stefakessler.com

Tag: books

  • I’m back baby!

    Besties,

    Can I tell you where I’ve been?

    Physically and metaphysically?

    In August, I moved over 500 miles from the place that I’d called home for the past 18 years.

    Then in September, I travelled over 3,000 miles to Scotland.

    It was the last time I saw my luggage. My new Barbour jacket. My earrings my mother got me “just because.”

    While I am currently the American-Airlines-baggage-attendant-at-JFK’s worst nightmare, as I sort out my lost luggage woes, I am happy to report that my travels cured me. And not just because I got to use my EU passport for the first time and cruise through customs in Amsterdam. Never in my life have I felt more superior…

    No, during my time abroad, something deep within me eased. Like the anxious dog circling in my soul finally got comfortable, laid down, and settled in for a nap.

    You may have heard me whine that I’ve barely read any books this year with all the stress of moving and finding a new job and saying goodbye to loved ones. And that’s true. From January 2025 to September 2025, I had managed to read a whopping 6 books. I am happy to report that in the last 3 weeks, I have managed to finish 3. Including one that I started nearly a year ago.

    I’m back baby!

    And with that warm fuzzy feeling that a good book leaves you with, I find myself reaching for my keyboard once more.

    Time has become more precious than ever in my new world. And I struggle to carve out time for this time-consuming hobby of mine. But I am determined to return to my final rewrite of A Case of You, to finally devote myself to the satirical saga of Middle Ages, and I even concocted a little globetrotter rom-com during a nap on a stormy afternoon on the Isle of Skye.

    My world is still very much turned upside down. But things are beginning to settle down. She says as her calendar notes she is due to be out of town for 3 of the next 4 weekends…

    It’s fine! Really! I’m great. I’m excited. I’m having fun.

    Por ejemplo, this evening I am going to the Saratoga Springs Book Festival Literary Night Market. It’s a local author showcase where hopefully I can meet some fellow writers and snag a few books to add to my massive TBR pile.

    Since I’ve officially gotten my NYS ID, I can now get a library card. So I’ll be making my way to the local literary meccas in the area and obtaining a card nearly as useful for escaping as my EU passport is.

    And finally, if the weather stays as nice as it promises to, I’ll close out the weekend with one last boat trip for the year. The lakes here in Upstate NY are insanely large and lovely and I just can’t wait to get back out on the water.

    Let’s do a mini R.E.P.O.R.T. I’m feeling chatty.

    • Reading: Katabasis by R.F. Kuang.
      • R.F. Kuang is my freaking idol. And didn’t even realize she had a new book out but when I walked into a bookstore in Leith and saw that there was one autographed copy left, I snatched it up before I even knew what the book was about. Obsessed.
    • Eating: Not as well as I was in Scotland and Amsterdam last week.
      • I’m still dreaming of the pastries from MacKenzie’s Bakery in Portree.
    • Playing: Life of a Showgirl obviously. But also Olivia Dean on repeat.
    • Obsessing: Over my lost luggage.
      • I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Unless you have a solution. In which case, call me.
    • Recommending: That everyone get airtags for their luggage.
    • Treating: Maybe it’s not a treat, but I’m getting my haircut Sunday.
      • I grew it out for Scotland, got my Merida moment, and now I’m ready to hack it off and live out my French bob fantasies.

    Talk soon. Peace.

  • Stefa, where the hell have you been loca?

    First off, I’d like to apologize for the title of this post.

    I’ve only seen the first Twilight movie and I was at least 30 when I did. I’ve never read the books. I only have peripheral knowledge of the book series or film franchise. I can’t even pretend to be cool enough to like it. Again, my sincerest apologies.

    Still, the question remains: Where have I been?

    Well, I certainly haven’t been on the solo writing retreat that I had lovingly planned for myself.

    Because I had to cancel it. Because we finally got the call that we’re moving to Upstate New York and we had two weeks to get my house ready to show.

    And we did a hell of a job too. Decluttering is one of my favorite activities. I love getting rid of things, so I was very excited about that part of everything. We had the least successful garage sale on the planet, then made a hefty donation to Goodwill. We also managed to paint two bathrooms, lay down a new floor in one, and install a brand-new sink in another.

    Pictures were taken last week. We list next week. And I am in a weird in-between time that I don’t know how to handle.

    Which is part of the reason why I’m writing this blog post- I don’t know what to do with myself.

    I’m good when I have a project to work on. I’m good when I have nothing to do for the foreseeable future and can dabble in my hobbies. I am not good at transitioning from balls-to-the-wall mode to sit-and-wait mode. And I am very bad at sit-and-wait mode in general.

    It’s like when you have a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon, so the rest of your day is totally shot. You can’t possibly accomplish anything when you have a doctor’s appointment later.

    And so, dear reader, I’ve decided to write to you.

    I’ve written nothing in two weeks. I’ve read nothing. I’ve watched surprisingly little TV.

    I have:

    • Gone to a concert
    • Seen a Broadway play
    • Met a writing friend for the first time. Shout out to E.M. Gussler.
    • Eaten my way through a Columbus culinary bucket list that lives only in my head:
      • Marmont Speakeasy
      • Cobra
      • Chapman’s
      • Cento (Friday)
      • Bonifacio (next Tuesday)
    • Played pickleball
    • Gone to book club and offered to host this month
    • Gotten a facial
    • Gone to a Guardian’s game
    • Spent two full hours searching for my husband’s passport two months before we go to Scotland (I found it!)

    Yes. All in the last two weeks. I suppose I play as hard as I work.

    So what comes next you ask?

