In September
It’s Quiet People New Year!
Glorious clouds of inky elderberries to celebrate September
Over on my full newsletter, The Clearing, there’s a new subscriber giveaway box - see what’s inside below - and all annual subscribers there receive my free ebook, Notes & Fragments • My latest podcast episode: Elise Loehnen, plus a Mini-Break bonus listen about summer holidays, Icelandic dreams and the Edinburgh Fringe.
September! Finally. There’s a breath of coldness in the air, even when the sun’s shining. I’ve been rained upon, and it feels good. I don’t know what to tell you: my birthday month just happens to be the best month. I’m sure I couldn’t possibly be biased.
I notice that all the slightly geeky people get excited at this time of year. We hold a cellular memory of the school term starting again, and with it the promise of fresh stationery and new textbooks, the chance to make a mark on a blank page. The antiseptic scent of blue ink and the pristine sharpness of a tin of pencils. Everything clean and ordered, expectant. The world is ours for the taking.
This must surely be how New Year feels to the folk who like to party their way out of December, emerging in January with a hungover sense that this year must be better. For the quiet people, the year started long before, on the starched cusp of autumn. It’s a far gentler transition, based not on the need for reform, but on hope. This year, maybe, we will do better. This year, maybe, we will capture something transcendent in the clatter of everyday life.
There’s a little bit of fear in these days, too. Who will we be in this expectant year? What will be asked of us? September may be bittersweet, but it is at least a soft landing. We are ushered into the next phase with gentle hands. We begin again.
Happy New Year! How are you celebrating?
What I’ve been up to
I spent August in motion. First Ireland, then Edinburgh for the Fringe (you can hear why I love this festival so much in my latest Mini-Break), then down to Devon to watch the sea. I’ve rarely been so itinerant in all my life, but after a couple of cramped years, I was desperate to roam. Writers need to drink in the world, one way or another. I could drink whole oceans right now.
Meanwhile, I’m busy preparing for my book launch in March. As I write, boxes of pages are sitting in my hall, waiting for me to sign. These are what’s known as tip-in pages, and they’ll go back to America to be bound into exclusive copies for indie bookstores (which is a very good reason to order from your friendly local bookseller if you can).
New/Renew Subscriber giveaway
We have a new box is ready to give away to one lucky person who starts or renews a year’s paid subscription to The Clearing in September.
This one contains a copy of the new edition of Gaining Ground by Joan Barfoot, a signed copy of Wintering, a refillable ink pen, Writer’s Blood ink, Blackwing pencils, and a gorgeous notebook, plus exclusive Clearing postcards, bookmarks and stickers. We’ll pick a winner at random at the end of the month.
Congratulations to Eileen, who won August’s new subscriber draw!
And thank you to Gemma, July’s winner, who shared this photo with us (we love seeing your photos!).
Coming up
Our next Book Club
Gaining Ground
For this month’s group read, I’ve chosen Gaining Ground by Joan Barfoot. I’ll tell you more about it in the Library going live on The Clearing on Friday 11 September, but I wanted to let you know to grab a copy if you’d like to read along.
A bit more advance warning: next month, in-keeping with the spooky season, we’ll be reading Christina Rosetti’s Goblin Market.
September’s online retreat
Saturday 19th September, 4-6pm UK time
After a summer break, The Retreat is back!
Join us over on The Retreat for two hours of immersive rest, reflection and gathered space. We’ll be continuing with the Septemberish vibe with meditations, prompts and creative inspiration that help you to sense your way into this cusp of autumn. If you need a little break to calm your nervous system, join us!
September notions
I’ve missed you, socks. Let’s never be parted again.
But not feeling ready to bid farewell to sandals yet. Socks and sandals? It works in the Toast catalogue, so why not on me?
Festoons of elderberries in the hedgerow. (I ferment them in honey with chilli, garlic and ginger for an excellent cold remedy). Plus the sight of fiery rowan berries.
Sashiko embroidery. White on deep indigo blue. Lovely.
Staring at the sea instead of looking at my phone.
Carrying around a tiny jar of Neal’s Yard Wild Rosehip balm because the smell is so cheering.
Considering knitting something, maybe.
Knowing I won’t finish it.
Not really minding. It’s all about the process, after all.
Until next month, take care,
Katherine
