august is heating up with possibility!
colourful august news!
read on for updates, happy mail, and fun surprises!
in the city too full of magic to sleep
last month my husband nathan and i went up to NYC for a few days because he had a painting in an exhibit at the salmagundi club. (i'll brag on him: he won BEST IN SHOW! eep!)
there are two highlight reels full of adventures (bookstores, libraries, art and fashion museums, theatres, and big city eats!) saved on my instagram page. there are always new neighborhoods and places to explore in new york, so here's to the next visit, too!
my insta!
pictured in the photo banner above: the floating "book worm" sculpture at the drama book shop; one of the card catalogues at the new york public library (specifically, the performing arts research library at lincoln center!); "the battle at versailles" american fashion installation at the metropolitan museum of art; and me at "while we were young" in the west village where i had a lemon poppy seed french toast that changed my life. ;D
coffee coffee coffee!
summer sticker club from the other side of the world!
as inspired by the world's second-oldest amusement park. aaaaand their brilliant coffee cart logo. because who am i if not a coffee fiend and good-design appreciator? :)
it's not too late to join the crayon box (my author/illustrator patreon!) and have me mail you this month's HAPPY MAIL complete with your welcome goodies and august's summer sticker club sticker! you'll also get access to the post about my trip to tivoli gardens (in denmark!) and the full painting process. and of course a personalized, hand*written glittering note from me.
crayon box happy mail!
thank you so much for your support! for just $5 or more a month you'll get inside access to my studio, book news, and lots more fun!
the highlights recap!
add me to the list of summer campers who've had their lives changed for the better
if you haven't gotten the change to read it yet, here's my HIGHLIGHTS SUMMER CAMP IN FICTION recap!
it was just a month ago i was road tripping home from [surviving nature/happily author glamping in] pennsylvania, and great big exciting book revising/inspiration/making things are still happening.
read the post
here’s to the [local] books!!
i honestly loved EVERY SINGLE book i read last month. picking four of the eleven (+ four more audiobooks) is impossible.
so i'll just remind you that my favorite of my faves (based on quality &/or enjoyment level for me personally!) are always available for you to browse through on my bookshop.org page.
bookshop.org an online book retailer that gives a portion of its profits to independent bookstores all across the country-- helping to maintain safe places for exchange of ideas and information, gathering places for creatives and lovers of stories, and local author support.
you can always also reach out (email, my DMs, or text me if we know each other in real life!) with questions of content or reading suggestions for the mood you're in, or for a fellow reader in your life! i love to talk books and recommend things.
recommended reading lists
and if you're looking for an audiobook site that supports indie bookstores, i highly recommend libro.fm!
i met my writing hero!! (*cue happy sobs*)
last week i did a 27-hour road trip with a librarian buddy o' mine to finally meet in person and celebrate the latest book from the ONE, the ONLY natalie lloyd at flyleaf books in chapel hill, nc! ack and huzzah!!
natalie was as nice as i could have ever hoped for, and each and every book she's written inspires me to live and dream bigger, to ponder what else is out there, to hold firmly every powerful flicker of hope, and all of her books just make me want to be a better author and human and artist! i know i've already told you to read them all, but her latest book HUMMINGBIRD just came out last week and i promise you oughta read it. :)
read it. make everyone you know read it. it's soaring and beautiful and inspiring and just perfectly magical in all the ways books ought to be.
thank you for reading all my little life updates!
if you want more daily/weekly details, my instagram shares things (including those weekly reading book review videos every monday morning!) and of course the crayon box gets happy mail, art process posts and helpful hints, new story snippets, and all my love and gratitude. ;)
BIG things are coming in september, so until then, let's keep in touch. :)
subscribe to my monthly colourful newsletter here so you don’t miss september’s issue
here's to many more story-filled, creative adventures for us all!
with peace, love, and many colourful reads to you,
*hallie :)