Dispatch from Danielle Trussoni - November 2023

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Hello from the writing cave,

I moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico two years ago hoping to immerse myself in a new culture and find a sanctuary for my writing. I’ve found that one of my favorite times of the year is the Day of the Dead, when the streets are filled with orange marigolds, altars honoring the deceased, and gloriously garish costumes. During the Dia de Muertos the streets are full of parades and spirits rise through the air asking us to remember that we have just a short amount of time here on earth, and that death is long. 

Here are some of the highlights of Day of the Dead 

A window full of sweets:

An altar honoring the dead:

Hadrien standing before a row of papel picado (‘pecked paper’) a traditional Mexican craft:

My daughter had a dance performance and was in full Day of the Dead makeup:

I don’t know if you follow me on Instagram, but if you do, you’ve seen that I turned in my new novel The Puzzle Box! It was a huge moment for me, as it always is when I finish a book, but especially because it marks the first time I’ve written a novel in a year.  My amazing editor, Andrea Walker at Random House, read the draft and had notes for me right away, so I dove into the editing process, which is one of my favorite parts of writing.

#TruReaders

Last month I put out a call asking for anyone who was interested in being a TruReader Ambassador. We’ve had a great response, and a list of people who are interested in joining the fun. But I’d like to put out one more call to see if you’re interested.

As a member of this group, you will be invited to regular meetings with me and each other via Zoom, be the first to receive information on my projects, and exclusive advanced copies of my work, and other information about my projects. If you’re interested in being a part of this group, send me an email at dtrussoniassistant@gmail.com

Q&A

Finally, I opened the floor to my friends on social media again this month to take any questions about my new books or the writing/reading/publishing world at large. If you have a question you want me to answer, send an email to dtrussoniassistant@gmail.com

Q) How important is reading to be a good writer?

A) Reading is essential, and I don’t think that many writers become great writers without reading a lot. But there is something to be said for (as Henry Miller wrote, I think) ‘putting down novels and picking up a dictionary’ (I’m paraphrasing!). I read obsessively as a kid and teenager, and in my twenties I was always reading a few novels at a time. I worked in a bookstore, which fueled my addiction. But as I began to write, especially when I came to write every day, my time for reading became constrained. I’ve heard some writers say they don’t like to be influenced by the voice of another author, and don’t read at all when they write. Imagine writing a novel for two or three years and not reading at all during that time! I couldn’t do it. I love reading too much. 

So the short answer, I guess is: it depends on the writer. This writer loves to read and won’t be giving it up soon.

Thank you for spending your time with me. For updates, join me on my website, and across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Yours,

Danielle