Inspiration & Perspiration:
Danielle Trussoni’s Newsletter
April 4th, 2020
“Genius is 1 Percent Inspiration and 99 Percent Perspiration.”
– Thomas Edison
Good morning from the writing cave, where the sun has just emerged from a bank of thick gray cumulus clouds. It has been gray all week, and so I wanted to share with you the new bubblegum pink sweater I knit!
I gave it to my daughter Nico, who loves it for the same reason I do: it brings a big bolt of color to the house.
I’m here in the writing cave this morning, but I’m not writing today (except for this note to you). I’m taking the day off to rest because I spent the past week writing my New York Times column, which is now called DARK MATTERS.
It used to be called simply HORROR, but the editors at the Times believe that the kinds of books that I have been reviewing, and the kinds of books that fall under the category of ‘horror’ are not strictly what most people usually think of as ‘horror.’ I review everything from gothic novels, to historical novels that feature monsters, to frightening stories of climate disaster, to books about cryptozoology, aliens, and fringe phenomena. Oh, and of course, there are many dark novels that are also literary, which is how my novel The Ancestor has been classified: Literary suspense with some dark family secrets at the center.
To be totally honest, I don’t believe in genre. I think that writers should go where their imaginations lead, which is why I’ve ended up writing many kinds of books. When you stop pushing yourself to imagine new things, you limit yourself.
It has been a trying time, as I’m sure you know. In the middle of this turmoil, I have begun promoting The Ancestor from the writing cave. Yesterday, I was on Zibby Owens’ Instagram Live show, where I spoke about The Ancestor and my first book Falling Through The Earth. You can watch a video of that here.
Since we can’t go out, I have been spending a lot of time cooking. Last night, I made risotto with asparagus and pecorino cheese. It was incredible and made me realize that with fresh ingredients and some time, cooking at home is much better than eating out:
I braved the virus to sign copies at Oblong Books in Rhinebeck, New York. I brought my own pen and my own (homemade) hand sanitizer:
I hope you are well and safe at home, and that you have a good book to read. If you do not, may I suggest you get a copy of The Ancestor, which is out on Tuesday? Here are links to order the book.
Oblong Books
Harper Collins
Indie Bound
Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million
Amazon
If you order a digital copy, you won’t have to wait for shipping. Oh, and here is something else that gives instant gratification: The AUDIO BOOK! I just got a clip yesterday, and you guys are the first to hear it. Here is the link to listen.
And don’t forget my Live Readings this month. Here is the schedule and the links, so that you can join me. I’m so looking forward to seeing you!
April 7th, 7pm EST – The Ancestor Reading
April 9th, 7pm EST – HWA Horror Writers Reading & Discussion
April 10th, 6:30 pm EST – The Ancestor & Crypto-Z Audio Drama Discussion
April 14th, 7pm EST – Reading with author Janelle Brown
April 18th, 2:00pm EST – Q&A on The Ancestor Writing Process
Be safe out there and may you find inspiration and happiness in all you do.
Yours,
Danielle Trussoni