In the Shadow of a Milestone

(If you received this via email sorry for the typo in the title I wrote this really early!!!)

My recent Substack posts have been all about my upcoming book, MY TURN. As I mentioned last week, I’m deep in the thick of it—applying edits, adding images and field notes, working on a book trailer, and getting my author headshot (!!!). So this week, I wanted to take a step back from the book and share a slower, more meandering reflection on what life has felt like in the shadow of this milestone. Spoiler: it’s been really good.

True to form, I never seem to have just one big thing going on. I like to stay busy—and life has a way of keeping me so. By far the biggest shift lately has been my boyfriend, Levi, moving in with me here in Batesville. It’s something I wasn’t always sure would happen, but now that it has, it feels completely natural. We’re cut from the same cloth, and I’m so thankful for his love and support during this exciting season. Back in November, I was the featured poet at an open mic in Columbus—a night that really became the catalyst for MY TURN. Levi helped me build a set of poems that captured the tone and arc of the project, offering perspective and encouragement when I needed it most. It’s been such a gift to share this creative adventure with someone I love.

In addition to working on the book, I’ve also been teaching summer school. I’m getting ready for my last day of in-person teaching this morning, which feels bittersweet. I’m looking forward to some extra breathing room in my days, but I also can’t believe how quickly June is moving. I’ve struggled to drop into that “summer flow” this year, so I’m hoping the end of school brings with it the slower, lazier days I’ve been craving.

Levi isn’t the only new addition to the house. He brought along Deets—a handsome black lab mix. Honey has an iffy history with other dogs, and honestly, we were more nervous about the dogs meeting than we were about introducing each other to our families. But they clicked right away. Deets is gentle, observant, and affectionate. He follows Honey around like an old soul with a new best friend. She pretends not to notice, but I think she secretly enjoys having a companion.

As I write this, golden light is spilling into the living room through the northern windows. It’s the hottest week of the summer so far, and I’m feeling especially grateful for this quiet, cool home—full of sunlight, love, and a little creative chaos.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but MY TURN is just around the corner. I have one more round of edits to receive, and then the ball’s in my court. My goal is still to have the book out by the end of July. The next big share-out will be the book trailer—a mix of vintage home videos and voiceover narration to introduce the themes of the book. You’ll be the first to see it, and I really can’t wait to share it with you.

Some other summer highlights so far:

• Library groundbreaking. The Batesville library is building an Arts and Innovation center, and I have been fortunate enough to help on the project. Last week was the groundbreaking where I was able to share the vision and excitement of the arts council. I love seeing projects like this take life, especially in small communities like mine.

• Euchre! I finally learned how to play euchre! I truly feel like a real Midwesterner now. I can’t believe it took me so long, but I feel like a new world has opened up to me.

• Returning growth. Last year I planted two plots of wildflowers. They came back strong this year, yielding plenty of beautiful cuttings for vases in the house. I love the feeling of walking out my door and returning with a fresh bouquet from my own backyard.

Thanks for reading. Stay hydrated. Chat soon.

Paul