Happy fall, y’all! (I couldn’t help myself…) It might be 85 degrees here on the NC coast, but, believe you me, my mums and pumpkins are waiting and ready to be put out! I think fall is supposed to feel a little calmer and cozier, but these first few days have been anything but calm! With two novels and short story releasing in 2026, a handful of fun TV and movie projects in the works, fall fashion and decor ramping up on Design Chic, the best Friends & Fiction schedule EVER, book tours to plan and social media to do, fall travel ball in full swing—not to mention college football!—fall is feeling like it’s going to be jam-packed with so many of the things I LOVE. (Including some awesome events below that I don’t want you to miss!)
“Little” Will’s birthday is next week. Guys, I just signed him up for driver’s ed for next summer. WHAT? Time is flying! We’re heading to New England for a few days to—hopefully—take in all the fall foliage, and I’ll be flying from there to Savannah to celebrate REMAIN with Nicholas Sparks.
Fall in Chapel Hill has always felt somewhat sacred to me, and, well: We are not fair-weather fans! Let’s face it, tailgating and hanging out with old friends is amazing win or lose. So we’ll be soaking up those home games when we can. I can already hear the leaves crunching under my boots on those old brick pathways… Just talking about this is reminding me what I love about this glorious season. True confession: I’m a pumpkin spice girl, too, but I have a strict “not-until-fall” policy. So I’ll be enjoying my first pumpkin spice latte this weekend!
Thanks, as always, for hanging out with me today! And keep me posted on your mum-and-pumpkin progress!
Have you read BEACH HOUSE RULES? If you have, and you missed the fun Substack Live I did on Monday, you can check out the replay here! This one is chock full of spoilers, a spoiler fest. So if you haven’t read the book, you might want to skip it!
Carolina Women’s Collective
Exciting news: I will be speaking at the Carolina Women’s Collective in Atlantic Beach, NC on October 25 at 9:15 am—about something other than books! I know. I will be talking about how I schedule my days to fit it all in and be offering tips and tricks about how others can do the same. It’s one of my favorite topics, and perfect for the Where Ambition Meets Action theme, I think! Only TEN TICKETS LEFT. So, if you want to join us, don’t wait!
A little more about the event:
Where Ambition Meets Action: The 2025 Summit showcases an all-new, exceptional lineup of accomplished women who bring credibility, fresh insight, and tangible expertise to the stage. This year’s speakers include:
Michele Querry, Newport Town Manager and clean energy innovator leading economic growth across coastal North Carolina
Kristy Woodson Harvey, bestselling author featured in New York Times, USA Today, and Southern Living, whose work has redefined modern Southern fiction and inspired thousands of women to pursue their creative passions.
Come see me with Nicholas Sparks!
Save the date—and get your tickets! I am going to be in Savannah, Georgia on Tuesday, October 14th, interviewing Nicholas Sparks for the launch of his new book with M. Night Shyamalan, REMAIN. I’m so excited for this supernatural love story—and this fun event!
Beach House Rules Highlights:
It has been four months since BEACH HOUSE RULES released, and, oh my goodness, what a ride it has been! A million thank yous to all the incredible readers, reviewers, booksellers, librarians, reporters, and friends who have sung its praises. I honestly will NEVER be over it! Have you read BEACH HOUSE RULES yet?
This Week on Friends and Fiction:
September 24th at 7pm Eastern on the F&F Facebook page and YouTube channel, Kristin Harmel & Ron Block welcomed acclaimed NYT-bestselling novelist Jane Hamilton to discuss her stunning new coming-of-age novel, The Phoebe Variations, about girls, mothers, and finding one’s way in the world.
Thanks for stopping by! See you next week!
