Finding North: March 2023

Preorder info + abandoned buildings 🏛

Note: The recording above is a reading of this newsletter — there’s no different content, and it’s not produced, so you’ll hear the occasional stumble, or sounds of daily life in the background. If you’re someone who needs or prefers to hear their news, then I hope it’s helpful.

Hi, my friends.

Life is getting busier here at Château Kaufman, as the release date for The Isles of the Gods bears down on us.

It’s at this point in the publishing cycle that the upcoming book tries to draw all my attention — every day there are questions to be answered, there is publicity work to be done, and it would be easy to descend into a frenzy.

For many years I did, but at the decade mark of my publishing career, I’ve finally learned to do things differently. Instead, I’m doing my best to simply enjoy the countdown. I’ve been working on this book for over a decade, the early reviews are amazing, and I just can’t wait for you to read it.

Speaking of that, MAKE SURE you read the section under ‘what I’m writing’, below. I have time-sensitive preorder information for you all, and I want you to be ready!

I sail every Thursday night. Last week, instead of joining the race like we were supposed to, we dropped anchor and went for a swim off the back instead, and it was glorious. You don’t always have to do what you’re supposed to do.

What I’ve Been Up To

It’s been a gorgeous month, full of inspiration. I spent some of it on writing retreat in my van—this was my office view each day. I’d write for a few hours, and then take a break by walking along the beach into the nearby town, which was (by sheer coincidence) home to an amazing gelato shop. Then back along the beach before some more words in the evening.

I’m heading on retreat again in a couple of days, with my friend P.M. Freestone (who writes

The Greenhouse with PM Freestone

, a newsletter I love) and those of you who follow me on instagram can expect to see more writing at the beach in my stories.

The best office view in the world.

I’ve also been filling my bucket in other ways. I went with my husband and sister to a gig for one of my favourite bands, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. They’re a punk supergroup, made up of a rotating cast of musicians from NOFX, The Ramones, the Foo Fighters, Lagwagon and piles of other bands. You haven’t lived until you’ve heard punk covers of Blowin’ in the Wind, Take Me Home Country Road, Stand By Your Man, Uptown Girl.

Some days, screaming along at the top of your voice to live music is exactly what you need.

On a more thoughtful note, I visited a gorgeous exhibit by Rone here in Melbourne. We have a disused space above our main city train station, and working with an incredible team, he created a walk-through art installation that reflected on the city’s past. It was immersive and inspiring, and I didn’t want to leave.

The abandoned spaces felt as though whoever worked there had simply walked away, and never returned.

What I’m Writing

Usually in this part of the newsletter I talk about the stories I’ve been working on lately. Let me say this time that the answer is The Isles of the Gods 2 (no, it still doesn’t have a title) and get onto the big writing-related news I want you to hear.

I surveyed readers on instagram about what they’d like to see as an Isles of the Gods preorder incentive—an item they can claim as a thank-you for preordering the book. They had lots of answers: art prints, signed book plates, enamel pins, digital extras, online spoiler chats with me.

I decided to do all of the above.

For readers from the US, UK and Australia, there’ll be a two-tier offering. There’ll be a limited number of enamel pins available on a first-in, best-dressed basis (those first tier readers will also receive everything else), and then the second tier will score you a signed bookplate, five (5!) art prints, and access to the digital offerings.

In the US, even after the first tier is gone, the art prints and bookplates will be available to all comers.

Readers in the UK and Australia should be aware that we’ve only got a limited number of items from both tiers — my publishers in those countries have agreed to match the US offer, but it’s just not feasible to do so in unlimited numbers. So you’ll want to be quick.

For international readers, you’ll be eligible for the digital offering, which will be a heavily annotated first chapter of Isles (I’ve already done it, and it has a LOT of detail) plus an invite to an online AMA with me, where we’ll discuss all things spoilery about the book. If you want to claim everything else, I recommend either teaming up with a friend in the US, or using a forwarding site like Shippit (this is not a specific recommendation, just an example) so you have a US address.

I’m going to give newsletter subscribers a 72 hour head start on claiming the tiered offering. You’ll receive the link to lodge your preorder in a special edition of this newsletter.

I’m planning to send that newsletter at:

Melb/Syd: 8am, Fri March 10th

USA EST: 4pm, Thurs March 9th

London: 9pm, Thurs March 9th

And finally — not for sharing, because it hasn’t been publicly released yet — here’s a peek at one of the art pieces. This is Laskia. She’s not one of the good guys. But you’re going to like her anyway. I sure do.

The artwork is by the incredible Nicole Deal. I’m obsessed with Nicole’s art, and when the drafting was tough on Isles, I’d tell myself that as a reward, I was going to commission her for original pieces to celebrate publication. They turned out better than I could ever have imagined.

Make sure you’ve preordered, and have that receipt ready to go when the newsletter arrives!

Meet Laskia. Or, if you’re smart, don’t meet Laskia. She’s dangerous.

If you’re ready to go, you can find preorder links right here, or wherever you like to buy your books.

Got a preorder question? Leave a comment, and I’ll do my best to answer.

What I’ve Loved Lately

This week, I’m celebrating the release of Nightbirds, by

Kate J. Armstrong

-- one of my favourite books of the year. If you're after a 1920s-tinged fantasy with incredible worldbuilding, a squad of girls who came here to sip cocktails and fight the patriarchy (and they've finished their cocktails) and an adventure you won't forget, pick up a copy. I truly loved this book.

News and Events

In March I’m heading off grid again on a multi-night hike, but from April onwards, my events calendar starts getting busy! If you’re in Australia, England, Ireland or Scotland, watch this space.

If you’re in the US, unfortunately after many different attempts to find a way to make it work with my travel calendar this year, I reluctantly have to confirm that I won’t be heading your way in 2023. I just couldn’t make it fit, and I’m sorry — I know a lot of you were hoping for tour dates this year. I’ll do my absolute best to see you in 2024, I promise.

For podcast listeners, Amie Kaufman on Writing will be returning to your ears in April — make sure you’re subscribed wherever you get your podcasts! And don’t forget to check out the latest episodes of

Pub Dates

, where we've been talking all things 1920s.

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That’s it for this issue — it’s been a big one! I’ll see you again in about a week with preorder material. I anticipate the first tier will go quickly, so make sure you’ve preordered, and be ready when the time comes!

If you use gmail, you’ll also find it helpful to drag this email from its place in the ‘promotions’ tab at the top, across to the ‘primary’ tab, so it doesn’t get lost among the advertisements.