Inspiration & Perspiration:
Danielle Trussoni’s Newsletter

May 2nd, 2020

“Genius is 1 Percent Inspiration and 99 Percent Perspiration.”
– Thomas Edison

 Good morning from the writing cave, where I am basking in the first real day of spring. The sun is out, the air is warm, and I’ve even opened a window to birdsong. TS Eliot wrote that April is the cruelest month, but this year it really did feel treacherous.

Here is hoping that May brings flowers and sun and health and new opportunities for happiness.

For all of you who are struggling through the pandemic, whether it is facing the day as an essential worker, or struggling to homeschool, or feeling isolated and disconnected from the world because you’re on lockdown, I want to say thank you for being here and for being part of my community. I have had emails and notes from readers all week—some about my book, but others just personal notes letting me know how things are going—and it has heartened me. I am grateful to have this group of colleagues, friends, family and readers in my life.

As I was thinking about the importance of community the other week, I decided that it was a good time to create a private Facebook group for my newsletter readers and others who are regularly a part of my life. I am going to be doing a lot of fun things on this page: recommending new books, talking about writing, running exclusive writing workshops, and even (hopefully!) organizing a writing retreat. Here is the link to the group. Please join me there!

I am hoping to stay connected, now more than ever.

I have been sending you news about my book The Ancestor lately, but I have another project that is coming out next week. It is an audio drama podcast called Crypto-Z, a ten part series that will begin dropping on Apple Podcasts on Monday.

I made this with my husband, the filmmaker Hadrien Royo, and it is a truly immersive, exciting show. It is free, and all you need to do is subscribe here to get it.

We are having a virtual premiere for the launch of Crypto-Z featuring the voice actors on Monday at 4PM EST. If you would like to join us, I will bring you as my guest!! Just respond to this email and let me know that you’d like to come, and I will send you an invitation.

My weekend inspiration is gardening and (you guessed it) more baking. I bought this bottle of vanilla extract to keep my baking projects going for the next months. I remember my mom told me when I was little that you can always add a little more vanilla that the recipe calls for, and I always do (and it always works!!)

I had an excellent time speaking with a book group in South Wales this week. One of the members told me he had read Angelology a few times, and was waiting for book three. I have said this before, but I want to say it again here, that I will be writing book three as soon as I’m able. My editor for the Angelology series left my publisher, and the publisher cancelled the series, leaving me nowhere to publish the final book. But I am looking into self-publishing it! If this is something that you would like to see happen, let me know.

Thank you for sharing your week with me! I hope you are inspired to find beauty in your life and work.

Until next week,
Danielle Trussoni