I Wrote a Book (!!!) and I Can’t Wait to Tell You Everything

Hi friends,

Well, here we are. I’m writing this on a hot as Hades Sunday afternoon with a large espresso and a biscotti wishing it was a cool fall morning, but we don’t really get those until December here in Los Angeles. Many of you may already know, but those that are new friends or my podcast listeners: I wrote a book—and it’s actually going out into the world very, very soon.

This newsletter is where I’ll be sharing the behind-the-scenes journey of that book—what it took to write it, what I’m learning now as a debut author, and all the messy, magical, and maddening moments in between. Whether you're a reader, a fellow writer, or just here for the vibes, I’m glad you're with me. I cannot wait to share the very first lesson that has become a very real necessity: boundaries. I’ll be sending that out this week—stay tuned. ;)

I still cannot believe I am saying this out loud, but my debut novel

Vicious Cycle is being published by Thomas & Mercer and will debut in like 6 weeks, October 21! It’s a crime/thriller story that I wrote in the cracks of my life—many early mornings, late-late nights, lunch breaks, and every Saturday and Sunday. And it took years, because a debut does take years. It’s not just getting to an agent and to publishing—it’s getting to perfection…which we all know doesn’t exist, but writers will try.

ADDITIONALLY…I’ll be sharing more about book 2 soon (Cover Reveal! Title! And definitely the playlist!), but today I just wanted to start with something simple:

Thank you.

Thank you for being curious. For opening this email. For being here. Whether we’ve known each other forever or you just stumbled across this Substack, I want you to know how much it means to me to have readers.

What You Can Expect Here

I’ll be writing once a month (more often as needed). Here’s what I plan to share:

• The writing process — what it really took to finish this book (and start the next).

• Publishing realities — from getting an agent to the weird limbo of “waiting for blurbs.”

• Book recommendations — because I’m a reader before anything else.

• The emotional side — imposter syndrome, tiny wins, creative burnout, boundaries, and how I’m navigating all of it.

If there’s anything specific you’d love to hear about, hit reply or leave a comment. I’m figuring this out as I go.

Thank you again for being here. Truly. This journey is already more meaningful because I get to share it and that is so cool.

All the best,

Jaime Parker Stickle

Debut Author, Human Being, Book Nerd, Mom, Professor, Podcaster, Wife, Dog-Obsessed, and so much more…aren’t we all?