The Good Stuff

"I was prince of the apple towns"

Hi, Friend.

I hope your week has been a good one. It’s been a busy one here. It started with the annual Smith family apple-picking trip, which always makes me think of “Fern Hill.”

Yes, I have bedhead, but I’m happy! The prince of the apple towns is allowed to have bedhead! Photo by my daughter, Violet.

On top of everything, it’s soccer season. My son has one practice and two games a week, so if you’re looking for me this fall, you will likely find me in a camp chair on the sidelines of a rec league game with a travel mug of coffee, trying not to fill up the proverbial swear jar. Some weeks, if the Columbus Crew is playing here at home, we have more days of soccer than of not-soccer. I love it—all of it—even though it’s made my calendar into that really fast part of Tetris where the pieces are just flying down from the top of the screen. Love and solidarity, fellow sports parents.

I have so much good stuff to share with you this week! Before we get to reading recs, I want to IMPLORE YOU to pick up the new Nada Surf record, Moon Mirror. It’s gorgeous. I wrote the bio for this record, which was an honor, and I’ll share it with you here.

Other music recs: MJ Lenderman’s Manning Fireworks, Quivers’ Oyster Cuts, and Woodland by Gillian Welch & David Rawlings.

Now, behold my current TBRS (to be read soon) pile:

• Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker

• Brother & Sister Enter the Forest by Richard Mirabella

• Without Her by Rebecca Spiegel

• I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman, translated by Sophie Mackintosh

Here are some new and forthcoming* poetry collections you need on your shelf and in your life:

• Outside the Joy by Ruth Awad

• A Walk With Frank O’Hara by Susan Aizenberg

• Soon and Wholly by Idra Novey

• Songs for the Land-Bound by Violeta Garcia-Mendoza (*pre-order for 9/24 delivery)

My favorite recent online finds: Carson Ellis on Andy Pizza’s podcast, talking about her new book (which, ahem, I recommended to you in my last Good Stuff post); this incredible four-star review of the new Nada Surf record by Rob Sheffield for Rolling Stone; this poem by Kathy Fagan; and the copious hilarious debate memes (rest assured, no one is eating pets here in Ohio).

After writing and reading all day, it’s good to get out of my own head and do something with my hands. For me this means being in the kitchen. I’ve made some of my kids’ favorites lately: easy cauliflower curry; a classic Dutch baby pancake with fruit compote; homemade mac & cheese; whatever-veggies-are-in-the-fridge pasta with homemade basil pesto; and black cocoa buttermilk bundt cake for dessert (we use this cocoa and skip the glaze, which just feels extra to me).

Along with fall cooking and baking comes fall television. IYKYK.

Also, exciting news! We’re in the process of planning my book tour for Dear Writer next April, and hopefully I’ll be in your neck of the woods. I’m so excited to share this book with you. Preordering is still one of the best ways to support writers and to give new books a chance at a bigger, longer life. Thank you.

What’s bringing you joy these days?

Wishing you more of it—
Maggie