C.J. Connor's Blog
August 8, 2022
August 2022 Update
Hello again! I took a brief hiatus on this newsletter over the summer because, simply put, I didn't have much to update you all on. Board to Death revisions have been trekking along with thankfully no more stress than I expected for my debut. It's an interesting experience writing for an audience for the first time. I'm a marketing writer by day so I'm used to that in some ways, but never before with fiction.
"What I Did This Summer"
*Went on my year-and-a-half-delayed honeymoon! My husband and I eloped in 2020 so I'm grateful we were finally able to celebrate our marriage with a vacation despite us not being newlyweds. Went to a pub. Finally got to see Phantom of the Opera at West End, something that my 12-year-old self could have only dreamed of.
*Visited the best bookshop in Utah, Under the Umbrella, and the best brownie shop Brownies! Brownies! Brownies! Both are queer-owned and worth checking out the next time you're in Salt Lake City!
*Turned 25 and subsequently had a quarterlife crisis when I got sick after going on a rollercoaster.
*Got a tattoo of The Fellowship to commemorate Tolkien-related podcasts and LOTR in general emotionally carrying me through the past few years. Including Bill the Pony.
*Many, many game nights--including one that lasted over 24 hours. Playing board games with my husband's friends is an experience.
*Joined a married couple D&D group in our neighborhood. So far have cancelled more sessions than we've played, so the usual D&D experience.
Recent, Current, and Upcoming Reads
Death by Bubble Tea (Jennifer J. Chow): A culinary cozy series starter taking place at an L.A. night market.
Search (Michelle Huneven): A novel told as if it were a memoir-in-recipes about a Unitarian Universalist congregation's year-long search for a new minister.
Chef's Kiss (Jarrett Melendez): A queer graphic novel about a college grad who finds fulfillment (and love) while working at a restaurant.
Love in the Time of Serial Killers (Alicia Thompson): A romantic comedy about a true-crime loving PhD candidate who falls for her new neighbor while coping with her estranged father's death.
In the Event of Love (Courtney Kae): A queer romance out August 30th about an events planner who returns to her hometown to fundraise for a Christmas tree farm owned by her former best friend (and crush)
-CJ Connor
"What I Did This Summer"
*Went on my year-and-a-half-delayed honeymoon! My husband and I eloped in 2020 so I'm grateful we were finally able to celebrate our marriage with a vacation despite us not being newlyweds. Went to a pub. Finally got to see Phantom of the Opera at West End, something that my 12-year-old self could have only dreamed of.
*Visited the best bookshop in Utah, Under the Umbrella, and the best brownie shop Brownies! Brownies! Brownies! Both are queer-owned and worth checking out the next time you're in Salt Lake City!
*Turned 25 and subsequently had a quarterlife crisis when I got sick after going on a rollercoaster.
*Got a tattoo of The Fellowship to commemorate Tolkien-related podcasts and LOTR in general emotionally carrying me through the past few years. Including Bill the Pony.
*Many, many game nights--including one that lasted over 24 hours. Playing board games with my husband's friends is an experience.
*Joined a married couple D&D group in our neighborhood. So far have cancelled more sessions than we've played, so the usual D&D experience.
Recent, Current, and Upcoming Reads
Death by Bubble Tea (Jennifer J. Chow): A culinary cozy series starter taking place at an L.A. night market.
Search (Michelle Huneven): A novel told as if it were a memoir-in-recipes about a Unitarian Universalist congregation's year-long search for a new minister.
Chef's Kiss (Jarrett Melendez): A queer graphic novel about a college grad who finds fulfillment (and love) while working at a restaurant.
Love in the Time of Serial Killers (Alicia Thompson): A romantic comedy about a true-crime loving PhD candidate who falls for her new neighbor while coping with her estranged father's death.
In the Event of Love (Courtney Kae): A queer romance out August 30th about an events planner who returns to her hometown to fundraise for a Christmas tree farm owned by her former best friend (and crush)
-CJ Connor
April 9, 2022
April 2022 Newsletter — Board to Death forthcoming from Kensington Books!
Hello! After a hiatus, my newsletter is back.
