Happy second Birthday to Ruby Finch Books! Starting this company has been a dream come true for me. I don’t need a significant milestone to feel celebratory, but I’m a big believer in marking important dates in our lives, so it’s a good opportunity to take stock and reflect.
In fall 2023, I released Jamesy Harper’s Big Break, my first novel under my new publishing imprint. I worked hard to get that book into libraries, independent bookstores, and into distributors like Library Bound. Then in fall 2024, I published Post Civ, the book I’ve longed to write for my entire life, and I’ve been so thrilled with the response from readers to this feminist climate novel.
In 2025, I’ve decided not to release a new book. I’m writing one now, and adapting Jamesy Harper into a screenplay, and by the fall I hope to be ready to start on Post Civ as a TV series. I’m developing my production company, Ruby Finch Pictures, and I’m so excited about where this new vision will take me.
I couldn’t have done any of this without my amazing Ruby Finch Books team, some of whom were friends when I started and now we’re all pals. Doing good work that I love with amazing people is definitely a dream come true. Thanks to everyone here, in this small Substack community, for believing in me as a writer, a teacher, and a friend. Here’s to all of us on Ruby Finch’s second birthday!
One-Word Feeling Check-In
How are you feeling right now, in one word? I’m feeling tender. I’m in a climate class this month, and learning so many interesting things with really fascinating people, but it can be heavy to carry these big worries. I’m practicing showing up for myself in a variety of different ways, particularly when I feel extra vulnerable or fearful about world events or shifts in my relationships and work life.
How are you feeling?
Two Year Anniversary Give-Away Winners!
Huge thanks to those of you who entered my Two Year Anniversary contest! Some of you subscribed to this newsletter (thank you!) and some suggested my books for purchase to their libraries (also, thank you!). If you are interested in reading more personal and vulnerable writing from me, I invite you to subscribe to my monthly posts via email on my author site.
With no further ado, the winners of my Two Year Anniversary contest are:
Doug G.
Lindsay C.
Wendy W.
I’ll email each of you to choose your prize: a Ruby Finch Books tote bag or a paperback or ebook novel of your choice (Post Civ or Jamesy Harper’s Big Break)!
Book Corner
I’m into my summer re-read of battered paperbacks by the pool season, but I also read three books from the library that I enjoyed: Dear Writer by Maggie Smith, The Housekeeper by Joy Fielding, and We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle.
Dear Writer is focused mainly on poetry, but I find Maggie Smith’s writing to be so warm and comforting. Each page is like a sunbeam of encouragement and nurture. The Housekeeper is an easy and absorbing read about an employee who slowly takes over the entire family. And We Can Do Hard Things made me cry in several places. It’s a compilation of advice from smart people, mostly women, on the top twenty questions universal to human beings.
Write Your Novel or Memoir Online Class
I’m taking registrations now for my next Write Your Novel or Memoir class beginning October 19, 2025! If you’ve always longed to write a novel or a memoir and you want to do this work in a supportive and flexible literary community online, please come and join us. More info is on my Classes page and please email me if you have questions or would like to sign up!
Intuitive Courage Podcast
Episode 13 is called Choose Yourself. This came out of a conversation I had last month with my daughter about making decisions. As women, often we feel pressure to consider the other person’s reaction when we have choices to make, but I found myself giving her the advice I wish I had taken when I was in my early 20s.
Please have a listen on June 21st. What are some ways that you have chosen yourself recently?
Nurture Starts with You Online Class
The next Nurture Starts with You online class begins September 2nd and I really hope you’ll join us! Info is below and on my website under Classes. You deserve to make yourself a higher priority in life. When we nurture ourselves first, we can give care to others out of abundance, not out of a sense of resentment and lack.
I’m also continuing to teach The Writing Well classes monthly via zoom through Alexandra Writers’ Centre and I’m working one on one with writers for story nurture. If any of this interests you, please reach out and let’s chat!
TV Recs
Because the world is a scary place, we’re doing a comfort re-watch of Downton Abbey and it’s lovely to sink into a different century for an hour at a time. We found some excellent belly laughs in the second season of Conan O’Brien Must Go on Crave, and I loved the refreshing authenticity of midlife marriage in The Four Seasons on Netflix.
Jason did a lot of travel this past month, so I was looking for something to watch on my own and Sirens on Netflix fit the bill. I’ve had a crush on Kevin Bacon since I was a teen wearing out my VHS copy of Footloose, so this deliciously weird mini series about the incredibly wealthy felt like good soapy fun.
The Best Cats on the Planet: Ted & Pip (Quebec City Edition!)
I fell head over heels in love with Quebec City on our trip there in May. Sure, it rained nearly every day, but that didn’t take away any of the charm that the city is steeped in. Everywhere I looked I saw something beautiful that I wanted to stop and marvel at. I took around one billion photos, but chose a few of my favourites to share here.
It was hard to be away from my furry boys for eleven days, but between our cat sitter and my next door neighbour, they were spoiled and loved during our absence. I appreciated the photos and videos of Ted and Pippin that I received on our trip, and they both followed me from room to room upon my return, handing out snuggles and kisses like they were candy.
If you are looking for a stunning place to visit in our fabulous country of Canada, please consider Quebec City! I left a piece of my heart there, and one day I’ll go back.
Libraries forever,
Julianne and Ruby Finch Books