Finding North: October 2025

On wonder and why it matters. 💫

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.

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Hi there! I’m Amie Kaufman, NYT and internationally bestselling author of The Isles of the Gods, Illuminae, Aurora Rising, Lady’s Knight, These Broken Stars, and many more. 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.

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Hi, my friends.

I am freshly returned from the most wonderful trip to Japan, and everything feels different. The break from my usual routine, the food, the art, the company — it was the rest I needed, on every level.

This month I’m talking about some of what I found while I was away — art, wonder, inspiration, and questions without answers.

I’m going to be back in your inboxes next week with an exciting reveal and giveaway for UK readers, so keep an eye out for that!

In this letter:

• On searching for wonder

• What I’m working on

• A book recommendation

• Upcoming events (including one tomorrow!)

My favourite sign in Japan was this one in Nara, warning about the behaviour of the local deer, especially if you’re holding deer biscuits. They weren’t kidding.

What I’ve Been Up To

This was my fifth trip to Japan, so you know I love it there. We have friends in Tokyo who are like family, and it’s wonderful to see them. We have a neighbourhood that’s familiar to us, full of stuff we love. And having spent plenty of time there before means we’re free to get off the beaten track (though you can be sure the six year old got her trip to Disney) and to take some downtime as well.

This beautiful, quiet room was in Nara, and looked out over lake and temple.

The truth is that the last twelve months have been some of the hardest of my life. I’ve had some very sad things happen, and I’ve had some real health blows. I’m grateful to be leaving those moments behind now, but at the end of this rough run, my well has been really empty. Last time we were in Japan, I wrote you a letter about how I use trips like this to fuel my worldbuilding. This time, I knew exactly what I hoped to find: wonder.

For me, wonder comes from art and from nature more than anything. From filling up my heart and soul and mind with amazement, and having no purpose in what I’m doing other than opening myself up to that. Exploring and embracing wonder isn’t about seeking answers to specific questions — just taking it all in. Exploring new places, gazing at art I never could have created, finding out what’s around the next bend, slowing down to notice the little things. Chasing wonder is so important, and so good for us on every level.

We visited projects by TeamLABS in both Tokyo and Osaka. The Tokyo installation was a huge series of rooms, all presented completely differently, all immersive in their own ways. They were light and dark, still and animated, large and small, and at every turn they presented something I wasn’t expecting.

My favourite part of this experience, though, was watching the way Pip experienced it. With absolutely no self-consciousness, she truly immersed herself in the art. She lay on the floor to see it from different angles. She climbed onto it. She twirled in circles and watched it go by fast and then slow. All things you’re allowed to do — but the adults rarely experience this place with their whole body.

In Osaka, the installation was outdoors — we walked through the botanic gardens, and a series of otherworldly scenes. I dreamed about giant dragon’s eggs and underwater forests, and I’m sure there were a thousand other daydreams going on all around me. Spotting all these story fragments, without any need to wrap them up into a neat plot, felt like the best kind of playtime.

And finally, we took a car, a train, a bus and a ferry to an island called Naoshima, which isn’t completely off the beaten track, but it’s certainly not on the main tourist trail. Naoshima is known for its incredible galleries, and featured the most amazing architecture I’ve ever seen. Priceless works of art, outdoor sculptures, narrow laneways with incredible coffee shops. A place you wander about, and take it in, and don’t try to answer specific questions — just experience what’s there. Just let the wonder in.

In many of the galleries you couldn't take pictures, but I loved this spot. My husband gazing up, and the view he was admiring. The sky was spectacular, framed like its own piece of art.

And finally, though I could talk about the trip forever, three more moments of inspiration.

1. I took Pip to the Sylvanian Families shop — her idea of heaven — and I said yes. And yes, and yes, and yes. I don’t know which of us loved it more, but it felt like breaking the rules, and I stored up the feeling of magic that came with it.

