How Do We Choose?
Dear Friends and Readers,
I’m writing from the North Carolina mountains (where my next novel, 2027, is set) and I’m sitting quietly staring at the morning light falling on leaves, wondering if I should write you a letter, work on my novel, take a walk, or keep drinking coffee and staring at the dancing leaves. I chose this: write you a letter about all my choices lately (while also staring at the forest and drinking coffee)—life is full of both/and.
My dog Winnie is staring at me because she isn’t happy with this choice, but the walk is coming soon.
So, how do we choose — what to read or do or how to spend our day or even our hours in the car? So much pressure. AGH what if I make the wrong choice? I make myself crazy with these things, including —What book to read next? What movie or podcast or phone call? What if I waste my time?
Sheesh, PCH, calm down. There are many experiences, not always a right or wrong (someone wiser than me once said that, but I can’t remember who).
So, you do you, and make all your own choices. Here are some of mine lately.
My Choices Lately
I spent Mother’s Day with one of my three wild kids, and with my own mother — it was slow and sweet and lovely.
I’m…
Working on the final polishes for the new novel that comes out in 11 months (I’d say the days, but you’d think me obsessive?). Refreshing my email for the new cover and working on surprises, videos, and conversation guides.
Cleaning out, organizing, Shoveling out my office for a renovation. Before and after photos to come. Right now I am appalled at the number of things I’ve saved. For example: I have twenty-five years of name tags for author events. I mean, not all of them but…
Watching The Count of Monte Cristo on PBS. The actor who plays The Count was once Billy Dunne in Daisy Jones and the Six and it doesn’t hurt to watch him as well as a crazy great story I somehow missed in my high school era.
Reading a few pre-pub books, some of them for Friends & Fiction interviews (like Whistler by Ann Patchett — you are going to love it).
Working on my next Writer In Residence essay for Victoria Magazine (this one is about England and how I met “Joy” when I was there).
Preparing for an event in Connecticut at the Simsbury Public Library! COME VISIT ME if you are anywhere near. It’s my last event for a while until I join Mary Kay Andrews twice on her tour (on June 3rd in Savannah & June 4th in Charleston).
And….did you catch my recent Substack interview with Jamie Lapeyrolerie about Becoming Mrs. Lewis for Inklings Week?
And now, for a walk because Winnie is staring pitifully at me with those big golden eyes.
Happy reading,
With Love,
Always,
PCH
Upcoming Events
I’ll be interviewing Kathryn Stockett about her new novel The Calamity Club at one of my very favorite indies — Page and Palette in Fairhope, AL — on Friday, May 15th. Get tickets HERE.
ABOUT PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY
New York Times Bestselling Author and Podcast Host
Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Globe and Mail bestselling author of seventeen novels and a podcast host. Patti is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly web show, podcast, and online community, Friends & Fiction.
She lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama with her husband. Her newest novel, The Story She Left Behind was released on March 18th, 2025.
Be sure to follow Patti on social media and visit her website for the latest updates & announcements and appearances!
Reading your notes and reminding me how much you accomplish gives me incentive to make a lust snd get moving! Love your books and look forward to the next.
How exciting to have a new novel set in our beautiful North Carolina mountains. I am looking forward to reading this book. For now, I will wait on the next two books from F&F authors from Oxford Exchange. Enjoy the cool temps of the mountains.