Volume 4, No. 29: Fresh Fades, Berry Songs, & Bodies of Water

picture book reviews!

Greetings, book and treat people!

On May 8th, I made a big ask. I asked the folks who read this newsletter (that’s you!) to become paying subscribers ($5/month) so that I can continue writing it. I asked because I’ve been working this job (yup, it’s a job!) for close to nothing for over 3 years, and I can’t do that anymore. I asked even though I was terrified.

I set myself a financial goal and a cutoff date. That date is next Wednesday, July 31st. Every week, as the cutoff date approaches, this newsletter gets harder and harder for me to write. I haven’t come anywhere close to reaching my goal. It’s unlikely, after three months, that I’m going to meet it in the next week.

I wish I had something more cheerful to say, but all I have is the truth: I am so tired. I am so tired of pouring my heart into work that is not valued. I was tired of it before I asked for fair compensation, and now I’m bone-deep tired of it. Honestly, the exhaustion is a relief. It means I’m not pretending anymore. I asked for what I needed and I didn’t get it. This is often what happens when we take risks! I know my own worth and I know my own limits. I’m so proud of what I’ve done here over the past 3+ years. As I wrote at the beginning of this whole experiment: “Asking for what I need to keep doing this work isn’t failure—even if I don’t receive it. As much as I cherish writing this newsletter every week, continuing to do so in a way that isn’t sustainable for me is the real failure.”

So, what’s going to happen to Books & Bakes now? Here’s what you need to know:

• First and foremost: Thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone who subscribed or pledged to subscribe over the last three months. I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you. Truly.

• Second: You can still subscribe! It’s not too late!

• Finally, while I didn’t come anywhere close to meeting my goal, which would have allowed me to continue writing a weekly newsletter, I now have enough paying subscribers to make writing a monthly newsletter sustainable! I’m planning on doing this through the end of the year to see how it feels. I’ll share more details next week.

Okay, onward to books! Here’s the thing: everything is really hard and I’m struggling. I’m struggling to find the focus and motivation to read and write, struggling to get through my work days, struggling to make dinner. I’ve read less in July than I have in any other month in the last 3 years. But, guess what: through all of this malaise, I have been reading picture books. I have been writing about picture books. Picture books are carrying me through. So: picture books.

I hope you’re being as gentle with yourself as you can be. I hope something, even a tiny something, is carrying you through. If you’re struggling, I hope you know you’re not alone. My friend

Sarah Miller

, in her beautiful newsletters (full of amazing picture book reviews!) often reminds me that I am not alone. This newsletter is definitely after her—in the poetic tradition of afters.

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