I’m refocusing my efforts towards the book, and the other assorted writing pieces I have to finish, and everything else, a long list of stuff, as well as applying for more jobs locally. In other work, I suppose of the literary citizenship variety, I’ve been writing some really enthusiastic letters of recommendation for former students. I hope they get jobs and fellowships and all the things for which they’ve applied. I’ve also asked for letters of rec this season, and I am super grateful to my recommenders for updating and writing letters. It’s so much work to do this work, even though it’s good, honorable work. And, if your students are great, then sometimes it’s easy work, too. I’m also working on a blurb for a book, and it’s a doozy of a book, and that’s exciting. Who knows if my blurb will end up on the book itself; I think I’m just one of those early placeholder blurbs for advance reader editions, but it’s so cool to get a book early and to get to tell everyone (booksellers, mostly) what you think about it.

On the cup front, the last time I sold my work, the cups went so quickly, all but one within twenty minutes. I had a bunch of people message me afterwards, asking for more, or that they were sorry they missed out. So I made more, and three incredible people bought cups from me. I am super grateful to them; you know who you are. It made a huge difference; I am paying my health insurance with those cups.

Throughout the year, I buy art, books, reblog, retweet, shout from the rooftops, preorder, support mutual aid and assorted fundraisers, write shelf talkers (those little bookstore notes that talk about why this book is good), request books be purchased at my local library, chat up a book with a bookseller or librarian. I’m so grateful to receive some of that support for my art: thank you to those of you who have bought a cup, or will in the future. In the meantime, I’m going to be over here, writing student letters of recommendation, finishing a book, a reported essay or two, keeping moving as I can.

If you were overwhelmed and upset by having to talk to your creepy uncle about how excited he is to have Trump as president again, or maybe you had to buy a freezer before tariffs, and you missed my sale and still want to get a cup, I’m going to leave it up here for a little longer. But mostly I’m just going to see if I can finish my book.