, the book was reviewed by NPR and the review was so lovely. The book has made a mindbogglingly large amount of lists, including Buzzfeed, BookRiot, Tor, and many others. But yeah, that’s a lot of good news and I am still nervous because that is how my brain functions.
Okay, the other thing. I wanted to mention, again, MANY WORLDS. This is going to be the launch for this beautiful shared multi-verse project I’ve been working on for many years now. We have a crew of now 14 amazing writers that are part of this project. On September 15, which might be today, we will be releasing our very first story “On the Spectrum” by Justin C. Key. It is an amazing story that you’ll want to check out. Justin is a great writer and I feel very, very, very lucky to have him on board for this project.
All right, there’s one more thing, maybe, maybe two more things.
Okay, first thing. In somewhat related news to MANY WORLDS, a couple of weeks ago LeVar Burton read another one of my stories for his podcast, LeVar Burton Reads. I’m still processing the fact that he read my stories. Still doesn’t feel real. There’s all sorts of production value on this thing. Both readings are incredible. He says some really nice things at the end of both of these. It’s just great to have something you’ve done admired by someone that you really admire.
What I really wanted to say though, and it’s related to MANY WORLDS, is that both stories (that’s “Jump” and “Shock of Birth”) are part of the MANY WORLDS project. You can check those out now. There’ll be more soon, from me and other fabulous authors, so please stay tuned.
And the last thing, and I promise this time, this is the last thing. I wanted to say a little bit more about some personal stuff, and it is a little vulnerable for me to say this out loud.
In my last newsletter, I mentioned that it has been a bit of an adjustment for me as a writer. Well, that’s in part because I have ADHD. This was something I figured out over the last couple years, though I suspected it for a while? But I got the diagnosis this year, along with finding out that I have generalized anxiety and mild depression, also not complete surprises, and I’ve been taking steps to accept that part of myself and create healthy relationships with various parts of who I am. But, you know, it’s going to take some time for me. Having a book come out now, with the new teaching job and the diagnosis, has been challenging, but it has still been a phenomenal experience. Just trying to balance that with all of the other things that are going on.
I hope you’re taking care of yourselves in these very strange and challenging times. I know I haven’t been doing a good job of acknowledging all the ways this pandemic has been affecting me. I’m sure this is true of many of you.
I’ll have more to say about this stuff later, but in the meantime, I’m sending much love to all of you fine people.
Cadwell Turnbull 