Finding North: November 2023
Plays, playing, a new story and a book rec š
Note: The recording above is a reading of this newsletter ā thereās no different content, and itās not produced, so youāll hear the occasional stumble, or sounds of daily life in the background. If youāre someone who needs or prefers to hear their news, then I hope itās helpful.
Hi there! Iām Amie Kaufman, NYT and internationally bestselling author of The Isles of the Gods, Illuminae, Aurora Rising, These Broken Stars, and many more books besides. This newsletter is the place to learn about my latest releases or events, and to follow along behind the scenes as I find my way through writing, and through life.
Hi, my friends.
Itās so good to be back with you! We missed a month there, and I genuinely missed writing to you! I really enjoy the chance to sit down and form my thoughts when I write my letter each month, and having heard from so many of you at events, I love imagining you reading it. My aim is for this monthly letter to be a sort of friendly, newsy, restful letter from a friend, that puts a couple of interesting new ideas in your head, and leaves you feeling like youāve had a chat.
Alas, I had a couple of migraines in a row just when I was due to write the last issue, and screens are not a good idea when thatās happening. I spend so much time talking about the importance of balance, so as I recovered, I didnāt push myself to get a newsletter out just because it was a particular date on the calendar.
Now weāre back in the saddle, letās jump in ā this month Iām talking about refilling my well with different kinds of art, ardently recommending a new book, and sharing news about a short story and more.

What Iāve Been Up To
Since last I wrote, Iāve been spending a lot of time refilling my well. For me, this isnāt just something to do when I start to feel tired, or worn out, or like my creative muscles are strained. Itās something I try to do in all aspects of my life, and that I try to do all year around ā itās a preventative, not just a cure. I did hand in my final revision of The Heart of the World, though (a title I still havenāt revealed publicly, but weāre all friends here) so Iāve been thinking a lot about refilling the tank.
One of my favourite ways to rest in every sense is camping ā so our family took off with some friends, and we hiked (gently), toasted marshmallows, admired the Milky Way, talked and daydreamed and ate some excellent fish and chips.

Another way I love to fill myself up with inspiration is by spending time with art that isn't what I do. When I read a book, a part of me will often be noting the clever thing the author just did, or pondering how I'd have tackled that twist. Iāll think about why I saw a particular moment coming, or didnāt ā and this isnāt to say that I canāt lose myself in a book, because I absolutely can, but Iām still reading it as an insider.
When I'm watching a play, though, or gazing at a painting, I'm entirely in the space of an admirer. I have no idea how they do what they do, so the pressure's off to figure it out. I can just soak it up, and daydream, and let myself play. Thereās a sense of being āoff dutyā that comes with no expectations.
Last month I went to see an incredible show in Melbourne called LOVE LUST LOST, with my friend Kate J. Armstrong ā I have no idea how, but somehow I scored an invite to the fancy opening night, and off we trotted. It was an incredible, immersive theatre experience inspired by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Little Mermaid. It was dark and weird and sexy, and at one point I legit nearly got a tattoo.
What I loved most about it was the lightness of there being no expectations of me at all. I wandered the abandoned hotel it was set in, I explored new rooms, I watched performers come and go, I marvelled at the scenery, and everyday life fell away completely. There was nothing I was meant to be doing, except experiencing it.
Thereās far too little chance for adults to play in their everyday life ā this is something I think about a lot. Those of you who read about the Barbie Bus Incident already know this. And the longer I think about it, the more important it feels to chase down chances to play at every opportunity. Anything could happen tomorrow ā sure, you need to do the laundry sometimes, but are you going to look back and wish youād folded it more neatly, or that youād soaked up something that inspired you?
If you have a favourite kind of art for this practice, Iād love to hear it ā Iām always adding to my list. Next up Iām going to try embroidery for the first time, so stand by for that joyful disaster!
What Iām Writing
Iām launching myself into copy edits for The Heart of the World this week ā I know I promised you a cover reveal, and itās coming as soon as possible! Itāll be worth the wait! Copy edits, for the uninitiated, are when a detail-minded soul who deserves a sainthood goes through the whole manuscript, pulling out grammatical errors, factual inconsistencies (āHer eyes were brown, earlierā) and looking for repetitious language or any other quirks the author might not have noticed.
It is absolutely vital to making sure a bookās as good as it can be, and it is my least favourite thing to do in the world. You name the personality test ā Myers Briggs, Enneagram, Clifton Strengths ā every one of them agrees that I hate really detail-oriented tasks. I want to be on to the next big idea! Now, I do my copy edits, and I do them perfectly, because I care so much about making sure my books are as good as I know how to make them. But gosh, I do not enjoy it one bit.

What Iāve Loved Lately
This! This is what Iāve loved lately. The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi, by Shannon Chakraborty. My goodness, this book bowled me over. I listened to it on audio, and the two narrators were so good that I emailed my own audio producer (with whom I have become friends, after so many years and books and adventures together) to make sure he had them on his radar, because they elevate a genuinely fantastic book to even greater heights.
If youāre interested in the tale of a female pirate captain whoās past forty and has a bad knee and is definitely retired⦠but finds herself offered one last adventure (and if not, why not?) then this one is for you. The book also muses beautifully on everything from being a working parent, to the way friendships can slide in adult life, to living alongside other faiths and how we tell stories about ourselves.
I donāt want to call it early, because there are still two months left in the year, but I think this book is going to sit alongside A Psalm for the Wild-Born by Becky Chambers (which I discussed in my August letter) with the two of them tied for my favourite book of 2023.
News and Events
Since last I wrote, Iāve had a short story out in a new anthology ā Meg Spooner and I had a blast retelling the story of Rapunzel in Let Down Your H.A.I.R., our contribution to Everything Under the Moon, a collection of queer fairytale retellings. For those of you who loved These Broken Stars, I can whisper that this story is secretly set in the same universe, after the conclusion of Their Fractured Light ā but no knowledge (or memory, if youāre like me) of the series is required to enjoy it.
I was also absolutely delighted to discover that The Isles of the Gods made the Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2023 list ā this kind of independent recognition really means the world, and Iām still smiling a week after I found out!
Thatās it for this month! Iāll be back in December, writing to you from Japan, as it happens ā Iām already looking forward to sharing one of my favourite places with you. Until then, take care, and happy reading!






I officially got Isles!!! (I know I'm late) but yeah
awesome!!!