That time I started a newsletter
Chapter #15: It's already been a year!
Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy. First up, some recent reads.
I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea
An incredible slow-burn horror set in the cutthroat world of Parisian ballet. Laure is a Black ballerina at the top of her class, tired of feeling powerless and overlooked. Something sinister (literally) lurking beneath the surface draws her in, and promises her everything she desires—at a cost. It’s dark, moody, and monstrous. I loved that Laure isn’t a likable hero. She’s angry, vicious, and power-hungry. And the ending? *chef’s kiss* Someone adapt this into a movie/series asap!
Stop Waiting for Perfect by L’Oreal Thompson Payton
Read the rest of this newsletter, and it’ll become crystal clear why I needed to read this. It’s easy to digest, honest, and relatable. Enough said.
Ana Takes Manhattan by Lissette Decos
List-obsessed Ana is a reality TV producer on a show that specializes in over-the-top marriage proposals. Her life is less camera-ready, so she decides to embark on a journey of self-discovery, which includes juggling four men who meet the requirements on her “perfect man” list. It’s messy and chaotic. A bit dramatic at times. But I laughed out loud more than once and enjoyed all the reality tv production bits.
One year. This newsletter has existed for one whole freaking year. ✨
Well, almost. Feeling My Shelf’s *official* birthday (when I sent out the first punny chapter) is tomorrow. I thought about sending this chapter out then instead, but I’d already written in my planner that I was sending it out today, and fun fact: I absolutely hate scratching things out in my planner. Like I’ve literally bought a new planner mid-year because I couldn’t stand to look at the crossed out events.
Quirky or just plain old type-A? A little of both.
I’ll admit it: At many points throughout the last year I’ve wanted to do the same thing with this newsletter. Delete. Start over. Quit. Not because I hate talking about books—I actually love talking about books—but because, for what feels like the first time, people are actually listening. This little community has grown faster and bigger than I could have ever imagined, and it has me constantly shaking in my (sparkly, not cowboy. Never cowboy!) boots.
Now, let’s be real: I’m not sending this newsletter to thousands of people or anything. Far from that. But I didn’t expect that there’d be more than maybe 25 people reading it. And hundreds are. (I actually hit my end of year subscriber goal before August!)
Putting yourself and your words out there is scary. In life. On the internet. Even when you’re just talking about books. For years, I’ve struggled to share anything I’ve written with anyone which is why making it to one year with this newsletter feels like a monumental occasion.
Each time I hit “send to everyone,” annoying feelings of doubt creep in. I wonder what the hell I’m doing (no idea). I worry that I’ve missed a typo or misplaced a comma (the answer is yes). That someone’s going to unsubscribe (also yes). Or judge me for my reading tastes (probably!) Yet, I’ve hit send (and will continue to) time and time again.
I’m slowly learning to embrace the uncomfortableness that comes with creating and sharing. Fighting the urge to toss things out at the first sign imperfection. In the case of my planner this looks like investing in various-sized stickers, which I use to cover up scratch outs/changed dates.
Baby steps!
In case you missed them, some of my favorite chapters from year one:
From Holly Jackson, the author of the Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy, Five Survive is about a road trip that turns deadly. Eight hours. Six friends. But like the title suggests, only five will survive. I enjoyed the author’s other mysteries, so hoping this one doesn’t disappoint.
“I wrote The Care and Keeping of You for girls. This wasn’t the future I imagined for them.” Romance novelists on what it's like to write smutty sex scenes. How the pumpkin spice latte became a cult favorite. TikTok has transformed the concert experience. Stacey Abrams on “finding her voice as a writer, and refusing to limit herself.” Want to make more friends? Start a club. Have you seen the Rory Gilmore reading challenge?
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Congrats on one year!!
Congratulations on your year mark, Alexis! I've added many titles to my TBR list because of your newsletter. 🤗