2. We visited the most unbelievably hip record store in the unbelievably hip neighbourhood of Shimokitazawa. This was the notice on the way in. At no point did the owner acknowledge my existence. His style was palpable, and I stored up the memory of it. He’ll show up in a story one day.

3. A moment to stop when we should have been rushing, and indulge in the lightest, airiest cake. I can still summon the memory of the taste.

Even though the trip was busy, and I walked 20,000 steps a day, and it was unseasonably hot so we were sweating all the time, and I often had to pause my wonder to wrangle a six year old, my cup is still overflowing. It’s like the tired can’t touch me, because my well is full again. I plan to hold onto this feeling — and revisit those moments of wonder — for a long time.

What I’m Writing

Thank you all so much for the enthusiastic response to last month’s cover reveal for the US edition of Red Star Rebels! I can’t wait to share the UK cover with you next week! (And there might well be a giveaway, so open that email!)

I’ve been doing much behind-the scenes work on Red Star Rebels, which I’m really hoping you’ll enjoy. If you’re an Illuminae or Aurora Rising fan, this one is definitely for you. If you’re an Isles of the Gods fan, and loved Selly and Leander’s dynamic, you’ll fall for Hunter and Cleo. In fact, so many common threads run through so many of my stories, that I think no matter which books of mine you’ve picked up previously, you’ll have a good time coming to Mars with me.

To which end, I would love to share with you this excellent graphic from Isabel Ibañez, whose work I always preorder.

If you’re inclined to preorder Red Star Rebels, you can find the US links here, and if you’re in the UK, you might find the book lurking at your nearest online retailer as well! I would also love for you to add it on Goodreads.

I have so much planned for the rest of this year, in terms of writing. I’m going to draft most of a YA novel (which will be my 2027 release), draft a smaller story with a friend, and write and present an academic paper at a conference as part of my PhD program. (Which I have not written yet, but I believe in me.) I’m feeling renewed, and looking forward to all of it.

But mostly, in terms of what I’m writing, I want to start talking to you about Red Star Rebels — why I love it, why I hope you will, and so on. We’re only four months out from release! Please leave a comment and let me know what you’d like to hear about — there’s a good chance you’ll see it in a future newsletter!

What I’ve Loved Lately

Right now I’m reading a lot of books about space, prepping for the book I’ll release in 2027. One of my recent favourites has been Spaceman by Mike Massimino, the story of his journey to becoming an astronaut. He’s so open and honest, sharing every time he tripped up, fell on his face, got it wrong, or didn’t measure up — and I came away from the story with nothing but the deepest of admiration for the fact that none of these moments ever tempted him to step off the incredibly challenging path he’d set for himself.

The story he tells about his personal journey, and the NASA he was a part of, is really inspiring, and a reminder of how important institutions like this are for all of us. I listened on audio, and as is almost always the case, having the author narrate added to the story — he does a great job.

News and Events

Award news: I am so, so honoured to announce that The Isles of the Gods won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Young Adult Literature! These awards are decided by the Mythopoeic society, an organisation that studies mythopoeic literature, particularly that of Tolkien and the Inklings.

The trophy… well, you probably heard me squealing wherever you were, when I opened it. The trophies for these awards are called “Aslans,” and they are hefty. Mine is in pride of place on the bookshelf.

(this is where I was to insert a picture of the trophy, but then I had to fly to a literary festival (where I am finishing this newsletter) and I forgot, so instead I am inserting a promise to give you a picture next time.)

Event news: I’m so delighted to announce I’m currently at Brisbane Writers Festival. I’ll be appearing on Friday Oct 10th at 7:30pm with Lynette Noni, chaired by Alex Adsett and talking about romance of all types. There aren’t many tickets left, but you can grab yours here. There’ll be a signing afterwards.

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That’s it for this month — you’ll see me next week for a cover reveal, and then in November I’ll start telling you more about Red Star Rebels. Please do leave a comment and let me know what you’d like to know about my new space book!

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