    • List/Sell the house
    • House hunting trip/buy a house (we have no money, so this will be fun)
    • FIND A JOB- I’d love to be a full-time writer. But that’s a distant fantasy. I have interviews tomorrow and next week for two jobs that I really want.
    • Complete my Columbus culinary bucket list
    • Throw a going away party
    • Have ANOTHER garage sale
    • More pickleball
    • Go to the Doodah Parade for the first time
    • Visit a friend in Portland, OR
    • Complete the next two semesters of my Master’s
    • Lucy Dacus concert
    • MOVE

    And that’s all in the next month and a half.

    And a month after we move, we go to Europe for two weeks.

    And THEN I can settle into a routine.

    THEN, maybe I can write again.

    ttfn

  • Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T. 4.13.25

    Reading

    I just picked up a copy of Maggie Smith’s Dear Writer. Now, you may be asking me: Stefa, didn’t you say you were moving across the country and downsizing your books and trying to save money? Well, why don’t you mind your own business? Maggie Smith is a National and Local Treasure, and her book was literally written specifically for me: a writer.

    Eating

    Spent Sunay with some of my best friends. They’re amazing cooks and mixologists and the reason that my sense of humor is so crass and childish. They made me tacos and cocktails and birthday brownies and we laughed so hard our sides hurt. They’re also the people who introduced me to coastal Michigan, so in a way, you have them to thank for A Case of You. Don’t tell them though, their heads will swell.

    Playing

    My Middle Ages playlist. I’ll admit, it’s not as good at my A Case of You playlist. But I’ve found that having background music really helps me focus on my writing.

    Obsessing

    Obsessing over the bookstagram and bookthreads community. I reached out looking for fellow readers and writers after about 3 days of non-stop bot activity. And people came out en force. I found so many fellow Ohio writers that my writer friend, E.N. Gussler, and I have decided to host an Ohio Writer/Reader meet up in June! Go to the event tab at the top of my site to learn more and register.

    Recommending

    I highly recommend celebrating your wins. For a long time, I kept my wins private, not wanting to feel like a braggart. But you’d be surprised by how many people are on your side and want to see you succeed. So, let’s celebrate a win right now.

    A Case of You is still a work in progress. It’s with a developmental editor right now, just so I can be positive that I’ve done right by this story.

    Many of my beta readers also agreed that the beginning of my manuscript is the weakest part.

    All that to say that I entered The Writer’s Sanctuary Storyteller First Page Contest back in March. And I just got my feedback.

    62/80. My scores for the eight categories (scored out of 10) included one 10, five 8s, and two 6s.

    So as someone that knows their first few pages need work, this is a huge win for me. In addition, the contest is judged by best-selling authors and experienced editors, which feels extremely validating. Also, here is my favorite part of the feedback:

    Love the voice and tone of this story. The writing perfectly conveys the beauty and laziness of summer. Also, the characters were fantastic.

    Treating

    I treated myself to the most glorious massage on Sunday afternoon. The therapist was recommended to me by a friend and I was not steered wrong. So, if you’ve been thinking about scheduling that massage- go ahead and do it. It’s worth it. Already planning my next one.

    See you next week 🙂

  • Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T. for 3/24/25

    This was a big week. I had a friend visiting from out of town, so I was a little more out and about than usual.

    Reading

    It’s a twofer this week. I’m reading The Long Game by Elena Armas and The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center.

    This is my second time trying to read The Rom-Commers. I checked it out from the library that last time I went to Saugatuck, but I never really got into it. Then I saw the audiobook was available on Libby and I gave it a chance. I am laughing out loud and injecting my own reaction into the narrative as it unfolds much to the horror of the passengers in my car.

    Eating

    Everything in sight. With my friend visiting from out of town, I made sure she ate well. There were brunches, more coffee than two humans should consume, delicious pastas, and so many cocktails. I think my favorite food from this week though, were the chocolate coated pretzel poppers we nibbled on at the jazz club. Good enough to throw in your purse and take home.

    Playing

    Ever subject your D.D. to unrequested karaoke? My friend and I both love to sing, so naturally, our karaoke go-to’s were the soundtrack for the drive home from the jazz club. Celine Dion, Elle King, Lake Street Dive, Lady Gaga, and so much more.

    Obsessing

    Over my female friendships. The women in my life are everything. From my front-porch-friends to my dining-room-table-friends. The way we show up for each other, the way we can celebrate wins and mourn losses together, it’s incredible. And having my college friend visit this week reminded me of that. It’s amazing to be able to pick up where you left off with people, even if you haven’t been the best at staying in touch. We can open our hearts to each other, pour our guts out, and rest easy knowing that not only will we not be judged, but we’ll be loved.

    Recommending

    It was another good week for the movies. I saw Novocaine this week. It was such a fun action movie. What caught me off guard about it, was that is opened like a rom-com. It was sweet and butterfly-inducing and helped us really root for the hero as the plot developed. Afterwards, I learned that the writers, Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, also wrote The Villains, a hilarious, rom-com-adjacent, action thriller.

    Novocaine was just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek. It featured a heavily-tattooed Jack Quaid which gave me feelings I never expected to experience. And the gratuitous gore and violence left this action-movie-lover satisfied.

    Treating

    The horses! I took my friend to meet my buddies Blaze and Quinn this week. Blaze didn’t want to come in from his beautiful day in the pasture, even for a carrot, so we treated his herd mates. But my boy Quinn has been on stall rest and is also a treat fiend. So he was more than happy to indulge us. I even hopped on Quinn’s back for a bit and walked him around the pastures. I can’t wait for summer and our romps in the woods. He’s seriously the most tolerant boy in the world. I do so much stupid shit with him on the trail.

    And this concludes me weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.

    Next weeks will be another fun one because it’s not only my birthday, but I’m headed to NYC to visit family!