I'm staring out my window as I write this, wondering if there's a dry comfy spot outside where I could take my laptop to work.

This morning started overcast, the kind of sunrise that appears gradually, not with a ball of orange lifting on the horizon, but instead like an unseen hand gently turning up the brightness. Now, the clouds have scattered and the sky is blue, dotted with yellows leaves floating down. Through the screen door, I can hear the crows cawing, and the thunk of acorns landing on our porch roof, dropped by the wind or the squirrels scurrying through the oak tree.

I've already been out half a dozen times-- to feed the cats, to check the water bowls, to take a picture of my garden, to look at a squirrel, to sip my coffee, to just stand and breathe for a minute-- and it's not even midday. If I could fold up the walls of this room, keep all my books and notes in place but let the breeze play through and trade the rug for a carpet of leaves, I'd do it.

Finally, finally the season is changing, and I am more than ready. Bring on the campfires and cups of hot chocolate. Give me sweatshirts and scarves, wool socks and wood smoke. It may be two months late according to the calendar, but I'm celebrating the coming of fall.

Anyone else celebrating with me?

With gratitude,

Carie

New Ghostly Tales

I have a new book coming out in 2026! I'm thrilled to announce I'll be adapting Haunted Bar Harbor by Jennifer Pictou and D. Michael Fleming into my 6th Spooky America book for middle grade readers. The Ghostly Tales of Bar Harbor will be published this spring. I can't wait to share the eerie encounters of this tourist town and use inspiration from my own visit there this summer.

Prize Poems

I'm delighted to share that three of my poems won first place prizes in the Poetry Society of Texas Annual Awards. "The Search," "Between the Branches," and "Immersed" will be published in the 2026 edition of A Book of the Year, which will come out next summer. Thank you, PST!

NTXWC's New Home

Squeak, quack, chitter, and applaud! The North Texas Wildlife Center has a new home! After months of searching, fundraising, and meeting with city officials, the organization where I volunteer has found a new property, so they can continue to help animals like this injured goose. There's still much work to be done, but they hope to be in the new facility by February. Read about it here.

In addition to Haunted Bar Harbor, I'm also reading The Bletchley Riddle, a historical fiction middle grade novel by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin about a pair of brother and sister codebreakers in London during World War II, trying to thwart Hitler and find out what happened to their mother. In some ways, the book reminds me of Max in the House of Spies by Adam Gidwitz, (<-- amazing book) but so far this one has more humor and lightness in its storytelling.

Some readers are confused about the difference between my blog and my newsletter, which is understandable because both appear in your inbox from time to time. Let me try to clear things up.

Blog posts are anecdotes or thoughts about one topic, such as our trip to Maine or the closing of my favorite coffee shop. They're published on my website, where anyone has access, but people who subscribe to my blog also get an email when I post.

Newsletters include a short story or message at the top, followed by news, announcements, updates, and what I'm reading. They're only emailed to subscribers, but can later be viewed by anyone when I share the link online.

*THIS* is my newsletter. If you received it in your email, you're a subscriber. Congrats! If you also got an email titled "My Wild Wild Ways," you're subscribed to my blog, too. Double congrats! I don't usually share both on the same day, but I did this time to help people differentiate between the two.

Thank you for following along on my writing (and life) journey. You can unsubscribe from either or both at any time and there will be NO hard feelings on my part, unless you're my parents.

Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday greetings on Halloween! (Or Halloween greetings on my birthday.) I was too busy at the end of the month to send an update, but I had a blast with my October festivities and enjoyed having lots of occasions for dressing up. If you have a pic of your costume, I'd love to see it! Just reply to this email.