Ding ding ding 🛎️ It IS Really Rosie! (Can you send me your email address, at canweread@substack.com? I'll send my surprise your way as soon as I have that...)
Thank you for your kind words, Sarah. I appreciate your support.
One thing to consider as something that still lets you post on a more regular basis without taking all the effort of a full post would be some kind of regular community engagement posts.
I'm not sure what exactly would work best for this Substack but things like a weekly "What was your kids favourite book this week?" or "Monthly Q&A with me" type things.
Thanks! Community engagement posts are less work ahead of time for sure, but they still take a lot of time and attention afterward, responding to all the comments. I will still be posting on a regular basis -- simply once a week, instead of twice a week -- and nothing in this newsletter is ever set in stone, so if I feel compelled to go back to posting more, I will.
Amelia Bedelia. I know it’s wrong but it’s the first thing that popped into my head. Cheers to slowing down and taking care of yourself! You have my full support. And congrats on winning the competition!
She has some Amelia Bedelia vibes for sure 😊 but it's actually Really Rosie, from Maurice Sendak's 1975 children's musical (which is, I realize, incredibly obscure).
Yes, yes, yes! You know how much I love this newsletter and you know how much I also struggle with stepping back and I am so happy for you that you are taking a step toward what is better and sweeter and (hopefully!) more fun and less overwhelming for you. Making it work better for you makes it work better for us!
Aww I love the genuine smile when winning the kit lit trivia! I appreciate the republishing, I have found many books by clicking linked posts. As someone who has only been subscribing for about a year there are still many issues I never read! I enjoy the mini issues as well. Continue to take care of yourself, and I look forward to reading your book in the future!
I appreciate this newsletter and have come to rely on it for great book recs for my 8yo. That said, once a week is still a lot!! Glad to hear you are listening to yourself and slowing down.
Congratulations, Sarah! Life on the publishing treadmill gets old and you’re smart to see that. I know how much you appreciate your subscribers (not as much as we appreciate you!) and recognize this is not necessarily an easy decision.
Until it is, that is. Thank you friend and spend that extra time enjoying yourself and your family.
Wait is Rosie the little girl from What Can You Do With a Shoe? This is definitely her :-) I know I'm not first but still had to chime in, I love children's book trivia. Also, good for you to step back and slow down and BIG CONGRATS on getting a proposal out there!! Fingers crossed for many offers, you have so much to offer and this is an excellent resource!
MAYBE! The girl in Shoe appeared in 1955 and Rosie wasn't born, to my knowledge, until Sendak's children's musical of the same name (Really Rosie) until 1975... but they sure look a lot alike.
Thank you for your kind words and support, Meredith!
It’s really Rosie! You have introduced so many favorites to our family and we are so grateful for the time and love you give to write this newsletter.
Ding ding ding 🛎️ It IS Really Rosie! (Can you send me your email address, at canweread@substack.com? I'll send my surprise your way as soon as I have that...)
Thank you for your kind words, Sarah. I appreciate your support.
One thing to consider as something that still lets you post on a more regular basis without taking all the effort of a full post would be some kind of regular community engagement posts.
I'm not sure what exactly would work best for this Substack but things like a weekly "What was your kids favourite book this week?" or "Monthly Q&A with me" type things.
Thanks! Community engagement posts are less work ahead of time for sure, but they still take a lot of time and attention afterward, responding to all the comments. I will still be posting on a regular basis -- simply once a week, instead of twice a week -- and nothing in this newsletter is ever set in stone, so if I feel compelled to go back to posting more, I will.
Ad astra, Sarah! Always rooting for you and this newsletter because in every shape and format you always bring your very best.
Thanks, Sri -- your constant support and enthusiasm means so much to me, I hope you know that 🙏🩷
Love this for you, Sarah. Take care of your soul! 🩷
Thanks, Ashley -- I know you KNOW.
You always have to do what’s best for you ❤️ I can’t wait to read your book someday!
Thanks, Marina! I appreciate that.
Amelia Bedelia. I know it’s wrong but it’s the first thing that popped into my head. Cheers to slowing down and taking care of yourself! You have my full support. And congrats on winning the competition!
She has some Amelia Bedelia vibes for sure 😊 but it's actually Really Rosie, from Maurice Sendak's 1975 children's musical (which is, I realize, incredibly obscure).
Thanks for your support, Kyle!
I love this. I’m proud of you and I know you will continue to bring 110% of yourself to this newsletter (and, really, everything you do).
🥹💗
Terrific, Sarah! ❤️
Thanks, Jolene!
🤗
Brava, Sarah! Excited to see what good these changes bring for you, your newsletter, and all of us. (Hooray for the morphing all projects deserve!)
Thank you!
Ok I love that home office picture so so much though. And I think once a week is a fantastic plan. Keep taking care of yourself and your fam!
😘😘
Yes, yes, yes! You know how much I love this newsletter and you know how much I also struggle with stepping back and I am so happy for you that you are taking a step toward what is better and sweeter and (hopefully!) more fun and less overwhelming for you. Making it work better for you makes it work better for us!
Thank you, friend 🥹🩷
Aww I love the genuine smile when winning the kit lit trivia! I appreciate the republishing, I have found many books by clicking linked posts. As someone who has only been subscribing for about a year there are still many issues I never read! I enjoy the mini issues as well. Continue to take care of yourself, and I look forward to reading your book in the future!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth! I'm so glad to hear that you've found many books via my republishing -- that's really validating.
Congrats on the proposal! I've worked on one for a year plus!
As usual, I approached it with an insane drive to get it done (and I did, but I also paid a price).
If there's any way I can be helpful as you work on your own proposal, let me know -- I'm happy to support you however and whenever I can.
I appreciate this newsletter and have come to rely on it for great book recs for my 8yo. That said, once a week is still a lot!! Glad to hear you are listening to yourself and slowing down.
Thanks, Joy!
Congratulations, Sarah! Life on the publishing treadmill gets old and you’re smart to see that. I know how much you appreciate your subscribers (not as much as we appreciate you!) and recognize this is not necessarily an easy decision.
Until it is, that is. Thank you friend and spend that extra time enjoying yourself and your family.
Thanks so much, Glenn 🩷
Wait is Rosie the little girl from What Can You Do With a Shoe? This is definitely her :-) I know I'm not first but still had to chime in, I love children's book trivia. Also, good for you to step back and slow down and BIG CONGRATS on getting a proposal out there!! Fingers crossed for many offers, you have so much to offer and this is an excellent resource!
MAYBE! The girl in Shoe appeared in 1955 and Rosie wasn't born, to my knowledge, until Sendak's children's musical of the same name (Really Rosie) until 1975... but they sure look a lot alike.
Thank you for your kind words and support, Meredith!