Happy Summer 2024!

...Time to Take a Break

Author

Sara Hamdan
July 08, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

It was so emotional saying goodbye to our children’s wonderful teachers… the end of a school year marks change, a time to take a breath before the next season…

… but is it just me who finds it hard to rest?

I wanted to share this note about consistency, about coming back to whatever brings you joy, and about the ability to take real breaks from your creative works, right now. Because we are at the brink of summer vacation. It’s wonderful to ignore bedtimes and travel to new places, but summer is also a time of broken routines, out-of-office messages, kids at home, visiting family - all the disruptions.

And that’s okay.

In the back of your mind, think about what it is you would love to do if you had time. And make a promise to yourself to step away from it and come back when you’re ready.

Breaks are healthy. I ideate. I let my mind wander, carry an empty notebook and fill it with scribbles of inspiration, let go of self-imposed deadlines. And I find that when I am back at my desk, I’m excited to write again.

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer vacation - I’ll keep sharing short newsletters, so stay in touch!

☀️ Read: Beach Reads 🏝️

Whether you’re going away for a beach or city break - or staying right here in a nicely air conditioned cafe in Dubai - here are a few escapist reads to get you in a summery mood: #beachread #summer2024

They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but when I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Cecilia Ahern at the Emirates LitFest 2024, I discovered she is just the loveliest person. I’ve been a fan for a very long time and had her sign a copy of one of her older books, The Gift, that has been on my bookshelf for years. This novel may be her best yet, featuring a woman who sees other people’s emotions as colors. As someone who is very guided by intuition and loves to ‘read a room,’ I found this concept fascinating. My favorite scene is of the main character looking at a married woman who walks around in a happy pink cloud, while her husband’s aura is moody and dark. Beautiful story full of emotion.

Shadows in the Moonlight by Santa Montefiore

I’ve read so many of Santa Montefiore’s books over the years - she has written a novel a year for nearly two decades. I mean… #goals. We also share a wonderful agent (hello, Sheila!). I was excited to add Santa’s latest to my TBR pile. Shadows in the Moonlight features an unlikely heroine in Pixie Tart, who discovers a secret that takes her back to a 100 year old mystery in the moody Cornish coast.

I’ve been waiting for this amazing pandemic project to be available. Set in NYC’s Lower East Side, each character in the building is written by a different famous author. Think Margaret Atwood, Celeste Ng, John Grisham and a dozen more. The characters bring chairs to the rooftop and trade stories as COVID blankets the world.

In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander

Neely Tubati Alexander and I have the same wonderful editor at Holt (hello, Micaela!) and I loved Neely’s first book, Love Buzz. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her latest romantic comedy. In a Not So Perfect World is about a game designer who gets invited on an all-expenses paid trip to a splashy Turks and Caicos resort. The catch? She has to pose as a fake girlfriend of a guy who is trying to make his ex jealous. Caribbean setting, romantic trope, witty writing? This ticked all the boxes for a breezy summer read.

48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

Okay, a study of 3,000 years of “power” may not scream “summer read” to you, but hear me out. This groundbreaking book is amusing in its advice. There’s a self-centered, Machiavellian focus on manipulation - how to persuade anyone to do what you want. This is fascinating for me as a people-pleaser, but also as a writer who enjoys creating strong characters. Think A-hole tech CEO (Social Network), controlling family matriarch (Emily in Gilmore Girls)… endless inspo.

Write: (Or Don’t)

It’s hard to keep going when you start a new project.

It’s really, really hard to keep at it for years.

How long did it take me to go from idea to published novel? A full 10 years.

And while some people may not willingly promote that fact, I tend to mention it every chance I get.

That’s because there are a million (logical) reasons to stop. In my case: a pandemic, having two children, demanding jobs, grieving over loss of loved ones, playing referee when my kids fight… the list goes on and on.

So what keeps you going? How can you stay motivated? Is passion enough? And – most importantly – when do you know when to walk away or take breaks?

The answer is… I don’t know. What I do know is that if you truly love it, it will find a way to creep back into your life. I only kept going because writing made me happy. I didn’t overthink it – I couldn’t NOT write. I just kept… typing.

And eventually I got “lucky” because I was so over-prepared. And now I can shout from the rooftops about getting a landmark book deal and how wonderful it is to be on the road to getting published.

So take a cue from me and take a break this summer. Recharge, enjoy time with family and friends, slow down… and you’ll feel so excited to get back to it in the fall.

Inspire: Dubai’s Best Comedians Do London

My fave comedians are performing in a swanky theater called Cadogan Hall in London on July 25 - get tickets here before they sell out! www.dmw.show

Countdown to My Novel’s Publication Day:

Timer from emailcountdowntimer.com

Thanks for reading! See you next week!

With kindness,

Sara