The Brunette who writes
A slight tweak to the branding here.
This is my fourth year on Substack, and it’s time for a change.
So I’ve tweaked the name and logo.
As you’ve seen over the past eight months especially, I’ve been slowly shifting away from writing exclusively about gardening to sharing my thoughts on healing through faith and science as well.
While it’s been rewarding to help people learn to garden and eat in a healthier way, the posts that have always resonated the most with readers are the ones that are less advice-oriented and more essayist in style. I suppose that’s not surprising since my academic training and career have been focused on writing, not horticulture. It’s not that you need to be a pedigreed expert or paid professional to talk about gardening, but I do best when I bend toward a wrestling kind of writing rather than bestowing advice.
While you’re likely to get more garden reflections from me in the future, I also think others have better how-to’s than I can give. I’ve recommended many of these Substacks to you over the years and will continue to point you to them. But I’m more interested in how gardening heals the soul.
Since I began taking this newsletter in a different direction when I returned in January after a long break, it’s been frankly rough with the membership numbers. While Substack seems to be hitting its limits, so my über-slow growth might have nothing to do with the new content, I’m aware this announcement might mean I lose some of you.
But I hope you’ll stick with me. Here’s where I’m going next.
Every book in the Bible
In what I hope will be a long-running series, I’ll continue to examine each book of the Bible for its healing insights. Especially if you’ve experienced real suffering, you might find these essays helpful, for their blend of personal experience and scriptural analysis. Here you’ll find the two essays in the series so far. Leviticus is up next, and that one, hoo yeah, it’s a challenge.
The Sound of Breaking Glass
That’s the working title of my finished memoir of 88,000 words. This manuscript is the result of more than two years of dedicated work and a mountain of personal growth and healing not just over that time but for decades: I wrote the first draft twenty years ago. I plan to share some excerpts exclusively with you in the future.
I’m also currently writing a followup to that work. You’ve already seen some of the early content for that book this year, and I’ll continue to give you a first look.
More chats, and maybe live video
I’ve really enjoyed the active conversation in the member chats, especially when you can join me in real time. Loneliness is a real killer, and many of us suffer for it, even when we’re very busy or sometimes even when we’re surrounded by people. Sharing thoughts and ideas with likeminded folk is worth more and more these days.
I’m mulling over a live component as well, as what I miss most about my old podcast is the interview aspect. I’ve been a podcast guest here on Substack and in the game-writing sphere, all positive experiences.
Some housekeeping
Along with the name and logo tweaks, I’ve updated the Welcome and About pages, along with the membership tiers. As this newsletter is constantly evolving, you could see more changes in the future.
New author website
In preparation for sending my memoir manuscript out to agents for consideration, I finally broke down and set up a bonafide author website. I’ve worked full-time as a game writer for the past 20 years, so I’ve always relied on my studio website instead. But now I’ve moved that to Substack, and here is the new LisaBrunette.com. I hope it looks all right to you.
Final words
I want to apologize to those of you who come here looking for gardening talk. I understand it might be disappointing to read that I’m widening out from that singular focus, but I hope you’ll stay for the voice you’ve come to know.
Personally, I’m excited to stretch out and write essays for you outside of the area of growing and eating produce. The memoir is close to the vest, and it feels like the most important story I’ve ever written. The essays on scripture come via prayer and divine guidance, and I hope they’re helpful. There’s more, too… I have a lot of ideas, though only maybe one in ten bear out enough to make it to this screen! 😉
What do you think of ‘Brunette Writes’? If you’re sticking with it, tell me why.
Until next time, here’s a mystery series to try out, my own Dreamslippers stories about a family of detectives who solve crime using their ability to slip into other people’s dreams…
This is Nancy. I will be sticking with you! People like to garden but they all also live complicated lives. You are providing the great gift of speaking on hard things through your honest examination of your own life. That gives me a feeling that I am not alone in my struggles and you offer comfort and love for us all. Please keep writing as long as it is good for you and your life!
This sounds fascinating! I'm especially looking forward to Bible part.