Sunday Sundries 012: Vampires & Skirts

Plus, a really cool art exhibit to put on your calendar

Welcome to Sunday Sundries, the antidote to—or at least a distraction from—your Sunday Scaries.

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Hello,

Happy Sunday! Hopefully this email finds me far away from a screen.

I had a bit of a book wobble this week. This happens 2 or 3 times per draft, so I’m trying to be chill about it (not one of my strong suits!) and ride the wave. Maybe a weekend off will fix things. The best way I can describe the feeling is that the book just feels dumb, and I have no idea how I’m going to take this ramshackle pile of words and turn it into something somebody would pay to read.

It feels a little less dire this time because last weekend I listened to Barbara Kingsolver on Elin Hilderbrand’s podcast and she talked about how in the early and middle phases of writing, her books always feel so “stupid.” That’s the actual word she used! And Barbara wrote Demon Copperhead, which won an motherf--king Pulitzer Prize. So, if she feels this way, maybe it really is part of the process.

But there are things I’m excited about, too.

For one, I have tickets to my first ballet performance of the new season tonight (Friday). This is the second year in a row I’ve bought season tickets. (That’s probably not as extreme as you’re thinking; the NYCB offers flex packages where you can customize your own “season” with as few as three shows). I’ve always loved the ballet, but rarely got it together to see more than one performance a year (usually The Nutcracker at Christmas). I’d have to find someone who wanted to go with me, figure which performance we wanted to see, and if it had a date that worked for us both. But getting season tickets has removed the scheduling hassle. I pick the shows and dates in advance, and in the lead up, I ask a friend to come with me (my treat!). It always feels like a fun little gift to myself when a performance rolls around on my calendar.

The glorious candy corn potpourri I’m eating as I write you this newsletter

Also, smaller but equally valid: candy corn! I have a complicated relationship with candy corn (as do many of us, I’d bet). I buy exactly 2 bags a year: one of the regular candy corn, one of the pumpkins. I bought this year’s in a blind panic at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday when I went to buy a new notebook at the peak of my book wobble. For the first half of my annual allotment, I’m in absolute heaven (“Why isn’t there candy corn year-round?” I ask myself aloud in my empty apartment mid-breakdown). Then, by the second half, my teeth start to hurt and I’m wondering who in their right mind chooses to eat sweet wax. Right now, I’m still in the obsession stage, but by the time you read this, I’m fairly sure I’ll be on the other side of that hill. Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.

Alright, enough about me, onto the sundries:

📚 Have You Heard About This Book?

Normally, I’d wait until my monthly Book Report to tell you what I’m reading, but I wanted to bring this one up sooner in case you only read vampire novels in October with your own annual candy corn allotment. (Though there’s nothing specifically Halloween-y about this book.)

I was obsessed with Kate Stayman-London’s 2020 debut, One to Watch, about a plus-sized contestant on a Bachelor-esque reality dating show. But her latest, Fang Fiction, is hard right pivot into fantasy/camp and I’m happy to report she’s pulling it off!

The book follows Tess, who’s an avid fan of Blood Feud, a popular (fictional) series of vampire novels. In fact, there are theories on the message boards that the vampires in those books might be real. But Tess doesn’t fully believe them… until one of the Blood Feud vampires tracks her down and asks for her help. Cue Tess taking a romp to “the isle,” a magical alternate universe island that the world’s vampires have been confined to.

The book is capital-F fun, but also deals with some more serious themes, like sexual assault trauma. It’s an ode to fandom and to Buffy (which I regret to tell you I have not watched, but if you have, it would make this even better), and it is quite simply blowing me away. I’m about two-thirds of the way through and planning to finish this weekend, but so far 5/5 suspicious bite marks.

🛍️ Skirts For Your Consideration

A few weeks ago, I told you that I think my personal style is shifting. I’m gravitating toward more separates, both while shopping and in my own closet. And one of my outfit recipes currently on repeat is a statement-y skirt with a basic top.

When I shared pics of these outfits on Instagram, I was bombarded with DMs asking for a link. Sadly, all of these skirts are old/from Nuuly and not available (except the leopard print J.Crew skirt, which I can’t shut up about), so I thought it would be fun to do some fantasy shopping and round up some skirt options that caught my eye in case you’re looking to test out this outfit formula.

The Minis

These would be so cute now with a loafer or mary jane. Then, add tights and knee-high (or over-the-knee) boots as temps cool.

• Sézane Button Front Skirt ($140)

• Boden Rainbow Check Skirt ($192) - take 10% off with code T4J6

• Sézane Houndstooth Skirt ($135)

The Midis

• Boden Emerald Floral Skirt ($190) - take 10% off with code T4J6

• Gorman Floral Mix Skirt ($70) - Careful, sizing is Australian, not US. Check the size guide!

• Marimekko Brown Oversized Floral Skirt ($350)

🎨 An Art Exhibit to Add to Your Radar

Much like candy corn, my relationship with Instagram ads is a mixed bag. They’ve led to many iffy clothing purchases, but this week I got served one for an art exhibit that looks like a slam dunk!

Luna Luna was originally staged as a functional carnival in Hamburg, Germany in 1987. It featured a carousel painted by Keith Haring, a ferris wheel by Jean-Michel Basquiat, an enchanted forest by David Hockney. And then… the carnival’s exhibits got stashed at a storage facility in Texas (why Texas?) and forgotten about.

The carnival—now an exhibit, I don’t think the rides are functional—is coming to NYC’s The Shed from Nov 20 - Jan 5. Tickets start at $44. I already grabbed mine!

Where to Next? More Links to Stave Off Your Scaries:

• I’m not usually one to 🤡, but Shawn Mendes and Joe Jonas both moved their albums, which were originally scheduled to release this Friday (Oct 18). Does this mean what we think it means?

• Or maybe they just heard that Andrew Garfield will be on Chicken Shop Date and needed to clear their calendars. (Same.)

• This piece on writer jealousy was excellent.

• Shrinking is back on Apple TV+ with season 2 on Thursday October 16, so now would be an excellent time to watch (or re-watch) the first season.

• Carley Fortune launched merch this week. I wonder if this is a trend we’ll see more of with authors.

See you next Sunday!

Becca

P.S. ICYMI I’m in conversation with Georgia Clark for the launch her new holiday romance Most Wonderful at The Ripped Bodice in Brooklyn on Thursday October 17. It’s going to be so fun! I’d love for you to join us!