New York, New York!

+ a TAKE IT FROM THE TOP playlist!

The other day, my kids were going feral.

(Let’s be clear: this is not rare.)

It was just one of those days where nobody would listen, everyone hated each other, and the crabbiness was out of control. Nobody wanted to play outside or read or play Uno. I couldn’t muster up the energy for a Target run or playground adventure or library escapade. Nobody would eat a meal, but everyone wanted four granola bars. The oldest two were fighting over who was looking at the other the longest (?!) and the toddler was shrieking bloody murder because neither of them would let her ruin their elaborate Lego creations. They cried. I cried (in the pantry).

And then the next day, I was sipping my piping hot coffee from my favorite ceramic mug when I realized: they were playing in harmony.

Even better: playing in harmony *without me*!

I would usually take that time to answer emails (more likely) or dust something (less likely) but instead, I flipped through one of my favorite coffee table books on Beatrix Potter’s illustrations and let them make up some wild game about Knights. They emerged from the basement in full dress-up regalia and it was like something out of a 60s sitcom. Just three smiling, happy children with clean teeth and fondness for their siblings.

What did I do differently? Absolutely nothing. There is no rhyme or reason to the wills of the Swinarski children. There are factors, sure—good weather, a protein-rich breakfast, a good night’s sleep. But at the end of the day, there’s an unpredictable element to parenting that can’t be pinned down. I simply can’t force a good day, nor can I prevent the bad ones. I can’t plan for delight; I can only make space for it and receive it joyfully when it arrives.

I’m learning that this is very similar to writing.

I might have all of the best intentions. The iciest cold brew. The firmest plot outline. The best-planned childcare. And I can still have a terrible, no-good, very bad writing day. My sentences are clunky and my characters are strangers. I consider texting my dentist friend and asking if I can become his receptionist¹.

But that doesn’t mean I’ll have a bad writing day tomorrow. Tomorrow, the words might leap off the page, and I might find a pace that sings. There’s an element of magic² to writing that can’t be tamed. I can’t plan for creativity; I can only make space for it and receive it joyfully when it arrives.

I’m so grateful that I got a chance to attend the 2024 Edgar Awards.

While I was disappointed we didn’t come away with the win for Rachel, one of the authors there told my editor to stop looking at me like a kicked puppy and it made me cackle. Honestly, the chance to go to New York City for a couple of days, stay in a fancy hotel with a view of Times Square, and creepily ask Colton Whitehead for a picture was the experience of a lifetime. I’m proud of my fellow 2020 debut Adrianna Cuevas for her win (and honestly…us 2020 debuts deserve ALL THE THINGS 💀) and I’m grateful for my job. Sorry to the guy whose program I stole who LET ME KNOW. Won’t happen again. (Can’t take me anywhere, I swear!)

It’s giving fangirl.

Adrianna was a gem. Check out her EDGAR AWARD WINNING book!

Guys! That’s RL Stine.

I love, love, love being on team HarperCollins. My editor, Alyssa Miele, has been with me for five middle grade novels and I couldn’t be more grateful.

In Take It From The Top News:

I love a good book playlist.

Music helps me get into a story in such a deep way. It’s not always a direct correlation; it isn’t like my stories are inspired by lyrics or follow the paths of albums. It’s more like a feel I get from a song that I end up slowly pressing into my books. It might be one line, it might be one refrain, it might even just be the aesthetic. But each of my books has playlists that I listened to constantly while writing them. While I’m actively writing—like painting scenes, crafting dialogue, etc.—I prefer a little Gryffindor common room ASMR. But if I’m driving around trying to figure out a plothole, going on a long walk while in the thick of a deadline, or trying to discern why, exactly, a certain character isn’t working, these are the playlists I turn to. If you’re thinking, this is the most eclectic group of songs I’ve ever seen in my life…you would be 110% correct.

The Take It From the Top Playlist:

Daughters by John Mayer

Bigger Than the Whole Sky by Taylor Swift

A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman

Home by American Authors

If I Didn’t Believe In You from The Last Five Years

Uncharted by Sara Bareilles

Rain On My Parade by Lea Michele

You and I by Ingrid Michaelson

Long Live by Taylor Swift

Wait Till You See My Smile by Alicia Keys

Wait For It from Hamilton

Wherever You Will Go by Charlene Soraia

Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

…and the entire Wicked soundtrack, for obvious reasons. 😉

If you’re even slightly interested in reading Take It From the Top, it would mean the absolute world to me if you would consider a preorder. The book releases 11/19³. It involves former besties on the outs, a healing father/daughter relationship, a first crush, and about a million and one theater puns.

And lastly, a book I’ve loved lately for…

Kids: Snowman - Cold = Puddle: Spring Equations by Laura Purdie Sales was a really fun springtime read.

Middle graders: I’m absolutely loving Keeping Pace by Laurie Morrison, who I personally believe is the queen of contemporary, realistic middle grade. It’s the story of two competing overachievers, but it’s also a node to novels-in-verse, which I adore.

Adults: I finally picked up The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. It’s my first of hers, but I can see why she’s so popular! It’s the story of two siblings over five decades, and how their shared childhood trauma affects them throughout their lives.

Thanks for reading along!

-Claire-

1. This is my what-if-I-wasn’t-a-writer daydream job

2. I’m a believer, so I actually think this is the Holy Spirit’s way of working through our gifts…but man, he works in wild ways!

3. The same day as the What Happened to Rachel Riley paperback!