Book News: Board to Death Announcement
My debut cozy mystery Board to Death was acquired by Kensington in a two-book deal! Full of joy, family in all its forms, puns, and queer Salt Lake City culture!
This newsletter is a great place for updates, along with my Twitter and Instagram. You can also add it on Goodreads.
I keep having to pinch myself that this is actually happening, and with a project that I've put so much of my heart into. It makes me beyond happy, and I'm grateful for my agent Jessica Faust and editor Elizabeth Trout for believing in Ben's story.
I'm also thrilled to have announced my debut the same month as my agent sibling Michelle Cruz, whose mystery All The Lies We Cannot Tell is forthcoming from Crooked Lane Books.
Recommended Reads
March was a slow reading month for me. Not for any unpleasant reasons, thankfully! I'm an Author Mentor Match R9 mentor, and line edits with my mentee have kept me busy. Between that and starting Board to Death edits, I only had time to finish three books:
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd — Had to be careful where I read this one, as it would suck me for hours at a time. Highly recommended if you're in the mood for an innovative literary mystery.
A Killing in Costumes by Zac Bissonnette — A queer cozy series debut. My favorite cozy mysteries are the ones that immerse you in an interesting subculture. A Killing in Costumes accomplishes that well for Hollywood antiques. It compelled me to keep reading not only because I wanted to know who the killer was—which was a very satisfying reveal—but because I wanted to learn more about that world.
The Autobiography of Mr. Spock by Uma McCormack — Enough said. Man, I love Spock. I keep telling my husband that this is shaping up to be my "Star Trek Summer" and I stand by that.
Until Next Time!
My husband and I end every day by listing at least one or two things that we're grateful for. Doesn't have to be from that day, can be anything going on in our lives. I thought I'd do the same here:
It's finally warm enough for my dog Yoda to bask outside. Days like that are the happiest I've ever seen her.
I've been biking and lap swimming again with the change in weather. It's lifted my mood and helped with my OCD considerably. I love being able to forget about everything I need to do or am worried about and just focus on swimming for an hour.
Until next month!
—CJ
Book News: Board to Death Announcement
My debut cozy mystery Board to Death was acquired by Kensington in a two-book deal! Full of joy, family in all its forms, puns, and queer Salt Lake City culture!
This newsletter is a great place for updates, along with my Twitter and Instagram. You can also add it on Goodreads.
I keep having to pinch myself that this is actually happening, and with a project that I've put so much of my heart into. It makes me beyond happy, and I'm grateful for my agent Jessica Faust and editor Elizabeth Trout for believing in Ben's story.
I'm also thrilled to have announced my debut the same month as my agent sibling Michelle Cruz, whose mystery All The Lies We Cannot Tell is forthcoming from Crooked Lane Books.
Recommended Reads
March was a slow reading month for me. Not for any unpleasant reasons, thankfully! I'm an Author Mentor Match R9 mentor, and line edits with my mentee have kept me busy. Between that and starting Board to Death edits, I only had time to finish three books:
The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd — Had to be careful where I read this one, as it would suck me for hours at a time. Highly recommended if you're in the mood for an innovative literary mystery.
A Killing in Costumes by Zac Bissonnette — A queer cozy series debut. My favorite cozy mysteries are the ones that immerse you in an interesting subculture. A Killing in Costumes accomplishes that well for Hollywood antiques. It compelled me to keep reading not only because I wanted to know who the killer was—which was a very satisfying reveal—but because I wanted to learn more about that world.
The Autobiography of Mr. Spock by Uma McCormack — Enough said. Man, I love Spock. I keep telling my husband that this is shaping up to be my "Star Trek Summer" and I stand by that.
Until Next Time!
My husband and I end every day by listing at least one or two things that we're grateful for. Doesn't have to be from that day, can be anything going on in our lives. I thought I'd do the same here:
It's finally warm enough for my dog Yoda to bask outside. Days like that are the happiest I've ever seen her.
I've been biking and lap swimming again with the change in weather. It's lifted my mood and helped with my OCD considerably. I love being able to forget about everything I need to do or am worried about and just focus on swimming for an hour.
Until next month!
—CJ
